My Thoughts and More on The Convict's Courtship by KyLee Woodley

 

 

About the Book

Book: The Convict’s Courtship

Author: KyLee Woodley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 3, 2026

A remote mining town, an aspiring journalist, and the reformed convict who saves her life.

When Clara Alexander returned from finishing school to Virginia City she had two goals: to become a reporter and make peace with the father who betrayed her mother. But even in the West, there is no room for her in the newsroom or in the family her father made when he married his mistress. Clara is forced to take desperate measures to prove her worth to an editor—including a reckless venture into a dangerous mine shaft.

Reformed convict Beau Vulpe lives a quiet life of obscurity in a remote mining town in Nevada. When he rescues a beautiful woman from a sweltering mine shaft, he’s welcomed into her home as a hero, only to discover that they are the same family he deeply wronged the summer before. Now, with winter’s grip choking the mountain town and rumors of mines going bust, he is forced to stay, praying Clara won’t discover the truth before the spring thaw.

As Clara pursues her dreams of writing for the renowned Territorial Enterprise, she continually crosses paths with the mysterious Frenchman who saved her life and is drawn to him a little more with each interaction. Beau finds himself not only falling for the lovely lady but befriending her family as well. Can he protect his freedom and atone for his wrongs without losing his heart in the process? And what about Clara—will her attraction toward Beau Vulpe lead to the disappointment her mother warned her about?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

In this story we have two characters that are hurting and running away from past circumstances. Beau is a Frenchman who has lost much and been through too much. However, he is a gentle and caring man, and he is thankful for his faith that has changed him into a better man. Yet, he still feels there is no place for him. He is still running from his past in France and the one in the United States. He just wants to keep his head down and work at the mine earning enough money to see his way for a new start to Canada. Until he meets Clara.

Clara is a young woman who is trying to fit into a man's world as a reporter. She has an uphill battle, but one she is willing to risk everything for. She is also carrying some deep scars from her family drama that hold her back and have skewered her views on love and life. When Beau rescues her and becomes a more prominent figure in her life, she begins to have a fresh new outlook.

There is a lot that these two must come to terms with and overcome. Together though, they will be stronger.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own. 

About the Author

KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas, where she lives with her husband of eighteen years and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.

In her spare time, she cares for a rescue mutt—Lucky Dog—a feisty feline named Hazel, and three adorable Boston Terrier puppies. She listens to Cricket Country and K-Love radio, reads classic books with her children, and watches Marvel movies with her husband, who might resemble Superman.

More from KyLee

A Heart in Exile: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Heroine

We all carry “wounds”—those hurts from our past that shape how we see the world today. For Clara, my heroine in The Convict’s Courtship, that wound is deep and it’s personal.

In her youth, Clara loved to write fanciful stories. With a love of history and a strong faith in God, she strove as a teen to write Bible studies for young ladies. But she comes from a troubled home, the daughter of an impulsive father and a mother she believes died of a broken heart after her father’s betrayal. Weeks after her mother’s death, her father married his mistress, who gave birth to a baby boy just months later. At this point, a sixteen-year-old Clara hoped they might finally be a family, only to be sent away to an elite boarding school—Miss Porter’s School. This was the same prestigious school attended by Nellie Grant, President Grant’s daughter. Everyone said her father sent her there out of love, but Clara knew better. It was time for Clara to grow up.

During her time in the East, she discovered the pioneering work of 19th-century female journalists and activists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jane Swisshelm, and Anne Newport Royall. She admired these strong women, seeing them as a stark contrast to her mother’s perceived weakness. This shift led Clara away from “fanciful” notions of hope toward a life built on facts, proof, and logic—so much so that rather than pray, she now seeks guidance through the analytical study of the Bible.

After four years of exile, Clara returns to a Virginia City that is soon decimated by the Great Fire of 1875.

Now, she must find a way to reconcile her mother’s memory, her own search for significance, and her desire for a family. It is among the ruins of the city and of her family that she encounters Monsieur Beau Vulpe—a convict on the run with deep wounds of his own and a secret connection to her family that makes her the last woman in the world he would choose to love. Will the mysterious Frenchman be part of her healing or her final ruin?

Clara’s journey is one of healing, hard truths, and finding hope in the midst of the ashes. Have you ever had to face a “wound” from your past that felt impossible to heal? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you’re ready to see how Clara and Beau’s story unfolds, you’ll want to read The Convict’s Courtship.”

