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.)

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton
by Kelly J. Goshorn

ISBN-13: 9798891511774
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: August 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell is a hard-hitting investigative reporter for The Enterprise Daily. The catch? Etta must pen her columns under the nom de plume, Henry Mason—a fact that routinely puts a knot in her knickerbockers.

Leo Eriksson is a second-generation firefighter with a passion for rendering aid to those in need. When Leo discovers that Henry Mason is really Henrietta Maxwell, the fire department’s wealthy benefactress, he agrees to keep her identity secret. After a sudden blast rocks the Grover Shoe Factory, Leo and Etta team up to determine if the explosion is related to a series of suspicious fires in the area.

When an unnamed source reveals Etta’s secret identity to a rival reporter, she falsely accuses Leo of being the informant. As the truth comes to light, Etta must persuade Leo to give her a second chance or lose the only man she’s ever loved.


My Review:
The Undercover Heiress of Brockton is a romance set in 1905 in Brockton, Massachusetts. Henrietta wants to be an investigative journalist but is only allowed to do so under the name Henry Mason. When she's investigating, she wears men's clothing and acts like a man...and worries she'll make some slip that gives away her cross-dressing. (Like the fact she wears the very same, thick glasses in both disguises? No one notices that, though!) While investigating a potential serial arson case, Leo discovers her true identity. They decide to work together, but then a boiler explosion at the Grover shoe factory causes it to catch fire. Leo and his firefighting family help the rescue efforts, but the fire spreads too fast to save everyone. Leo and Etta work the disaster and then help those affected by the disaster.

The somewhat bumbling romance was enjoyable enough until both Etta and Leo refused to listen to or forgive each other. Someone figured out who Etta was and revealed her, and she decided it had to be Leo. She just accused him and refused to talk with him. He wondered if he ever knew the real Etta and held tight to his hurt at her lack of trust. His family told him that he needed to forgive her, but it seemed too big a rift to heal. But both decided they couldn't live without the (imagined person) they loved and jumped into marriage rather than actually getting to know each other. Sigh.

The characters were generally likable, and the descriptions of the fire and aftermath were interesting. Etta as a male reporter was very fun to watch as she did a wonderful job. So it made no sense that, one time, she arrived at the news office more than an hour ahead of deadline but neglected to tell her boss that she had a story until after the deadline (therefore setting up a conflict with another reporter). Also, I found Leo a little annoying with his double standards. Like he didn't want a brother to get caught in the fire during the rescue but seemed to want to die heroically saving people. He felt that Etta, as a woman, ought to put more emotion into her very factual and accurate news stories. At least he was supportive of her work as a journalist. 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.

Buried Wilderness Secrets by Jaime Jo Wright

Buried Wilderness Secrets
by Jaime Jo Wright

ISBN-13: 9781335957207
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: July 29, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Montana park ranger Aaliyah Terrence finds a serial killer’s burial ground—and narrowly survives the brutal attack that follows. And when cold case detective Wade Marlowe reveals that her birth mother was the murderer’s first victim, it soon becomes clear that Aaliyah has been marked as his next target. As their search into the past reveals old skeletons and puts Aaliyah in ever-increasing danger, she’ll have to rely on Wade to keep her safe. But will they discover the killer’s identity before she meets the same end as her mother?


My Review:
Buried Wilderness Secrets is a Christian romantic suspense. Wade once had an argument with his sister, and she was murdered that night after going off to be alone. Now he'll always go after a woman who's upset with him to make sure she's safe. Aaliyah was abandoned by her mother and, though she has wonderful adoptive parents, she's taken a DNA test to see if she can connect with her biological family. Wade now knows the identity of a cold case victim. Aaliyah's extremely upset to learn that her mother was that old, local murder case that was never solved. It didn't help that she had just stumbled upon a serial killer's graveyard, which may be linked to her mother's case.

Aaliyah said hurtful things to Wade and refused to talk with her family to punish them for not handling things the way she believed they should have. She often needed rescue and protection, but happily her super-talented dog was there to help and Wade always came after her to save her. I guess Wade liked being the rescuer because I can't quite understand why he was romantically attracted to her. On her side, she loved that he never abandoned her. Anyway, the main characters were generally likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense was created by ongoing attacks on Aaliyah. The mystery was a clue-based puzzle, though I guessed whodunit long before Aaliyah was captured by him.

