Part of Your World, Once Upon a Time In Texas #2 by Karen Witemeyer

 

Book description:

She saved him from the sea. He awakened her heart. Now a villainous scheme threatens to destroy them both.

Seawater runs through Muriel Quinn’s veins—a fact that has long concerned her father, who desires his youngest daughter to abandon the waves and embrace the respectable life expected of a grown woman. Yet even when banished from her beloved sea, Muriel feels its pull upon her soul. Drawn to the shore, she witnesses a boating accident and dives in to save a man from drowning. As she brings him back from the brink of death, a dream stirs to life in her heart.

Despite his family's wealth and social standing, Zane Erickson pursues a career in architecture, having no interest in cementing a match with any of the bridal candidates his mother foists upon him. Until a mysterious beauty saves his life and vanishes before he can learn her name. Determined to find her, he is stunned when the matchmaker his mother hired arrives with the very woman who has haunted his dreams. But he soon learns there are darker forces than romance at work in this meeting.

Entangled in a blackmail scheme that grows more deceitful and dangerous by the day, Zane and Muriel must fight not only for their love, but for the lives of those they hold dear.

My review:
This is the 5th Westernized version of a fairy tale Witemeyer has written. She did three in the Texas Ever After Series for Bethany House Publishers, and this is the second in her Once Upon a Time In Texas Series for Hope and Light Publishing.

  I have enjoyed every book. Witemeyer excels at turning fairy tales into more modern Westernized stories without overdoing the similarities.

  Part of Your World is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, a story I am completely unfamiliar with. I did read a plot summary after reading this book, and can see similarities from that...such as Muriel rescuing Zane from drowning in the sea.

As with all of her books, Witemeyer created some great likable characters - and of course a couple not so likable ones. Zane made a great hero of the story, and Muriel a great heroine. Then there is Fletcher, the 10 year old nephew of Muriel, Zane's Grandpa Clem, and others, who all add to a great story in their own way.  

There is a villain of course - an evil female character. There is an element of suspense in the story, with a 10 year old boy in danger and shenanigans on the beach at one point. And this is a romance, so there is that, which was well done. Witemeyer came up with a great plot that kept me reading til the great ending. I truly loved and enjoyed this book, and was happy to see Zane and Muriel get their happy ending. 

The book does have some true history in it, which the author references at the end of the book that I found interesting. 

The author again has shown she can write a great historical novel that is worth reading. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance eBook copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

                                 Once Upon a Time In Texas #1 (Beauty and the Beast)

Texas Ever After #1 (Snow White)

Texas Ever After #2 (Cinderella)

Texas Ever After #3 (Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty)

Taming Lady Temperance, The Secret Society of Spinsters Series #1 by Karen Witemeyer

 

Book description:

When passion for justice conflicts with the heart, which will prevail?

Noreen O'Sullivan is an enthusiastic member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and believes herself called to defend the cause of prohibition. When she's invited to join the Secret Society of Spinsters, Noreen jumps at the chance to rally others to her movement and shut down the local saloon for good. However, her passionate campaigning often puts her at odds with the men around her--including the local deputy.

Deputy James Paxton believes in preserving the peace, but Miss O'Sullivan has been disturbing his peace for months. If James wants to be elected sheriff, he can't afford to be seen as her ally. But when Noreen ropes him into helping her plan a temperance march, their growing closeness sparks unexpected feelings. Then tensions escalate at the saloon and accusations fly. James must choose between upholding his badge and protecting the woman who's captured his heart--knowing either choice could cost him everything.

My review:
Karen Witemeyer is one of my top favorite authors, and I always look forward to her newest book. 

And this book has intrigued me since I first heard about it. The book is set in the late 1800's, and centers around a group of women who are unmarried, have no intentions of getting married, and are all about women's rights and suffrage.

The main female character is Noreen O' Sullivan, whose main focus is temperance and getting the town saloon closed down. The main male character is Deputy James Paxton who agrees with her stance, but is torn between keeping the law and peace and helping the woman he is attracted to. That comes to a humorous climax, which I will not give away.

There is a lot of back and forth between the saloon owner and Noreen, with the former not being too excited about her temperance efforts. 

I loved both main characters. They played off of each other very well, and both were very likable characters. There is a lot of drama, action, romance, humor, and even an element of suspense in this great novel. It might seem odd that a guy could enjoy a book with the women's rights and suffrage topics, but I loved the book.