Extinguishing flames on C Street While this picture does not depict the actual fire in 1875, it does show how the fire department and the town fought the flames. Source: The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum. http://fourthwardschool.org/events/virginia-citys-great-fire-of-1875/.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 10

Pause for Tales, March 10

lakesidelivingsite, March 11

Texas Book-aholic, March 12

Bizwings Blog, March 13

Sydney Schmied Books, March 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 14

For Him and My Family, March 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 16

Devoted Steps, March 17

Devoted To Hope, March 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 19

Stories By Gina, March 20 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, March 20

Cover Lover Book Review, March 21

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 22

Holly’s Book Corner, March 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, KyLee is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a gift basket, which includes the whole series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/sErXk/the-convicts-courtship-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on the Caregiver at Wounded Knee by Debby Lee

 

About the Book

Book: The Caregiver at Wounded Knee (Enduring Hope Book 4)

Author: Debby Lee

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: February, 2026

Rose Seeks Peace at All Costs

 

Collect a new series of historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.

Rose Rushing Water, an Oglala Sioux trained back East in nursing, is torn between two brothers—one who seeks to appease the government and one who fights to cling to the old ways at all costs. Tribal policeman Nathaniel Gray Cloud struggles to keep peace on the reservation and support his sister, who is also desperate to hold on to family traditions. Can Rose and Nathaniel find a peace that comes only from God, or will they lose their families and their lives as tensions reach a boiling point at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Cultures clash in this novel about a Native American woman trying to embrace the current one while not wanting to let hers goes. Rose Rushing Water is a nurse trained in Boston who has come back home to help her tribe. There is unfortunately unrest still going on as there are some who want to go back to the old ways of the tribe. However, this creates a dangerous situation as some of the practices make the settlers uncomfortable. No one knows how dangerous this is than tribal police officer Nathanial Gray Cloud. There is a lot to unpack in this story, with high tensions, culture versus culture, and just plain old human prejudice and evil.

I enjoyed getting this story from the tribal side. Rose and Nathaniel are two young people arising from a new way of life for their tribe. They both are great examples of letting go, moving forward, and having the right faith to see them move on. 

This is a historical novel, and it does deal with the massacre that happens at Wounded Knee. This story was written with compassion and care for a very troubled time in our nation's history.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Debby Lee was raised in the cozy little town of Toledo, Washington. She has been writing since she was a small child, and has written several novels, but never forgets home. The Northwest Christian Writers Association and Romance Writers of America are two organizations that Debby enjoys being a part of. As a self professed nature lover, and an avid listener of 1960’s folk music, Debby can’t help but feel like a hippie child who wasn’t born soon enough to attend Woodstock. She wishes she could run barefoot all year long, but often does anyway in the grass and on the beaches in her hamlet that is the cold and rainy southwest Washington. During football season, Debby cheers on the Seattle Seahawks along with legions of other devoted fans. She’s also filled with wanderlust and dreams of visiting Denmark, Italy, and Morocco someday.

More from Debby

A crime against humanity occurred more than one-hundred years ago, a massacre that still resonates, and haunts people to this day. I’m referring to the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek, the slaying of hundreds of men, women and children, their lifeless bodies left on the frozen ground surrounding this small, winding body of water.

In writing my novel, The Caregiver at Wounded Knee, I traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. In late April, the grasslands had not yet drank enough water or basked in enough sun to turn themselves green. Even so, I was taken in by the evocative beauty of the land. I noted the rolling hills that seemed to stretch on and on as if they wished to reach out and touch the tip of eternity.

As I drove to the site of the massacre I passed White Clay Creek. My characters, Rose and Nathaniel have a picnic along the banks of this creek. It’s the place where Rose flees to after witnessing the massacre, where she struggles to cope with the traumatic aftermath. Thankfully, Rose and Nathaniel create more happy memories there.

I included two real people in my novel, Doctor Charles Eastman and Elaine Goodale. Dr. Eastman by the way; was a real person, his Indian name being Ohiyesa. He was educated in the east and graduated from medical school. He married Elaine Goodale, a school teacher from Massachusetts. Together they operated a clinic in the community of Pine Ridge and were in many scenes throughout my novel.

When I reached the site where the massacre occurred, I couldn’t help but notice how big of an area the site encompassed. The creek itself surprised me. It wasn’t as deep or wide as I thought it would be and the banks leading to the water were fairly steep in some places. It looked serene and almost peaceful, but I thought, oh if those waters could talk.

