The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green

The Manhattan Confessions
by Jocelyn Green

ISBN-13: 9780764239656
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: April 7, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Ivy Malone, the New-York Historical Society's librarian, is dedicated to preserving Manhattan's rich history, but when society grand dame Adeline King anonymously reveals her shocking life story, Ivy finds herself holding a highly coveted secret. Burdened with the responsibility of keeping Adeline's identity hidden, Ivy finds the matter increasingly complicated when two men claim ties to the elderly woman--one of them accusing Adeline of involvement in a crime.

Another dilemma brews when Ivy's cousin, Gina, is detained at Ellis Island for lack of proper documentation. Hoping an immigration service can resolve the misunderstanding, Ivy employs their help but is instead thrust into a dangerous world. With time running out, she must unravel the tangle of secrets that bind Adeline's past, Gina's freedom, and her own safety. How far is she willing to go to protect those she loves?


My Review:
The Manhattan Confessions is a Christian romance set in 1926 in New York City. It's the 3rd in a series but works as a stand-alone. Ivy lost her family when she was young, so she idealized family and was constantly looking for people to fill that void and provide her with an assurance she won't be abandoned again. Tom was dealing with lasting trauma from his war experiences. Tom protected Ivy against danger. Ivy's drawn to Tom's kindness toward others. Ivy and Tom built each other up and supported each other.

The main characters were well-developed and engaging. Interesting historical details were woven into the story, mostly about how some people were taking advantage of poor immigrants. I anticipated some of the "twists" but enjoyed the story. I was disappointed by the ending, though: Ivy's told by her friends that doing something sounded like a bad idea but she did it anyway, then she realized the "lure" wasn't genuine and she might now be vulnerable to the bad guys, yet she STILL decided to go off by herself to a dark area (where the bad guy had been waiting for some time). It felt forced: make the heroine act foolishly so the hero could come to her rescue! Then, in the epilogue, we have very pregnant (about to give birth) women skating! Why make heroines randomly throw all sense out the window? (My mother lost a baby due to a short fall, so maybe I'm extra sensitive about this.)

By the end of the story, Ivy realized that God was what she was looking for in human family. He'll never leave her. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson

Targeted in the Swamp
by Kerry Johnson

ISBN-13: 9781335957672
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: March 31, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Laurel Bell’s first day as a wildlife photography ranger takes a treacherous turn when she is nearly drowned by a masked assassin. Her witness protection cover has been blown, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before her attacker returns to finish the job. Her only chance at survival is police sergeant Heath Calhoun, who will do anything to deliver Laurel to her marshal handler. But when Heath’s young daughter is endangered, the stakes are raised, and now they must race to outsmart the powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to exact their revenge.


My Review:
Targeted in the Swamp is a Christian romantic suspense. Laurel's policeman father was killed, then her adoptive parents died. Witness Protection just moved her to a new town where she knows no one, and she's feeling pretty lonely. Heath helped save her from an attacker, but he's certain she must know her attacker and kept pressuring her to tell him who it was. But Laurel didn't recognize the man, and the man she witnessed against was still in prison a week ago. Her handler's not responding, and she's not supposed to tell anyone that she's in witness protection. This delayed Heath and Laurel from really being able to work together, but trust did build between them as Heath protected her and helped her discover what was going on.

The main characters were generally likable and acted realistically. A few actions taken by various characters didn't make sense to me, like why did the attacker keep nearly drowning Laurel in the shallow swamp until help could arrive rather than simply killing her. The suspense came from the repeated attacks on Laurel and the spill-over danger to those around her. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins by Melanie Dickerson

The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins
by Melanie Dickerson

ISBN-13: 9780764245220
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: March 17, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Charlotte Robbins accepts a governess position for the Earl of Brookhaven's siblings despite rumors of the earl's scowling demeanor. As a lowly governess, Charlotte entertains thoughts of possible romance with an eligible servant until she does fall unexpectedly in love--with the pensive earl himself.

But love does not mean a match is possible, and the earl's friends warn Charlotte that if he were to fall for her, it would ruin him. Just as Charlotte resigns herself to the impossibility of her feelings, she receives news that she has inherited a fortune from a long-lost relative. Now thrust into London high society, Charlotte grapples with suitors vying for her attention, but her heart still belongs to the Earl of Brookhaven. As secrets unfold, she's no longer certain if her newfound fortune is a blessing.


