The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin

The Wish Book Christmas
by Lynn Austin

ISBN-13: 9781496452528
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From the bestselling author of comes a nostalgic and endearing holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don't deserve. Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor's yellow Lab--since a dog topped the boys' wish list for Santa. Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love.


My Review:
The Wish Book Christmas is a Christian historical romance set in December 1951 in America. This book is a sequel to "If I Were You" but can be read as a stand-alone. However, you'll understand the story better if you read them in order.

Two single moms, Audrey and Eve, want to teach their children that Christmas isn't just about getting toys. It's about giving to others, like Christ did for us. Much of the tale was about these efforts and Christmas events like a funny Christmas play. But both women needed a reminder about accepting undeserved gifts. Audrey refused help from her father-in-law, even though it's kindly meant. Eve refused to marry the man she loves until she's paid back a debt because she can't forgive herself even if everyone else has. But Christ gave the undeserved gift of himself, and he's still giving good gifts to his children.

The characters were complex, realistic people. I cared about what happened to Audrey, Eve, and the people they cared about. Historical details about what life was like at the time were woven into story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this charming, well-written historical fiction.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Undercurrent of Secrets
by Rachel Scott McDaniel

ISBN-13: 9781643529943
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: September 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
As wedding coordinator for the 100-year-old steamboat The Belle of Louisville, Devyn Asbury takes pride in seeing others’ dreams come true, even though her engagement had sunk like a diamond ring to the bottom of the Ohio River. When the Belle becomes a finalist in the Timeless Wedding Venue contest, Devyn endeavors to secure the prestigious title with hopes to reclaim some of her professional dreams. What she hadn’t planned on was Chase Jones showing up with a mysterious photo from the 1920s.

A century earlier, Hattie Louis is as untamable as the rivers that raised her. As the adopted daughter of a steamboat captain, her duties range from the entertainment to cook. When strange incidents occur aboard the boat, Hattie’s determined to discover the truth. Even if that means getting under First Mate Jack Marshall’s handsome skin.


My Review:
Undercurrent of Secrets is a Christian romance set modern day and in 1926. Hattie was kind, hard-working, and resourceful. She helped out Jack even though he was taking over her unofficial position as first mate. Jack appreciated her help and supported her rather than feeling threatened by her. Devyn had control issues, only feeling safe when she could control every detail. Her boss helped her trust that God was in control and would give her strength to face life's uncertainties. Chase gently showed her that not all men are jerks and built her up.

The historical details about the steamboat were woven into the story. The mystery was a (nice) excuse for the two to spend time together learning about each other and a way to connect the stories, but it wasn't the main focus. It was interesting, but the reader (having both timelines) could guess a lot of it before the modern couple. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this sweet 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Deadly Summer Nights by Vicki Delany

Deadly Summer Nights
by Vicki Delany

ISBN-13: 9780593334379
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's the summer of 1953, and Elizabeth Grady is settling into Haggerman's Catskills Resort. As a vacation getaway, Haggerman's is ideal, and although Elizabeth's ostentatious but well-meaning mother is new to running the resort, Elizabeth is eager to help her organize the guests and the entertainment acts. But Elizabeth will have to resort to untested abilities if she wants to save her mother's business.

When a reclusive guest is found dead in a lake on the grounds, and a copy of The Communist Manifesto is found in his cabin, the local police chief is convinced that the man was a Russian spy. But Elizabeth isn't so sure, and with the fate of the resort hanging in the balance, she'll need to withstand the Red Scare and catch a killer red-handed.


My Review:
Deadly Summer Nights is a cozy mystery set in 1953 in the Catskills. The mystery was clue-based but pretty straight forward, so it's not really a puzzle to solve. There weren't many clues or even suspects. Elizabeth solved it once the final clues were found, and she set a trap to prove whodunit. The main characters were varied and engaging, and the overall story was interesting. Historical details about events, culture, and clothing were woven into the story, giving it a distinct sense of time and place. There was no bad language or sex scenes. 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.

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills

Trace of Doubt
by DiAnn Mills

ISBN-13: 9781496451859
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she's out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won't be easy for an ex-con.

FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He's always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law's account. So he's going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.

But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It's up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby--and the truth--forever.


My Review:
Trace of Doubt is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Denton believes Shelby's guilty of theft but he's never been able to prove it. When she's released from prison, though, he realizes that this smart, brave, self-sacrificing woman didn't steal the money. He's been putting the blame for a lot of things on the wrong person. Shelby would do anything for her family, especially her older, perfect sister. She's blind to the manipulation that Denton soon begins to suspect.