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

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White

The Collector of Burned Books
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9798400501739
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: July 15, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list and even made incognito versions of the forbidden books to smuggle back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over.


My Review:
The Collector of Burned Books is a romance set in 1940 in Paris. Unfortunately, this story just didn't work for me as it became increasingly unrealistic. Chris started off alright, walking a fine line of not drawing the attention of the Nazis watching him but also trying to preserve books and their authors. He knew what the Nazis were like from personal experience. Yet when a Nazi accused him of being a traitor, Chris seemed to genuinely believe that he wasn't really in danger. He acted like he could just reason with fervent Nazis and they'd see the error of their ways.

Corinne seemed out of touch with reality from the start. She wanted to do something to help with the war effort. She wrote codes in books, sent them to her students who had returned home, and they would return coded books with war-related information to pass on to the Allies. Very little of the story was about this as mainly it's an excuse for why she stayed in Paris. Her spy boss knew that she's very opinionated, outspoken, and impulsive, yet he let her take this role. She intended to use banned books to send the codes through the mail even knowing this would, at the very least, draw German attention to the books. Worse, she coded the books before needing them and stupidly put them back in a library that only held banned books....so of course the Nazis took it over and began sorting through the books.

Being a sloppy spy wasn't enough. Corinne insisted on telling Germans whose job was to censor speech just how wrong censorship was. She's warned that a dangerous, zealous Nazi officer was interested in her, and she still told him publicly how wrong he was--and then didn't believe she was in any danger from him. Her experienced spy boss also didn't seem to think she was in danger. It just didn't make sense.

Chris and Corinne were Catholics and occasionally did Catholic rituals. Their faith was why they valued human life. 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.

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber

A Tarnished Canvas
by Anna Lee Huber

ISBN-13: 9780593639436
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: June 24, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin’s coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit’s aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage’s assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer’s intended target...and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends.


My Review:
A Tarnished Canvas is a mystery set in 1833 in Scotland. It is the 13th book in a series. It can be read as a standalone and didn't spoil previous mysteries. The main characters were complex, well-developed, and acted realistically. I enjoyed reading about them. A main part of the story was how Gage felt like he had to be useful to be lovable and Kiera feared the criticism that she knew she'd get for the subject matter of her latest paintings.

Overall, the story felt historically accurate and brought out some interesting details about the time period. Kiera, Sebastian, and their servants investigated the floor collapse. They uncovered clues and followed up on them. It was clear that the one man who died couldn't have been the target since nearly a hundred people were injured. So why sabotage the floor and who was involved? I was frustrated that they believed that the collapse was not targeted at a single person yet kept investigating who the intended target was like there was one. They're experienced investigators but were easily side-tracked, not following up on certain clues or asking certain questions that I felt they should have asked sooner. But I guess if they had then the mystery would have been solved too easily.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to fans of the series.


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.

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas

These Blue Mountains
by Sarah Loudin Thomas

ISBN-13: 9780764242021
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: July 15, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda is stunned to see Fritz's name in a photograph of an American memorial for German seamen who died near Asheville, North Carolina. Determined to reclaim his body and bring closure to his ailing mother, Hedda travels to the US. Her quest takes a shocking turn when, rather than Fritz's body, his casket contains the remains of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances.

Local deputy Garland Jones thought he'd left that dark chapter behind when he helped bury Fritz Meyer's coffin. The unexpected arrival of Hedda, a long-suffering yet captivating woman, forces him to confront how much of the truth he really knows. As he works to uncover the identity of the woman in the casket and to unravel Fritz's fate, Hedda and Garland grow closer. But with Hedda in the US on borrowed time while Hitler rises to power in Germany, she fears she'll be forced to return home before she can put the ghosts of her past to rest.


My Review:
These Blue Mountains is set in 1932 in Germany and North Carolina. I hesitate to call it a romance since only Garland seemed slightly in love. Hedda came to the USA on a temporary visa to retrieve her dead fiancé's body only to discover that he wasn't in the grave and that she didn't want to return to Germany. She overstayed her visa. Even though Garland told her she'd be deported since she didn't meet any of the exceptions for extending her visa, she went ahead and tried to anyway with a predictable result. She seemed to like Garland and her other potential love interest (who mainly wanted a German-born mother for his teen son), but she was completely content being single and teaching piano lessons. When Garland offered to marry her so she could stay, she laughed.

