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!

My Thoughts and More on Whispers in the Snow by Heidi Eljarbo

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Whispers in the Snow by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Whispers in the Snow 
Series: Heartwarming Christmas 
Author: Heidi Eljarbo 
Publisher: independently published 
Release Date: ‎ January 27, 2026 
Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery Romance

Of course, a young woman in Norway during the late nineteenth century can be a successful amateur sleuth, and goodness knows, Cornelia’s days are always more exciting when she can devote her time to resolving a local mystery. 

Cornelia Gran is a dedicated daughter, friendly and kind; although, she has an exorbitant amount of curiosity. She devours Arthur Conan Doyle’s magazine articles and tries to follow the fictitious Sherlock Holmes’s investigative examples, but her fascination with solving puzzles always gets her into mischief. 

Each morning, Cornelia reads the newspaper, looking for a conundrum to solve. Searching for clues—and then chronicling her discoveries—thrills her. She certainly finds those activities more entertaining than taking her grandmother’s advice and attending one Christmas ball after another in search of a husband. 

But chaos and danger turn Cornelia’s quiet days upside down when her attempt to find information about the owner of a nearby abandoned cottage takes her into dangerous territory. As winter winds rattle the windows and swirl snowdrifts against the doors, she faces off with a ghost, gets in trouble with the police, and finds herself staring down danger without thinking of the consequences. In the middle of it all, she meets Simon and is captivated by his charm, good looks, and personality. 

Meanwhile, a real killer is after her, and he won’t stop until he gets information she doesn’t have! Christmas, with all its cheery festivities, hygge, and family traditions, has never been more threatened. Cornelia must call on all her investigative skills, not only to stop the ruination of her family’s holiday, but also to make certain Simon and his aunt keep what belongs to them. And maybe, just maybe, the amateur sleuth will discover the meaning of true love.  

Set in a fictitious town in Norway in 1891, this cozy historical mystery is perfect for those who enjoy curious and determined women sleuths, clean and wholesome romance, and the discovery of buried secrets in an abandoned house.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More in This Series

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About the Author

 

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries. 

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. 

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter. 

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

Connect with Heidi by visiting heidieljarbo.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

My Thoughts:

Taking place in Norway in 1891, we meet Cornelia Gran, A young woman who is trying her hand at being a mystery writer very much like the famous Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Trouble is living in her small quite town she doesn't get many story ideas. Well, all that is about to change when she reads an article about the abandoned yellow home, a home she barely even noticed before.

As Cornelia tries to find out what happened to the previous owners, she surprisingly keeps coming across others that will not help her. However, that only intrigues her more and her investigations continue until they catch the attention of someone they shouldn't. Now Cornelia is caught up in a real mystery and a life and death situation with her own life. Not to mention she also finds love in all of this mess. Can she make it out alive and have a chance at romance?

This was a cute little mystery that would be great to read on a snowy cold afternoon, especially for the ambience. 

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

(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Whispers in the Snow and The Relic Thief, plus a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 2, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

My Thoughts and More on Texas Reclaimed by Sherry Shindelar

 

About the Book

Book: Texas Reclaimed

Author: Sherry Shindelar

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family’s past and a man haunted by the trauma of war?

Cora Scott is determined to hold onto her family’s Texas ranch and provide a stable home for her young half brother, Charlie, despite the mounting challenges of post-Civil War frontier life. But when a scheming creditor threatens to seize their land, she must accept help from Ben McKenzie, a former Yankee soldier sent by her late brother. Though Ben’s generosity and strength draw her, the man’s private struggle she stumbles upon—too reminiscent of her father’s alcoholism—makes her question whether she can trust her heart to him.

Ben McKenzie arrives in Texas intent on fulfilling his promise to his dying friend to protect Cora and Charlie. While using his inheritance to save their ranch, he battles not only the loss of their cattle but also his dependency on laudanum—a medicine that turned into a curse after his imprisonment at Andersonville. As his feelings for Cora deepen, he must choose between his promise to his father to take over their Philadelphia newspaper and his growing dream of a life with Cora in Texas.

