Pride and Practicality by Pepper Basham

Pride and Practicality
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9780840717719
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: November 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Thomas Bridges, the new rector of St. Groves, has a simple plan: gain the support of local wealthy parishioners to finance a boarding school for the orphans of St. Groves. With his stellar reputation and good heart, everything seems to be working well, even if he has to avoid his mother's matchmaking with the eligible ladies of the town. But his plans are rerouted when the "lost" sister of Lord Ravenscross returns and she happens to be the same woman in which he shared a secret and unexpected kiss eight months before.

Arianna Reeves has returned home a secret heiress, trying to redeem her past. With money to spare, a desire to earn back the favor of those she loves, and a hope of being useful she not only puts herself in harm's way to help the children of St. Groves but creates an "anonymous benefactress" to support Thomas Bridges' plan. However, their mutual attraction threatens to not only defrock Thomas but also ruin all their best-laid plans for the children.

When a man from Arianna's past comes to St. Groves with a plan to expose Thomas and Arianna's secret, their future together seems impossible.


My Review:
Pride and Practicality is a lust-motivated romance set around 1814 in England. However, the main characters were very modern in their attitudes so it didn't feel true to the period. I mean, Arianna rudely told off Thomas' uncle (whom she needed to impress to marry Thomas) and thought this would be the way to win him over. She was rude to a lot of people due respect and felt justified. Anyway, Arianna at least didn't try to hide that she'd made the choices that led to her ruin, but she also proudly refused to try to repair her reputation. She wouldn't even take a companion with her when visiting the rough sections of town and brothels. Rather than learning from her past, she actually encouraged Thomas to kiss her and welcomed it.

Thomas viewed himself as so much more morally pure than his fellow clergymen, yet he fell in lust at first kiss (taken in a dark garden with a woman he didn't know, which may have started accidently but sure didn't end that way). When he met Arianna again, he was constantly thinking about kissing her, nearly kissing her in public (thus making their reputations worse), then kissing her every chance he got, including in a dark closet. By the end, he's willing to give up his calling as a rector so he can bed her. He knows so little about her and has no plans for how he can support her (as he doesn't know she's rich), but that didn't matter.

And don't tell me he loved her: he helped her by sending her off to a compassionate rich woman and never followed up to find out if she made it or how she was doing. When they met again, he didn't try to find out much about what had happened (like who her seducer was, which caused problems later). She had no respect for him. She wouldn't follow his advice, no matter how sensible, and would stubbornly fight with him for no real reason. He'd just think about how that passion would be in the bedroom. Her own brother warned him she'd always be stubbornly defying him but, hey, the making up afterward would make it worth it! Seriously? This is a "Christian" book? No wonder we have so many divorces.

There were no sex scenes (though plenty of passionate kissing scenes). There was no 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.

Montana Christmas Target by Terri Reed

Montana Christmas Target
by Terri Reed

ISBN-13: 9780369784551
ebook: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: October 27, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sculptor Fiona Halverson is shocked to stumble upon her ex-fiancé’s murder—just before a masked attacker attempts to abduct her. She’s rescued by FBI Special Agent Bryce Springs, who is investigating a counterfeit ring that points directly to Fiona’s art gallery. Forced to flee from a dangerous crime boss during a brutal blizzard, Fiona and Bryce must uncover how her gallery became part of a criminal operation—and prove her innocence. Facing armed adversaries and the treacherous storm, they’ll risk everything to expose the truth.


My Review:
Montana Christmas Target is a Christian romantic suspense. Fiona agreed to marry a man that encouraged her sculpting and sold her art, but she broke it off when she found him with another woman. Worse, she's now discovered that he stole money from her and used her to enable a counterfeit bill operation. If she wasn't so clearly a target of bad men trying to kidnap her, Bryce would assume she was in on it. Instead, she's willing to help him get information from her business computers to track down the bad guys. He had to keep her safe and free while working with other law enforcement to stop the head of the counterfeit ring.

Fiona was repeatedly attacked and even kidnapped, but she never stopped trying to get free while thwarting the bad guys. Bryce admired her character and beauty, but his job always came first, which broke up a past relationship. She appreciated that he risked his life to protect and help rescue her. Still, she doubted her judgment after trusting such a manipulator as her murdered ex-fiancé. The main characters were engaging, interesting, and reacted realistically to events. There was no bad language or sex. 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 Scheming in Parliament by Erica Vetsch

A Scheming in Parliament
by Erica Vetsch

ISBN-13: 9780825448638
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: August 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating the halls of Parliament from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he’s quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club.

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening England's government.


My Review:
A Scheming in Parliament is a Christian romance set in 1816 in England. This is the second book in a trilogy about Philippa and Bertrand and continues their story. While it can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading the trilogy in order.