It wasn't until it was clear Garland really cared about her--and she really wanted to stay in America--that she suddenly decided she might love him. Someday. Also, she wanted to continue teaching at the college where her friends were, but Garland lived in a different town. This issue was skipped over (as well as the details about how they got legally married and the visa issue fixed). The epilogue simply showed a happily-ever-after ending.

That said, I enjoyed this as a historical. It was an interesting look at how people in Germany and the USA felt about the rise of Hitler and the changes that brought. Also, how non-combatant Germans had been detained at the beginning of WWI and about the village they made in a detainment camp located in the area. It showed how people might end up illegally in the USA and uncertain how to make things right without getting deported to a country that no longer felt safe. (It wasn't advocating illegal immigration, just used it as a way to increase suspense. Though it did bother me that law enforcement officers knew her illegal status and didn't push her to make things legal quickly.) While Garland did investigate the mystery, that was more an excuse for Hedda to stick around than the focus of the story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

Fire Mountain
by Dana Mentink

ISBN-13: 9780800746520
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: July 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she's suddenly in possession of someone's baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.

As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he's the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn't want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he's in this thing, like it or not.

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby's missing mother--all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.


My Review:
Fire Mountain is a Christian romantic suspense. Kit's been let down by everyone she's ever cared about, so she's determined to take care of herself and work as a solitary long-haul trucker. She has short-term memory loss after a concussion from the crash. Why was she in the danger area of a volcano about to erupt and with a baby in her care? Ex-cop Cullen feels responsible for his partner getting hurt when he rushed into a dangerous situation, so he quit the force. He stayed in the area of the volcano to help his neighbors evacuate their animals when he spotted the crash. They need to get out of the area immediately, but several men seem intent on killing them and the missing woman.

Cullen quickly realized that he needed to treat Kit as a capable teammate and not just someone to rescue or give orders to. They worked well together and built each other up. The danger came from the volcano's imminent eruption (blocked roads, mudflows, etc.) as well as the men after their property. Considering the real danger, it was a little strange that the men didn't just wait and attack outside the volcano danger zone since they weren't in danger of losing track of their target. Also, a few of the descriptions were a little hard to follow, though the important points were clear enough. There was no sex or bad language. 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.

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham

The Highland Heist
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9798891511415
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: July 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace's sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband's murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sister's they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother's inheritance.

The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias heads for the Highlands without them, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland. With a mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must discover hidden documents within the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.


My Review:
The Highland Heist is a Christian mystery set in 1914 in America and Scotland. This is the 4th book in a series, and you can understand it without reading the previous books. Grace and Freddie come to America to visit her sister only to discover Lillias standing over her murdered husband with the knife in her hand. Grace believes that her sister has been set up, especially since they also learn of an inheritance in Scotland that they must both claim before a looming deadline. Much of the story was actually in American, proving whodunit so that both sisters were free to go to Scotland. Once in Scotland, it's a race to find the needed hidden documents to claim their inheritance while the villain continued to try to prevent them from succeeding.

Grace is full of enthusiasm and a lively imagination fueled by books. She's very resourceful in the face of unexpected adventures. Freddie now enjoys being a sleuth and put together many of the clues. They questioned people and reasoned things out, passing on information to the police detective. Lillias constantly belittled Grace and her love of books and mysteries. Freddie defended Grace and built her up.

Grace and Fredrick trusted God with each other's safety. There was no bad language. There was implied married sex. Overall, I'd recommend this fun 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.

Can You Solve the Murder? by Antony Johnston

Can You Solve the Murder?
by Antony Johnston

ISBN-13: 9780143138884
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books
Released: July 1, 2025

Source: Advanced proof review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
There’s been a murder at Elysium, a wellness retreat set in an English country manor. You arrive to find the body of a local businessman on the lawn – with a rose placed in his mouth. It appears he was stabbed with a gardening fork and fell to his death from the balcony above. But that balcony can only be accessed through a locked door, the key is missing, and everyone in Elysium is now a suspect…

Gather the evidence and examine the clues. Choose who to interview next, and who to accuse as your prime suspect. But remember that every decision you make has consequences – and some of them will prove fatal…


My Review:
Can You Solve the Murder? is an interactive mystery, where you decide who the Inspector interviews next. It's set in England, so 'you' are the Inspector. You work with a Sergeant and Constable on the scene and get reports back from forensics and such. You read a section that may include clues, then you go to another section based on the clues you have and the choices you make.

