The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker

The Gentleman's Confession
by Anneka R. Walker

ISBN-13: 9781639933020
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Released: October 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Brookeside, England, 1822. Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.


My Review:
The Gentleman's Confession is a romance set in 1822 in England. Some aspects of the story were so absurd that it didn't feel realistic. I know it's supposed to be humorous, but one scene had several women cornering Miles in public, and one of those women repeatedly ran her hands through his hair while demanding a lock of his hair. His stepfather or some of his congregation surely would have taken them all to task for behaving so badly, but everyone just excused it as Miles is so perfect that the women couldn't help themselves. Hmm.

When Miles was young, he saved Jemma's cousin from dying. The cousin understandably was half in love with him afterward. Jemma started the rumor that Miles was going to marry her cousin, and now she and his friends all believe this even though Miles has refused to marry her. The cousin has even resigned herself that he isn't going to marry her. I just kept thinking "Gee, what friends--they don't really know him and care more about pressuring him to marry the cousin than about his happiness."

For the first half of the story, I also kept thinking that none of this would happen if he'd just get a backbone. He'd tell people "no" but was "too kind" to firmly convince people that he really meant it. But he did finally realize this and started to change, which redeemed him in my estimation. As Jemma was the cause of her own misery and refused to even consider changing her stance until her cousin took things in hand, I had a little more trouble feeling pity for her.

However, all of the characters were generally likable. Historical details served more as a backdrop than as necessary to the story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous 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.

Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly

Murder in Highbury
by Vanessa Kelly

ISBN-13: 9781496745972
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Released: Oct. 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse gracefully balances the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health. But then Emma and Harriet Martin discover a hideous shock at the local church: the corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, on the altar steps, an expensive necklace stripped from her neck.

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, and suspicions suddenly fall on Miss Bates. Armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections, Emma decides to investigate to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.


My Review:
Murder in Highbury is a mystery set in 1815 in England. The author took the characters from Jane Austen's "Emma" and changed them a bit. For example, Emma's very outspoken in criticizing men in authority to their faces rather than using the more subtle set-down of a well-bred lady. She poked through someone's desk looking for clues while asking Harriet to stand lookout. Austen's Emma was oblivious to subtle relational interplays happening around her and jumped to conclusions, but in this mystery, Emma noticed when things were subtly off. Also, Miss Bates didn't just ramble on but was a fainting, hysterical lady-in-distress when people asked her questions about the day of the murder. Mrs. Bates might be hard of hearing and slept a lot but she's very engaged with what's going on. While foundational aspects of the original characters were still present, they all felt modified to suit the story the author wanted to tell.

I guessed whodunit early on and was astounded that no one but Emma (at the very end) even considered a most obvious suspect (who had motive, access to the murder scene, and the ability to do the murder). While it's clear that the author did some research into the time period, the social relationships often felt too modern. The coroner and constable both wanted to investigate and arrest people at will, sometimes assuming Mr. Knightly role as magistrate behind his back even though they knew this would offend him. This just didn't seem realistic as the social hierarchy was still pretty rigid at that time. However, it did drag out the mystery because Mr. Knightly was busy trying to minimalize the damage done by two bumbling men bucking his authority rather than everyone working together in their assigned roles. I guess it was the excuse for why Emma had to investigate instead.

All that said, it was an enjoyable enough take on Emma as a sleuth. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language.


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.

Murder Takes the Stage by Colleen Cambridge

Murder Takes the Stage
by Colleen Cambridge

ISBN-13: 9781496742599
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Released: Oct. 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Housekeeper Phyllida Bright is quite in her element at Mallowan Hall, the charming English manor that she keeps in tip-top shape. By contrast, the bustling metropolis of London, where her famed employer Agatha Christie has temporarily relocated, leaves Phyllida a bit out of her depth. Not only must she grapple with a limited staff, but Phyllida also has to rein in a temperamental French cook who has the looks of Hercule Poirot, but none of the charm.