I stood on a hilltop where I’m told a Catholic church had once stood and I gazed across the plateau below where the Lakota people were camped. I tried to picture the area where the soldiers were stationed, along with their Hotchkiss guns, which looked like small cannons to me. What went through the hearts and minds of the Lakota people?

I tried to imagine how the stomachs of Rose and those of her tribe were knotted with hunger, how cold they were as the icy wind swept over the land, how frightened they must have been as they were surrounded by soldiers with, Lord knows, what kind of nefarious intentions.

And I cried. I more than cried. I wept. I shed what felt like a gallon of tears for the injustice perpetrated against this tribe, for native people everywhere.

The military was confiscating the Lakota weapons, when gunfire ensued. Hundreds of women and children fell, wounded, dying, or dead. It’s been said they were simply caught in the crossfire.

And yet the body of a woman, who was shot in the back, was found by Dr. Eastman more than a mile from the site. Likely chased down and shot by 7^th Cavalry. Eight or nine young schoolboys, who were returning to boarding school, were playing on a slope, nearby. They were no older than ten. They were all were shot dead. An estimated 300 Lakota men, women and children were killed; compared to 31 Army soldiers, many who died from friendly fire.

After the massacre the bodies of the dead were buried in a mass grave at the top of a small hill. I added a scene where Rose and her brother visit the site to pay their respects. It wasn’t easy for her to return to the scene of such trauma, but in her mind, it was necessary.

The long rectangle shaped grave is now outlined with concrete and is surrounded by resting places of many other members of the Lakota tribe. A monument has been placed there, engraved with the names of many of the victims.

There are signs on the Pine Ridge Reservation offering directions to those who want to visit the site. If you’re ever passing through, I recommend a stop there. I know I will be forever changed by the time I spent traversing this hallowed ground.

Blog Stops

Books Less Travelled, February 26

Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Author Interview)

Sydney Schmied Books, February 27

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 1

Texas Book-aholic, March 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3

For Him and My Family, March 4

Connie’s History Classroom , March 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 6

Cover Lover Book Review, March 7

Pause for Tales, March 8

Betti Mace, March 9

Devoted To Hope, March 10

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 11

Holly’s Book Corner, March 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debby is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/G0Oie/blaze-of-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep

 

About the Book

Book: The Bird of Bedford Manor

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction / Regency

Release Date: February, 2026

Bedfordshire, England, 1820: Ruined by the sins of her father, Juliet Finch is cast into a life of self-reliance. Survival is a harsh taskmaster, but she is a quick learner and excels at tracking and snaring wild game to feed herself. Juliet embraces her new identity until the day Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land—a crime punishable by death. Henry, however, has other offenses on his mind: namely, the troublesome stalker who’s making a misery of his sister’s life. To try to put a stop to her torment, Henry charges Juliet with tracking the elusive villain so he can be brought to justice. Using her skills, Juliet hunts down the rogue. . .but may just become the prey herself.

Reader favorite Michelle Griep has penned yet another masterpiece with this page-turning adventure that has it all:

• swoon-worthy romance
• clever turn-of-phrase
• colorfully memorable characters
• charming British setting

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

A female poacher? Yes, and one that even used to be a lady till her father brought her family down. Now Juliet is trying her best at keeping food on her aunt's table, so they don't starve. Even the job of being a healer is being taken away from her aunt as a new apothecary has come into town threatening what is left of their livelihood. So yes, even though it carries the death penalty, Juliet is poaching.

Henry Russell is trying to keep his family estate running while his father is on a trip. Not only is he trying to find out who is stalking his beloved sister, Charity, he now has to deal with a poacher. A woman poacher. And a woman who fascinates him to no end. What transpires is that Juliet agrees to hunt down Charity's stalker for Henry. A dangerous game indeed especially when the stalker has no plans to let go of their prey.

Now Juliet is in the crosshairs of a very dangerous person. This was a great mystery; it kept me guessing as to whom the stalker was. Who kept all of our characters on edge and caused chaos? Juliet and Henry have to fight all their misconceptions and work together. They learn that trust is hard earned and when lost almost impossible to get back. However, they must trust one another, or they will not survive this cat and mouse game.

