Genre Reviews

Peril on the Ranch by Lynette Eason

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 21:25:18 +0000

Peril on the Ranch
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9781488238475
Audiobook, Unabridged
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: May 26, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When an infant is abandoned on her ranch, foster mother Isabelle Trent will do anything for the child—even put her own life on the line. She might not know who left the little girl, but it’s clear someone’s after her and will kill to reach their target. With Isabelle’s ranch hand, Brian “Mac” McGee, at her side, can she survive long enough to protect the baby?

My Review:
Peril on the Ranch is a Christian romantic suspense. Isabelle and her husband ran a ranch (on land given to them) where they raised foster kids in a healing environment. He died, but she's still dedicated to raising the kids on the ranch. Mac lost his wife and baby in a car accident. In his grief, he left his job as a police officer and worked various jobs to save enough money to buy his own ranch. He's her new ranch hand, and he admires the way she cares for the kids. The kids help heal his heart. His response? To see if Isabelle would give up her ranch and foster kids to join him in his dream. Umm. Fellow, you like her for certain reasons and then want her to give those things up? Mac was a nice guy who protected Isabelle and the kids, but that nonsense just annoyed me. Happily, Isabelle had some insight into his issues and helped him get several of his relationships back on good ground (including with God).

The suspense came from several attempts by the abandoned baby's father to kidnap his child rather than try to legally claim the baby. He couldn't believe that his behavior was criminal. Someone else also had evil intentions toward Isabelle, though I can only conclude he was insane. His scheme made no sense and would have never gotten started, let alone succeeded, in real life. While Isabelle and the kids carried the story well and Mac ended up a good match for her after an epiphany, I found the suspense-ending so unbelievable that I was left feeling unimpressed. There was no sex or bad language.

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 spoke in a way that kept my interest. It was easy to follow what was going on. However, the 'voice' for some of the less frequently speaking characters sometimes changed. For a little bit, most of the male characters had higher-pitched voices than the women and they acquired a nasal accent. That was a little confusing.

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.

Survival in the Mountains by Carrie Stuart Parks

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 29 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Survival in the Mountains
by Carrie Stuart Parks

ISBN-13: 9781335957795
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: May 26, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Rescuing a woman from a burning car crash near his mountain cabin immerses undercover Fish and Game officer Joshua McGregor in a dangerous plot. But all Bethany can remember is being deliberately run off the road. Soon killers are hunting both of them through the unforgiving Idaho wilderness, and the discovery that Bethany’s identity has been erased has them grasping for answers. Now they must avoid treacherous traps and unexpected enemies…while trying to trust each other. But when the truth about Bethany's past proves even more dangerous than they imagined, can she and Joshua protect innocent lives—and save their own?

My Review:
Survival in the Mountains is a Christian romantic suspense. Joshua lost his family in a tragedy, so he choose a dangerous job as an undercover officer in a remote area to try to stop some suspected crime in the area. He saved Bethany when someone ran her off the road, but she couldn't remember much about the last few weeks or anything about the last hours. They started to retrace the research that led her to visit a previously unknown relative in the mountains when things got worse. Someone's erasing her identity, claiming that her house isn't hers, not to mention trying to kill her. I liked that Bethany's clever when she had to escape bad guys, and Joshua and Bethany worked well together. I cared about what happened to them. However, the reason the bad guys needed to kill her was a little hard to believe.

The main characters occasionally prayed. 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.

The Hidden Gate by Marlene Chase

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Hidden Gate
by Marlene Chase

Hardcover: 257 pages
Publisher: Guideposts Books
Released: January 1, 2020

Source: Borrowed from the library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Meredith Bellefontaine has recently reopened her late husband's investigation agency with her best friend and retired juvenile court judge, Julia Foley. Despite the anxiety that comes with starting a new business, leaving the comfort of her job as president of the historical society in Savannah, and recovering from a near-fatal heart attack. Meredith truly believes that this is God's next step for her life.

My Review:
The Hidden Gate is a mystery. Meredith and Julia investigated a case that Meredith's dead husband appears to have been investigating while also trying to learn more about a local family for a historical society. A local woman also hired them to find her mother, who deliberately disappeared from her life. Since the reader also gets the viewpoint of the hiding mother, we learn why she left. She knows what happened to the girl that disappeared years ago and fears retaliation. While Meredith did do some following up on leads and talking with people, the first case was basically solved by finding the hiding woman.

Since we know more than the investigators, the story read more like a romance (as Meredith literally ran into a love interest) and a historical (with the ongoing story of a white daughter of a prejudiced plantation owner befriending the black, hired help's daughter). There was no sex or 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.

A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A Chance for Kallie Mae
by Ann H. Gabhart

ISBN-13: 9780800746278
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: May 19, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kallie Mae Bertram has harbored two dreams since childhood: to learn to read and to one day marry Quinn Spencer. But her first dream slipped away when her little sister died of a fever and her mother passed in childbirth. Kallie promised to care for the baby and her younger brother, which meant putting aside her own desires in order to keep her family together. But then a moonlight school for adults offers Kallie hope of finally fulfilling that dream.

After Kallie's father forbids her from seeing Quinn, her second dream seems impossible until her frantic search through the woods for her missing sister leads to an unexpected encounter with Quinn--their first meeting in six years. The love they shared as children burns stronger than ever, awakening hopes Kallie thought were forever buried. But with their families locked in a bitter feud, following her heart could cost Kallie everything she's worked to protect.