And it is educational. I learned a little about the temperance movement, including the fact that there were temperance hymns, which I Googled. 

Some books have an evil stepmother, but this one has an evil stepfather, who is very easy to dislike.

Witemeyer certainly did not disappoint with this first book in her new series. I thoroughly enjoyed Noreen and James' story.  I am already looking forward to the next book. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:

Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas. Learn more about Karen and her books at KarenWitemeyer.com.

A Song In the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

Book description:

Her music captivates crowds.
His mission exposes secrets.
Their courage defies a dictator.

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

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

My review:
  Ever since I heard this author was doing a departure from her usual writing, I have been wanting to read this book. Tonight I sat down and read it from cover to cover, and have feelings I don't normally have after reading a fictional novel. 

It is a masterfully written novel. If you have ever read any of this author's historical novels,  you know she excels at research, and that came through as I read this book. 

But the subject matter. Man. The author has no graphic content at all, but in all my knowledge of Hitler and what he did, I still learned some things...or maybe I forgot. Such as handicapped people being exterminated and some were sterilized early on so they could not reproduce.

The author did an amazing job of showing the horrors and evils that Hitler and the Nazis did, yet infused the story with hope, relating stories - some of them true  - of people who risked everything to save lives. The book made me think more than the average Christian fiction novel. There has been so much in our own country in the last several years that concerns me....and what Hitler did was so gradual, and so many people looked the other way. It is sobering. 

This is not the first novel that I have read set during this time period, but I feel it is the best one that best described what was going on then without graphic details.

And then there are the main characters. Chaisley (where DID the author come up with that name? 😀) Pianist extraordinaire, she has her own handicap (read the book to find out what), and she is determined to help people no matter what. And Rick, an undercover British spy determined to do what he can to help people and hinder Hitler. The two of them together - though fictional characters - give a glimpse into what real live heroic people actually did back in those days. 

It is difficult to pigeon hole this book. Yes, it was entertaining, and even has a slow burn romance....but it was also sad and challenging to read. In one novel, Woodhouse challenged me, and made me want to do better in standing up to hate and bigotry. This may be her best historical novel to date. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

A Song In the Dark releases September 23 from Bethany House Publishers. 

About the author:

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them. You can connect with Kimberley on her website, KimberleyWoodhouse.com.

Cloaked In Beauty, Texas Ever After #3 by Karen Witemeyer

Book description: 

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty's resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm's way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

My review:
  This is the third book in a series of Western stories based on fairy tales. And it is my favorite series by this masterful wordsmith so far. The first book had the most parallels, and the second one not as many, but still some obvious ones. 

 Cloaked In Beauty does not have as many obvious parallels to the story of Red Riding Hood, but it was still an amazing read, and the parallels are there. 

 The book was full of likable and awesome characters. Letty, the young girl hidden with her grandma for fifteen years from her evil uncle. Phillip, the honorable Pinkerton agent hired by Letty's mother to find her and bring her home for her 21st birthday. Leah Radcliffe, willing to be apart from her daughter for so many years to protect her. Grandma Iris Hood, willing to hide to protect her granddaughter. Rusty, the wolf, Letty's faithful companion. 

 These made the story an awesome read. I love the author's writing style. She weaves humor, adventure, suspense, romance, and Christianity all together and makes a story hard to put down.

 And this book had all that in spades. Letty and Phillip made such an unlikely, yet perfect pair as they wound their way the 270 miles or so from Cass County to Houston. (I Googled it.) :) He was determined to protect her no matter what, and she was not at all what he expected, and proved she could pull her own weight, even taking care of him when the need arose.

 Though one would not call this a suspense novel, it had its share of suspense as Phillip did his best to protect her from her evil uncle and his minions, and as her uncle proved just how evil he was. A guillotine even comes into the picture. (Shudder!)

 Good and love of course triumphs over evil, and the book had a great ending. I kind of saw it coming, but still enjoyed the surprise Letty had for Phillip. 

This is another great addition to this great series that can be read in any order. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:

Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas. Learn more about Karen and her books at KarenWitemeyer.com.

                                                  Book #1 (Snow White)

Book #2 (Cinderella)

Beyond the Horizon, Horizon Series #3 by Penny Zeller

 

Book description:

She's desperate to keep her job.

He's desperate for solitude.