When a Comanche warrior begins courting Cora and Ben’s responsibilities in Philadelphia threaten to tear them apart, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their fears and forge a future together on the Texas frontier.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I must say, this book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. This book at times was not an easy read, it deals with addiction in a very raw and emotional way which I appreciated. From the person who was going through the addiction to the people who were affected by it. Plus, I am getting over a very bad head cold, so for the pain, I was really feeling it with Ben.

Ben is addicted to laudanum, not by his choice but due to his imprisonment by the Confederates during the Civil War. He was imprisoned with fellow soldier Jeb Scott, who is Cora's and Charlie's brother. The descriptions of their imprisonment and subsequent torture were somewhat shocking. Needless to say, Jeb does not make it out alive. Hence Ben promises him to look after his mother and sister. However, that promise is hard to keep as Ben lives in Pennsylvania and Cora lives in Texas. However, Ben is not the same man he once was. He has a powerful addiction to laudanum that wants to control him, an almost fiancé who thinks she can make him all better, and a father with family expectations. Except Ben only wants to keep his promise to Jeb. 

And so, he does. Finding Cora and Charlie in worse straits then he thought. Cora has survived much heartache and family loss. Trying to keep her land, especially now that her drunkard father has passed away. She is not sure what to think about Ben when he shows up. Many emotions, till finally she accepts him on the behalf of Jeb and tries to consider him as a brother. However, that is not going to work out. Love has other plans.

Through many trials and tribulations, a lot dealing with Ben's addiction and Cora's distrust of him because of that, we have what I felt to be a raw and emotional read. It was so good though and one that will really stick with me for a long time to come. Maybe, just maybe prepare your heart for it.

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

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. She is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of thirty-eight years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren.

 

 

 

More from Sherry

Texas Reclaimed is a story of victory, redemption, and the rebirth of trust. It is a story of courage and of freedom from the chains of the past and the chains of addiction. It is a story that honors the Civil War soldiers who survived their wounds, only to return home to fight another battle: dependency on the opioid-based medicines that had helped save their lives.

I first heard of laudanum when I watched the movie Amazing Grace about William Wilberforce’s eighteen-year battle to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Wilberforce played a pivotal role in ending the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in Britain by speaking, campaigning, and introducing bills into the British parliament. However, Wilberforce was also addicted to laudanum, a tincture of opium.

It wasn’t his intention to become dependent upon a drug. A doctor prescribed it to him when he was twenty-nine years old for ulcerative colitis and other health ailments. Laudanum was used to treat a number of health issues and ailments in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and no one, including doctors, had much understanding about addiction and dependency. The word addiction didn’t even exist as we use it today. But the soul-deep struggle was very real for too many people, even a man of faith like Wilberforce.

Addiction is pernicious, and laudanum took its toll on Wilberforce. He suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually from its poisonous effects.

Years later, I learned that even some of the nineteenth-century authors that I admire, such as Louisa May Alcott and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, struggled with laudanum dependency, as well.

In the nineteenth century, doctors and the public viewed opium, in its various forms, as an essential medical tool. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were wounded in the American Civil War, and many more suffered from debilitating and potentially life-threatening illnesses. A Civil War medical manual, quoted in Dr. Jonathan Jones’s Opium Slavery, states that opiates were as “important to the surgeon as gunpowder to the ordinance [military weapons].”

My heart went out to Wilberforce, the tens of thousands of soldiers, and others enslaved to laudanum or other substances through no fault of their own. For many, once infected, it could be a lifelong battle, one that many did not win on their own.  But there were victories.

And I love to write about soul-deep struggles and victories.

My hero, Ben McKenzie, is a Federal Cavalry captain captured and imprisoned in the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp. He barely survives the harsh conditions of the camp. His best friend, Jeb Scott, does not. Ben makes a death bed promise to his friend that he will look after Jeb’s mother and sister who live in Texas.

Ben aims to keep that promise, but the medical treatment that he receives after his release from prison camp leaves him dependent upon laudanum. My story starts a year later. Ben determines to break the chains that are eating away at his self-respect. He throws away his bottle of medicine and heads to Texas to keep his promise.