My Review:
A Chance for Kallie Mae is a Christian romance set in 1911 in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky. The main characters were interesting, well-developed, and complex. I cared about what happened to them. Things started slow with each point-of-view character thinking about the past and how things got to this point, but then the characters had more interactions and things started moving forward.

Kallie and Quinn lived on land right next to each other, yet their fathers each held a deep grudge against the other's family. A brother of each couldn't go to school without finding a reason to fight, but their sisters liked playing together. Kallie and Quinn admired each other and want to marry, but they'd be disowned at best, forbidden to see family again. Each family depended on their labor to function. On the other hand, Kallie's father was pushing her to marry a crude, disrespectful man and her father was courting a widow, so things were going to change.

Kallie and Quinn prayed for a school when young, but it came too late for them. Now they finally had a chance to go to school when the Moonlight School for adults was offered by the new teacher. They saw each other at school and sneaked off to see each other at home, but neither was sure how to create a future together. An older neighbor lady encouraged them to seek God's help. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this nice 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.

In Pursuit of Civility by Jennifer Turano

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In Pursuit of Civility
by Jennifer Turano

ISBN-13: 9780764243868
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: April 21, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Annaliese Merriweather has been appointed the temporary headmistress of the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies while her sister is on her honeymoon, but she doesn't feel cut out for the role. Especially after she loses two of her most troublesome students during an outing to a county fair and has to recruit the help of Seth McCormick, an eccentric inventor, to retrieve them.

Soon after, one of those mischievous students disappears again, intent on pursuing a pirate map. Together, Annaliese and Seth set out to find her, accompanied by a menagerie of Annaliese's rescued animal companions. As they stumble from one chaotic situation to the next, sparks fly between Annaliese and Seth.

My Review:
In Pursuit of Civility is a romance set in 1885 in Chicago. This has the typical quirky characters that stand out from the crowd, and I did enjoy Seth. He's thoughtful and paid attention to what Annaliese said, giving her a spiders, for example, rather than a more typical gift. And this won her heart. They're both clearly in love with each other before halfway through, and the only thing holding up a wedding is that Annaliese is worried Seth wants a traditional wife. Just ask him, girl, as it's not like he acts like he's interested in traditional women!

My major problem with this book was the author avoided writing action scenes as much as possible, so little happened "on screen." It's people talking about what's going on, repeating what was just said (maybe even just a sentence ago), or talking about the funny action that just happened "off screen." Wordy, wordy, wordy, and instead of witty it just got tedious.

I also found Annaliese exasperating rather than funny. She meant well but she so often caused the problem she was trying to solve. Like taking 13-year-old girls to a fair (not known as a place for high manners) to practice their manners. Or allowing a 13-year-old who ran away to go treasure hunting (a reward) instead of going home with an adult. Or being willing to pay animal abusers a huge amount of money to acquire their animals when those people would just use that money to buy more animals, thus feeding the trade she's trying to stop. I just couldn't respect her.

The missing aunt prayed to God for rescue, and Annaliese's group "just happened" to learn her whereabouts, which she attributes to answered prayer. There was no sex or bad language. This is the last Jennifer Turano for me. I needed a laugh, but this wasn't it.

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 We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Where We Belong
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

ISBN-13: 9780593600856
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook
Released: April 21, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The life of Hester Haak, a widow with no children of her own, takes an unexpected turn when she opens her Kansas home to children from the bustling streets of New York City. The orphan asylum has entrusted her with two sisters and a young boy, and Hester is determined to provide a safe and loving environment for them. Despite the looming uncertainty of their stay, she rises to the challenge, embracing the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.

Meanwhile, Callum Holbrook is grappling with the loss of his wife and the despair that followed. Unable to provide for his family, he made the heart-wrenching decision to place his daughters in an orphanage, promising it was only temporary. Now, with a stable job and a renewed sense of purpose, Callum is horrified to learn that his daughters have been sent halfway across the country. Fueled by determination and love, he embarks on the difficult journey to bring them back.

Through their struggles and triumphs, Hester and Callum discover that family and love can be found in the most surprising places—and that the journey home is paved with hope.

My Review:
Where We Belong is a Christian historical set in 1931 Kansas. Hester's a widow running a store in a small town with an illiterate, elderly man helping her. She longs for children of her own and hears that an orphan train is stopping nearly, so she goes intending to adopt a school age girl. Though she lives in a small, 1 bedroom house, she bafflingly doesn't figure out where she's going to put this child let alone the three children that she returns with. (Luckily, her helper is handy at carpentry as, by the end, there are 8 people living in that house.)

Callum goes to get his two girls from the orphanage only to learn that it has closed down and his girls were sent out on an orphan train. It's his fault: they tried to contact him, but when he never responded or came to visit, they had to assume he was dead or didn't want the girls. He has to find the money to go after them, but even then, how can he leave the best job he's going to get during these hard economic times?

Hester and Callum don't even meet for over half of the book, so it's not really a romance. Most of the story was about Hester trying to raise her new children. Callum's eldest is determined to return to New York City to find her father. Hester's patience and love and the friendships formed with time cause the children to form ties locally. Callum can see that Hester loves the children, but his life is in NYC. She appreciates that he's kind, hardworking, and good with the children.

Several Christian characters helped Callum and his eldest daughter find their relationship with God again and trust Him with their future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical novel.