This was a riveting historical; the plot was unlike anything I read before. Juliet's circumstances certainly upped the ante. It had an air of gothic with a dash of Robin Hood thrown in. That was just how Juliet came across to me.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

 

 

More from Michelle

The Waltz: The Dance That Shocked Regency England

Post by Michelle Griep

I’ll be the first to admit it…I can’t dance a lick. Not a jig, not a reel, and certainly not anything that requires turning in rhythm without stepping on someone’s toes. If you ever spot me on a dancefloor, it’s because someone shoved me there or I lost a bet. Which is probably why the waltz both fascinates and terrifies me. A dance that actually expects you to glide gracefully while holding someone close? Absolutely not. And yet in Regency England, it became the talk of the town.

When the waltz swirled onto the dancefloors of England in the 1790s, it caused more shock than delight. Imported from Austria and southern Germany, it was a turning, closely-held dance—far too close for the comfort of polite society. Many called it indecent, warning that no respectable couple should stand chest-to-chest before a room full of onlookers. Some critics even claimed the dance “ignited dangerous feelings” and threatened to erode proper English restraint.

Shocking, right?

But fashions shift, and all it took was the Prince Regent giving the dance his approval in 1814. Overnight, the waltz transformed from scandal to sensation. By the 1820s, it was everywhere.

Here are a few fun bits of waltz trivia from the era:

• Some etiquette books warned that too much turning could cause “disorientation” or “undue excitement.”

• Early chaperones sometimes counted the number of turns, convinced it reflected a couple’s level of impropriety.

• A lady’s hemline was said to act like a “barometer” of a gentleman’s behavior—if it swayed too wildly, he was holding her too tightly.

In The Bird of Bedford Manor, set in 1820, this same world of rigid rules and whispered scandals forms the backdrop for Juliet Finch—resourceful, determined, and driven into the woods by her father’s downfall. When Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land, everything changes. What begins as a crime punishable by death becomes something far more dangerous as he charges her with tracking the stalker tormenting his sister.

Juliet can track anything. But this time, she may become the hunted.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 24

Devoted Steps, February 24

Bizwings Blog, February 25

Book Looks by Lisa, February 25

Where Faith and Books Meet, February 25

Sylvan Musings, February 26

Sydney Schmied Books, February 26

Lily’s Corner, February 27

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 27

Inspired by Fiction, February 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28

Texas Book-aholic, March 1

Simple Harvest Reads, March 1 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 2

For Him and My Family, March 3

The Bookish Pilgrim, March 3

Betti Mace, March 4

Cover Lover Book Review, March 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5

Blogging With Carol, March 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 6

Blossoms and Blessings, March 6

Stories By Gina, March 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 7

Holly’s Book Corner, March 8

Pause for Tales, March 8

Vicky Sluiter, March 8

Devoted To Hope, March 9

To Everything There Is A Season, March 9

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/zqeQC/the-bird-of-bedford-manor-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Raging Waters by Dana Mentink

 

 

About the Book

Book: Raging Waters

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 3, 2026

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.

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. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

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 in light of his troubled past with her brother, 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.

A gripping, clean romantic suspense featuring enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and high-stakes investigations set in small-town Washington, sweeping readers away on a turbulent wave of thrills and chills. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, wilderness survival, protective heroes, and justice-driven heroines.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a story with some powerful feels especially as it deals with a murder and drug addiction of a most beloved brother. Aaron's death was one that shook Mackenzie's family up and the life of his best friend, Gideon's too. There are a lot of hurt feelings and unresolved bitterness, along with the guilt that dealing with this type of situation would drag up.

Mackenzie was supposed to be a cop. Now she does a podcast that is focused on closing cold cases. And she has been successful, except where it comes to getting the drug lord responsible for her brother's lost life caught. Here I feel Mackenzie may have lost her way a little bit. She is in revenge mode, and she will stop at nothing, and I mean nothing to capture Bullseye. Unfortunately, she does not have the network he has, and he is not going to be taken down easily.