I asked a friend of mine about his own deliverance from addiction. He had this to say, “It was a lifetime ago, my addiction was strong, but my pain was stronger. I’ve lost so much in my life, but then I found that God’s love was deep, and He was even bigger to forgive. Out of His mercy He set me free, and through His grace He healed me from my past.”-Rev. Mark Little Elk

That is my prayer for all of those who struggle. And I look forward to sharing Ben McKenzie’s story with you in Texas Reclaimed.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 14

Books Less Travelled, February 15

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 15

Betti Mace, February 16

lakesidelivingsite, February 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 18

Texas Book-aholic, February 19

Bizwings Blog, February 20

Holly’s Book Corner, February 20

For Him and My Family, February 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 23

Lyssa Loves Books, February 24

The Bookish Pilgrim, February 24

Connie’s History Classroom, February 25

Cover Lover Book Review, February 26

Pause for Tales, February 27

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sherry 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/mEe2g/texas-reclaimed-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Seal of Honor by Jessica Ashley

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for SEAL of Honor by Jessica Ashley, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: SEAL of Honor 
Series: Iron Tide Brotherhood #1 
Author: Jessica Ashley 
Publisher: B.A.D. Publishing, LLC 
Release Date: February 23, 2026 
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

She vanished on their wedding day. Now she’s back… and someone wants her dead. 

Zane Knox is a man who doesn’t officially exist. 

The former Navy SEAL has spent years living in the shadows, forced into off-the-books missions for a government agency that owns his secrets—and his freedom. He’s learned the hard way that love is a liability and trust gets you killed. 

Until the woman who broke his heart stumbles onto his boat in the middle of the night. 

Bruised. Terrified. And begging for medical supplies. 

Tessa Lane doesn’t know who’s hunting her or why. She only knows that nowhere is safe and that every place she runs to turns into another crime scene. The faith she once clung to is gone. So is her belief in love… and the vows she nearly made to Zane. 

But when the danger closes in and her past catches up to her, Zane becomes the only safe place she has left. 

Protecting Tessa was never part of his mission. 

But losing her might destroy what little is left of him. 

As a relentless enemy hunts them through the coastal shadows, Zane and Tessa must confront the secrets that tore them apart—and the faith, love, and redemption that might be the only things that can save them now. 

Because this time, walking away isn’t an option.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Direct from the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub 

More in This Series

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About the Author

Jessica Ashley is a three-time award winning author of faith-filled stories where swoony romance meets edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Her goal is simple: to remind readers that even in the darkest moments, God’s love shines through with hope, healing, and redemption. 

She believes fiction has the power not just to entertain but to transform. Growing up, she saw how stories of faith and love could bring hope. So she pours this experience into the stories she writes where characters face real danger—literal or emotional—but through faith, love, and courage, they emerge changed. 

When she's not writing, she's homeschooling her three kids, baking homemade bread, or sneaking in quiet moments with her husband in their New Hampshire home. 

Her stories are clean, heartfelt, and written to inspire. Because she believes fiction should stir the heart, strengthen faith, and leave you with a smile.

Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicaashleybooks.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

My Thoughts:

This was really an engrossing and tightly woven plot of two people whose love withstands time and danger. Zane and Tessa were due to get married, yet Tessa runs away with a new identity on their wedding day. Which leaves poor Zane stood up at the altar and changing his life plans of becoming a doctor and joining the Navy SEALs. Not only did she run away, but Zane and his family actually feared she was dead, and though they searched they could not find any evidence.

Well, Tessa has survived some major abuse from the one person she should have been safe with, her father. But she chose to run away from everyone and not to bring Zane's family into anymore of her conflict at home. Now eighteen years later danger has found her once again. Still, she is hiding in the shadows till Zane finds her. Imagine his surprise that she is still alive. He saves her again, but wants answers, answers she is not willing to give.

This was a great romantic suspense filled with two very flawed characters who are leaning on their faith.  I also really appreciated that no matter how much time has passed or what has transpired, when two people are really in love, none of those things matter. Especially when forgiveness and redemption cover betrayal and abandonment. This story keeps you invested as all the layers of these two lives are pulled back and the connections are revealed.

This was my first author Ashley novel, and I enjoyed this fresh voice in romantic suspense and look forward to more in this series

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.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 25, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 4, 2026. Winners 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 JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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