Philippa had to deal with the challenges of running a mission to help prostitutes learn a skill and find a job in another trade. One woman that took refuge there had been drugged, abused, and barely managed to escape the men forcing her into sexual slavery. Bertrand acted as a spy in the House of Commons to discover who was managing to pressure other MPs to vote his way. He joined the men's club at the center of the scheming and discovered how the blackmail was carried out.

They worked together to uncover information and then rescued some people who were being held captive. Philippa enjoyed the respect that Bertrand showed her, but her reputation was already iffy so I was disappointed that he risked her reputation (if she'd been recognized) several times. The ending, where Philippa's determined to never marry in one scene and agreed to a pretend engagement in the next, left me surprised by the sudden change. However, overall, it was an enjoyable story with engaging characters.

Historical details were woven into the story. There was an ongoing theme of everyone asking themselves, "Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?" Which is a little odd for spies to be asking, as obviously they think their job is justified, but hey. Philippa explained to several woman about God's forgiveness through Christ. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


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

A Thieving at Carlton House by Erica Vetsch

A Thieving at Carlton House
by Erica Vetsch

ISBN-13: 9780825448621
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: September 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Prince Regent has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. It's the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother's long shadow. His superior, the Duke of Haverly, wants him to form his own team. However, Bertie must change his persona along with his role, reforming his rakish reputation.

Philippa Cashel escaped a life as one of society's best-known courtesans and now devotes her time to helping other women in dire straits. Her hope is that laboring hard enough at her charity work will allow her to feel worthy of God's forgiveness of her past. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about becoming an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. Why her? She's focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not on cloak-and-dagger skullduggery.

But when two of Philippa's rescued girls are accussed of stealing the jewels, Philippa risks partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop a killer.


My Review:
A Thieving at Carlton House is a Christian romance set in 1816 in England. Philippa and Bertrand have shown up as secondary characters in previous trilogies, and now characters from those stories make appearances in their trilogy. However, you can understand this story without reading the other stories since the author provided the needed background information.

Philippa was forced to earn her keep as a courtesan when her father, an Earl, cast off his mistress, her mother. She's never forgiven him, but her half-sister offered her a way out of that life and supports her efforts to create a charity school to help other prostitutes learn a skill and gain a placement in another trade. Due to her past, she didn't feel worthy of God's love. She came to accept and give forgiveness.

Bertrand enjoys spying but felt out of his depth acting as a detective. The servants at Carlton House won't talk to him, leaving him with very few clues. He treated Philippa with the utmost respect, like a lady, making her wonder if his reputation wasn't accurate. They worked together to solve the case and start the charity, supporting each other's talents. Historical details were woven into the story. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


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

Missing in New Mexico by Kathleen Tailer

Missing in New Mexico
by Kathleen Tailer
Caroline Turner Cole (Narrator)

ISBN-13: 9781488240218
Audiobook, Unabridged: 288 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: Sept. 29, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sheriff Joaquin Fuentes stumbles upon a desert car crash in New Mexico, rescuing Luann St. John from the smoking wreckage—but this was no accident. Someone sabotaged her vehicle to stop her from uncovering the truth about a twenty-year-old plane crash tied to her father’s disappearance and diamond smuggling accusations. As danger closes in, Joaquin is determined to protect Luann, even as they’re hunted at every turn. The truth could clear her father’s name—or drag Joaquin and Luann into a deadly grave.


My Review:
Missing in New Mexico is a Christian romantic suspense. Joaquin was abandoned by his wife, who divorced him and left him and their daughter behind. Luann has wondered for 20 years if her father abandoned her mother and her, stealing diamonds and fleeing the country. The loving father she remembers would have contacted them if he was still alive. Convinced that her father was forced by the true thief to board a small plane that later crashed, she traveled to the crash area to find out the truth. As soon as she started asking questions about the crash, someone started trying to kill her and Sheriff Joaquin became involved.

The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the attacks on Luann, from car crashes to arson to shooting. Joaquin was attracted by her beauty and determination to find the truth. She appreciated that he was willing to protect her even to the point of potentially dying to save her. They came to care about each other as they spent time investigating what happened to her father. They were both Christians and asked God for guidance and protection. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job, making it easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. She used different voices for the different characters and narrated the story in a way that allowed me to become immersed in the 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.

Fatal Pattern by Kate Angelo

Fatal Patter
by Kate Angelo

ISBN-13: 9780800746643
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: September 15, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A stalker attacks forensic psychologist Dr. Tori Crew at knifepoint, shattering the strong independence she's built since her parents' unsolved murder. Forced into an off-the-books criminal investigation, Tori must push her expertise—and her fiercely guarded heart—to the breaking point as a killer's pattern emerges.

Homicide Detective Blade St. James has been Tori's friend and protector since childhood. Haunted by his own past of parental abandonment, Blade is determined to build a stable life and find the peace that always seems just out of reach. But when Tori's life is threatened, his protective instincts shift into overdrive. As they are plunged deep into a conspiracy with roots in her past, the boundary of their friendship blurs as danger closes in and their hearts reveal a truth they can no longer deny. Can they unmask the sophisticated serial killer before they become the final, fatal piece in the pattern?


