Against a Crescent Storm by A. L. Sowards

Against a Crescent Storm
by A. L. Sowards

ISBN-13: 9781639934539
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The Balkans, 1389. Three years ago, Danilo’s people won their freedom from the hated Ottoman Empire, but with enemies on every side, the Serbs’ hard-earned peace remains fragile. Knowing the sultan will soon come for revenge, Danilo sets out to gain key allies for the coming war—and to escape the haunting grief of personal loss.

War has orphaned Maja and her brother, but they’ve moved forward from tragedy by crafting religious mosaics. Yet after being cheated and robbed, they are desperate for help. Rescue comes from Danilo, the man who once saved them from slavery to the Turks.

Danilo and Maja are soon drawn together by shared grief and affection, but complications arise on every side. A Hungarian noble suspects them of conspiracy. An Ottoman spy, Iskandar, is consumed by a vendetta against Danilo and a dangerous obsession with Maja. And a pending marriage alliance pits Danilo’s heart against his duty. As rumors of treason weaken Christian unity, hope of victory in the Balkans grows dim. Allies and enemies converge on the fields of Kosovo, where an epic battle will shape the destiny of nations for centuries to come.


My Review:
Against a Crescent Storm is a suspense/romance set in 1389 in the Balkans. It's the 3rd book in the series. It can be read as a standalone, though characters from the previous novels show up in this novel. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, bringing it alive in my imagination. The main characters were engaging, complex, and felt like real people. The suspense came from various attacks on Danilo and Maja during their travels, an enemy set on killing Danilo and marrying Maja, and a major battle against an overwhelming Turkish force.

Danilo and Maja enjoyed each other's company, became friends, and helped each other. Danilo sought Maja out to talk about things that concerned him. However, Danilo has been betrothed to secure a vital military alliance that might make the difference in the upcoming battle. And Danilo had to fight in that major battle where few survived, trusting God with his future (in death or in life). There was no sex or bad language. The bad guy started to force himself on Maja twice, though it went no further than forced kissing and the knowledge that he intended to rape her. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful 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.

Deadly Trade by Sara Driscoll

Deadly Trade
by Sara Driscoll

ISBN-13: 9781496756312
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Released: October 28, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
After a difficult assignment and the excitement of her wedding to firefighter Todd Webb, Meg is more than ready for two weeks of sun, sea, and gorgeous Hawaiian scenery. Her K-9 partner, Hawk, accompanies Meg and Todd to their resort, reveling in his celebrity status with both staff and guests. After a week of relaxation, all three are ready to get out into nature on the Big Island, where Meg and Hawk can practice search strategies.

In the remote fern forest of Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve, Hawk’s senses are on high alert. When Meg lets him leave the path, they encounter two men trapping bright birds. The poachers escape, leaving their bounty behind, and when agents from the FBI and US Fish and Wildlife arrive, they confirm that the birds are all endangered species near extinction. Super-wealthy collectors acquire them for private zoos, with no regard for the birds’ survival. Alive or dead, these beautiful creatures are merely trophies.

Meg, Todd, and Hawk join an official search using a local conservation dog to pinpoint vulnerable nesting grounds in an attempt to protect trafficked wildlife and to stop the poachers in their tracks. But beyond the threat posed by determined poachers lurks another danger—Mauna Loa, one of the island’s active volcanoes, has been grumbling, and is poised to turn this mission into their most terrifying yet.


My Review:
Deadly Trade is a K9 suspense. This book is the 10th in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. Meg and her K9, her FBI partner and his K9, Meg's paramedic/firefighter husband, and the expert researcher/journalist who are part of her usual team were all in on the investigation along with local law enforcement. A lot of details about rare bird trafficking were woven into the story as well as details about the setting that brought the story alive in my imagination.

The main characters were likable, interesting, and reacted realistically to events. The high suspense came from the danger from the bad guys, the tough terrain, and the increasing threat of the nearby volcano erupting. The FBI dogs tracked down the bad guys while a local K9 and his handler searched out nesting areas (where the bad guys were likely to be). The researcher looked into how the bad guys might be getting the birds off the island and where the desirable birds were most likely to be located--which was still a huge area to search. The goal: catch the bad guys, save any caught birds, and maybe even uncover the entire trafficking ring.

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

On the Edge of Trust by Patricia Bradley

On the Edge of Trust
by Patricia Bradley

ISBN-13: 9780800747008
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When decorated FBI undercover agent Scott Sinclair suffers a gunshot wound in his right arm, the injury threatens his future career in the field. He is determined to regain his former job by training himself to use his left hand, and failure is not an option--especially when he's unofficially pulled into an investigation.

Tori Alexander is a passionate crime reporter and podcaster who has dedicated her life to seeking justice. Her relentless pursuit of the truth has freed two men from prison who were falsely convicted, and when her nephew is accused of murder, nothing can stop her from getting involved and clearing his name.

Sparks ignite when Tori reconnects with Scott on the case, but she's doubtful if she can extend grace and trust. As the investigation intensifies, they find threats targeted at themselves. They'll have to combine their skills and rely on their growing relationship to outsmart the killer.


My Review:
On the Edge of Trust is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 5th novel in a series but works as a standalone. Tori is a crime podcaster who has proven that an innocent man was sentenced for murder. She's now being attacked, but is it the angry ex-husband accused of abuse by his ex-wife on the podcast? Or her on-air declaration that she's going to find the true murderer? Or the fact she's trying to solve the murder of a friend who may have uncovered a crime? The suspense came from the repeated attacks on the main characters.

Scott and Tori liked each other and had a shared passion for justice, but Tori didn't trust that Scott wouldn't relapse into alcholism since her own dad did once with tragic results. They had to work through this lack of trust, and Tori struggled with forgiving her dad. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to suspense fans.


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 Royal Artisan by Tessa Afshar

The Royal Artisan
by Tessa Afshar

ISBN-13: 9780764243707
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sazana of Persia creates exquisite pottery that graces Susa's finest tables, but her employer, Lord Haman, does not know Sazana is one of the Jews he despises. When Haman discovers her true identity, he forces her into indentured servitude. In an unexpected reversal, at Haman's downfall, Queen Esther becomes the new master of the pottery workshop, restoring Sazana to her rightful place. But her troubles are not over. The loss of their inheritance has enraged Haman's ten sons, so the queen assigns one of her men to the workshop, posing undercover to root out any spies.

Sazana is shocked to discover that the queen's agent is none other than the man who left her heart in ruins years ago. On assignment from the queen, Jadon safeguards the workshop, yet the situation escalates with the need to discover an ancient artifact. Can Jadon and Sazana work through past heartache and unearth the secrets that will allow them to thwart the impending tragedy threatening their people?