What is God's plan in this complicated situation?

Ruby Shepherdson has worked hard to secure her job as a reporter for The Horizon Herald. After a costly mistake, Ruby’s unforgiving boss gives her an ultimatum to either interview the handsome and reclusive Jake Lynton—or lose her job. But each time Ruby has attempted to obtain an interview, Mr. Lynton has refused. Why would anyone who has saved the lives of four people deny recognition? And why does she find herself drawn to the man?

Jake Lynton just wants to be left alone. Haunted by the past, he runs from both guilt and God by leaving home and somehow finding himself in Horizon, Idaho. His hopes of living as a recluse are foiled when a pesky, but beautiful reporter insists he allow her to interview him about a good deed gone awry. Despite Jake’s efforts, Ruby Shepherdson persists, soon endearing herself to him while somehow remaining endlessly annoying.

Jake’s story isn’t the only one Ruby seeks to publish. When rumors of ill dealings come to her attention, she sets forth to uncover the truth—truth someone does not want revealed. As danger emerges and an unanticipated enemy determines to keep Ruby silent, will Jake fit the pieces together in time to rescue her? Or will he lose the woman who has found a place in his heart?

My review:
  I have come to really enjoy this author's books, and am always happy to read one. And this one did not disappoint in the least.

  Ruby and Jake were both great and likable characters, but especially Jake. He blamed himself for his brother's death, and his father also blamed him. On the run from his family and filled with guilt and self loathing, he was an unkempt hermit....pointed out a couple times by Ruby. I won't give spoilers away, but there is a very emotional and poignant scene in the book that was a highlight of the book.

 The plot was really good, and enjoyable...but what truly made the book for me was Jake's journey back to God and his family from a pit of guilt and despair that had turned him into a very miserable guy. Not all Christian fiction must have truths and lessons like that in them, but I enjoy it when an author weaves things like that throughout a story.

 To me, Zeller's books are a bit reminiscent of  Janette Oke's earlier books, but not as sedate and slow moving. Most of her books have some element of suspense with bad guys in, which always makes a story more interesting to me, and this one had that. In fact, our hero and heroine get into a tight spot at one point.

 I loved the conclusion to the story...including Gus, and am looking forward to the next and final book in the series.

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page.

While she has had a love for writing since childhood, Penny began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball.

Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks where she posts faith, funnies, writing updates, and encouragement.

                                                                 Book #1

                                                                 Book #2

Book #4, coming October 2025

Once Upon a Christmas by Penny Zeller

Book description:

 It's Christmastime in Poplar Springs, Wyoming. Will Sheriff Ambrose Miller Eliason have the courage to ask the girl he's always loved to court him?

Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and settle into this sweet and heartwarming short story by best-selling, award-winning author, Penny Zeller.

My review:
  This is the first time I have reviewed a book this short - 67 pages - so the review won't be as long as normal. 

 As is the case with anything this author writes, it was well written with great and likable characters. Ambrose and Wren were both ideal characters for this short story. It is a cute story, and a great one to read at Christmas. Though short in length, it was a great and enjoyable read. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page.

While she has had a love for writing since childhood, Penny began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball.

Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks where she posts faith, funnies, writing updates, and encouragement.

A Hope Unburied, Treasures of the Earth #3 by Kimberley Woodhouse

 

Book description:

Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .

In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren't what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.

Devin Schmitt, Eliza's closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.

My review:
   I may have said this before, but I was a tiny bit dubious about a Christian fiction series about digging for dinosaur bones...but Woodhouse is quite the versatile author, and I figured she could pull it off.

 And pull it off she did. Here I am having just finished the third and final book in the series, and man did I learn a lot. I had never heard of the Bone Wars before I read these books, and learned a lot about that and the people who were working on digs around that time. Woodhouse puts a lot of historical facts and historical people in her historical novels, and I always learn stuff. 

 The romance in this one was a bit different, and I loved it. Eliza was raised by wealthy grandparents, and along with Devin, was taught by his dad. Eliza and Devin grew up as best friends, and he had been in love with her since he was sixteen years old. Due to his promising her grandfather he would never pursue her romantically, he just stayed her best friend. And man was he a likable character. One of my favorite parts of  the book was when he was summoned for the second time by Eliza's grandmother, and she said "Devin........" Now for me to complete that would be a huge spoiler. So read the book. 😀

 As with most of this author's books, there was an element of suspense, and a bad guy or two causing mayhem and trouble. The book bounces back and forth between Pittsburgh - which is cool since I have been there several times and am only about an hour from it - and Utah. And both places had a bad guy. I am proud to say I guessed the Utah one several pages before the mask was removed. (Figuratively. There was no actual mask).