My Review:
Fatal Pattern is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second book in the series. Even though this book had different main characters than the first book, I felt like I was missing a lot of information because I hadn't read it. For example, the main criminal of the first book was killed while in prison. I only knew of one criminal in that case (whom Tori and Blade had just interviewed in prison, the interview cut short due to a lockdown). I assumed he was dead until they went to talk with him again! Also, people and the author kept commenting about how Tori and Blade's shared past gave them a close bond but this past wasn't described until near the end. Anyway, I'd recommend reading these books in order.

While there was suspense from repeated attacks by Tori's stalker, the pacing felt slow. The author included a lot of unnecessary details, like a description of every car Blade drove around. When they interviewed a prisoner who knew about the death's of Tori's parents, he talked about how interested he was in fractals. They dismissed his comments as delay tactics. Then Blade saw a fractal painting during another interview (about a murder), and Tori dismissed it as a distraction. After yet another interview where fractals were mentioned, they finally caught on. Basically, it just seemed like they didn't catch on to significant things very quickly.

The main characters were complex, well-developed, and likable. Tori and Blade worked well together since they'd known each other for many years. It took events and some nudges from friends before they realized that they cared about each other romantically and not just as close friends. They also had to work through their childhood traumas as the current events brought up things that started in their pasts. They worked together to interview people, look at crime scenes, and make profiles to solve the current killings and the cold case of her parents' murders. In the process, they peeled back how deep the corruption in the area had gotten (which is an ongoing part of the series).

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.

In These Hills by Tamera Alexander

In These Hills
by Tamera Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781496475626
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: September 8, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1905. Josephine Dunham is running for her life. After a women’s suffrage rally in Atlanta turns deadly, she buys a one-way ticket on the first train out and lands in rural Tennessee. There, Dodge Coburn—a rough-edged stranger with undeniable appeal—begrudgingly offers her a ride to Lynchburg, a speck of a town where Josephine hopes to disappear.

Battered and desperate, Josephine has little to say when Dodge delivers her to Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House. Hoping to work in exchange for room and board, she soon discovers the only job matching her skills is at Jack Daniel’s Distillery, an irony not lost on a suffragist committed to prohibition.

Dodge is skeptical of Josephine’s claim that she’s on the run from an abusive husband. But between running Jack Daniel’s cattle farm and raising his young niece, he has little time or inclination to press her. When Josephine’s convictions and compassion draw him in, Dodge begins to consider marriage, while Josephine must face a world far more complicated than the principles she’s held to.

As Jack Daniel’s Distillery gains national recognition, Josephine’s secrets resurface. In a place where whiskey making takes time but justice is too often hurried, Dodge and Josephine must decide what—and who—they’re willing to risk everything for.


My Review:
In These Hills is a romance set in 1905 in Tennessee. Josephine's parents and twin brother worked to help others, but her brother was murdered and her parents died soon after, leaving her alone in the world. She's found purpose in the women's suffrage movement only to be attacked in an alley by the mayor's son who wants to teach her a lesson. She hits him then can't find his pulse. She certainly won't get justice even if it was self-defense. With unexpected help, she manages to get to a town remote enough that she hopes no one will hear the news about her. She believes that alcohol is responsible for men abusing women, so she's not sure how to handle the kindness of whiskey-maker Jack Daniel, who offers her a job as his office manager. Dodge keeps an eye on her, not fully trusting her, but he has a cattle crisis to deal with along with raising his dead sister's daughter.

Josephine came to snap judgments about practically everyone she met, and she kept assuming the worst about Dodge despite the way he helped her. Josephine did grow as she got to know people and learned that some issues aren't as clear-cut as she thought. If you like 'justice wins out despite all odds' endings, this isn't one of those stories.

The characters were interesting, acted realistically, and I cared about what happened to them. The historical details were woven into the story and brought the setting to life in my imagination. 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.

Texas Cold Case Murder by Laura Scott

Texas Cold Case Murder
by Laura Scott
Emily Sutton-Smith (Narrator)

ISBN-13: 9781488239045
Audiobook, Unabridged: 203 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: Aug. 25, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Texas Ranger tech specialist Nina Dobson is determined to uncover the truth about her identity and her birth mother’s unsolved murder when she suddenly comes under gunfire. The danger intensifies as she discovers her uncle dead, forcing her to flee. Desperate for assistance, she reaches out to Texas Ranger Jackson Woodlow. With threats emerging from every direction, Jackson instantly assumes the role of protector. Together, they delve into Nina’s mysterious family past, each clue drawing them further into peril. Can they outsmart a killer who wants a secret to stay buried?