My Review:
The Royal Artisan is a Christian historical romance set at the time of Queen Esther. There's some mystery, too, as there's a hidden document that Sazana's parents and guardian hid, but they didn't tell her the location of the document (except in vague hints) before they died. Queen Esther believes that document will help protect the Jews. Esther and Sazana both lost their parents as children and took on Persian names to hide their Jewish heritage. When Esther is given the pottery workshop at Haman's downfall, the two women meet and become friends. The search for the document brings danger, and Jadon's assigned to help and protect Sazana.

Jadon broke a betrothal with Sazana years ago because he felt he shouldn't have children. Only he didn't tell Sazana why, leaving her feeling unlovable. They had to work through this pain, and Jadon had to find the courage to explain why he broke off the betrothal. The main characters were likable and acted realistically to events. Sazana and Jadon supported and cared for each other. Historical details about pottery-making and the dangerous time they were living in (accurate to the Bible account) brought the story alive in my imagination.

The Christian theme was trusting God with an unknown future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical 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.

Prowl by Colleen Coble

Prowl
by Colleen Coble

ISBN-13: 9780840714374
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When a worker at the Sanctuary is discovered dead in the tiger enclosure, authorities assume the big cat killed her. But when the autopsy shows she was killed by a lethal dose of anesthetic delivered by a tranquilizer gun, suspicion falls on Blake Lawson, co-owner of the Sanctuary. Blake has his hands full trying to clear his name as well as get the Sanctuary finances back in the black. When a soil test turns up traces of rare earth, he's even more puzzled. Is someone trying to run them out of business to get to whatever is under the ground?

Meanwhile, wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden is determined to find the brother she only recently learned even existed. When the results of the DNA test she ran mysteriously disappear from her portal before she can read them, she realizes someone must not want her to know the truth. A break-in at her new apartment is alarming, but she tries to pass it off as someone trying to scare her away. She refuses to turn tail and run when she is desperate for answers.

For Blake, the only solid ground is his relationship with Paradise, and he longs to propose--but how can they even think about starting a life together with so many forces working against them?


My Review:
Prowl is a Christian romantic suspense. This is the second book in a series and continues the story of the main characters in the previous book. However, you can understand this story if you haven't read the previous book.

There were several mysteries that Paradise and Blake were trying to solve: the past murder of Paradise's parents, the person currently threatening Paradise, and who killed the worker at the Sanctuary and why? Paradise and Blake asked questions, found clues, and passed any evidence on to law enforcement that were on their side (as the main detective for the murder had a grudge against Blake). I didn't strongly suspect the non-obvious whodunit until nearly the end but did wonder why Paradise just let a clue drop which hinted at whodunit's involvement. The murder of Paradise's parents' remained unsolved by the end but much of what was happening at the Sanctuary was solved and stopped.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the danger from the attacks on Paradise. Blake and Paradise genuinely wanted to help and support the other. Blake and Paradise struggled with trusting God with an uncertain future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this 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.

Rescued Heart by Angela Hunt

Rescued Heart
by Angela Hunt

ISBN-13: 9780764245176
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: October 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Ur of the Chaldeans, Ishcah is old to be a bride when she marries Abram, a man she has never met and who renames her Sarai on their wedding day. Their union, arranged since childhood, tests her as she grapples with Abram's sole devotion to an unseen God--entirely unlike the idols she has worshiped all her life. When Abram reveals that Adonai has promised to make his descendants into a great nation, Sarai chooses to trust him and follow his God. As the years pass without conceiving a child, Sarai wrestles with doubt and faith within her marriage. Her skepticism that their descendants will "outnumber the stars" grows with time. It will take nothing short of a miracle to prove Adonai's faithfulness to His promise.


My Review:
Rescued Heart is a story of Abram and Sarai. While some parts of the Bible account are used, it's largely based on the account given in the book of Jasher. The original book of Jasher was lost, and, to quote Grokipedia, "Numerous forgeries purporting to be rediscovered copies of this lost book have been written." Angela Hunt admits she doesn't know it's accurate, yet she chose to go with a version of Jasher that she found even when it conflicted with the Bible. For example, Sarah is Abram's half-sister in the Bible (Genesis 20:12: "Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother.") but is Abram's niece in the book of Jasher.

Angela decided to make Sarai Abram's niece. Staying true to the Bible account would have meant going with half-sister, but she treated the book of Jasher as having the greater accuracy. There were several places where the Bible is clear about what happened but Angela chose to use the book of Jasher instead. I was very disappointed with this.

Unfortunately, I didn't even like Sarai. She's self-centered, wanting her own way and hurting others in the process until the day she died. I expected a story of Sarai's growth in her faith and relationships, lessons learned and things like that. Nope. She started strong in her faith in Abram's God after He saved Abram from dying when thrown into a deadly-hot, fiery furnace, but she quickly fell into self-pity and lack of trust after that. She died trying to go after Abram to stop him from killing Isaac--after Abram lied about what he was doing (traveling to relatives so Isaac could learn from Shem about God) but a "prophet" told Sarah that Abram was going to kill Isaac. So not really the type of story I was looking for.

There were no sex scenes or 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.

Missing at Christmas by Deena Alexander

Missing at Christmas
by Deena Alexander

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: October 28, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When journalist Lexi McKenna receives a desperate call for help, she rushes to her sister’s home, only to find her sister dead and one of her twin nieces missing. With her past mafia ties resurfacing, Lexi must go on the run with agent Noah Thompson to protect herself from her father’s enemies. Although Lexi is the daughter of the mob boss who murdered Noah’s brother, Noah will do anything to take down her family—even work with her. As danger looms from all sides, they must find the abducted baby and dismantle a criminal empire before Lexi and her nieces end up as collateral damage.


My Review:
Missing at Christmas is a Christian romantic suspense. Lexi left her father when she learned he was a crime boss who wanted her to be his heir. But daddy still named her his heir in his will if she married one of his trusted men. When her sister is kill, one of her baby nieces is kidnapped, and her father's murdered, suddenly everyone wants her--either to marry her or to kill her. She just wants to save her nieces. Noah's brother died because of her father, but he admires Lexi's character and so offered to protect her as a bodyguard while his co-workers helped them find the missing baby.

The main characters were likable, courageous, and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Lexi and Noah worked well together after they realized they could trust each other. The high suspense came mainly from the potential danger to the nieces as well as the attacks on Lexi. Lexi and Noah were Christians and 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 Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

A Song in the Dark
by Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9780764244674
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: September 23, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Against the simmering backdrop of the impending WWII, blind virtuoso pianist Chaisley Frappier embarks on a concert tour through a rapidly changing Europe despite the dangers. When she learns that Hitler's escalating regime of injustice is targeting other disabled people, Chaisley realizes she is in a prime position to help those who are threatened reach safety. But the Führer's growing fascination with the celebrated musician endangers her undercover mission and forces her to walk a tightrope between her fame and her calling.