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

Retribution in the Mountains by Jodie Bailey

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Retribution in the Mountains
by Jodie Bailey

ISBN-13: 9781335957726
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: April 28, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When a planted bomb detonates in her car, former army investigator Melanie Shaw knows that her witness protection cover has been compromised. Suspecting that this was an inside job, she turns to the only person she can trust: her former love, Elliott Weiss--the man she once mistakenly accused of a crime. Despite their rocky history, Elliott agrees to help her, especially when it becomes clear there’s a target on his back too. But when secrets from the past are exposed and an old enemy reappears bent on revenge, one wrong move could be their last.

My Review:
Retribution in the Mountains is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 4th book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. Melanie went undercover as an investigator in Elliott's army unit after he reported accounting discrepancies. Everyone's a suspect, including Elliott since all the evidence pointed at him. Having gotten to know and care for him, she kept searching until she uncovered the true criminal. But she's now hunted by the group the criminal was a part of. When her witness protection is blown, she not sure whom to trust but heads for the man she still loves.

Due to the investigation being confidential, Elliott didn't know why the woman he loved just disappeared after he was accused. He believed the worst of Melanie. If the assassins weren't targeting him, too, he'd be reluctant to get involved with her again. While she still couldn't tell him the truth, he began to realize he's made some wrong assumptions. Despite this huge hurt between them, they worked well together. The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events.

Melanie learned what becoming a new person in Christ is like because she had to become a new person in witness protection. Elliott fought to be in control and not need any help, but circumstances made him physically vulnerable when he wanted to be enough protection for Melanie. He had to ask for help--first, in prayer to God, and then from his investigative team. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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 Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Lumber Baron's Wife
by Lynn Austin

ISBN-13: 9781496476388
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: April 14, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy, a friend of her husband, John, offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate Abernathy, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th-century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance.

My Review:
The Lumber Baron's Wife is a split-time Christian fiction. In present day, Ashley moved so that her husband could have his dream job but lost her dream job in the process. The move highlighted all of the differences between Ashley and her husband, like she wanted to buy the well-kept 150-year-old house and he wanted a brand new build. When Ashley got pregnant, her husband pressured her to get an abortion because finances were tight and he didn't want kids yet. Even though they knew a couple who wanted to adopt a baby, the conflict was framed as: have an abortion or raise the baby themselves. Though likable, the two had such different interests that I wondered why they even got married.

In 1873-1875, Hannah's 3 young children died when their doctor father unintentionally exposed them to diphtheria. Afterward, few people wanted him as a doctor since he couldn't save his own children. (The death toll from diphtheria is higher in young children and in crowded, unsanitary, and malnourished situations. About 9 out of 100 symptomatic cases were fatal, and the bad epidemic in 1878 in Geneva had a mortality rate of 1.9 out of every 10 cases. So it would be disturbing that a well-to-do doctor lost all 3 of his children.) A lumber-baron friend asked the doctor to relocate to a booming lumber town, and they accepted to get a fresh start. Hannah's forced by events to get more involved with life again, including befriending the lumber baron's young, wild wife, Kate.

We get Kate's diary and so see how she struggled with becoming a 'proper' wealthy wife and her disbelief that God would just forgive her if she asked. She tried to earn His forgiveness. She recorded what happened to her in the diary, so Ashley's solving of the mystery was a matter of finding the diary.

The characters were complex, realistic people. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, creating a distinct sense of the time and place. Hannah had to deal with her anger at God. 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.

When the Wolves Are Silent by C. S. Harris

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When the Wolves Are Silent
by C. S. Harris

ISBN-13: 9780593953891
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 14, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
London, 1816: When a notorious young aristocrat is burned alive on a windswept hill popular with neo-Druids, former cavalry officer Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, finds himself plunged into a murder investigation shadowed by tales of ancient human sacrifices and long-buried secrets.

The victim, Marcus Toole, was the only son and heir of a prominent nobleman. His closest friend—Sebastian’s own nephew, Bayard—claims to have passed out drunk before the attack and remembers nothing. But when Sebastian and his brilliant wife, Hero, delve deeper into the sordid activities of Bayard and his friends, they come to realize that Bayard may not be as innocent as he pretends. Following a tangled trail that leads from a disaffected former soldier-turned-highwayman to a courageous journalist and a Jamaican-born fencing master with ties to a radical political movement, Sebastian begins to suspect that Bayard and his friends are being targeting in revenge, by victims who believe they have no other recourse.

Then two more of Bayard’s friends are killed, their murders staged to echo the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. With the palace shaken by the fear of riots and one horrifying death following another, Sebastian must race to stop a ruthless plot that threatens the lives of innocents and could rip his troubled nation apart.

My Review:
When the Wolves Are Silent is a mystery set in 1816 in London. This book is the 21th in a series, but you can understand it without having read the previous novels. Interesting historical information was woven into the story without slowing the pacing. Vivid details 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 questioned suspects and witnesses, and Hero also helped gather information by questioning some people. Sebastian tracked down leads, coming up with a lot of potential motives before finally narrowing things down. However, I'm still not quite sure how Sebastian became so certain of whodunit, but he promptly acted to save the next victim even as they're attacked, which rather confirmed it.

There were no sex scenes. 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.

The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Manhattan Confessions
by Jocelyn Green

ISBN-13: 9780764239656
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: April 7, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Ivy Malone, the New-York Historical Society's librarian, is dedicated to preserving Manhattan's rich history, but when society grand dame Adeline King anonymously reveals her shocking life story, Ivy finds herself holding a highly coveted secret. Burdened with the responsibility of keeping Adeline's identity hidden, Ivy finds the matter increasingly complicated when two men claim ties to the elderly woman--one of them accusing Adeline of involvement in a crime.