The main characters were caring, engaging, and reacted realistically to events. I found it believable that Shelby was initially fooled even though she's a smart woman, but then she still underestimated just how clever that person was even though she saw the evidence firsthand. After getting to know each other, Shelby and Denton grew into friends and then to care more deeply for each other. They used their unique skills to gather information to stop the person targeting Shelby. The suspense was from the increasing physical danger to Shelby.

The Christian element was mainly some questioning by Denton about how Shelby could trust God when He let so many bad things happen to her. 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.

Hooked on a Feline by Sofie Kelly

Hooked on a Feline
by Sofie Kelly

ISBN-13: 9780593199985
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's summer in Mayville Heights, and Kathleen Paulson and her detective boyfriend Marcus, are eager to attend the closing concert of the local music festival. The concert is a success, but then one of the band members is discovered dead shortly after it. At first it's assumed the death is a robbery gone wrong. Kathleen's certain that she, along with her trusty side-cats, Owen and Hercules, can help solve the murder.

Before his death, Kathleen had noticed the victim in the library researching his genealogy, and when she and Marcus take a closer look at the man's family tree, they begin to think a previous death of one of his relatives now seems suspicious. The more Kathleen thinks about it, the more this murder feels like it could be an encore performance.


My Review:
Hooked on a Feline is a cozy mystery. This is the 13th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the mysteries in the previous books.

It's a clue-based mystery. Kathleen is intelligent and knows how to ask questions without being pushy or accusing. While one might guess whodunit before then, the critical clue to knowing which suspect was a murderer came near the end. Kathleen figured it out at that point. The cats are intelligent and have cat abilities (disappearing and getting out of places) taken to a magical degree. Their actions drew attention to clues but they also provided humor with their antics. They're also acting more and more human-level intelligent as the series goes on.

There was no sex. There were just a few uses of bad language. 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.

Striking Range by Margaret Mizushima

Striking Range
by Margaret Mizushima

ISBN-13: 9781643857466
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
He was suspect number one--the man who tried to kill Deputy Mattie Cobb and may have killed her father thirty years earlier. But when Mattie and cold case detective Jim Hauck reach the Colorado state prison where they will finally get to interview him, he's found dead in his cell. There's only one clue: a map leading to Timber Creek and rugged Redstone Ridge.

Though she usually works with veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie's K-9 partner Robo has just sired a litter of pups, who require special, time-consuming care at Cole's clinic. Left to explore the map's clue without him, Mattie and Robo journey into the burned forest surrounding Redstone Ridge. But before they can finish their search they're called to help investigate the death of a young woman found in a campground filled with elk hunters. Identification of the deceased points to her having recently given birth, but the infant is nowhere to be found.

As a deadly storm descends upon the mountains, covering everything with a layer of ice and snow, Mattie and her team search for the missing newborn. The storm batters the area, taking its toll on the team and forcing the sheriff to call in reinforcements. When new evidence surfaces, they decide that finding the woman's killer will lead them to her baby, making them even more desperate to solve the case.

When they realize that Cole is alone in the high country with a person that Mattie now suspects, she and Robo take to the trail to find Cole.


My Review:
Striking Range is a K9-detective mystery. It's the seventh in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries except for events in "Burning Ridge."

The main characters were likable and complex, and they acted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. They dealt with personal struggles while solving the mystery. Mattie and Robo (her loyal and talented working dog) and Cole (the veterinarian who loves her) worked to solve the crimes. This was a clue-based mystery. It also had a lot of suspense due to the danger from the weather and the bad guys.

The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. The was some bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting and exciting novel.


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

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

The Mistletoe Countess
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9781643529868
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: September 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future.


My Review:
The Mistletoe Countess is a Christian romance set in 1913 in America and England. While likely a standalone, I'd love to read more adventures of Grace and Frederick. The characters were so enjoyable. Grace is full of life, enthusiasm, determination, and a lively imagination. She realizes that she has a lively imagination but still gets a thrill when her life resembles a novel that she's read. She's also determined to be a great heroine in her own life story. Frederick's a kind but deeply hurting man who is never allowed to forget his poor choices in the past. Grace builds up Frederick so that he has the courage to be a good hero rather than burdened down by his past and responsibilities. Grace and Frederick are a good match, bringing out the best in each other.

Someone's trying to kill Frederick and the deaths of his brother and father might not be from natural causes, but he's reluctant to examine just who would want him dead. Yet Grace is very enthusiastic about applying what she's learned from Sherlock Holmes and other mystery novels to solving this mystery--especially as it will prevent her from becoming a widow (or dead). She's clever and inventive, and she even saves the day.

Grace found comfort in the knowledge that God was with her and in control, even in a foreign land. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this thoroughly enjoyable and humorous 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.