My Review:
Texas Cold Case Murder is a Christian romantic suspense. Nina was adopted as a baby after her mother was found murdered and never identified. Using a DNA family-finding service, she connected with an uncle with a criminal past. He said her mother's death was his fault but he'll only answer her questions in person. Yet he has just been murdered when she arrives, and now hit men are after her, too. Is it related to a drug-related case where her team will be called on to testify or is it about her mother's murder?

Nina and Jackson investigated, uncovering clues and interviewing people. The suspense came from the ongoing attacks on them. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Nina liked and trusted Jackson, but he's known for dating casually so she's wary. He's admired her for some time. Now that he's a Christian, he has not dated at all but hopes that Nina will someday show an interest in him.

Jackson prayed briefly before every meal, often asking for guidance on solving the case and for safety. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.) and it was easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. She read the story in a way that easily kept my interest.


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.

Hunting an Arsonist by Jessica R. Patch

Hunting an Arsonist
by Jessica R. Patch
Lisa Larsen (Narrator)

ISBN-13: 9781488239014
Audiobook, Unabridged: 367 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: Aug. 25, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Forensic mechanic Helena Rutherford is investigating a serial arsonist targeting young women when her own house is set ablaze, trapping her inside. Officer Trevor Slate and his K-9 partner, Lark, arrive just in time to save her from the flames. But the discovery of her missing best friend’s bones among the ashes upends everything, drawing them into a puzzling cold case. With a dangerous killer on their tail, Helena and Trevor must unravel the mysteries of both cases before she becomes the next victim.


My Review:
Hunting an Arsonist is a Christian romantic suspense. When he was a young teenager, Trevor's mother ran into a burning home in an attempt to rescue his sister. His mother ended up with debilitating COPD. As penance for not running in himself, he's dedicated his life to caring for her and works with an arson detection K9 to solve arsons. Helena feels like no one could love her because she loves working as a forensic mechanic and isn't traditionally 'girly.' She and Trevor worked on three cases: the ongoing series mystery of the kidnapped pregnant girls, the serial killer arsonist case they had been working on, and the cold case of Helena's missing best friend.

Helena and Trevor actively investigated the cases, uncovering clues using their skills and interviewing suspects. They sifted through the evidence until they discovered the truth. The suspense came from the attacks on Helena and other women. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Trevor didn't believe he deserved a loving relationship or life outside of caring for his mother, so he struggled to embrace a relationship with Helena even though he admired and cared for her. Helena had trouble believing he genuinely cared for her, especially as he gave mixed signals. They had to work through these hurts to find love.

Trevor believed that his mother would go to heaven, and both Trevor and Helena believed in God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook got into the story, reading the story in a dramatic way. She did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.) and it was easy to follow who was talking and what was going on.


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.

Vanished in Montana by Jenna Night

Vanished in Montana
by Jenna Night

ISBN-13: 9781335919144
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: August 25, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
While delving into a mother-and-daughter disappearance, true crime podcaster Julia Crane receives an ominous threat at knifepoint: Stop the investigation or else. Narrowly rescued by Deputy Max Lone, Julia is more determined than ever to solve the ten-year-old cold case, now with the military veteran by her side. But as the new partners track down clues, the relentless attacks by unknown assailants go from dangerous to life-threatening. With dwindling hope that the missing victims are alive, can Julia and Max uncover the truth?


My Review:
Vanished in Montana is a Christian romantic suspense. Julia does true crime podcasts, yet she picked a case that no one's sure that a crime even happened. A mother and daughter at a homeless shelter were finally able to afford a home, but then they disappeared, leaving their things behind. Julia announced on her podcast that she was going to look into the case and where she was staying (so potenial informats can find her), but then she's attacked and told to not investigate. Deputy Max saved her and decided to spend his down time helping her solve the case. Julia's able to get some people to talk that hadn't in the past and uncovered what happened, passing on information to the detective in charge of the case. However, she didn't figure out whodunit until the final ambush exposed the culprits.

Max and Julia came to care for each other as they spent time together. The suspense came from repeated attacks on them, at first in warning and then to kill. Max had a military background and police training but didn't act like it. Instead of using a gun holster, he kept putting his gun in his waistband or on the truck's seat (while driving in a way that could make it slide off). He also had no faith in his aim to the point that he avoided taking a shot when the bad guy was exposed because Julia was nearby. But then he rammed his truck into the car that Julia was in, like that was safe. Anyway, they story was interesting even if a few bits were insonsistant.

Both Julia and Max were Christians who leaned on their faith to deal with life's struggles. 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.

The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz

The Heiress and the Woodsman
by Christine Hill Suntz

ISBN-13: 9798400507984
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: August 11, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Canada, 1837. Charlotte is determined to hold onto her family’s crumbling estate—the last vestige of their former place in Toronto society before her mother’s death and her father’s financial ruin. But when her missing brother Simon is suspected of aiding a political rebellion, Charlotte heads north to find him before his impulsive decisions ruin what’s left of their family’s standing and break her ailing father’s heart.