Another dilemma brews when Ivy's cousin, Gina, is detained at Ellis Island for lack of proper documentation. Hoping an immigration service can resolve the misunderstanding, Ivy employs their help but is instead thrust into a dangerous world. With time running out, she must unravel the tangle of secrets that bind Adeline's past, Gina's freedom, and her own safety. How far is she willing to go to protect those she loves?

My Review:
The Manhattan Confessions is a Christian romance set in 1926 in New York City. It's the 3rd in a series but works as a stand-alone. Ivy lost her family when she was young, so she idealized family and was constantly looking for people to fill that void and provide her with an assurance she won't be abandoned again. Tom was dealing with lasting trauma from his war experiences. Tom protected Ivy against danger. Ivy's drawn to Tom's kindness toward others. Ivy and Tom built each other up and supported each other.

The main characters were well-developed and engaging. Interesting historical details were woven into the story, mostly about how some people were taking advantage of poor immigrants. I anticipated some of the "twists" but enjoyed the story. I was disappointed by the ending, though: Ivy's told by her friends that doing something sounded like a bad idea but she did it anyway, then she realized the "lure" wasn't genuine and she might now be vulnerable to the bad guys, yet she STILL decided to go off by herself to a dark area (where the bad guy had been waiting for some time). It felt forced: make the heroine act foolishly so the hero could come to her rescue! Then, in the epilogue, we have very pregnant (about to give birth) women skating! Why make heroines randomly throw all sense out the window? (My mother lost a baby due to a short fall, so maybe I'm extra sensitive about this.)

By the end of the story, Ivy realized that God was what she was looking for in human family. He'll never leave her. 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.

Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Targeted in the Swamp
by Kerry Johnson

ISBN-13: 9781335957672
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: March 31, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Laurel Bell’s first day as a wildlife photography ranger takes a treacherous turn when she is nearly drowned by a masked assassin. Her witness protection cover has been blown, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before her attacker returns to finish the job. Her only chance at survival is police sergeant Heath Calhoun, who will do anything to deliver Laurel to her marshal handler. But when Heath’s young daughter is endangered, the stakes are raised, and now they must race to outsmart the powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to exact their revenge.

My Review:
Targeted in the Swamp is a Christian romantic suspense. Laurel's policeman father was killed, then her adoptive parents died. Witness Protection just moved her to a new town where she knows no one, and she's feeling pretty lonely. Heath helped save her from an attacker, but he's certain she must know her attacker and kept pressuring her to tell him who it was. But Laurel didn't recognize the man, and the man she witnessed against was still in prison a week ago. Her handler's not responding, and she's not supposed to tell anyone that she's in witness protection. This delayed Heath and Laurel from really being able to work together, but trust did build between them as Heath protected her and helped her discover what was going on.

The main characters were generally likable and acted realistically. A few actions taken by various characters didn't make sense to me, like why did the attacker keep nearly drowning Laurel in the shallow swamp until help could arrive rather than simply killing her. The suspense came from the repeated attacks on Laurel and the spill-over danger to those around her. 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 Good Fortune of Miss Robbins by Melanie Dickerson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins
by Melanie Dickerson

ISBN-13: 9780764245220
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: March 17, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Charlotte Robbins accepts a governess position for the Earl of Brookhaven's siblings despite rumors of the earl's scowling demeanor. As a lowly governess, Charlotte entertains thoughts of possible romance with an eligible servant until she does fall unexpectedly in love--with the pensive earl himself.

But love does not mean a match is possible, and the earl's friends warn Charlotte that if he were to fall for her, it would ruin him. Just as Charlotte resigns herself to the impossibility of her feelings, she receives news that she has inherited a fortune from a long-lost relative. Now thrust into London high society, Charlotte grapples with suitors vying for her attention, but her heart still belongs to the Earl of Brookhaven. As secrets unfold, she's no longer certain if her newfound fortune is a blessing.

My Review:
The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins is a romance set in 1814 in England. Charlotte longs for some of the adventure found in the novels she reads, so she accepts a position as a governess in hopes of finding a man of equal status who will fall in love with her. Instead, she finds a friendship with the Earl, who enjoys talking with her due to her unconventional opinions. He's tired of society's expectations, but his friends see his preference for Charlotte and warn him that he can't possibly marry her unless she had a large fortune. Suddenly, she has 50,000 pounds....but the Earl doesn't follow up on his generosity. Poor Charlotte's also been warned away from the Earl, so she's left fending off fortune hunters while debating what to do with her future.

The main characters were likable, and I appreciated that the romance was based on shared interests, values, and friendship. However, nothing actually stood in the way of their marriage. They loved each other and neither cared about high society's opinion. But the Earl was once engaged to a woman who ran off with someone wealthier than him, so he decided (with no reason) that Charlotte would do the same so he refused to declare his love.

The storyline was rather predictable--even the Earl's aunt told him that his scheme was a bad one. And I know it's meant to be humorous, but Charlotte would have been taught dancing etiquette along with the actual movements. Surely she knew that she had the right to say "no" to invitations--she even overhears others doing so. And, strangely, no one in high society actually seemed to follow good manners as many invited themselves to events, for example. Some parts just didn't feel believable.

Charlotte wonders what God's will is for her life and how to use her fortune for good. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, 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.

When Justice Comes by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When Justice Comes
by Colleen Coble
and Rick Acker

ISBN-13: 9781400345731
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hezekiah "Hez" Webster and his fiancé, Savannah, stand on the brink of a new life, but their dreams are haunted by specters of the past. Just as they're getting ready to adopt her nephew, two other petitioners also file for custody--both of whom only want Simon for their own gains.