Gideon gets pulled back into this situation due to Mackenzie; he also is dealing with unresolved guilt issues. He and Mackenzie start off as somewhat enemies, but that does change overtime as they need to work together to survive. Not only the drug lord, but also the raging waters that threaten to pull them under first. A page turning suspense.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

 

 

More from Dana

I’m afraid of deep water. There. I’ve said it. I live in California, famous for beaches sand and surf. If that’s not enough, there are swimming pools aplenty. I should be enjoying the surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing culture, but I’d much rather sit on a deck somewhere and watch others partake. So what’s a gal like me doing writing an adventure that takes place as a dam rupture overwhelms a town? I love to write that type of wilderness story, where stakes are high and the help is scarce. Similar to the previous book, Fire Mountain, the characters will have to dig deep of their strength and faith to survive. And you and I can enjoy it from the safety of our decks! Are you ready? Grab your book and your cuppa and let’s go!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 3

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 3

The Avid Reader, March 3

The Sacred Line, March 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 4

She Lives To Read, March 5

Texas Book-aholic, March 5

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6

Lily’s Corner, March 7

Pause for Tales, March 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 7

Devoted To Hope, March 8

For Him and My Family, March 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 9

Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 9

EmpowerMoms, March 10

Blogging With Carol, March 10

Just Your Average reviews, March 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 11

Simple Harvest Reads, March 11 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lyssa Loves Books, March 12

Blossoms and Blessings, March 12

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 12

Cover Lover Book Review, March 13

Labor Not in Vain, March 13

Betti Mace, March 14

Bigreadersite, March 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 15

Lights in a Dark World, March 15

Holly’s Book Corner, March 15

Stories By Gina, March 16 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/OQ5p4/raging-waters-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on The Maiden and the Mountie by Denise Farnsworth

 

About the Book

Book: The Maiden and the Mountie

Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

A marriage of necessity. A secret buried deep. In Georgia’s gold country, love may be the most dangerous treasure of all.

Gage Edmonds plans to use his engineering degree to blaze new roads in the Southern frontier—but first, he must follow in the footsteps of his war hero father and prove he’s worthy of their family name. His assignment to the Georgia Mounted Militia puts him between gold-hungry settlers and Cherokees soon to be forced from their homes. The local miller’s captivating daughter, Anna Walker, makes him question everything he thought he wanted. Grieved at the treatment of the peaceful Cherokees, Gage chooses not to re-enlist but agrees to work as a translator, even if it might cost him his chance at redemption.

Daughter of a European mother and Cherokee father, Anna has seen the way new settlers have pushed her father’s people out of their homes. She vowed never to fall for a white man. Least of all, a soldier. Yet when Sergeant Edwards endangers himself to keep the peace during a clash at her father’s gristmill, she admits there’s something honorable about him. Over Anna’s protests, her father seeks to secure her future in Gage’s hands.

On the eve of eviction, members of a local village hide their gold, trusting Anna with its safekeeping until they can return. When dangerous men discover the secret, she’s forced to rely on Gage for protection. But just as she begins to trust him, a secret her father has kept threatens to tear them apart. Can Anna trust this soldier with the truth—and her heart?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I have really been enjoying this historical series, Twenty-Niners Georgia Gold Rush, and how this gold rush affected the Georgia state and those who lived where the gold was found. In this account the gold is on Cherokee land. The Cherokees who have long adopted American ways and have already established their homes and towns here. Unfortunately, there is no boundaries for human greed, even that greed sanctioned by the government.

So here we find Anna, daughter of a Cherokee father and European mother, alongside Gage former military now wanting to help his beloved grandmother by marriage people. Anna and her father are just trying to keep their land and gristmill. Gage wants to help all he can, all the while falling in love with Anna as well.

Then Anna's father has a plan to keep the land. Have Anna marry Gage. A marriage of convenience to protect all. This does not sit well with Anna. Among dissenting loyalties, greedy neighbors, and a grim outlook, Anna and Gage must fight for what is right and rely on their faith. And they must learn to do this together as danger and possible disaster awaits just around the corner. 

I found this historical tale fascinating and learning about the Cherokee misfortune that would lead later to the Trail of Tears.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two young adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

 

 

 

More from Denise

The vanished pieces of our history have always intrigued me as an author. Houses, towns, lives that were once so vital but now of which there is no trace left except in books and oral accounts. For The Maiden and the Mountie, tales about two vanished things caught my attention when I lived near Cumming, Georgia—a Cherokee removal fort and Cherokee gold. Local historians have long debated the location of Fort Buffington and legends of Cherokee gold hidden in tunnels with secret vaults and deadfalls…or buried in clay pots, some of which were reported to have been found.

The second book of my Twenty-Niners of the Georgia Gold Rush series is set during the fall and winter of 1837. Gold had been found in the late 1820s on Cherokee land, land which was then divvied up in a state lottery. Lottery winners prepared to move onto farming lots of a hundred and sixty acres or mining lots of forty acres. Much of that property already had “improvements”—homes, outbuildings, and businesses. The majority of the Cherokee people had “Americanized,” adopting the clothing, religion, language, and farming and business methods of their white neighbors. That did not stop property- and gold-hungry settlers from taking Native American land.