When a man named Archibald Allston is found dead in an armchair onstage at the Adelphia Theater, seemingly of natural causes. But the very next day, the unlucky actor playing Benvolio at the Belmont Theater is found with his head bashed in. And when a third victim turns up, this time with double-C initials, the fatal pattern is impossible to ignore. With panic erupting among theater folk—a superstitious bunch at the best of times—Phyllida steps up to help with the investigation. The murderer’s M.O. may be easy to read, but can Phyllida uncover the killer’s identity before the final curtain falls on another victim?


My Review:
Murder Takes the Stage is a mystery set in 1930 in England. This is the 4th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novel to understand this one. The household is in London because Agatha's trying to get one of her stories made into a play. A director and friend of Agatha asks Phyllida to investigate murder and creates a cover story that she's a newspaper reporter. People were quite happy to talk with her, and she maneuvered the conversation to topics she was interested in. She was quick to spot clues and logically consider possibilities.

This was probably the best mystery in the series. I initially thought it was a certain person for reasons Phyllida gave at the end, but one of the final, critical clues made whodunit guessable to both reader and Phyllida, though Phyllida hid the name until her Big Reveal. Phyllida becoming more likable as the series progresses. Historical details were woven into the story, bringing the time and place alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing.

There was occasional use of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


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.

One Last Stand by Susan May Warren

One Last Stand
by Susan May Warren

ISBN-13: 9780800745509
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As a member of the Air One Rescue team, pilot London Brooks has built a new life--one far away from her clandestine past as an operative tasked to take down a branch of Russian terrorists. She has no desire to reenter that world. But the past won't stay past. Someone has sent assasination after her, she has no choice but to plunge back into the treacherous world she left behind. Even if she must surrender everything--and everyone--she loves in her new life.

Shep Watson will never forget the day he saved London Brooks from the avalanche that nearly killed her. He knows there is more to her story, but he'll let her keep her secrets. Just when it seems she's finally ready to let him into her heart, her dead, mutilated body is found in a lake. When he learns she's still alive but in danger, he can't bear to lose her again. Which means, somehow, he'll have to enter her world, keep up with her, and figure out a way to bring her home.


My Review:
One Last Stand is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 4th in the series. It does help to have read at least some of the previous books as some of the London/Shep action has occurred already and the characters from the previous books are highly involved in this story. However, the author provided enough background that you can understand what's going on without reading the previous books.

The main characters were engaging and came across as real people. I cared about what happened to them. Shep and London realized that they only had a superficial knowledge about each other and got to know each other better as they worked together. They had to decide what they really wanted out of life while they tried to free London from the dangers brought on by her past. There was plenty of suspense from the physical dangers of doing spy stuff as well as the search and rescue. 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.

Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander

Hunted for the Holidays
by Deena Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781335980236
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: October 22, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Shae Evans spots a familiar face at a Christmas pageant, she knows her witness-protection cover has been blown. Six years ago, her testimony put a crime boss away for life, and now his is looking for her. Fleeing with her daughter, Shae accepts protection from former FBI agent Mason Payne—her child’s father. Now they’re only seconds ahead of the ruthless crime family who want Shae silenced forever. With threats everywhere, will they live to see the New Year?


My Review:
Hunted for the Holidays is a Christian romantic suspense. Shae risked her life to get evidence against a crime boss and get him sent to prison. Now he's dying, and he'll decide who will inherit his organization based on who can find and kill Shae. Mason has been working undercover but gets wind of the danger, so he races to protect Shae. During the lead-up to the trial, they spent a year getting to know each other and falling in love. Shae still trusts him, but they're not sure who keeps leaking their location.

The main characters were likable, courageous, and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Shae and Mason worked well together, trusted each other, and were willing to die to protect their five-year-old daughter. The high suspense came from the bad weather, wild animals, and several people trying to capture or kill Shae. Both Shae and Mason were Christians, and they prayed to God for help. 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.

A Merry Little Murder Plot by Jenn McKinlay

A Merry Little Murder Plot
by Jenn McKinlay

ISBN-13: 9780593639368
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. When an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, library director Lindsey Norris begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.