My Review:
The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins is a romance set in 1814 in England. Charlotte longs for some of the adventure found in the novels she reads, so she accepts a position as a governess in hopes of finding a man of equal status who will fall in love with her. Instead, she finds a friendship with the Earl, who enjoys talking with her due to her unconventional opinions. He's tired of society's expectations, but his friends see his preference for Charlotte and warn him that he can't possibly marry her unless she had a large fortune. Suddenly, she has 50,000 pounds....but the Earl doesn't follow up on his generosity. Poor Charlotte's also been warned away from the Earl, so she's left fending off fortune hunters while debating what to do with her future.

The main characters were likable, and I appreciated that the romance was based on shared interests, values, and friendship. However, nothing actually stood in the way of their marriage. They loved each other and neither cared about high society's opinion. But the Earl was once engaged to a woman who ran off with someone wealthier than him, so he decided (with no reason) that Charlotte would do the same so he refused to declare his love.

The storyline was rather predictable--even the Earl's aunt told him that his scheme was a bad one. And I know it's meant to be humorous, but Charlotte would have been taught dancing etiquette along with the actual movements. Surely she knew that she had the right to say "no" to invitations--she even overhears others doing so. And, strangely, no one in high society actually seemed to follow good manners as many invited themselves to events, for example. Some parts just didn't feel believable.

Charlotte wonders what God's will is for her life and how to use her fortune for good. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

When Justice Comes by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker

When Justice Comes
by Colleen Coble
and Rick Acker

ISBN-13: 9781400345731
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hezekiah "Hez" Webster and his fiancé, Savannah, stand on the brink of a new life, but their dreams are haunted by specters of the past. Just as they're getting ready to adopt her nephew, two other petitioners also file for custody--both of whom only want Simon for their own gains.

Between the financial company that Hez outmaneuvered to save the university from ruin and the bad blood from the head of the Willard family, it's hard to say who wants them out of the way more. Hez and Savannah's quest for justice leads them through a labyrinth of family law, where loyalties are tested and trust is a dangerous luxury when every decision could be their last.

With every secret revealed, the stakes grow higher. Can they build the family they've always dreamed of, or will their enemies succeed in tearing them apart forever?


My Review:
When Justice Comes is a Christian suspense. It's the 3nd book in the series and continues the story from the first and second books. Savannah's still frustrating. When Hez is accused of wrong doing, she immediately judged him guilty and wanted a friend to join her in being angry at him. Yet when a friend is accused of doing wrong, she won't believe it and demanded that Hez support her (which he did even though he thought about how Savannah's judgment was repeatedly wrong in the past). She's a little faster to believe Hez innocent this time, but I just don't understand why he wants to re-marry a woman who assumes he's always guilty.

Hez had two main problems: a financial company leader who wanted him dead and the Willard family. The financial leader can't touch Hez so he threatened Savannah and Simon, resulting in a movie-style rescue. Savannah stupidly moved the escape boat without telling anyone. She ended up killing the bad guy, essentially in self defense. Hez told her not to blame herself and that whole aspect of the story's just dropped like it never happened. Even to the point that a minor character had to point out an important loose end that was never tied up.

Savannah slowly realized how badly her family had treated the Willard family and tried to make things right. Good. But she strongly rejected Simon spending any time with the Willard side of his family tree, which only made things worse. There's a legal battle over Simon, and Hez tried to expose the criminal dealings of those trying to take Simon from Savannah. They uncovered just how much crime was committed by both of Simon's grandfathers, bringing about justice for some and forgiveness for others. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspense novel to those who made it through the first two books.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Raging Waters by Dana Mentink

Raging Waters
by Dana Mentink

ISBN-13: 9780800746537
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Mackenzie Bardine's brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing "Bullseye," the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron's best friend, Gideon Landry.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he's certainly not interested in helping her after he's already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron's fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it's clear to Gideon she's in over her head, and he can't bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.


My Review:
Raging Waters is a Christian romantic suspense. The main characters were complex and grew throughout the course of the book. Mackenzie's determined to bring down the drug boss that was behind her brother's murder even if it means her own death. She started the story by robbing Gideon with a policeman nearby so she could get inside the jail to talk with her informant. No real planning, just reckless actions like later escaping from the police and refusing to evacuate the danger area because another contact might possibly still be around despite evacuation orders. Her brother was Gideon's best friend, and he's a rescuer at heart, so he couldn't stand by and watch her self-destruct. He repeatedly risked his life to save hers while trying to get through to her.