Some Cherokees moved to Oklahoma Territory before the May 1838 deadline set by the national government. Others lingered until the last, fed by rumors and hopes that the legal efforts of their leaders in Washington would succeed. Many of them endured harassment by Pony Club members. Eventually, the remaining Cherokees were rounded up by mounted militia, forced into hastily constructed removal forts, and escorted on the tragic winter march that became known as the Trail of Tears.

No doubt about it—this is grave subject matter. But wouldn’t writing a trilogy about the Georgia Gold Rush without including an account of the Cherokee Removal be an even graver disservice to the actual history and the proud people who endured it?

The Maiden and the Mountie focuses on the mixed-blood Cherokee family of the heroine, Anna Walker, whose father operates a gristmill—another setting unique to fiction but so vital to nineteenth-century communities. For this angle of the story, I was able to draw on my brief stint as a county employee when I spent some time as a docent at Freeman’s Mill in Gwinnett County. The hero, Gage Edmonds, yearns to live up to his father’s military record and at the same time defend the heritage of his Cherokee grandmother-by-marriage. The conflict he rides into as a member of the Georgia Mounted Militia constructing Fort Buffington in Cherokee County convinces him he can better serve the native people as a translator than a soldier. Defending Anna and her family from members of the Pony Club makes his quest even more personal. Little does he know the woman he’s falling in love with has been called on by her father’s people to help hide Cherokee gold.

Themes of The Maiden and the Mountie include finding one’s identity in God, friendship that spans social boundaries, the power of adopted family, and love that blooms amid the harsh winter of conflict. I hope you’ll join Anna and Gage in the tumultuous days of the Georgia Gold Rush and look for The Schoolmarm and the Miner coming later this year.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 21

Blossoms and Blessings, February 22

Books Less Travelled, February 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 23

Texas Book-aholic, February 24

Devoted To Hope, February 25

Holly’s Book Corner, February 26

For Him and My Family, February 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 27

Betti Mace, February 28

Jeanette’s Thoughts , March 1

lakesidelivingsite, March 2

Cover Lover Book Review, March 3

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 4

Pause for Tales, March 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5

Lyssa Loves Books, March 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/UE2FM/the-maiden-and-the-mountie-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Light to my Path Erica Vetsch

 

About the Book

Book: Light To My Path

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

A determined orphan caretaker and a wealthy mine owner—brought together by circumstance, tested by tragedy, and transformed by love.

Sam Mackenzie learned the hard way not to trust a beautiful face. After breaking his engagement to a fortune-hunting socialite, he’s focused solely on his family’s mining business. But when his aunt asks him to help escort three orphans and their caretaker across the country, he finds himself drawn to the selfless young woman tasked with the children’s care.

Eldora Carter has spent her life depending on no one but herself. As a former orphan now caring for three unwanted children, she knows better than to dream of a different future. When a journey by rail turns perilous, she must rely on Sam’s help to keep the children safe. Yet accepting his assistance means risking her heart to a man who could never want someone like her. As danger forces them to work together, Eldora discovers that sometimes the greatest risk is refusing to love at all.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This is a story of orphans, broken hearts, train rides, and new beginnings. Sam Mackenzie is reeling after finding out about the truth of the lies his fiancé spun. He is justifiably angry and plans to stay away from any romantic encounters for the time being. His aunt gives him an assignment to help those less unfortunate than him.

Eldora Carter is an orphan who has grown out of the orphanage. However, as a young woman trying to make it in this world, too many have tried to take advantage of her. Now she is tasked with seeing three orphans, one troubled and the other two with health conditions, to another orphanage. Here is where she meets Sam as he will be escorting them.

On their journey, this group begins to let down their walls as they look out for one another. Through fights, miscommunications, and danger, this little group begins to become a family of sorts. What awaits them at the end of their journey is one that not one of them even thought possible.

This was a lovely story of family found, a true love, and new beginnings especially as these characters learned to open their battered hearts to true joy.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

 

 

 

 

More from Erica

Trains. I love trains. I got this love from my father, who is fascinated by all types of trains. When writing Light to My Path, I asked my dad lots of questions, and I relied heavily upon the things I learned at the train museums he took me to see.