My Review:
A Merry Little Murder Plot is a cozy mystery. It's the 15th in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The main characters were likable and interesting. Lindsey and her helpers asked good questions and noticed clues. This clue-based mystery could be guessed before the end. I guessed "whodunit" correctly, though I wasn't completely certain until the end since there were several possibilities that weren't explored until later on. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

All We Thought We Knew
by Michelle Shocklee

ISBN-13: 9781496484178
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: Oct. 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold secrets that Mattie should know.

1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works as a secretary to the man running the hospital, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows...as do her feelings for him.


My Review:
All We Thought We Knew is a Christian romance set in 1969 and in 1942 in Tennessee. Vivid historical details were woven into the story giving it a distinct sense of the time and place. Mattie was exasperating at first because she was so self-centered and voiced her opinions even when she knew it'd hurt others. She understood the reasons given by her twin and by her mother for the decisions they made, but she wanted her way instead. A returned, wounded veteran helped her to move beyond her pain to actually care about others. She also has to work through her anger at God for letting her twin die during the war and her mother die a year later.

Ava is Mattie's dying mother, but we also get her backstory. I enjoyed seeing how the relationship between Ava and Gunther played out, but they spent very little time together 'on screen' so we're just supposed to accept how much Mattie loved Gunther. (I can see why he loved her as she shows him kindness when he's feeling pretty low.) I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. The critical decision made by Gunther didn't really make sense in terms of why Mattie's father felt so strongly about keeping it a secret even 20+ years later. Gunther had a strong faith in God throughout the story, even talking with a Jewish friend about Jesus.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical 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 Night Woods by Paula Munier

The Night Woods
by Paula Munier

ISBN-13: 9781250887917
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Record snow and sleet and rain are pummeling Vermont and a wild boar has escaped from an exclusive hunting club nearby—but that won’t stop a very pregnant and very bored Mercy Carr from hiking her beloved woods with her loyal dog Elvis. She’s supposed to be decorating the nursery and helping her mother plan the baby shower, but she’d much rather be playing Scrabble with Homer Grant, a word-loving, shotgun-toting hermit living deep in the forest. But when she and Elvis drop by Homer’s cabin for their weekly game, they arrive to find an unknown dead man—and no sign of Homer.

As they search the woods, Mercy discovers a patch of devastation that could only be left behind by wild boar. She’s relieved when Elvis tracks Homer, injured but alive. But Homer’s troubles are far from over, as he’s still the number one suspect and he remembers nothing of the attack. When another corpse with a link to Homer is found, Mercy is determined to help her friend, an effort complicated by the unexpected arrival of her young cousin Tandie, sent by Mercy’s mother to keep an eye on her until the baby is born.

As the floods worsen, Troy and Susie Bear are called out with all the other first responders, and Mercy finds herself alone at Grackle Tree Farm with a concussed Homer, Tandie, and Elvis. As waters rise and the wild boar rampages, Mercy realizes that the murderer is out there ready to strike again, this time much closer to home.


My Review:
The Night Woods is a mystery/suspense novel. It's the 6th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novels.

The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Mercy (and her talented service dog) tracked down clues, asked good questions, and pieced together what was going on. The suspense was create by Mercy getting into dangerous situations while near the end of her pregnancy. I felt like more focus was put on Mercy's upcoming childbirth than actually solving the mysteries. She spent time collecting information about seemingly unconnected events (a missing man who was a part of exclusive hunting club for rich business people, a Greek classics professor found dead in the cabin of a man suffering from PTSD, etc.). Then, after a little thought at the end, Mercy suddenly figured out who did what and how people were connected.

There were only a few uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and 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.

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon

Over the Edge
by Irene Hannon

ISBN-13: 9780800741891
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: October 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn't fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she's in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but someone is also pushing her to question her sanity.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body in his or her wake.