When Rick Zimmerman receives his next assignment from the British Secret Intelligence Service, he's surprised to learn he'll be acting as the personal driver of a world-renowned pianist as she traverses Europe. The role gives him the perfect cover to complete side missions of sabotage and intelligence-gathering, but he soon suspects the brilliant, alluring pianist has secrets of her own. As Chaisley and Rick confront evil at every turn, it will take every bit of faith and courage they possess to triumph over hate--and survive.


My Review:
"A Song in the Dark is a Christian romance set in 1938 in Europe. The main characters were complex, dealing with their fears while still wanting to be brave and help. I cared about what happened to them. Rick and Chaisley worked well together and both cared about helping others. Though I'm not blind, Chaisley's point-of-view seemed realistic for a blind woman.

Chaisley's mainly the excuse for her crew to be in an area. She helped blind and disabled children get in contact with a network of people that helped them get visas, then Rick or others sneaked them out of the Nazi-controlled countries. Chaisley was in danger because some Nazis didn't want to overlook her blindness (even if caused by an accident) and celebrate her skill. She and her assistants were in danger if Nazis found out what they were doing, and the danger to those helping and to those targeted by the Nazis kept the suspense high.

The ending felt a little rushed. For most of the book, Chaisley's assistant was afraid her German family likely became Nazis and didn't want them to discover her. At the end, we're suddenly told that she had contacted her brother, and it felt this came out of nowhere just to set up the danger-filled ending. Anyway, the main characters acted out of their Christian belief's and trusted God to help them save people. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this suspenseful 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.

Two Truths and a Murder by Colleen Cambridge

Two Truths and a Murder
by Colleen Cambridge

ISBN-13: 9781496742780
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Released: October 28, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
While her famous employer is happily back home at Mallowan Hall, wrestling with her Belgian detective’s dilemma on board the Orient Express, Phyllida is finding her local renown as a sleuth has put her in high demand. A distraught Vera Rollingbroke suspects her husband of infidelity and has invited Phyllida to a dinner party to observe his behavior, particularly in regard to one Geneva Blastwick.

What she does observe at the party is that Geneva craves attention, in contrast to her shy sister Ethel. Geneva introduces a game called Two Truths and a Lie, and one of her questionable statements is that she once witnessed a murder. At this bold claim, the guests react with disbelief and pepper her with questions. Geneva remains cagey, withholding details, but insists this is not her lie.

The next morning Phyllida learns poor Ethel was purposely run down by a motorcar the previous night while inexplicably walking home alone from the party. She fears Geneva may have been the target. With Geneva in potential danger—and Inspector Cork proceeding ponderously as usual—Phyllida takes it upon herself to unmask the killer. With two murders to solve, she will need to grill Geneva and the guests as well as re-examine any past sudden deaths or disappearances. And if she’s smart, she’ll look twice before crossing the road.


My Review:
Two Truths and a Murder is a mystery set in England about 1933. This is the 5th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, but it would help with understanding the various relationships within the household. During the game of Two Truths and a Lie (at the beginning of the book), I immediately thought, "Oh, whodunit is..." and I only became more convinced as the story went on. However, Phyllida got sadly sidetracked by false assumptions, though she asked good questions and investigated the leads. She investigated the past murder (which accident was really a murder?) and who killed Ethel. The murder that looked like an accident could have been a very simple thing, but the author made it so elaborately staged that it pushed my belief that the witness would have accepted it as an accident.

Historical details were woven into the story, bringing the time and place alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing. However, I found it hard to believe that a logical woman like Phyllida would believe that she could repeatedly sneak into a fellow servant's quarters to have sex and no one would notice. She also seemed to think this behavior would have no consequences, which seems naive.

There were only a few uses of bad language. While Phyllida did engage in sex, it was fade-to-black after her intentions were clear (so no sex scenes). Overall, I'd recommend this historical 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.

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham

Sense and Suitability
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9780840717061
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: October 14, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel—until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate—or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs—has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic—no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?


My Review:
Sense and Suitability is a Christian romance set around 1814 in England. Emme and Simon bring out the best in each other, but Simon needs a wealthy bride to help restore the debt-ridden estate that he's inherited. Emme 'only' has 2,000 pounds as dowry plus a secret 3,000 pounds invested in the Funds. Even if that was enough, Emme writes Gothic novels under a male name, and being an authoress would ruin her reputation and make her unsuitable. Considering how concerned they were about her reputation, it's strange that Simon kept asking her to meet him alone, in the dark, in a garden during balls. And she readily agreed to it. Then again, rather than approach her father for permission to marry her, he proposed during a dance at a ball. I suppose it was meant to be funny, but I got hung up on how a gentleman would never do that.

The main characters were engaging and tried very hard to do the right things. Emme and Simon intended to avoid each other due to their continued attraction yet ended up encountering each other in a series of humorous encounters. Then add in Simon's two younger sisters, who seemed determined to cause chaos. Both referred to God throughout the book in little comments related to what they were seeing or doing. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, humorous 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.

Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima

Dying Cry
by Margaret Mizushima

ISBN-13: 9798892421959
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: October 14, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Newlyweds Mattie and Cole Walker are teaching Cole’s daughters how to snowshoe in a remote canyon when a shattering scream pierces the air. They know that somewhere ahead, someone has been injured or worse. Cole takes the girls while Mattie and Robo go deeper into the canyon to search for the source of the scream.

From a distance, Mattie and Robo see a shadowy figure at the base of a cliff, but a rockslide buries the person under layers of stone and shale before they can provide help. Desperate to uncover the individual in case they’re still alive under the rock, their efforts are in vain. The victim is already dead. When they investigate the canyon rim from which the person fell, they discover evidence that indicates the fall was no accident. To make matters worse, the victim was one of Cole’s friends.

The Timber Creek County investigative team springs into action, uncovering a trail of greed that leads to a killer who threatens Mattie’s cherished new family.


My Review:
Dying Cry is a K9-detective mystery. It's the 10th 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 reacted realistically to events. They came across as real people, and I cared about what happened to them. Mattie and Robo (her talented k9) and the sheriff’s department worked to solve the murder. It's a clue-based mystery, and it's possible to guess whodunit. Quite a few people had a possible motive and could have done the murder. I was beginning to suspect whodunit before the reveal, though I didn't guess the twist. There was suspense, especially near the end, due to danger to the good guys.

The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. The was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd highly 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.

The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer

The Rules of Falling for You
by Mollie Rushmeyer

ISBN-13: 9780764244421
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: Sept. 2, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The perfect match can't be far--certainly not at a Regency-themed singles retreat--or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners will anticipate this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother, reluctantly agrees to attend the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe's methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her ideal checklist might be lacking something, she must decide if she's willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.