And as always, there were some Biblical lessons and truths woven into the story. This time it was about being judgmental and loving people.

 I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The drama, the romance, the history, the fossil digging. And definitely the end. Woodhouse again has shown she can write a great historical novel that entertains and educates. 

This is one series that the books could be read in any order.

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in Colorado. You can connect with Kimberley on her website, KimberleyWoodhouse.com.

This is either her 39th book, with #40 coming next month.

                                 Book #1

Book #2

Dreams On the Horizon, Horizon Series #2 by Penny Zeller

 

Book description:

Can love overcome all obstacles?

Mae Shepherdson’s dream of a school for the deaf has finally come to fruition. All is going well until she receives devastating news: the railroad wants to build a spur through the property where the Horizon School for the Deaf is located. What will become of the children who attend the school and the employees who so tirelessly commit their time and resources? Mae questions why God would allow the closing of a school that has been the lifeline for so many young pupils. And what of her dream that no child should endure being ostracized as she once was?

Landon Bennick is accustomed to obeying his father’s orders. He’s observed and even assisted with the building of many railroad spurs, and the newest in Horizon should be no exception. However, things grow complicated when he begins to fall in love with Mae, a soft-spoken teacher at the Horizon School for the Deaf—the same school blocking the railroad’s progress. Will Landon heed his father’s strict demands or is there another way to build the spur and save the school

When a nefarious character with vengeful intent threatens Mae, will Landon intervene before it’s too late and save the woman who has claimed his heart?

My review:
  Zeller has written a couple of contemporary novels, but she does her best writing when she writes historical novels. (Not that the contemporary ones aren't good. They are).

 And this one may be one of her best yet. She came up with some great characters. Mae, her family, Landon, the kids who attended the school for the deaf.....especially little Hosea. The scene where Landon helped him bat the ball in the game of softball....man. And I love what happened to Polly and Hosea at the end of the book.

Landon was a Christian at the beginning of the book, but a new one. His father was distant, not approving, and not demonstrative or one to compliment. As a result, Landon struggled with the idea of God as a father. I appreciated and enjoyed the truths the author brought out on that through a fiction novel.

The book also had some bad guys, and a little bit of suspense because of them. But I won't say what happened. :)

I have always found sign language intriguing, so I really enjoyed reading about that and the kids at the school.

At the heart of the story, is Landon's dad's determination to run the train tracks right beside the school, making it impossible for them to stay there. I loved how that got resolved, but that is something you need to read the book to find out.

My one complaint about the book - very minor complaint-  I didn't realize til I was pretty far into the book that Mae's parents were the main characters in the first book in this series. I should have realized it, but it wasn't very obvious at first. :)

I thoroughly enjoyed the book - the plot, the characters, the setting, all of it. I am glad I gave this author a try a couple of years ago. She never disappoints.

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today, Penny is the author of nearly two dozen books for the adult market. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor.

When Penny is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

For all the details about Penny's books, please visit her website at www.pennyzeller.com

Book #1

Book #3, coming November 2024

                                                     

 

The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H Gabhart

 

Book description:

The doors she thought were closed forever are starting to open up . . . just a crack

Though the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean's hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher--until Gordon Covington shows up.

No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in Eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school. Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that.

With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who just might end up becoming the family she always yearned for.

My review:
  The only books I have previously read by this author were her Hidden Springs Mystery Series, which was awesome. Though this one is not suspense, I thought it sounded interesting.

 This was a slower paced read, but I really enjoyed it. Mira and Gordon were great and likable characters, and the book was filled with other interesting, odd, and likable characters.

 The author did a great job of describing life in a mountain area inhabited by mountain folk, a lot of them suspicious and leery of outsiders. With Gordon being the pastor and his wife being the teacher, there was a constant parade of individuals through the church, school, and home. 

  Though it wasn't a fast paced novel, I did have a hard time laying it down when I needed to, and wanted to see how it ended. One thing slightly disappointing: There was an event that was going to happen, and the author didn't have it happen in the book. Instead, it was mentioned in a letter from Mira to her sister at the end of the book. That is vague, but I don't want to give spoilers. 