Joshua has worked tirelessly to carve a home from the wilderness for the younger brother he was forced to leave behind, only to learn his first harvest is nearly worthless and his brother has been sold into an indenture Joshua can’t afford to redeem. When a stranger offers him work tracking down a settler in the bush, he’s desperate enough to agree.

Nothing has prepared Charlotte for the challenges of surviving the wilderness. When Joshua comes to her aid, she offers to pay him for guidance through the bush. Though he knows a spoiled city girl will slow him down, he can’t refuse the money. As Charlotte and Joshua face the dangers of travel through rough terrain, admiration and friendship grow, even as class divides and hidden truths complicate their bond. But when they are caught in the crossfire of rebellion, they must decide if the futures they’ve fought for are truly their hearts’ desire—or if something unexpected awaits.


My Review:
The Heiress and the Woodsman is a romance set in 1837 in Toronto, Canada. Charlotte's been slaving away to keep the family estate running with the help of one elderly servant after her father lost their fortune. It's her duty to preserve the estate for her brother, the future heir. A neighbor says he'll claim her brother is a rebel so he'll be arrested and hanged. Her brother's off homesteading in a remote area, so impulsive Charlotte headed off with a poorly drawn map to find her brother, determined to get him to return with her. Joshua needed the money and was homesteading in the same area, so he agreed to guide her to her brother--and make sure she survived to see her home again.

This story just didn't feel realistic. For one thing, the author kept forgetting things she'd previously said. Like Joshua got down from his wagon, then suddenly he's back in the driver's seat. The author also had unrealistic things happen, like Joshua carried Charlotte in his arms while climbing a ladder. I read an Advanced Reader Copy, so some of this will hopefully be fixed in the final book.

Finally, I just didn't bond with the main characters. Charlotte played her role of thoughtless damsel in destress to the hilt. Charlotte gave away all of the food Joshua had for the winter and constantly put his life in danger with her impulsive stunts, yet that's easily forgiven. Probably because he wanted to be a hero to someone. And he's a gifted woodworker, but instead he focused on raising crops (very poorly) and didn't even realize that he needed to keep some seed for his own use rather than buying seed and flour back at a higher price.

To top it all off, Charlotte did come into money at the end, but Joshua--while claiming he'll be the one person to put her first--refused to let her spend her money on improving their life once they got married. He was determined to keep on slaving away as a failing farmer rather than use his woodworking gifts or her money. Pride! I know, people who make mistake after mistake without learning much deserve love, too, but it's not what I care for in a romance. 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.

In Too Deep by Susan May Warren and Tari Faris

In Too Deep
by Susan May Warren
and Tari Faris

ISBN-13: 9780800747619
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: June 30, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Weeks after the first Roosevelt treasure cache was discovered, the Grand Canyon has become a madhouse. Reckless treasure hunters swarm the park and a young college student dies. For Dr. Meg Lewis, the chaos hits close to home. She came to the park to stitch up cuts and wrap sprains—not dive back into a world of live-or-die medical drama that triggers her panic attacks.

Ranger Director and widower Noah Wilde, has spent years keeping everyone at arm's length, terrified that loving again will only lead to grief. He's not about to let any more deaths happen on his watch.

When another group becomes trapped in the dangerous Tapeats cave system, Noah assembles a rescue team with Meg as medical officer. But what they find underground isn't an accident. Someone has turned the caves into a death trap—and now the rescue team itself is the target.

As floodwaters rise and the cave ceiling collapses, their enemy hunts them. With no communication and innocent lives hanging in the balance, Meg must push past her past to figure out how to save lives and Noah must find a way out.


My Review:
In Too Deep is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second in a series but works as a standalone. Noah felt like he had to be in control as if everything depended upon him. He had to lead the rescues, and surely his wife and unborn baby wouldn't have died in a car accident if only he'd been driving. Meg loved healing people, forming relationships. But she froze during life-or-death situations as a young child and similar medical situations trigger her old panic attacks. When she's forced to deal with emergency situations in the field, she reconsiders a job offer in a research position. Though Noah can help Meg stay calm in medical emergencies, he acts on his attraction to her only to pull back, driving Meg to distraction with his hot/cold act.

Between volence due to the gold rush, young people needing rescue, storms, eathquakes causing cave-ins, medical emergencies, and attacks, the suspense stayed high throughout the story. The characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to them. Once Noah and Meg came to realize that God's in control so the situations didn't depend solely on them, they both were able to accept risks that used to overwhelm them. 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.

A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile by Angela Bell

A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile
by Angela Bell

ISBN-13: 9780764242144
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: July 7, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
London, England, 1895. Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines--until her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor, Alvan T. Harrison.

Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as a secretary by day and tends his disabled father by night, until taking a temporary job as event coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire. As strange occurrences surface, Charles's event planning collides with Margaret's case, and the pair must investigate the inventor's legacy while attraction sparks between them.


My Review:
A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile is a fantasy romance supposedly set in 1895 in England. The author made little effort to explain how things worked. Margaret and her father were geniuses, so of course their inventions worked. Somehow. Just don't look to hard. Some of the inventions made no sense: a steam-engine-powered vacuum? Do you actually understand how steam engines work, author? And the umbrella that could lift multiple people didn't appear to have a power source. Even people's attitudes and the technology available to everyone reflected much more modern times, so it didn't feel remotely historical to me.

Charles really saw Margaret and thought her beautiful and smart. His own father had struggles due to a stroke, so Charles understood her situation somewhat and honestly didn't feel like a life spent with her would be a burden. It's a sweet, fun romance that developed as they worked to solve the mystery. Well, the patent thief was pretty obvious. It was more about collecting the evidence needed to prove the case in a court of law.I liked their relationship.

The author spent a lot of time developing how Margaret suffered a severe injury to her back which left her in constant pain. Sometimes she's too tired to do anything, other times she could carefully dole out her energy. Her back also spasmed painfully when compressed (like a corset), after certain movements, etc. This sounds like a 'you can't push through it' injury that restricts what you can do. Yet, of course, we have her wearing a corset as a disguise (like the self-powered wheelchair doesn't give her away!) and still able to function. These back spasms were so bad it took up to an hour just to get out of bed, yet by the end she's doing things that would hurt a fully able-bodied woman with a great back. No real consequences beyond now being able to wake up to hanky-panky with her husband rather than an hour of pain getting out of bed. I wish that's the way things worked.

Margaret worshiped God with music when in pain. Both she and Charles found soul-healing in music and trusted God. 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.

Ambushed in Yosemite by Kellie VanHorn

Ambushed in Yosemite
by Kellie VanHorn

ISBN-13: 9781335919069
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: July 28, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Park ranger Skylar Jansen’s morning hike turns into a nightmare when she witnesses a man burying a body—and then the killer chases her through the wilderness. She’s saved by Special Agent Bode Tucker, a devoted single dad, who suspects a serial killer is at work. Soon it becomes clear that the killer may be connected to the cold case disappearance of Sky’s father. With targets now on both of their backs, they team up to investigate, but outrunning danger could be beyond their reach.


My Review:
Ambushed in Yosemite is a Christian romantic suspense. Skylar is the perfect damsel in distress, and I mean this in the nicest way as we are, after all, reading a suspense novel and most women aren't kick-ass law enforcement. Skylar's an average, kind woman with low self-worth and confidence. She often got in trouble because she didn't trust her own judgment. (The serial killer knows my name, where I live, and I don't really feel safe sleeping in my canvas-sided cabin, but the experts think I'll be safe with the police officer on guard outside, so, okay....) She's too trusting that people know what they're doing and are telling the truth. She had extremely good luck, though, in being matched with a serial killer that liked to play games rather than just kill his victim.

However, I can't imagine how Bode became a detective. The killer kept literally telling him the clues he needs, and Bode still couldn't figure out what was so blaring obvious. He did eventually figure it out when an evidence tech told him who the fingerprints belonged to, but the killer had to explain it to Skylar as he tied her up. Bode's also constantly running into known danger (as in, he knows it's a trap) because he can't stand leaving a loved one tied up as bait for even a moment. Sweet, but not generally a successful strategy. Some things just didn't make sense, like they knew that Skylar's phone had been used by the killer, and it's crime scene evidence at the very least. Yet she picked it up and just started using it again. Huh?

There was no sex or bad language. Despite the unrealistic elements, it was a sweet romance in that it gave hope that a man who wasn't that good at his job and a woman who wasn't very discerning could not only survive but end up happily matched.


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 Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde

The Light of Stars
by Jenelle Hovde

ISBN-13: 9798400502934
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: July 14, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore her and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift—especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control—and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and decide if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.


My Review:
The Light of Stars is a Christian romance set in 1814 in England and India. I had to keep reminding myself of just how very young and sheltered Kitty was. She's the daughter of a British man and a Muslim princess whose father ruled an area in India. When her father died (from the illness going around? or murdered due to politics?), the grandfather took her and her brother from the harem and raised them in England. Kitty deeply resented the East India Company for this, though I couldn't see how they were at fault. She idealized what life as a Muslim princess in India with her mother would have been like. Her main objections to Sebastian seemed to be that he didn't declare undying love for her, that he worked for the hated East India Company, and that he got to live in India and knew more about it than she did.

She wanted true love or her independence to pursue astronomy. Though Kitty's warned by several people that her behavior could cause a sandal, she publicly favored a suitor who's mainly interested in her money when people knew she's intended to marry Sebastian. She naively believed the man's flattery only to learn that the image she'd built up of him was an illusion and it's Sebastian that's been supporting her and trying to give her the things her heart desires.