My Review:
The Rules of Falling for You is a Christian, contemporary romance. Harrison has known Zoe since they were kids (as Zoe is his sister's best friend) and has long been in love with her. He's steadily supported her through life's ups and downs, wanting the best for her even though she's never viewed him as more than a sort of brother. Zoe's so afraid of being abandoned when life gets hard that she sabotages her own relationships, like picking dates that are easy to reject. She's certain that having a checklist of necessary traits will ensure a good match but refused to see that Harrison had the character and values that she was really looking for.

I appreciated that the author created complex characters that had to work through their hang-ups to finally have a lasting romantic relationship. However, I wanted to give up on Zoe at times as the "I'm deliberately blind to what's in front of me" got tiring. She couldn't see that Ben was using her while at the same time rejected Harrison, who'd proven his devotion and care over many years. She swore she wanted a relationship where the couple was a team that faced hard times together, but the moment something hard happened, she assumed the worst about Harrison and refused to let him explain (nor did she investigate herself) when everyone else gave him a chance.

Worse, the conflict was based on an unrealistic setup. Harrison was filming the footage for Zoe--he worked for her--with his TV station boss interested in seeing the final product as a way for Harrison to prove his production skills. The boss shouldn't have had the ability to give access to the footage to anyone else, nor could the bad guy just steal the waivers and the footage (which everyone knew weren't his) and use them as he liked. Harrison did know this, but Zoe's been producing her own show for a while and should have known this, too, and should have acted on it.

Also, we're told that Zoe has Type 1 diabetes, yet insulin was only mentioned at the very beginning. From that point on, she's always eating to control her blood sugar levels, even a 'rescue' of eating sugary sweets. Yet "Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (life-long) autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from making insulin....People with Type 1 diabetes need to give themselves insulin doses when they consume carbohydrates." It felt like the author thought Type 1 diabetes was the same as Type 2 diabetes.

Zoe and Harrison came to rely on God for their security and approval. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this "rom com" because I enjoyed many of the characters even if the end fell apart in some ways.


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 Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

The Heart of Bennet Hollow
by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

ISBN-13: 9798400502231
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: October 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business. As he digs through legal issues regarding the Bennet land and the sale of the mine, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters. Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, she must decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.


My Review:
The Heart of Bennet Hollow is a romance set in 1904 in Virginia. It's supposed to be a Pride and Prejudice story, but the characters were only vaguely like those in P&P. I would have liked it better if the author had just told her story rather than forced certain events. For example, Mr. Bennet's cousin came to marry one of the 5 Bennet sisters, but no reason was given for him to choose one of them, especially as he had to travel a distance to get there. The author changed many things, like William proposed marriage after only four brief conversations (one of them negative) with Lizbeth, so why keep that?

Mr. Bennet was a geologist who surveyed mines when he accepted land in New River as payment for some work. Only, he stupidly never got the deed signed over to him. Despite his growing family, he gave up outside work and began raising mules to sell to the mine. Then Lizbeth objected, and now they're basically living in poverty and in debt, selling produce from their garden. William thought if he bought the mine, the Bennets would lose their land. Um. Someone's going to buy the mine. You can sign the deed over like should have been done. He finally realized this but believed Mr. Bennet would object to charity. No, William--it's HIS land, payment for his work. This is called 'making things right.' Anyway, William ended up choosing another option even though it made things more difficult.

A lot of situations didn't make sense. Like Lizbeth mourned that she had no brothers to work in the mine, but she's heartbroken over her beloved mules having to work in that same mine. William wanted to better the lives of the miners, but rather than pay better wages and only charge reasonable prices at the company store, he decided to sink a fortune into electrifying the mine so that mules and boys wouldn't be needed anymore. Also, Mrs. Bennet knew William and Callum were going to be walking in a certain area, so she sent Lizbeth and Jayne out to pick up discarded coal. Which meant they were covered in coal dust when they meet the gentlemen. Then William objected to the Bennets (and others) taking the discarded coal when he's not the owner yet and is supposed to care about the locals welfare.

Add to that, the author often didn't use the right words, so I kept having to stop to figure out what she really meant. For example, she used "veiled" when she meant "unveiled." One girl gave darned socks as a Christmas gift, but I assume it was knitted socks. There's a pocket watch made of 'solid gold,' which wouldn't work and would be very heavy, but William's constantly checking the time on it. This is an advanced readers copy, so some of this will hopefully be fixed in the final version.

The basic interactions between the characters were enjoyable enough, though the first proposal scene was very weird. William started taking off pieces of clothing and baring skin while stalking closer to Lizzy as he asked if she would marry him. Kinda creepy. There was no sex or 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.

Noble by Mesu Andrews

Noble
by Mesu Andrews

ISBN-13: 9780764242625
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: August 19, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Princess Maakah of Geshur is duty-bound to create a political alliance for her father through marriage. The cancellation by King Saul of her betrothal to his fourth-born son compels Maakah's father to arrange an unexpected marriage to the rebel David ben Jesse, a shepherd-warrior anointed years earlier as Israel's future king. Maakah obeys her father's wishes out of duty as her nation's only heir. While alliances shift and enemies loom, Maakah navigates the delicate balance between her heritage and her growing respect for David's faith and leadership. In a land torn by war and divided loyalties, she must choose where her allegiance lies.


My Review:
Noble is historical fiction set in ancient Israel. It's the 2nd book in the series, but you can understand this one without reading the previous book. Maakah longs for friendship and a close-knit family, and she thinks she's getting it by marrying David. Both Ahinoam and Abigail, in a vote of no confidence in David and God (and themselves) pushed David to marry Maakah because she could tell him how to be a king. So she tried to advise him (usually with very bad timing and a chunk of arrogance) only for David to repeatedly lose his temper and tell her that only Yahweh could tell him how to be king. But he's enticed by her beauty so can't wait to marry her.

I found David's seduction of Maakah very off-putting. David claimed he's passionately in love with Ahinoam and Abigail, that he'd never break God's law about marrying a foreign wife (especially as Maakah worshiped false gods), and that he wouldn't break God's law about having multiple wives again. After all, he already had three wives, though the author acted like Michal didn't count, though David clearly still considered her his wife in 2 Samuel 3:14. Anyway, before there's an official betrothal, David repeatedly held Maakah in his arms, touched her face, called her "my love" in public, kissed her, and otherwise acted like he had the right to casually invade Maakah's private spaces.

Since King Saul lost God's favor by not obeying God's command and by acting as a priest, it bothered me that David basically acted as a priest--even though he had Abiathar, the High Priest who had the ephod and could enquire of the Lord. The priests taught the Law and interpreted it and led the worship of God, but David fulfilled these roles in this story. Ahinoam asked David how he decided which Laws his people needed to follow, and David basically said he didn't push the ones he thought too hard to follow. David could have asked the High Priest to enquire of the Lord about marrying Maakah. Instead, he decided based off of the fact that he lusted after her and he'd asked God to take away the attraction if he wasn't meant to marry Maakah. Everyone but Joab just accepted David's claim that marrying Maakah was God's will (though Joab approved of the match for political reasons).