Between the financial company that Hez outmaneuvered to save the university from ruin and the bad blood from the head of the Willard family, it's hard to say who wants them out of the way more. Hez and Savannah's quest for justice leads them through a labyrinth of family law, where loyalties are tested and trust is a dangerous luxury when every decision could be their last.

With every secret revealed, the stakes grow higher. Can they build the family they've always dreamed of, or will their enemies succeed in tearing them apart forever?

My Review:
When Justice Comes is a Christian suspense. It's the 3nd book in the series and continues the story from the first and second books. Savannah's still frustrating. When Hez is accused of wrong doing, she immediately judged him guilty and wanted a friend to join her in being angry at him. Yet when a friend is accused of doing wrong, she won't believe it and demanded that Hez support her (which he did even though he thought about how Savannah's judgment was repeatedly wrong in the past). She's a little faster to believe Hez innocent this time, but I just don't understand why he wants to re-marry a woman who assumes he's always guilty.

Hez had two main problems: a financial company leader who wanted him dead and the Willard family. The financial leader can't touch Hez so he threatened Savannah and Simon, resulting in a movie-style rescue. Savannah stupidly moved the escape boat without telling anyone. She ended up killing the bad guy, essentially in self defense. Hez told her not to blame herself and that whole aspect of the story's just dropped like it never happened. Even to the point that a minor character had to point out an important loose end that was never tied up.

Savannah slowly realized how badly her family had treated the Willard family and tried to make things right. Good. But she strongly rejected Simon spending any time with the Willard side of his family tree, which only made things worse. There's a legal battle over Simon, and Hez tried to expose the criminal dealings of those trying to take Simon from Savannah. They uncovered just how much crime was committed by both of Simon's grandfathers, bringing about justice for some and forgiveness for others. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspense novel to those who made it through the first two books.

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.

Raging Waters by Dana Mentink

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Raging Waters
by Dana Mentink

ISBN-13: 9780800746537
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Mackenzie Bardine's brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing "Bullseye," the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron's best friend, Gideon Landry.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he's certainly not interested in helping her after he's already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron's fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it's clear to Gideon she's in over her head, and he can't bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

My Review:
Raging Waters is a Christian romantic suspense. The main characters were complex and grew throughout the course of the book. Mackenzie's determined to bring down the drug boss that was behind her brother's murder even if it means her own death. She started the story by robbing Gideon with a policeman nearby so she could get inside the jail to talk with her informant. No real planning, just reckless actions like later escaping from the police and refusing to evacuate the danger area because another contact might possibly still be around despite evacuation orders. Her brother was Gideon's best friend, and he's a rescuer at heart, so he couldn't stand by and watch her self-destruct. He repeatedly risked his life to save hers while trying to get through to her.

The suspense was high because of the heavy rains and constant threat of the dam breaking and flooding the area. Plus Bullseye controlled everyone in the area (so whom can they trust?) and had armed men out trying to kill Mackenzie. A map would have been helpful, though, because they hiked for several days and even rode in vehicles at times, yet it seemed like they were always still in the danger area below the dam. Even when next to a lake (which would be behind the dam?) or on a mountain ridge that we'd previously been told was out of danger range.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this this 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 Liar's Treasure by Connie Mann

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Liar's Treasure
by Connie Mann

ISBN-13: 9781496487445
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: March 10, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Camille Abernathy ignored rumors of The Liar’s Treasure and her family’s connection to it until someone put a target on her daughter’s back. Growing up in New Orleans, such tall tales were as common as beignets and gumbo. But when Camille’s teenage daughter, Cass, posts pictures of a centuries-old diary her uncle gave her, she unwittingly attracts dozens of treasure hunting fanatics who are convinced Cass and the diary can lead them to a valuable cache.

To keep her daughter safe, Camille enlists the help of Speranza, a secret society always ready to help women in need. Together, they set out on a globe-trotting journey to find The Liar’s Treasure while also investigating a suspicious death related to Camille’s childhood friend. The deeper they dig, the more they suspect it’s all connected.

Chasing clues from New Orleans to Italy to the Bahamas, Camille and her friends receive unexpected assistance—and unwanted competition—from a handsome treasure hunter from Camille’s past. Then Cass is kidnapped, and finding the treasure truly becomes a matter of life and death.

My Review:
The Liar's Treasure is a Christian suspense/thriller. It's the 2nd book in a series but works as a standalone. The Speranza are a diverse group of talented women who help other women in need. Camille's a part of this group, but now she's the one needing help. Camille's teenaged daughter posts a page from a pirate's journal that mentions the treasure. A relative wants the journal, an old love interest of Camille's wants the treasure to pay his father's debts, someone wants it to find out who's stealing from a charity, and a professional thief just wants to have it.

The Speranza decided to find the treasure. The relative and the old love interest occasionally helped the women when facing danger, but they stole from them once the danger was over. Though the Speranza had the major clues and the treasure had been successfully hidden for 300 years, these other treasure hunters somehow managed to show up any time our group found something important, increasing the danger and difficulty.

The characters were engaging and reacted to events in realistic ways. The team of women used their intelligence, talents, and determination to creatively overcome all obstacles. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.

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

Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Last to Fall
by Lynn H. Blackburn

ISBN-13: 9780800745387
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Bronwyn Pierce has poured everything into The Haven, her family's exclusive mountain resort in Gossamer Falls. But when financial discrepancies surface and the numbers suggest something far darker than simple mismanagement, she's forced to call on the one person with the skills to help Mo Quinn, a former Army Intelligence officer, her first love, and the last person she ever wanted to trust again.