 This was truly an enjoyable read of a young couple falling in love after they are married as they navigate teaching and ministering to a wide variety of mountain people. It left me wanting to check out the author's other non-suspense novels. (Though I wouldn't mind more suspense novels from her.)

 Special thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm's fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at AnnHGabhart.com.

The Song of Sourwood Mountain is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

With Each Tomorrow, The Jewels of Kalispell #2 by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

 

Book description:

As the formation of Glacier National Park takes Eleanor Briggs and her conservationist father on a journey west to advocate for public lands, her heart carries the weight of a painful past. Since the death of her mother, she has spent her life traveling the country with her father and helping him with his work, but now he's considering settling down and writing a book, and she's not sure what that means for her future.

Carter Brunswick faces trials of his own when the Great Northern Railway's departure threatens his family's livelihood and the entire town of Kalispell. In the visiting conservationist's daughter, Ellie, he finds a spirited woman who challenges his convictions in ways he never anticipated, and his own dreams for the future begin to change.

When tensions over the railroad's departure boil over, Ellie and Carter are drawn together on a daring journey that tests the depths of their feelings and their faith in God.

Return to Kalispell, Montana, with bestselling authors Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse for a powerful tale of perseverance, truth, and the transformative power of love.

My review:
  I have learned that anything these two authors collaborate on is worth reading. Their Heart of Alaska series will most likely always be my favorite (I liked it so well, that after someone never returned my copies they borrowed, I bought the series), but this one is shaping up to be at least the runner up.

 Anything Woodhouse is involved in has a lot of history, and is historically accurate. (I have Googled things while reading her books). So this series set on historical places in Kalispell has really caught my interest. The first book was about the library, and the second is about the train depot. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of the story, and then there is the story itself and the characters.

Carter and Ellie were totally awesome and entertaining. They butted heads immediately, with she taking out her frustrations on he and his friend, and then he putting her in her place. Throughout the book, they keep butting heads and she tries her best to deny her liking him, with no success. 

There is a lot of discussion and argument between two views: of people owning too much land and taking away from leaving the land untouched, and those believing in owning a lot of land to help support others. The authors approached that in a way that was interesting to read, and causes the reader to think. At least this reader.

And as is always the case, the authors do not shy away from addressing Biblical truths and lessons. In this book, Ellie struggles to believe in God and that He cares about her because of her mother dying when Ellie was fourteen. She had to learn some lessons, as did Carter. Which had some amusing moments. :)

There is an element of suspense that had be on the edge of my seat til everything calmed down and was resolved.

The first book in this series, The Hearts Choice, was an amazing read. This one is just as good, and was made even more entertaining by the back and forth between the two characters.

And of course, the judge's wife Marvella was back in all of her busybody, matchmaking glory. (Awesome character!)

One thing the authors missed out on, in my humble opinion: At one point, Carter laments to his friend Mark that no girl would be interested in what he was, and that God would have to drop a girl in his lap who was interested in fishing. I thought for sure that was going to come up later, especially after the wilderness trip Ellie was on, but it didn't. Oh well. It was still a really good book. :)

Special thanks to the publisher for an advance  copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

With Each Tomorrow will release on May 21, 2024 from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

About the authors:
Kimberley Woodhouse (kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in Pennsylvania, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

Tracie Peterson (traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.

Check out the first book in the series:

Set In Stone, Treasures of the Earth #2 by Kimberley Woodhouse

 

Book description:

A dangerous scheme could bury their long-held dreams forever. . . .

From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery.

Paleontology student Jacob Duncan has fulfilled his dream of digging for dinosaur bones at last. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all.

My review:
  I was intrigued and slightly dubious about a Christian fiction series about dinosaur digs, but figured this author could pull it off. She definitely showed that she could in the first book, and here we are with the second, enforcing the fact that she can indeed pull it off.

 I'll be honest. I had trouble liking Martha for a lot of the book. I had an on again off again like with her. (If that statement makes sense.) :) She did have more than her share of troubles, and redeemed herself in the end. Or should I say, was redeemed in the end...