Too many things were just improbable. Ahinoam took David's newborn, firstborn son and heir to a forge, apparently making weapons with the baby strapped to her chest. It's hard enough keeping a baby alive without taking them near hammers, hot fires, and pointy objects. Maakah's maid managed to turn 90 of David's followers from Yahweh to worshipping a false goddess in 8 days (as they met David's group when Ahinoam was giving birth and the idolatry was uncovered right after the baby's circumcision). And this was right after God gave David's army a miraculous military victory that everyone witnessed.

And though the author said she stayed true to the Bible account, she didn't always. For example, David stated that only Noah's family survived the global flood...along with supernatural giants, who then turned the surviving humans against God at Babel and who were the giants of David's time. The Bible does not say the giants of David's time were supernatural or decedents of giants from before the Flood nor does it indicate anyone survived the Flood except Noah's family on the Ark.

I also had a hard time accepting the author's portrayal of Uriah as the one leading the discontent against David. In the Bible, he's always portrayed as loyal: Uriah was one of David's most loyal fighters, the Might Men (2 Samuel 23:39). He was allowed to marry Bathsheba, who was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s counselor, and daughter of Eliam, one of his Might Men (2 Samuel 11:3, 2 Samuel 23:34, 2 Samuel 15:12). He acted more honorably than David in 2 Samuel 11. The fictional Uriah is not like the Uriah of the Bible.

There was no sex or 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.

A Slowly Dying Cause by Elizabeth George

A Slowly Dying Cause
by Elizabeth George

ISBN-13: 9780593493588
Hardcover: 656 pages
Publisher: Viking
Released: September 23, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Michael Lobb has just been found dead on the floor of his family’s tin and pewter workshop. It’s suspicious enough that his body was found by a representative of Cornwall EcoMining, a company keen on acquiring his family’s land, and it’s made even worse when he’s revealed to have been the majority owner of the business and the sole obstacle preventing a deal from being made. But it doesn’t take long for Inspector Beatrice Hannaford to unearth details about Michael that point suspicions elsewhere. Like Kayla, a young woman half Michaels’ age, who has just been made a widow.

Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers eventually poke their noses into the crime to search for justice on behalf of a friend.


My Review:
A Slowly Dying Cause is a mystery set in the UK. It's the 22nd book in the series, and, no, you can't really start the series with this book (as I found out). Lynley and Havers were a part of the story from the beginning, with details about their personal struggles (which aren't interesting if you're brand new to the series). However, Lynley didn't get involved in the mystery until the last fourth of the story.

The initial investigation was carried out by other characters, then was sort of dropped while waiting for forensic results, followed by an off-page arrest. Nearly at the end, the lead investigator realized that the obvious suspect was almost too obvious and she hadn't interviewed people that she should have, etc. That's when Lynley came in, helping wrap up the loose ends and determine exactly what had happened. I'd figured out whodunit and why back in the first third of the novel, so I was disappointed that I had to slog through the sex lives of practically every character in the book--none of which I cared about--to learn that I was right.

While there weren't highly detailed sex scenes, people sure thought about sex or had sex a lot. The murdered man rejected his faithful wife for a girl 23 years younger than him, and he only wanted her for the hot sex. The man who found the body lost his job and wife because he was carrying on with one of his young students. The teen boy and girl who found the murder weapon did so while having sex. And we got a detailed backstory on every character, even if they never showed up again. This felt like filler and slowed the pacing. At 656 pages, I'd expected a detailed, complex mystery and got sex, sex, sex. There was also a lot of bad language. Basically, this wasn't my type of 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.

Out of Time by Irene Hannon

Out of Time
by Irene Hannon

ISBN-13: 9780800741907
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: October 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For historical anthropologist Cara Tucker, the chance to spend a sabbatical semester on a remote country estate--with full access to its vast library and helping translate a centuries-old journals--is a dream come true...until a series of strange incidents begin to turn her dream into a nightmare. Someone, it seems, does not want anyone diving into the past and unearthing old secrets.

Sheriff Brad Adams has seen his share of suspicious activities during his law enforcement career, but what's happening at the isolated estate is out-of-pattern in his quiet, rural Missouri county. Beset by danger, Cara and Brad work together to try to untangle the clues. But when the peril turns lethal, the situation takes on a new urgency, and their mission is clear: Find out who is behind the string of menacing incidents before the perpetrator strikes another deadly blow. 


My Review:
Out of Time is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Though the 3rd book in the series, it works as a standalone novel. Cara travels to a large, wooded estate to work with an older woman, Natalie, in translating a journal written by Natalie's ancestor. It was written a century ago in a French dialect that few still know. It's great information for Cara's research, except strange things start happening, bringing Brad out to investigate.

The reader gets the viewpoints of Brad and Cara as well as of several people that are messing with the older woman to try to manipulate her: someone worried at what the journals may reveal about an ancestor, someone who wants Natalie to become more dependent on them, and someone in financial difficulties who believes treasure is hidden on the land. With the number of 'bad guys,' the suspense was high even though only one killed to achieve their goal.

The characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Brad and Cara were quickly attracted to each other (both physically and their character) and started spending time getting to know each other better. They got along well, especially since Cara's need for special hearing aids didn't bother Brad.

Brad, Cara, and Natalie were Christians, which affected how they treated people. Natalie was willing to give people a second chance if they confessed and were sorry for what they did. 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.

The Daughter of Shiloh by Terri J. Haynes

The Daughter of Shiloh
by Terri J. Haynes

ISBN-13: 9798891511996
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: October 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Lealie Bevard, a determined Tuskegee Institute student, attends the Shiloh Baptist Church convention in Birmingham on September 19, 1902, to request a scholarship for continued education at Howard. But a beautiful gathering turns tragic when a stampede breaks out and Lealie is injured. While convalescing at the home of fellow Tuskegee student Milton Rafferty, Lealie’s concerns for her future are set aside to help Milton uncover a mystery revolving around missing church funds and a possible murder. Perhaps a pause in Lealie’s well-laid plans can be used for good and lead to love.


My Review:
The Daughter of Shiloh is a romance set in Alabama in 1902. Lealie is smart, and her home church (Shiloh Baptist Church) has paid for her to go to the Negro technical college, Tuskegee Institute. She's studying to be a nurse, but she applies for a scholarship to get a classical education at another college and become a lawyer. Milton's studying to be a doctor at Tuskegee Institute and is asked to attend the Baptist Church convention as an example of an excellent Tuskegee student. He's reluctant because the members of Shiloh Baptist Church blame him for his father's possible involvement in the arson that destroyed their first church. Both Lealie and Milton are present when someone cries "Fire!" in the crowded sanctuary and a panicked crowd trampled many to death.