My Review:
Over the Edge is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Though the second book in the series, it works as a standalone. The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Suspense was created by someone messing with Lindsey to discredit her as the sole witness of the suspected murderer (though she didn't see very much of use). Jack and Lindsey initially kept each other at a distance emotionally. Jack's birth mother had mental problems, so he didn't want to get involved with someone who might have similar problems. Lindsey felt Jack hadn't accepted her friend for who she was but pushed her to do something he liked that turned out to be dangerous. Since her parents also pushed her toward careers she didn't care for, she was worried Jack might not be willing to accept her for who she was. However, they came to care for each other as they spent time together and got to know each other.

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

Gathering Mist by Margaret Mizushima

Gathering Mist
by Margaret Mizushima

ISBN-13: 9781639108947
Hardcover
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Deputy Mattie Wray, formerly Mattie Cobb, is summoned to Washington’s Olympic peninsula for an urgent search and rescue mission to find a celebrity’s missing child. With only a week left before her wedding, Mattie is hesitant to leave Timber Creek, but her K-9 partner Robo’s tracking skills are needed. Dense forest, chilling rain, and unfriendly locals hamper their efforts, and soon Mattie suspects something more sinister than a lost child is at play. When one of the SAR dogs becomes ill, her fiancé Cole Walker suspects poison. Fearing for Mattie’s and Robo’s safety, Cole joins the search and rescue team as veterinary support. Secrets that have lain hidden within the rugged terrain come to light and when it is uncovered that the missing child was kidnapped, the search becomes a full-blown crime scene investigation, forcing Mattie, Robo, and Cole into a desperate search to find the missing child before it's too late.


My Review:
Gathering Mist is a K9-detective mystery. It's the 9th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

The main characters were likable and complex, and they acted realistically to events. Mattie and Robo (her talented K9) and Cole (the veterinarian who loves her) worked with Robo's original trainer and his dogs and an unknown-to-them sheriff during a search and rescue in Washington’s Olympic peninsula. Mattie soon uncovered evidence pointing toward kidnapping, so she helped find evidence and interview suspects while also searching for the missing child. This was a clue-based mystery. It also had a lot of suspense due to the danger to the child the longer he was gone, the hard terrain to search through, and the fact that the bad person didn't want their crimes uncovered.

The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few of uses of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting and exciting 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.

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham

Hope Like Wildflowers
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9781636099514
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: October 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
1910s Appalachia. Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?


My Review:
Hope Like Wildflowers is a romance set in 1917 in the Appalachia area. Kizzie was seduced by the son of the household where she worked as a maid. She honestly believed he'd marry her soon, but it slowly became clear to her that he intended her to be his mistress. She may have a nice house and scraps of attention from him, but she's scorned by many of the townsfolk and some get violent in an attempt to run her off. She struggled with how to deal with her situation, especially having a baby to support. With the help of a friendly family, she realized that God still cared about her. She chose Him and to change her ways, starting anew somewhere safe.

The Kizze that Noah meets is full of banter and is lighthearted. She quickly finds a job and a purpose, and she helps Noah understand what's going on with his overbearing brother and the mill. The main characters were likable, complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Noah and Kizzie supported each other and built each other up. But I didn't like that Noah and his mother just paid the price for Noah's brother's actions rather than forcing him to take responsibility.

There were some realism issues that kept me from getting fully immersed in the story. I find it doubtful that the brother could have gotten away with the things he did as there are safeguards against it. Also, the story started with Kizzie being chased by coyotes, which can kill small livestock but I've never heard of them being a danger to humans. Later, the snow storm was so bad that four inches of snow fell very quickly. The carriage horses struggled through the snow on icy roads. Then suddenly a horse galloped by with no problems. Also, it's unlikely the carriage could overturn on it's side in a ditch and the horses be left standing unaffected by the twisting and pull on their harness. And there were inconsistencies in places, like a wagon suddenly was a carriage, and the author didn't seem to quite know what the 'cotton mill' really did: sometimes the machines were knitting machines and others they were weaving machines. I read an Advanced Reader Copy, so some of this might be cleaned up in the final copy.

Kizzie learned to trust God with her future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, touching story of hope and second chances.


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.