 Jacob was an awesome and likable character throughout the book, and held to his convictions and faith throughout everything he faced. I did mutter out loud at one point "You should have told her buddy..." (Yeah, I talk out loud sometimes when reading)

   The dig stuff was interesting, as was the lectures Martha and Jacob attended, but what really made this book was the suspense and drama that was more prevalent than most of Woodhouses' historical novels. The addition of a Pinkerton detective was an added bonus for me...I am fascinated by anything Pinkerton.

 There is a lot of subterfuge and mysterious deaths throughout the book, and I was pretty sure I knew who the guilty party was. Man, was I wrong. The author was rather devious and did a very good sleight of hand type thing. She had me focused on one person, and I was sure that they were the guilty party. Then BOOM!...she showed her other hand, and I was shocked. So shocked, I talked out loud again and said "OK, I did not see that coming!"

 I am still feeling surprised and impressed. 

 Suspense is my favorite genre', and the author filled my need for that in spades in this book. Yeah, the dinosaur dig stuff was interesting, but she wowed me with the suspense, especially at the identity of the white glove person.

 Last, but not least: One thing I appreciate about this author is the fact that she does not shy away from putting Christian content in her books. There is always discussion about Biblical truths, there are always Scriptures quoted and discussed, and her characters always struggle and grow in some way spiritually. More authors need to be like that.

 The book had a great ending, and was a great way to spend part of my day off. :)

About the author:
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty-five books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Her books have been awarded the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Reader's Choice Award, Selah Award, Spur Award, and others. A popular speaker/teacher, she's shared with over 1,000,000 people at more than twenty-five hundred venues across the country. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she's traded in her hat of "craziest mom" for "coolest grandma."

Find more about her and her books at  KimberleyWoodhouse.com 

                                                                 Book #1

Book #3, coming September 2024

Love's Promise, Wyoming Sunrise #4 by Penny Zeller

Book description: 

Can one man's love win a fragile woman's heart?

After Amaya Alvarado lost her fiancé to a senseless tragedy, she vows never to love again. Two years later, at her grandmother’s request, she travels to Poplar Springs to assist with the mercantile and help care for her ailing grandfather. During a stagecoach accident and a confrontation with nefarious outlaws, she crosses paths with a man named Silas McFadden who rescues her and the other passengers. A bond between them soon forms.

Silas is not the man he once was. After a stint on the wrong side of the law, he’s now a respectable rancher in Poplar Springs, Wyoming. After becoming a man of faith, he determines to live his life for the One who gave him a second chance. He just never imagined that second chance might include Amaya. Now all he has to do is ensure his past doesn’t return and destroy his and Amaya’s fragile relationship.

Amaya’s and Silas’s friendship soon grows, and she begins to trust him with everything but her heart. Can she push her growing feelings for him aside? After all, isn’t it betraying her fiancé to care for another man the way she has grown to care for Silas?

When the past comes back to haunt him and revenge is sought, can Silas protect the woman he has come to love?

Take a return trip to Poplar Springs, Wyoming, for Silas and Amaya's story. A surprise reunion brings all of your favorite Wyoming Sunrise characters together in the final installment of this well-loved series.

My review:
   I always this author's books, and have been looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, it is the final book in this great series. My favorite character in the series is Caleb, who first made an appearance in book #1 of this series, Forgotten Memories,  as a fourteen-year old boy being forced by his older brother to help rob wagon trains. Silas, the main character in this book, takes a close second.

 The author again took a flawed character who had not been a very good person, and showed that he could be redeemed and live for God. Silas was an awesome character, as was Amaya, and the characters the author brought back from the other books in the series.

And new ones, such as Owen, Effie, and Dudley. To say who they are would give spoilers away. I will say I had a solution to their problem, and was worried for a while that the author was not going to solve it the way I hoped. 

The story had a great plot, with some bad guys and tense suspenseful moments, romance, and humor. I loved how the author brought all the series characters together at the end....even the aunt infamous for her cooking. Yeah, I said infamous. :)

Silas had to overcome his past, and Amaya had to let hers go, as she didn't want to or expect to move past the death of her fiancée'. Zeller did an excellent job of bringing these two characters together and spinning a  great story of romance and drama around them. And she brought it all to a very satisfying end. 

Special thanks to the author for a review copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks. To sign up for her monthly newsletter with book news and other fun morsels, go to https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/262119/74964679867237940/share

Check out the rest of the Wyoming Sunrise Series:

                                                                Prequel

Book#1

Book #2

Book #3