Based on a true event, Lealie and Milton had to deal with their physical and mental injuries from the tragedy. They used their nursing knowledge to help the other injured, and then Lealie used her accounting skills to help deal with the incoming donations for the injured...and to uncover that someone's stealing from the donations. But how to prove it?

The main characters were likable and felt like real people, reacting realistically to events. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, creating a distinct sense of the time and place. Lealie and Milton supported each other and found healing. Lealie felt arrogantly confident of her bright future only to have that threatened by outside events. She came to realize that her plans were not God's plans. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, well-written 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.

Dangerous Montana Inheritance by Jenna Night

Dangerous Montana Inheritance
by Jenna Night

ISBN-13: 9781335957290
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: September 30, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Attacked on the property she unexpectedly inherited, Rose Balfour barely escapes with the help of former hostage negotiator Henry Walsh. Someone is determined to keep her from testifying at a loan shark’s murder trial. But when she does and the danger continues, Rose suspects there are answers in the house left to her. Teaming up with Henry, Rose uncovers surprising evidence and a powerful enemy determined to silence them. Not even Henry’s isolated ranch is a safe refuge. With their lives on the line and captors closing in, can Rose and Henry expose the web of secrets—before they vanish forever?


My Review:
Dangerous Montana Inheritance is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 4th in a series but works as a standalone. Henry had a crush on Rose back in high school, but he knew that his parent's criminal reputation would always color how people in the town saw him. He left to join the military and later work at a private security firm. Now he's back to get his inherited ranch in shape to sell. Rose left for college, but she quit to return and constantly bail her parents out of their bad decisions, like taking a loan from an unscrupulous lender. That man has since been murdered, and she's a witness at the trial. Two men try to kidnap her so she can't testify, apparently worried she knew more than she did.

We're repeatedly told that Henry had no plans to live in his home town due to his parent's reputation, and he didn't have a job elsewhere. Rose wanted to leave to finish college. They could both leave and be together elsewhere, but they made it sound like the only real option was to live locally so Rose could continue to 'help' her parents. I was disappointed that, in the end, she still felt responsible to spend her resources on making her parents happy. Rose couldn't defend herself from attack, so she was grateful for Henry's free protection and that he always came to rescue her. Both Henry and Rose decided that they'd misjudged each other and that they were a good match.

The story had some realism issues. For example, multiple professionals had guns but they always tucked them into their waistband, like they'd never heard of a gun holster. And the professional hitmen never made any effort to hide their identities, which was the only reason that law enforcement finally figured out who they were. The police didn't look for fingerprints or other clues. Hopefully some of this will be fixed in the final version as I read an advanced reader's copy.

The main characters prayed for help. 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 Sisterhood by Tasha Alexander

The Sisterhood
by Tasha Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781250374981
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: September 23, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
London, 1907: When the Season's most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.

Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.

Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain's fearsome warrior queen.


My Review:
The Sisterhood is a mystery set in 1907 in England. There's also a secondary story going on in 60 that tells about Boudica's revolt, which is only linked to the main story because someone found a tomb they thought might be Boudica's. This book is the 19th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this story didn't spoil the mysteries of the previous books.

Historical and setting details were woven into the story without slowing the pacing. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. I was mildly frustrated that Emily and Colin didn't ask very good questions and went off on tangents, discovering a lot of information relating to possible motives while dropping the question of who could have given the poison. When they finally asked the right questions and got proof of whodunit, the reader wasn't allowed to know whodunit until the reveal (though I had finally worked out whodunit shortly before). The 'why' for the first murder was explained, but details about the second murder were sparse and seemed to conflict with some previous information on timing. The story ended abruptly, leaving a lot of loose ends.

There were no sex scenes, though married sex was implied. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery, but I enjoyed this author's earlier mysteries better.


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.

I Killed the King by Rebecca Mix; Andrea Hannah

I Killed the King
by Rebecca Mix; Andrea Hannah

ISBN-13: 9780063379619
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Storytide
Released: September 16, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a decade of war, the kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia have finally agreed to peace. As nobles and magic wielders from both countries arrive at remote Castle Avendell for a historic all-night masquerade to celebrate, King Costis summons an unlikely group to his chambers: the crown prince, his Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, and the palace’s questionable new healer. But before Costis can get the treaty signed, the castle goes dark.

When the lights come back, the king is dead—murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guard knew of, and with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters lacing the blade.

With no clear killer—and everyone a suspect—they make a risky pact: Tell no one until the treaty is signed. But when a winter storm seals everyone inside and someone aware of the king's untimely death begins to pick off guests one by one, the six suspects must work together to discover who killed the king . . . before one of them is next.


My Review:
I Killed the King is a suspense novel that happens in a fantasy world. The suspense was well done as I kept turning the pages to see what happened next. People (including main characters) died one after another. It didn't really feel like a mystery, though, because each of the six viewpoint characters (prince, princess, king's guard, healer, beast tamer, assassin) knew information that the reader then knows which strongly hinted at who is behind the chaos. The king's killer confessed about halfway through, but the main characters still needed to stop the bad guy behind everything. At the end, they think they accomplished this, but the reader knows they didn't: they only made things worse. So not really a happy ending.

The fantasy world wasn't developed very far, mentioning things like unicorns and basilisks (which are snakes with deadly venom in this book), but most of it was just backdrop stuff to establish that there was magic (not much used in the story) and 13 gods (of which a few play a role). The characters weren't initially very developed either, though they became more realistic and less like simply roles by the end of the book. The prince spent most of the crisis thinking about how much he loved his male guard and looking to him to solve the crisis. The healer drank himself insensible, though he became more proactive after someone he loved was killed. The princess was starting to develop some independence and use her cleverness by the end, yet she also loved someone she shouldn't and ended up unhappy.

One character liked to cuss, so there was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex, though there certainly was enough longing and thwarted love.


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.

Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey

Two Seconds Too Late
by Dani Pettrey

ISBN-13: 9780764238499
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: April 1, 2025

Source: Bought.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a luxury spa and couple's retreat turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes without a trace, just hours after a public fight with her boyfriend. Worried something sinister has happened, her friends reach out to investigator Riley MacLeod, an expert skip tracer, for help. The assignment means going undercover at the retreat, which means pairing up with private investigator Greyson Chadwick. Their partnership ignites a tumultuous mix of attraction and conflict as Riley's unorthodox methods clash with Greyson's meticulous approach.

As they delve deeper into the case and a ruthless hitman is unleashed upon them, Riley and Greyson find themselves fighting not only for justice but for their very survival. In their race against the clock, they can only hope that they're not too late.


My Review:
Two Seconds Too Late is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second book in a series, but it can be read as a stand alone. We get Kelly's viewpoint (the missing woman) as well as that of Riley and Greyson, so the reader has a better idea of what's going on than they do. Kelly drops off a key at Riley's but doesn't stay to tell her what it opens. Now killers are after both Kelly and Rily since Kelly stole a lot of money from crooks to return to someone they wronged in the past. Only knowing that Kelly's disappeared, Riley and Greyson look into the background of Kelly and her boyfriend then go undercover to the couple's retreat that she disappeared from. They discover criminal activity and must survive while bringing the bad guys to justice.