Sebastian believed he could help guide East India Company in respecting the local workers while still making a profit for the British in India. Yet men that he respected were sure that there was more corruption and abuse than he's aware of. Both Kitty and Sebastian had to face reality and hard choices as secrets were uncovered. The characters were likable, and historical details were woven into the story that brought the setting alive. 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.

Conspiracy by Colleen Coble

Conspiracy
by Colleen Coble

ISBN-13: 9780840714671
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: July 7, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard--a chilling embodiment of Paradise's deepest fears--is now stalking her.

Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.

Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can't unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.


My Review:
Conspiracy is a Christian romantic suspense. This is the third book in a series and continues the story of the main characters in the previous books. Drew, Paradise, and Blake asked questions, found clues, and made connections regarding the deaths of Drew's and Paradise's parents. Two of the bad guys were pretty guessable as the clues built up, and they weren't a surprise to Paradise's group, either. While I didn't guess the main whodunit until the critical clue was uncovered, I did wonder at this person's behavior shortly before the reveal. This killer made a mild attempt to misdirect the investigation but did so by pointing them toward two major clues, one of which prompted Paradise to remember the truth. Basically, the killer needlessly exposed themselves, and I don't quite understand why (though the killer had plans to disappear, and I suppose killers aren't required to be logical).

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the danger from the attacks on Paradise. Blake and Paradise supported each other and worked well together. Paradise grew in her trust that God cared about her. 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.

A Killer on Campus by Rhonda Starnes

A Killer on Campus
by Rhonda Starnes

ISBN-13: 9781488238680
Audiobook, Unabridged: 208 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: June 30, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
After dodging bullets twice in one evening, forensic photographer Jane Mason realizes that she’s the target of a killer who wants to hide his crimes. Reopening the investigation of her aunt’s decades-old murder has painted a target on her back, and the culprit is closing in fast. Ridge Snyder—her estranged childhood friend and a former navy SEAL—is determined to protect her from the threats and uncover the killer’s identity. But safety is fleeting as the culprit escalates the stakes, setting deadly traps at every turn. Can Jane and Ridge unearth the truth about the past, or will the killer’s final move silence Jane forever?


My Review:
A Killer on Campus is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Jane, her twin brother, and Ridge were best friends as kids, but Ridge turned down Jane's request to date in high school because he felt she deserved someone who knew how to be a good husband. He then convinced her brother to enlist as a SEAL with him, which Jane opposed and said it'd end up with her brother killed. And she was right, so she's refused to talk to or acknowledge Ridge since then. She continued to barely tolerate his help when her life was threatened and he repeatedly saved her. She also kept making it hard for him to protect her by insisting they do things her way. But he knew her well and understood what he was getting into.

Jane finally came to realize how her actions had impacted various people, putting them in danger or causing Ridge to carry a heavy burden of guilt over her brother's death. She did change her behavior, forgive Ridge, and helped Ridge to forgive himself. I understood why she decided she had always loved him: who wouldn't want to be loved and protected even when you're not being that lovable?

The suspense came from the danger to Jane and those who helped her. They also tried to solve the old mystery, though Jane only uncovered one clue. Ridge had a strong faith in God and prayed over things that concerned him and didn't just ask for help in staying alive. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.), and it was easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. She read the story in a way that easily kept my interest.


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 Spy Keeper of Marseille Roseanna M. White

The Spy Keeper of Marseille
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9798400501784
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: July 7, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Marseille, France, 1941. Zelie Bellerose never fit the mold of an army officer’s wife. She was too passionate in her convictions, too indifferent to societal expectations. After her husband was killed in the war, Zelie focused on securing a brighter future for her children, hoping to help free her country from the Nazi regime by helping organize a spy ring. When the spy ring's leader is imprisoned, she has to take command of France’s largest spy ring.

Marcel Laurent was a renowned concert pianist before joining the French army and being sent to a POW camp. Freed in a prisoner exchange by a wealthy businessman with ties to the Resistance, Marcel agrees to spy for Alliance by conducting a youth orchestra, gathering intelligence from patrons. Marcel’s weekly radio broadcasts introducing the orchestra’s performances give him the perfect cover to send coded messages over the airwaves.

As Zelie and Marcel grow closer through their shared love of music, she begins to rely on him. But betrayal from within Alliance puts everything they’ve fought for at risk.


My Review:
The Spy Keeper of Marseille is a Christian romantic suspense set in 1941-1942 in France. Zelie's very believable as a woman who could run a spy ring primarily made up of men. We got to see how she developed the spy ring, learning from mistakes so they could do things better ways and grow the number of people involved. However, though we're repeatedly told how vital her work is, we're never really shown how the information they discovered led to a military victory or something like that. Given the repeated empasisis on how she's so vital and must not be captured, it made no sense that, at the end, she stayed behind to personally oversee the evacuation of their central command when others could do it and they knew that Nazis were on the way. It did lead to an enjoyable, exciting ending, but I still don't like it when authors have their heroines inexplicably do something stupid to create that ending.