Mo has spent years avoiding the woman he once loved and the secrets that tore them apart. But when Bronwyn calls, he can't walk away--especially when it's clear someone wants her gone for good. As they dig deeper into the treacherous motives behind a blackmail scheme, their proximity reignites long-buried feelings neither of them is ready to face.

With danger closing in and no one else to turn to, Bronwyn and Mo must break years of silence to uncover who's trying to destroy The Haven. They'll have to risk everything--including their hearts--to expose the truth before it's too late.

My Review:
Last to Fall is a romantic suspense. This is the third novel in the series, but it works as a standalone. Bronwyn and Mo were friends since they were very young despite the fact that their extended families disliked each other. We finally learned what happened to make Bronwyn decide to never speak to Mo again, and Mo promise not to talk to her until she did. I really wondered what events would make such behavior feel justified, but it did make sense. Now the problem is that Bronwyn needs Mo to figure out who's doing something hinky with the Haven's financials, and she thinks someone might be trying to kill her. Mo and Bronwyn communicated fine despite the no-direct-communication 'rule,' and they realized how much they still cared for each other (especially the more mature versions). Mo supported and protected Bronwyn, and she appreciated that he did this despite how she'd hurt him.

The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the threat to Bronwyn and everything coming to a boiling point with her family's scheming at the Haven and their trying to manipulate her. Mo said he'd handed the conflict with Bronwyn over to God, but there wasn't much reference to God beyond that. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I would 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.

A Kingdom of Shadows by Emily Bain Murphy

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

A Kingdom of Shadows
by Emily Bain Murphy

ISBN-13: 9780593601457
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Ever since the Great Betrayal, the light in Wildfel has been dying. The sunshine is dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the shadows grow stronger by the day. Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief. When he, his best friend Adrion, and younger sister Lydia meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a Lake of Light, they set off on an adventure to places where the mist can steal a precious memory, starlight gathers in waterfalls, and spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling.

But there are secrets hiding in the shadows that could change Finn’s understanding of everything he knows—and finding the Lake of Light could alter not only the course of his life but the very kingdom itself.

My Review:
A Kingdom of Shadows is a middle grade, Christian fantasy. This adventure was exciting, with non-stop danger: running from a rival thief to avoiding soldiers and witches to fireflies that literally start fires and spiders that spin pure glass and whose bite can kill. The main characters were engaging. A Christ-like teenager invited several children to help him gather what's needed to make a key to open the way to the Lake of Light. He used the various trials they faced to build their trust in him, but not all of the children chose to remain as one of his followers. Finn had to decide if he'd continue living for his own gain (even if it hurt others) or join the fight for the Light. Both good and bad characters could do magic, with the witches using it to create the shadows that threaten life (less sun means less food, etc.) and the good people used magic to fight the darkness. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting adventure.

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

Deadly Rodeo Threat by Sami A. Abrams

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Deadly Rodeo Threat
by Sami A. Abrams

ISBN-13: 9781335957610
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: February 24, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When his twin sister disappears, Navy SEAL Logan Russell returns home to help her best friend, Sheriff Isabelle Sinclair, track down leads. Isabelle is determined to solve Lisa’s mysterious disappearance the night of her last rodeo—and someone will do anything to keep her from digging too deep. When crucial evidence links Lisa’s case to a string of barrel racers who’ve also vanished, Logan and Izzie fight against the clock to track down a suspected serial killer. But when he sets his sights on Izzie, can they outsmart their enemy before both women end up dead?

My Review:
Deadly Rodeo Threat is a Christian romantic suspense. Isabelle's previous boyfriend broke down her confidence, so now she's determined not to show any weakness and prove her abilities. Logan never doubted her abilities, but he wasn't able to save a friend on his last, disastrous mission and suffers from PTSD and survivor's guilt. Both characters built each other up and supported each other. They worked well together to track down clues about what happened to Lisa. The suspense was high as other missing barrel racers turned up dead (and Lisa might be next) and the killer kept attacking Ivy to stop her investigation.

Both Isabelle and Logan prayed to God for help, and Logan trusted God with the future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery/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.

Edge of Truth by Janice Cantore

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Edge of Truth
by Janice Cantore

ISBN-13: 9781496487971
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: February 17, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As a detective in the Long Beach Police Department’s violent crimes division, Lainie Jensen is no stranger to hard-to-crack cases and unusual disappearances, but then her sister Evie vanishes on a trip to Hawaii. Lainie quickly realizes her brother-in-law Stan is telling law enforcement a story that doesn’t appear to add up.

FBI special agent Ben Isaacs has spent six months collecting evidence to take down a money laundering operation. While his fellow agent Efren Gomez goes undercover to infiltrate the ring, Ben investigates those connected to it, including Stan Moffitt, who Ben believes could help lead to the criminal kingpin. Then Stan’s wife goes missing just days after Ben contacted her seeking information. Then Efren goes missing.

When Ben’s and Lainie’s investigations converge, Lainie’s willing to work alongside Ben if it means figuring out what Stan knows and locating Evie. Lainie can’t deny Ben’s dedication to finding the truth or her growing admiration for him. And the more the two examine the evidence, the more they suspect Evie’s disappearance is tied to a highly publicized criminal case from Lainie’s past.