The physical danger to the main characters and others kept the suspense high. The characters were smart, complex, and dealt with realistic struggles. I cared about what happened to them. Riley and Greyson built each other up and worked well together even though their different styles created some tension. They were Christians, and Greyson struggled to trust God with his future rather than trying to control everything. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful 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.

Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills

Canyon of Deceit
by DiAnn Mills

ISBN-13: 9781496485151
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: Sept. 9, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story, especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet. As the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot.


My Review:
Canyon of Deceit is a Christian romantic suspense. There was plenty of suspense due to physical danger, both from the wilderness landscape they were searching and from the bad guys. The man who asked for Therese's help in saving his kidnapped daughter was clearly withholding information, but she felt responsible for her sister's death and so was willing to risk her life to save the young girl. She asked Blane to come with her as backup.

As this is an Advanced Reader Copy, some of these issues may be cleared up in the final version. However, I sometimes had trouble following the wilderness descriptions. For example, Therese returned to the trail head, yet she was obviously still off trail, out in the middle of nowhere. Neither Therese or Blane talked normally. When Therese learned that a serial killer who wanted to torture and kill her was after her, she responded with: "fear rises like the sun and binds me to take precautions." Or "No respect for human life continues to play out" or "Questions pelt me like someone throwing stones" or the thought "The men who'd bled and died placed my caution on high alert." These things kept me from getting immersed in the story.

The main characters also did illogical things. They were trying to sneak around behind the bad guys, had to camp, and deliberately made a fire that would be visible to the enemy. Later, Blane waited until nightfall before making his smoke signal, which somehow was seen only by the good guys. Blane had a severe concussion and an badly injured arm, but as soon as he visited a hospital, he was back to driving and gun fights. I wish hospital visits were so miraculous.

Blane's friend has talked with him about God, and he discovered Therese also believed despite the bad things that have happened in her life. When badly injured in the wilderness, he seriously considered what they'd told him about God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this twisty 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 Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen

A Sea View Christmas
by Julie Klassen

ISBN-13: 9780764242441
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: September 2, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With a promise to her youngest sister, Sarah Summers declares that this year's Christmas at Sea View will exceed all expectations. But the arrival of Callum Henshall--dashing Scottish widower and returning guest--blows a flurry of doubts into her mind. Sarah had discouraged his attentions before and is once again torn between attraction and duty. Yet even while she's busy managing the family's guest house, alluring thoughts of a second chance at love weave their way into her practical heart.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Georgiana eagerly anticipates the exciting Christmas of her dreams after last year's dull, disappointing holiday filled with endless chores. She enjoys all the promised parties, music, and dancing, but is taken by surprise when young love comes knocking. Does the festive romance of a Sea View Christmas hold the key to a happily-ever-after for both sisters?


My Review:
A Sea View Christmas is a Christian romance set in 1820 in Scotland and England. This is the 4th book in a series, and it's best understood and enjoyed if you've first read the previous novels. Georgiana's now old enough to be interested in a visiting young man who's a fop. Only, he's more interested in the things that Georgiana enjoys and cares about than she expected. I assume their romance will complete in the next novel.

Sarah's romance with Callum really happened in a previous novel. In this story, Callum would marry Sarah at any time, but she kept finding reasons to put him off. Sarah's mother told her that one can always find a reason to put things off. Sarah likes to feel completely necessary for Sea View to run and that she can't be replaced, so she tells herself it's her duty to stay and help her mother when that's not even being asked of her. I liked the character growth as Sarah came to realize what was really holding her back, but I guess Sarah went "Yes! No... Yes! No..." so many times that I just got exasperated with her.

A lot of the story was actually the details of what a 1820s English Christmas would have been like, from the games played to how various foods were made. The many historical details were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. The characters were generally likable and acted in realistic ways. Sarah had to learn to trust God with the future rather than trying to control everything herself. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Things We Keep Hidden by Jill Lynn

Things We Keep Hidden
by Jill Lynn

ISBN-13: 9781335045003
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Released: August 26, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The last time lifelong friends Payton, Isley and Clara were together, Clara broke their unwritten rule and brought up the one thing they never talk about. And now, more than twenty years after their friend Cece took her life, they must confront that night as the three women and their husbands gather at Isley’s Breckenridge vacation home. With tension already simmering just below the surface of their relationship, they’re each left shaken when a cryptic note Tell the truth or I will.

Who is the message for and what does it refer to? The women fear it could be linked to the truth they’ve kept hidden since the night Cece died. Or maybe it has something to do with one of the problems they’ve each brought with them. Isley’s son is in rehab after narrowly avoiding jail time. Clara, usually so careful to follow rules, is haunted by the one night that she didn’t. And Payton struggles to accept her husband’s desire to get divorced.

As the weekend unfolds, all three will revisit the bonds they share and the challenges that have shaped their lives. And by the trip’s end, a truth that shocks them all will be revealed.


My Review:
Things We Keep Hidden is general fiction. I had mistakenly thought it was a Christian book, but there's no mention of God (or Jesus) and the main characters strove to solve their problems in their own strength and wisdom. However, there was no sex or bad language. Even though we're introduced to 8+ main characters within the first chapter, the author did a good job of making them each distinct. I had no trouble remembering who everyone was, their problems, and their relationships. Perhaps to prevent slowing an already slow start, details about the characters came out over time.

However, the characters KNEW what problem they were thinking about (when you're supposedly in their head and know their thoughts) yet they only vaguely referred to various problems for over half the book. Even with all the hiding, the truth behind what happened with CeCe was predictable (yes, I guessed it before the reveal). And what the girls did that they hid was meant to be supportive of CeCe, so obviously everyone forgives them. It's a non-issue at this point yet these women couldn't see this and were burdened for a good chunk of their life over it.

The author kept me at a distance by hiding rather than inviting me into the main character's problems, so I never bonded with any of them. The author didn't seem to understand how farms work, so even that couple's very vague farm problems were hard to relate to because they didn't make sense to me. Despite two of the women being control freaks, they missed what was obviously happening under their noses. And the meaning behind the "Tell the truth or I will" was a bit of a letdown.

Also, these women were supposed to be best friends, yet they spent the first part of the book trying to hide their troubles from the others. Why? When they did, they all did act like good, supportive friends, so why try to pretend their lives were fine? It wasn't a bad story, but it just wasn't relatable to me. It felt like they self-inflicted a whole lot of stress over minor issues while the major ones were just glossed over.