That said, the characters were well developed, complex people. They acted realistically, and I cared about what happened to them. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, creating a distinct sense of the time and place. Marcel was uniquely able to support Zelie in her role and ecouraged her through his music and words. He showed her love without expecting (though hoping for) romantic love in return.

Both characters learned that God had a bigger view than theirs and to trust Him during difficult, confusing events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Protecting the Baby by Jodie Bailey

Protecting the Baby
by Jodie Bailey

ISBN-13: 9781488238628
Audiobook, Unabridged
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: June 30, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When a dangerous assailant trespasses on his ranch in the middle of the night, K-9 Officer Eli Blackwood must act quickly to outwit a kidnapper targeting his neighbor and her baby. Protecting veterinarian Carly Mayor and the infant she’s become guardian to means going off the grid and hiding out at his grandfather’s cabin. But who is after baby Ariel…and does it have to do with the mysterious deaths of her parents? Chased through the Colorado wilderness by deadly gunmen, Carly and Eli must work together to survive.


My Review:
"Protecting the Baby is a Christian romantic suspense. Eli lost his pregnant wife in an accident and is reluctant to love again. Carly's dear friends were both murdered within months of each other, leaving her as the guardian of their young baby. Someone wants guardianship of the baby so they can access her secret inheritance, but someone's also trying to kidnap the baby--why? Eli and his protection K9 not only protected Carly and the baby but worked to uncover what's going on. He also worked with his team to solve a ongoing case of a pregnant girl who's been kidnapped as the last in a series of kidnapped pregnant girls that have been found murdered after giving birth.

The suspense came from the danger to Carly and the baby as well as the looming deadline on finding the missing girl in time. Eli and Carly asked good questions, and Eli did a good job of protecting Carly. They fell in love as they spent time together. They'd already become good friends as neighbors, but the danger brought them closer together as they dealt with past and present hurts. Both trusted in God and prayed for help. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.), and it was easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. She read the story in a way that immersed me in the story and easily kept my interest. 5 stars.


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 Bachelor Spy by Pepper Basham

The Bachelor Spy
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9798891513693
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: July 1, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Stephen Blake's life goal is to protect people, especially those closest to him, but war in 1915 England doesn’t follow any rules. When Blake is informed that a noted German spy may have taken up residence at Havensbrooke Hall—his cousin Lord Astley’s estate, which is being used as a convalescent war hospital—he’s sent there to uncover the plot.

Lady Grace Astley has become a force to be reckoned with while Frederick is out on the war front. With Havensbrooke as a hospital, she’s shocked by the devastation the war is bringing home; but ever hopeful, she is determined to help these weary soldiers find some relief. However, not everything is as it seems inside Havensbrooke. Precious items soon start disappearing. . .and not just the kind that are worth a lot of money.

Through a case of mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, a kidnapping, and a race for time within the crumbling subterranean passageways beneath Havensbrooke, can Blake and Gracie work together to root out the criminals, thieves, and spies before time runs out?


My Review:
The Bachelor Spy is a Christian romance set in 1915 in England. This is the 5th book in a series. You can probably understand it without reading the previous books. However, it did spoil the whodunit and climatic scenes of all of the previous books, so you might wish to read the series in order. This novel had very little mystery to it. Three things were stolen from the house, and the thief of two items almost immediately confessed to Grace. Then Blake happened to overhear the other culprit explain to someone why he needed the stolen drawing. Blake's trying to figure out who, out of two women, is the German spy. He kept thinking through the exact same list of evidence for why one was the more probable, but he didn't do much more than listen in on conversations until new evidence made the German spies obvious. So it's not really a story about uncovering clues, and the main suspense was in the prologue and the fight scenes at the end.

The series originally appealed to me because the author poked gentle fun at unrealistic clichés in novels compared to reality. However, this story didn't do that. The heroine who doesn't realize she's pregnant theme? Grace is 5 months pregnant and has more reason than most to be very large at this point (though she isn't). She didn't know she was pregnant until Blake delicately suggested she get examined by a doctor. And, of course, Grace assumed this meant she must be deathly ill. The whole story was full of over-the-top clichés.

Blake was in love with Evie, a fellow British spy, which was the romance. Complete with kissing for a long time right when they both agreed how vital it was that they immediately stop the bad guys who were escaping. I also wondered why the bad guys waited until that moment to hand over their vital intelligence to their handler when the woman had a hidden radio set, and so on. Anyway. It's fun enough if you already like the characters.

Grace had to trust God with Frederick's life (as he was near the war front) and her own. There were no sex scenes nor any bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to fans of the series who don't mind clichés.


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.