You write down clue codes, like A3, which help direct which sections you read next. Some clues can be found thorough several routes, but most can only be found by following one route. Some choices end the story early but most will get you to the end. It does matter who you interview first as clues picked up early allow you to ask better questions later. However, you don't get to follow up every lead before you (the Inspector) suddenly decides you know whodunit and gather the suspects to do a Big Reveal and make an arrest.

I was enjoying the story up until this abrupt end. While I knew who didn't do it and suspected whodunit, I didn't have proof. In fact, on a second try through focusing on whodunit, I still didn't have proof. I only succeeded because whodunit confessed in front of witnesses. You need one of two specific clue codes (out of about 52 clue codes) in order to get this outcome and otherwise end up not solving the murder due to lack of evidence even if you have the right whodunit. I found this frustrating as I expected detective fiction have definitive proof to find, not just suggestive evidence and clues.

The author had the detectives ask good questions and discuss some of the evidence to help the reader reason through the clues. There's a cipher to decode, and you get bonus points if you figure out the ciphers before forensics explains how to decode it. At the end, you count up points for various clues that you found and are rated as a detective based on this. I just barely rated Master Detective through the points even though I didn't successfully prove whodunit. There were no sex scenes and only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this fun interactive mystery. I'll certainly look forward to any similar mysteries by this author in the future.


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.

Wyoming Wilderness Survival by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Wyoming Wilderness Survival
by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

ISBN-13: 9781335980700
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: July 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Just as EMT Tracey Graham’s murder conviction is about to be overturned, she is ambushed by the crime family who framed her — and now want her dead. Fleeing into the woods sends her into the path of ex-cop Callum Mitchell, who has his own history with her assailants. But when his secluded cabin comes under attack, the wilderness is their only escape route. With Callum’s toddler son in tow, they must evade hitmen while navigating treacherous terrain. But can they make it out alive when there are predators around every corner?


My Review:
Wyoming Wilderness Survival is a Christian romantic suspense. Tracey, Callum, and his dog made quite a team! The dog knew how to effectively protect his people. Callum's a sharp-shooter and prepared-for-emergencies type who knew how to survive in the wilderness. Tracey's an EMT with some skill in the forest and with guns. Considering the number of people after them, they had to be competent to survive. Not only were they up against bad guys who wanted them dead at any cost, but the terrain, weather, and wildlife were dangerous and provided many opportunities for suspense.

Callum initially helped Tracey because his wife had been bullied to death by the same brothers. As they spent time together and worked together, he was impressed with her compassion, courage, and the fact that she didn't complain about uncomfortable and painful situations. He respected her abilities and treated her as a partner, even entrusting her with his toddler son's safety. Tracey was grateful that he helped her despite the danger, as he soon became a target, too. They didn't pursue their growing feelings until they were out of constant danger (which I find realistic, so I approve). They spent time getting to know each other for 10 months post-adventure before the sweet proposal scene. This author most have read my list of pet peeves because she got everything right.

Both Tracey and Callum dealt with forgiving people who were unrepentant and cruel. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


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

Why Kings Confess by C.S. Harris

Why Kings Confess
by C.S. Harris

ISBN-13: 9780451417558
Hardcover: 340 pages
Publisher: Obsidian
Released: March 4, 2014

Source: Borrowed from library.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Regency England, January 1813: When a badly injured Frenchwoman is found beside the mutilated body of Dr. Damion Pelletan in one of London’s worst slums, Sebastian finds himself caught in a high-stakes tangle of murder and revenge. Although the woman, Alexi Sauvage, has no memory of the attack, Sebastian knows her all too well from an incident in his past—an act of wartime brutality and betrayal that nearly destroyed him.