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 Silence in Belgrave Square by Jennifer Ashley

A Silence in Belgrave Square
by Jennifer Ashley

ISBN-13: 9780593549933
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: August 12, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kat Holloway knows that her beau and confidante Daniel McAdam has a talent for dangerous work as a Scotland Yard agent. At long last though, Daniel’s coldhearted boss has promised that after a final mission, his debt will be repaid, and he’ll finally be free. However, Daniel must risk his life one last time, masquerading as a secretary to an elderly viscount who could be the mastermind behind the recent plots against the Queen and her government.

Using her contacts throughout London, Kat discovers several of her friends and colleagues have been victims of vicious blackmail. They’ll do anything to protect their scandalous secrets, even conform to the blackmailer’s political agenda. If Kat and Daniel wish to save each other and the Crown, they must prove the blackmailer’s identity and evade those who will stop at nothing to eliminate them.


My Review:
A Silence in Belgrave Square is a mystery set in 1884 in London, England. This is the 8th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the mysteries of the previous books.

Kat started off investigating a series of blackmail letters based off of dated information while Daniel went undercover to investigate a suspected bombing plot. Kat couldn't stand the danger Daniel was in and so did things that drew attention to herself (along with the danger). In the end, she basically dropped her investigation in favor of solving the bombing plot and the murder of several people in the household that Daniel was intended to investigate. The mystery was clue-based. Kat asked questions and followed up on leads. She again charged off to confront a murderer (this time to save someone and assuming help was on the way), creating a suspenseful ending.

The main characters were interesting and likable. Historical details were woven into the story. There was no sex. There was occasional use of of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful 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.

Final Approach by Lynette Eason

Final Approach
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780800741228
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: August 5, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is not on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity.

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there's more to this story than meets the eye--and more to love and admire about each other. They'll have to put their skills to the test--and their hearts on the line--to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails.


My Review:
Final Approach is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 4th book in a series, but it works as a standalone. So someone hijacks a plane full of law enforcement officers on their way to a vacation in a certain city. He merely intended to divert the flight to another random town. Why did they never ask if a major crime was going to go down in the place they were headed to? Anyway, someone's pulling people's strings to manipulate them, and it was pretty obvious to me who was doing it. Whodunit became more obvious as events piled up and clues were found. I understand why Kristine didn't make the connection until the very end, but whodunit practically waved a flag with some of their statements which should have made someone look a little harder at whodunit for at least one event.

The main characters were likable, capable people who reacted realistically to events. Kristine and Andrew worked well together and supported each other. The suspense came from danger to several characters. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.

Death in the Countryside by Maria Malone

Death in the Countryside
by Maria Malone

ISBN-13: 9798892422697
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: August 12, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sergeant Ali Wren has recently returned to her charming Yorkshire hometown of Heft, accompanied by her trusty canine companion Officer PD Wilson, a Springer Spaniel with a nose for trouble. Together they are the police force quietly serving the town.

When Brian, an older resident, reports his wife, Melody, missing, Ali at first suspects a routine case. Melody, tired of playing dutiful wife to an inattentive husband, may simply have left. But suspicion soon begins to mount when it emerges that Brian’s first wife died under tragic circumstances and Ali uncovers evidence of Melody’s recent puzzling behavior.


My Review:
Death in the Countryside came across as a cozy mystery even though the heroine is a police officer. Ali's the only police officer in a small town, and her main job seemed to be to help people get along. Ali's dog partner was trained by her and mainly acted as an emotional support dog. People liked to pet the attentive dog and would say things to him that they weren't comfortable saying directly to Ali. She occasionally let the dog off his leash to sniff around with the vague assurance that he'd let her know if he found something important. He found several critical clues with no obvious guidance from Ali on what he should look for (a dead body, drugs, evidence, etc.).

The mystery was clue-based and was paced more like a detective mystery. Ali gathered information, followed up on clues, and used police resources to dig into background information and such. She tended to assume the best about people and helped them out even when they didn't ask for help. I was willing to accuse whodunit long before Ali had the proof she needed to do the same. I liked that she did get her proof for the missing woman, the murder, and the bakery shops rivalry.

There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron

The French Kitchen
by Kristy Cambron

ISBN-13: 9781400345267
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: August 5, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs--an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine searches for answers about what happened to her brother. Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own.

Rue, 1943 -- Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier works as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list. She passes on information to rebel networks working against the Vichy regime. Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm.


My Review:
The French Kitchen is a historical suspense and romance. While there were 2 main perspectives (Kat and Manon), we also eventually got point-of-view scenes from their love interests. The author initially switched between three timelines: Boston, USA in 1943, where Kat's brother disappears after stating he's going to join the war efforts. Kat's recruited into the OSS as a field agent lured by promises of helping her find her missing brother. Rue, France in 1943 where Manon works for the French Resistance as a chef in a kitchen feeding high ranking German officers. Kat ends up working with her. Paris, France in 1952, where Kat returns to find her missing brother and marries a Frenchman who worked under the Germans during the war. Kat's not sure if he was also helping the Resistance. It was a little confusing to keep track of everything until the 1943 timelines merged.

As people working for the OSS were caught, it's clear they needed to uncover who's leaking OSS information to the Germans. The unexpected third traitor at the end didn't really make sense, partly because the motive was rushed over, but the story otherwise held together once all of the pieces were revealed. Incidentally, Julia Child and the cooking classes were only a very minor part of this story.

Manon's a very determined woman willing to risk her life to get revenge for her family's deaths. Kat's courageous, observant, smart, able to read lips, and prepared for dangerous situations. Two men come to admire and love these two women, but secrets from the wartime cause rifts until the secrets were uncovered by Kat. The main characters acted realistically and were complex. It felt like they could have been real people. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, creating a distinct sense of the time and place. The suspense was created by the constant danger of being found out by those quite willing to kill anyone working against the Nazis.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful, interesting 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 Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe theater production

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

My Review:
I thought I'd do a review of a theater production by The Logos Theatre, as it is based off of a book. I've now seen "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" twice, first with extended family in the standard seats and again with two friends in the premium seats. The ages ranged from 6-years-old to 79-years-old, and we all loved this amazing show. There were children even younger than this present at the shows, and they appeared to handle it fine. Both seating areas were good, though the actors do walk down the aisles so I personally liked being near the aisle.

The show closely followed the book, only making a few changes that helped it work better on stage. They brought out the heart of the story: Aslan's sacrificial, redeeming love. The acting was excellent from everyone and drew you into the story. The beavers added just the right touch of humor to keep the story from getting too grim or scary. The costumes and set were well done, and even the music was well chosen to support the needed mood. It's a high quality production, and I'd highly recommend it to everyone, especially fans of the books.

The production is on tour--currently in Branson, MO, next in Washington DC, and then in Williamstown, KY. Check show times and places at: https://thelogostheatre.com/the-logos-theatre-on-tour/

(All opinions are my own, and I got nothing in return for this review. I just want to support an amazing production and make sure people who otherwise might not have known about it will have a chance to enjoy it.)