One of our favorite train museums is in Duluth, MN. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum, in what was the former depot of the Gilded Age boomtown, is home to one of the most beautiful trains I have ever seen.

It’s name is the William B. Crooks, and it is a steam locomotive.

The William Crooks, the first train engine of any kind in Minnesota belonging to the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad by railroad tycoon James J. Hill of St. Paul. The William Crooks pulled its first train cars full of passengers on June 28, 1862. The William Crooks retired from passenger service in 1897.

Isn’t it beautiful? When the train retired from passenger service, it became the personal train of James J. Hill, The Empire Builder and owner of The Great Northern Railroad.

James J. Hill dreamed of pushing a railroad from Minnesota to the West Coast, through the Rocky and Cascade Mountains. It was along the Great Northern Railroad in March of 1910 that one of the worst train disasters in US history occurred. An avalanche took out two trains, killing 96 people.

This historic event inspired part of the story in Light to My Path. A train, trapped by snow, unable to go forward or back, and with an avalanche imminent. It’s the kind of book that calls for a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea!

You can read more about both the William Crooks and the Cascade Avalanche Disaster at these websites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Crooks_(locomotive)

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-1/trains-buried-by-avalanche

Blog Stops

Books Less Travelled, February 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 20

Sydney Schmied Books, February 20

Texas Book-aholic, February 21

For Him and My Family, February 22

Devoted To Hope, February 23

Lyssa Loves Books, February 23

She.lives.to.read, February 24

lakesidelivingsite, February 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 26

Blossoms and Blessings, February 26

Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 28

Devoted Steps, March 1

Bizwings Blog, March 1

Book Looks by Lisa, March 2

Little Homeschool on the Prairie , March 2

Cover Lover Book Review, March 3

Holly’s Book Corner, March 3

Lock, Hooks and Books, March 4

Pause for Tales, March 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/IemaN/light-to-my-path-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on A Rancher for Easter by Susanne Dietze

 

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Rancher for Easter by Susanne Dietze, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Rancher for Easter 

Series: Home to Foxtail #3 

Author: Susanne Dietze 

Publisher: Love Inspired 

Release Date: February 24, 2026 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

An inheritance with strings attached…

Forces him to tie the knot. 

Rancher Thatcher Dalton accidentally triggers a marriage requirement to his inheritance and now must find a wife in six months…or lose his farm. When widowed bookkeeper Bliss Anderson suddenly finds herself without a job, she knows that the adoption of her foster daughter, who has epilepsy, will be in jeopardy—unless she accepts Thatcher’s proposal of a marriage of convenience. As the platonic couple settle into married life and parenthood, they soon find that remaining just friends is harder than expected. But when a long-held family secret threatens their growing happiness, it’ll take a little girl’s Easter wish to turn them into a real family… 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop

More Books from this Series:

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About the Author

Susanne Dietze began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she's an award-winning, RWA RITA® nominated author who's seen her work on the Publisher's Weekly and ECPA Lists for Inspirational Fiction. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne lives in California and enjoys fancy-schmancy tea parties and curling up on the couch with a costume drama.

Connect with Susanne by visiting www.susannedietze.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Thoughts:

What happens when it is the modern times and only a marriage of convenience can save you from your predicament? Well, that is what friends Thatcher and Bliss are wondering when both of their worlds are upended and their plans for their respective futures seem to be disintegrating right before their very eyes.

Thatcher is already under a great deal of pressure trying to fulfill the requirements of his obstinate lake uncle's will. He and his cousins all are, just so they don't lose their beloved ranch. But unfortunately, he now has to get married to continue filling the demands of the will, this is where Bliss comes in.

Bliss is a widow, after her unhappy first marriage, she just wants to settle down and adopt her foster daughter. However, her plans go awry when she loses her job, the adoption looks likes it is going to fall through. Enter Thatcher's plan for a marriage with no strings attached, but at the same time beneficial for both. All seems to be going well, till, well they actually begin to fall in love and act like a real family.

Both Thatcher and Bliss are hiding some secrets that could shatter each other's perspectives. Will they be able to share their deepest secrets to one another and make this a real happy family, not just for their sake but for their daughter too? I enjoyed this modern-day marriage of convenience story and the couple's love and faith they tried to build their lives on. As the Good Book says, the truth shall set you free.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of A Rancher for Easter and $25 Starbucks gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 26, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 5, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!