As the search for the killer leads Sebastian into a treacherous web of duplicity, he discovers that Pelletan was part of a secret delegation sent by Napoleon to investigate the possibility of peace with Britain. Despite his powerful father-in-law’s warnings, Sebastian plunges deep into the mystery of the "Lost Dauphin”, the boy prince who disappeared in the darkest days of the French Revolution, and soon finds himself at lethal odds with the Dauphin’s sister—the imperious, ruthless daughter of Marie Antoinette—who is determined to retake the French crown at any cost.

With the murderer striking ever closer, Sebastian must battle new fears about Hero’s health and that of their soon-to-be born child. When he realizes the key to their survival may lie in the hands of an old enemy, he must finally face the truth about his own guilt in a past he has found too terrible to consider....


My Review:
Why Kings Confess is a mystery set in 1813 in London. This book is the 9th in a series. You can understand it without having read the previous novels, and it didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The historical information was woven into the story without slowing the pacing. It created a distinct feeling of that specific time and place and helped bring the story alive in my imagination. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Sebastian (with some help from Hero) investigated by questioning suspects and witnesses. Sebastian tracked down leads and asked good questions. There were plenty of suspects and I did strongly suspect whodunit near the end, but we didn't get the critical clues until basically the end.

There was a brief sex scene. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble; Rick Acker

Where Secrets Lie
by Colleen Coble;
Rick Acker

ISBN-13: 9781400345700
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: June 3, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
College professor Savannah Webster is ready to give her ex-husband, Hez, another chance, and she believes he's finally ready for them to face their many past trials as a team. But when Savannah finds evidence that points to Hez's old demons resurfacing, the fragile trust they've built begins to crumble. And it's not just their relationship that hanging in the balance--the survival of the university Savannah's family poured their lives into is also under threat.

Hez is determined to put his past mistakes behind him with his new role mentoring law students at Tupelo Grove University's legal clinic. His primary focus with the clinic is to help Savannah pull the university out of a pit of debt and bad decisions made by the previous leadership, including her father. But their quest for stability takes a dark turn as they try to root out the dangerous smuggling ring the university is entangled in, and their investigation puts them in the crosshairs of criminals who will stop at nothing to eliminate any obstacle in their path.


My Review:
Where Secrets Lie is a Christian mystery/suspense. It's the 2nd book in the series and continues the story from the first book. Savannah's still frustrating. She blindly trusted someone she knew was trying to break her and Hez up, and she didn't trust Hez even though she stated that he's never lied to her. Even at the end, she's so blindly loyal to her sister that she didn't connect the obvious dots. (We know Savannah's sister is working against Savannah's and Hez's efforts to save the university, but we don't know who she's working with.)

Hez was a clever investigator/attorney, but he suffered a head injury that made it hard for him to catch things. Some students were helping him, though, and he pulled off a clever strategy at the end. Savannah finally stood up to her father and also recognized that she had trust issues that she needed to deal with if her marriage to Hez was going to have a chance. Still, it didn't feel like she had really changed. The main characters came across as realistic, complex people, but I just don't like 'spending time' with Savannah.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense even if Savannah's behavior frustrated me.


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 Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz

The Lawyer and the Laundress
by Christine Hill Suntz

ISBN-13: 9798400507755
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: June 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with a couple other children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James asks her to become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady. Sara isn't sure she can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together. But soon, the forces of rebellion threaten their arrangement: James is accused of treason. Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.


My Review:
The Lawyer and the Laundress is a Christian romance set in 1837 in Canada. James struggled to raise his daughter properly while trying to keep his law partner out of trouble. He's joined the rebels who want to violently overthrow the oppressive government. James feels it's still possible to create needed change legally. Sarah was disowned by her rich father when she married a poor man. Now a widow, she does laundry for an inn where James's daughter is getting tutored along with the owner's daughters by a strict, harsh woman.

James was initially prejudiced against Sarah because of her obviously lowly station, but he recognized that she had manners and education far above that of most common laborers. Plus she built his daughter up and supported her against bullying. As James and Sara spent time together, they grew to respect and care for each other. The marriage proposal didn't come until nearly the end, and it forced both of them to face the problems in their past relationships. The characters were engaging, well-developed, complex people who acted realistically. The bad guy was subtly manipulative, and it took courage from Sarah and James's daughter to expose his lies.

Sarah struggled with why God didn't heal her sick husband and allowed her so many sorrows. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this excellent 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.