The suspense was high because of the heavy rains and constant threat of the dam breaking and flooding the area. Plus Bullseye controlled everyone in the area (so whom can they trust?) and had armed men out trying to kill Mackenzie. A map would have been helpful, though, because they hiked for several days and even rode in vehicles at times, yet it seemed like they were always still in the danger area below the dam. Even when next to a lake (which would be behind the dam?) or on a mountain ridge that we'd previously been told was out of danger range.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this this suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Liar's Treasure by Connie Mann

The Liar's Treasure
by Connie Mann

ISBN-13: 9781496487445
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: March 10, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Camille Abernathy ignored rumors of The Liar’s Treasure and her family’s connection to it until someone put a target on her daughter’s back. Growing up in New Orleans, such tall tales were as common as beignets and gumbo. But when Camille’s teenage daughter, Cass, posts pictures of a centuries-old diary her uncle gave her, she unwittingly attracts dozens of treasure hunting fanatics who are convinced Cass and the diary can lead them to a valuable cache.

To keep her daughter safe, Camille enlists the help of Speranza, a secret society always ready to help women in need. Together, they set out on a globe-trotting journey to find The Liar’s Treasure while also investigating a suspicious death related to Camille’s childhood friend. The deeper they dig, the more they suspect it’s all connected.

Chasing clues from New Orleans to Italy to the Bahamas, Camille and her friends receive unexpected assistance—and unwanted competition—from a handsome treasure hunter from Camille’s past. Then Cass is kidnapped, and finding the treasure truly becomes a matter of life and death.


My Review:
The Liar's Treasure is a Christian suspense/thriller. It's the 2nd book in a series but works as a standalone. The Speranza are a diverse group of talented women who help other women in need. Camille's a part of this group, but now she's the one needing help. Camille's teenaged daughter posts a page from a pirate's journal that mentions the treasure. A relative wants the journal, an old love interest of Camille's wants the treasure to pay his father's debts, someone wants it to find out who's stealing from a charity, and a professional thief just wants to have it.

The Speranza decided to find the treasure. The relative and the old love interest occasionally helped the women when facing danger, but they stole from them once the danger was over. Though the Speranza had the major clues and the treasure had been successfully hidden for 300 years, these other treasure hunters somehow managed to show up any time our group found something important, increasing the danger and difficulty.

The characters were engaging and reacted to events in realistic ways. The team of women used their intelligence, talents, and determination to creatively overcome all obstacles. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

Last to Fall
by Lynn H. Blackburn

ISBN-13: 9780800745387
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Bronwyn Pierce has poured everything into The Haven, her family's exclusive mountain resort in Gossamer Falls. But when financial discrepancies surface and the numbers suggest something far darker than simple mismanagement, she's forced to call on the one person with the skills to help Mo Quinn, a former Army Intelligence officer, her first love, and the last person she ever wanted to trust again.

Mo has spent years avoiding the woman he once loved and the secrets that tore them apart. But when Bronwyn calls, he can't walk away--especially when it's clear someone wants her gone for good. As they dig deeper into the treacherous motives behind a blackmail scheme, their proximity reignites long-buried feelings neither of them is ready to face.

With danger closing in and no one else to turn to, Bronwyn and Mo must break years of silence to uncover who's trying to destroy The Haven. They'll have to risk everything--including their hearts--to expose the truth before it's too late.


My Review:
Last to Fall is a romantic suspense. This is the third novel in the series, but it works as a standalone. Bronwyn and Mo were friends since they were very young despite the fact that their extended families disliked each other. We finally learned what happened to make Bronwyn decide to never speak to Mo again, and Mo promise not to talk to her until she did. I really wondered what events would make such behavior feel justified, but it did make sense. Now the problem is that Bronwyn needs Mo to figure out who's doing something hinky with the Haven's financials, and she thinks someone might be trying to kill her. Mo and Bronwyn communicated fine despite the no-direct-communication 'rule,' and they realized how much they still cared for each other (especially the more mature versions). Mo supported and protected Bronwyn, and she appreciated that he did this despite how she'd hurt him.

The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the threat to Bronwyn and everything coming to a boiling point with her family's scheming at the Haven and their trying to manipulate her. Mo said he'd handed the conflict with Bronwyn over to God, but there wasn't much reference to God beyond that. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I would recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.