My Review:
Edge of Truth is a Christian romantic suspense. As a rookie, Lainie pulled over a drunk only to discover a murdered woman in the back of the car. The driver convinced a jury that there was no proof that he actually murdered the woman. Now he's a crime boss. When Lainie's brother-in-law calls claiming her sister died in a shark attack, she investigates only to discover that things don't add up. But where's her sister? Ben's been watching the car wash were her brother-in-law works unknowingly for the crime boss, and Ben's partner has gone missing. Lainie and Ben work together to find her sister, his partner, and the truth.

The suspense remained high due to the danger and uncertainty around the disappearances of the sister and partner. The characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Ben admired how Lainie took good advice and managed to save her career after a rocky start. Both were tenacious in discovering the truth and were good a spotting inconsistencies. Lainie and Ben supported each other and shared a passion for justice.

Lainie felt like God let her down and maybe didn't even listen to her prayers, but she started praying during this crisis and regained her trust that God's in control. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this engaging, suspenseful 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.

A Study in Secrets by Jeffrey Siger

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

A Study in Secrets
by Jeffrey Siger

ISBN-13: 9781448317066
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Severn House
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Michael A— lives a quiet, comfortable life since his retirement from the intelligence services. Practically a recluse, he spends his days imagining the lives of the anonymous people he watches in the park beneath the window of his elegant New York townhouse—number 221—his every need tended to by his housekeeper, Mrs. Baker.

For weeks, a girl has sat in the park every morning at dawn. Always alone. Always watchful. And when the sun rises, she vanishes, as if she was never there. But one day her routine changes—and Michael realizes that she faces terrible danger. He makes an uncharacteristic decision to abandon his solitude and help her. Soon, Michael finds himself plunged into the New York underworld, and he’ll have to use all the tricks of his former trade if he’s to keep not just himself, but his new friend, alive.

My Review:
A Study in Secrets is a mystery with some suspense. Michael managed to get himself into and out of some rather dangerous situations. He used his wealth and connections to uncover information and solved the murder of a bad guy with the help of his housekeeper and a local restaurant owner. But his sense of justice was more concerned with giving victims a second chance to change and make better choices. I usually don't like civilians acting as judge and jury, but this story was such a delight to read that it felt like true justice had been served. Michael's a master at manipulating people (by guessing motives, probable past actions, etc.) into giving him information, yet people rarely acted completely as he expected leading to some funny moments. So many moving pieces, and yet it all worked out in the end.

There was occasional bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this delightful mystery.1931

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.

Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Mists over the Channel Islands
by Sarah Sundin

ISBN-13: 9780800741877
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 1, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot's peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father's medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy's quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything--providing medical aid to escaped workers even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide--or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

My Review:
Mists over the Channel Islands is a Christian romantic suspense set in the British Channel Islands mainly during 1942-44. Gerrit planned to send layouts and maps of the German fortifications to the British, but he needed someone to take the drawings--and Ivy's younger brother worked on a ship that regularly went to France. Ivy didn't initially know this, but she secretly treated forced workers that ran away. Their sister, however, undermined and belittled Ivy and then went to work for a German officer. The suspense came from the high danger to those involved in the resistance and tension in the family from the split loyalties.

The historical details were woven into the story and brought the story alive in my imagination, from food and medicine shortages to details of the harsh German occupation. The characters were well-developed, complex, and acted realistically to events. They felt like real people who really lived through these events. Gerrit and Ivy were engaging characters who shared values and built each other up. Gerrit and Ivy struggled to see God's goodness when things were going so wrong and people died. 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.

Whiteout by Lynette Eason & Dani Pettrey

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Whiteout
by Lynette Eason
and Dani Pettrey

ISBN-13: 9780764245978
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Buried in Shadows by Dani Pettrey, Cassandra Parker arrives at her best friend's destination wedding, praying her stalker hasn't tracked her to Colorado. Also part of the wedding party is Sheriff Joel Brunswick, the man she stunned by leaving at the altar to hide a dangerous truth. When an avalanche strands their ski group in an abandoned lodge, it becomes chillingly clear that Cassandra's stalker has followed her . . . and he's willing to kill to make her his.

In Snowbound Secrets by Lynette Eason, Dr. Maya Sullivan fully intends to escape her past and finish planning a retreat for military veterans at the ranch she's inherited. Unfortunately, her plans go sideways when an avalanche traps her in a Colorado ski resort. An unexpected reunion with her high school crush forces her to confront past wounds, but she soon realizes someone is targeting her, and their search for a shadowy enemy becomes a matter of life and death.

My Review:
Whiteout contains 2 Christian romantic suspense novellas. Buried in Shadows is almost a horror movie, with a ski group stuck in an abandoned lodge after surviving an avalanche and surrounded by a whiteout snowstorm. Cassandra's stalker is killing people one by one, and her love, Sheriff Joel, is the killer's ultimate target. The killer must be one of their party, made up of close friends and family, but who? Throw in some secret passages and some injuries, and the suspense never stops. The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. I am a little confused, though: the killer expected the party to end up at the out-of-the-way lodge, so I assumed he'd caused the avalanche, but no one (in either novella) suspects anything but a natural cause.

Snowbound Secrets unexpectedly reunites high school friends, all with some level of PTSD. After the avalanche cut the main ski lodge off from help, Maya uses her medical skills to help those injured. Only, someone's trying to hurt HER and she doesn't know why. She's an understanding, caring woman, determined to help others heal from their wounds. Gideon vows to keep her safe, but he doesn't feel worthy of her due to his PTSD and some compromising choices he made that cost him his construction business. The two worked well together and shared a vision to help others with PTSD.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend these suspenseful novellas.

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 Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

A Field Guide to Murder
by Michelle L. Cullen

ISBN-13: 9798892424639
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: January 27, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Once a globe-trotting anthropologist, Harry Lancaster is now certain that all his grand adventures are behind him. Recently widowed and suffering from a fractured hip, Harry spends his days and nights behind a pair of binoculars, nose-deep in his neighbors’ affairs. His millennial caregiver, Emma, is determined to get him out of his armchair and back into the world.

Fate intervenes when Harry’s mysterious neighbor Sue phones, pleading for help. But instead of rescuing her, Harry and Emma find Sue dead: poisoned, days after a break-in at Sue’s house. Harry resolves to find out what happened, and Emma insists on going along for the ride. Together, they discover motives and suspects abound in Harry’s quaint condominium community—putting them both in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded killer.

My Review:
A Field Guide to Murder is an amateur detective mystery novel. It's a clue-based puzzle mystery. Emma and Harry were both very observant (noticing even small details) and were logical in how they considered the things they heard and observed. Harry used his life experience in observing people and discovering what motivated them along with his skill in leading people in casual conversation to provide the information he desired. It seemed like everyone in the community had secrets so there were many potential clues to expose and sort through. I was certain of whodunit several chapters before Harry figured it out, but I didn't identified whodunit until near the end of the book.

The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. There was actual character development, too. Emma was engaged to a handsome, successful man who was nice but who had different goals in life. Emma wanted to use her skills to help people, but he wanted to primarily make money. Harry tried to help her find the confidence to chose the life she really wanted while she tried to get him engaged with life again rather than feeling like a has-been. They were a good team.

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

Hunting a Killer by Sarah Varland

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Hunting a Killer
by Sarah Varland

ISBN-13: 9781488237690
Audiobook, Unabridged
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: Jan. 27, 2026

Source: Audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
During an investigation into a series of homicides, FBI agent Finn McDaniel is unexpectedly attacked, and a blow to the head leaves him with amnesia. Left for dead, he’s discovered by cadaver dog Cipher and her handler, search and rescue specialist Jordyn Williams — who is also Finn’s missing sister’s best friend. As Finn and Jordyn work to recover his crucial memories, they unearth evidence that links his sister’s disappearance to the killings. After finding the body of the latest victim, can they stop the murderer from striking again?

My Review:
Hunting a Killer is a Christian romantic suspense. Finn discovered an important, overlooked clue to the killer's habits and identity and didn't tell anyone those details or apparently write it down anywhere. In an attempt to keep the latest missing woman from dying, he searched in the deep woods by himself, witnessed the murder, saw the killer, got hit over the head, and was left for dead. Happily, Jordyn followed her cadaver dog straight to him while searching for the missing woman. He didn't remember the important clues or whodunit but insisted that he needed to hide because he's certain he can't trust someone on the FBI team.

The main characters were likable, honorable, and reacted realistically to events. Finn and Jordyn both had a long-standing crush on each other that they never acted upon when they were younger. They got to know each other in the couple days that they worked the case together and came to admire each other. They worked well together. Both struggled with trusting God with their future when he let a loved one die despite their prayers. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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 spoke in a way that kept my interest. 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.

Rebuilding His Trust by Jenna Mindel

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Rebuilding His Trust
by Jenna Mindel

ISBN-13: 9781335621412
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired
Released: January 27, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Jace Moore has been afraid to love since losing his parents as a teen. But when he meets equine therapist Meredith Lewis and her horse Bella, something shifts inside him. Soon, constructing her indoor riding arena turns into volunteering with her therapy program just to spend more time with them. Initially wary of Jace’s charming ways, Meredith can’t deny her attraction to the off-limits builder, especially when he shows such kindness to one of her young clients. But as sessions with the animals—and Meredith—begin to heal Jace’s closed-off heart, can he convince her that love is worth the risk?

My Review:
Rebuilding His Trust is a Christian romance. I assumed the author knew something about horses, or would at least have an actual equine therapist (or riding instructor, for that matter) read through it to correct any errors. However, the author didn't spell "canter" correctly. Seemed to think "harness" referred to a halter or a bridle--she used it in place of both--when it's neither. Had Meredith describe one of her horses as blond (not what a horse person would use for a horse's color). Had the characters riding Western style (neck reining and a horn on the saddle) but had them post (which is typically only done in English-style riding). And not just posting when the horse was trotting, either, but at a walk and canter. And so on. Meredith had no credibility as a equine therapist as she got so many things incorrect. I read an ARC, so hopefully these errors will be fixed in the final version.

Anyway, Meredith's dad cheated on her mother, and they got divorced when she was young. Her mother told Meredith that a handsome man like Jace would never stay true to her, and Meredith already believed that her red hair and freckles made her ugly. Jace lost his parents when he was young, so he had trouble committing to relationships due to his fear of losing someone he loved. He's come to Christ, accepted God's forgiveness, and is trying to do things right now rather than casually dating around. But Meredith refused to believe he'd stay true to her, let alone find her beautiful (which he does).

Frankly, Jace fell in love with Meredith's horses while building her riding arena. He seemed to credit her with helping him, but she refused to be his therapist. There was a lot of 'I'm not interested in him, but I can't keep my eyes off his lips' and repeatedly stating 'we can't have a relationship because you're building my area and it'd also put my professional reputation at risk' but when he kissed her and then apologized, she's all 'Why? You must secretly not like me after all!' Sigh. It also annoyed me that Jace would fix things around her house when she said she was okay with them as they were. It just seemed controlling and disrespectful, though she liked it.

At least Jace was very supportive of Meredith's business and had a knack for showing up when needed. 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.