Thursday, October 30, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Secrets of the Heart by Vickie McDonough

About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Heart

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 7, 2025

A Southern belle nursing a wounded stranger must choose between family duty and a love that defies everything she’s ever known.

Hannah Madison’s life is comfortable, well-ordered, and safe. She knows what to expect. Including her mother’s plans that Hannah marry Jamie Reed, the heir to the neighboring plantation. But her sheltered life is disrupted when she stumbles upon a seriously injured stranger in the Reeds’ barn. He seems to need her help. As she nurses him back to health, Hannah is drawn to the handsome man with amnesia that she calls Adam. And as her feelings for him grow, Hannah must decide whether to follow her heart or honor her family’s expectations.

Adam remembers nothing prior to the day he met Hannah. Nothing of his true identity or the dangerous secret he carries. All he knows is he can’t help falling for his graceful and kind caretaker. But when his memories return, he’s faced with an impossible choice— pursue his love for Hannah and betray his family, or sacrifice his own happiness to preserve his family’s unity.

Can Hannah and Adam find the right path when duty and love collide?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Danger and secrets bring Cooper Reed home fast. Unfortunately, someone is out to finish him off and just as he reaches his homestead catastrophe strikes and he loses his memory. Then an angel comes to help him, and he can't help but fall in love. Not knowing she is his brother's fiancé, but he can't even remember his own name.

Hannah Madison is about to get married to her parent's choice of a husband. On her way to James's plantation, she comes across a very wounded and bruised man. A man that can't remember who he is and one she can't recognize, so she calls him Adam.

Can Adam be trusted even though he doesn't know who he is? Even though the Revolutionary War is over, the animosity between America and Britain is high, and they are coming ever close to the War of 1812, and traitors still abound. There is a lot going on in this story, romance, patriotism, and family reconciliation. This is the second in the Windswept Weddings and the ongoing saga of the Reed family. And did I say romance, lots of forbidden feelings in this one.

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

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

More from Vickie

Most of my writing career I’ve been an author of western historical fiction set in the late 1800’s, but a visit to Charleston and Savannah while on vacation, stirred up a desire to write in a different time period. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, a state that is only 118 years old. I was quickly enchanted by Charleston’s rich history and fell in love with the centuries-old homes and cobblestone streets.

While in Charleston, my husband and I toured an antebellum plantation called Drayton Hall, which was built in 1738. It’s located on the Ashley River about 15 miles northwest of Charleston. Touring the magnificent old home gave me lots of fodder for a new series set in South Carolina. For instance, did you know that ballrooms were often located on a third or fourth story because you could get better cross-breeze which made the temperature a bit cooler, and it was less likely that mosquitoes would plague the guests on the upper floors.

Secrets of the Heart is set 22 years after Mutiny of the Heart, book 1 in my Windswept Brides series. When I sat down to begin writing Secrets of the Heart, the only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to continue the story of the Reed family. I had thought the book would be mostly Jamie’s story, who was a young boy in the first book in the series, but the story took an expected turn. I ’ve always like forbidden love stories, where the hero and heroine seemed destined to be together, but everything is working against them. I had to add that to my story.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 18

Texas Book-aholic, October 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 20

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 21

Devoted To Hope, October 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 23

For Him and My Family, October 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 25

Simple Harvest Reads, October 25 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

The Mommies Reviews, October 26

Books Less Travelled, October 27

Cover Lover Book Review, October 28

Holly’s Book Corner, October 29

Pause for Tales, October 30

Stories By Gina, October 31 (Author Interview)

Alyssa Madjeski, October 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vickie 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d280/secrets-of-the-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, October 26, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Clara and the Cowboy by Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Book: Clara and the Cowboy

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 13, 2025

She’s the rancher’s daughter. He’s the reformed outlaw who became her father’s foreman. Love was never part of the plan.

Clara Bainbridge has loved Alec for years, long before she left for finishing school in Boston. And though she is convinced he loves her too, he seems determined to push her away now that she’s back. So when the handsome stranger who protects her during a stagecoach robbery reveals that he is her new neighbor, Clara begins to wonder if accepting his suit might be wiser than waiting for Alec.

Ranch foreman Alec McConnell has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and prove himself worthy of Colonel Bainbridge’s trust. When cattle start disappearing from the Cross B Ranch, Alec’s checkered past makes him the prime suspect. He must catch the real rustlers to clear his name, but his growing feelings for the Colonel’s daughter, Clara, threaten to undo everything he’s built. How can he protect her when his very presence in her life could destroy her reputation?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I so enjoy a good western with romance and a bit of danger, and this story, had all of that. Starting right off with a stagecoach robbery, Clara is just trying to get back home to her beloved ranch, her father, and the man she has been in love with most of her life, Alec. Well, Alec is not going to make things easy, even though he is also in love with Clara. He and his two brothers have had a rough go of life with a drunkard father and some of their own criminal behavior. However, Alec has changed for the good, and Clara wants him to see that and that they are perfect for one another.

Their road to true love is not easy. Besides the danger that is arising to the whole ranch, both Clara and Alec have stubborn streaks a mile long. Their story will need some work from both of them and a little bit of pushing from others. This was just a story to escape from life's problems for a while. Danger and romance, along with family and forgiveness. What fun and I am looking for to the other two brothers' stories too.

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

Did you, like me, grow up watching westerns on tv? I watched often in reruns as the heyday of the TV Western was waning about the time I was born. But I watched Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Virginian, and more.

And so grew my love of the old west, of cowboys, cattle drives, frontier justices, and rolling tumbleweeds.

I also read westerns. Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour, Abel Shott (Yes, that was the pen name of the man who wrote the series called Solo Strand: The Silver Kid.) I was a firm believer in The Code of the West.

So, when it came time to write my own ‘cowboy book’ I took much inspiration from the screen and the page.

Clara and the Cowboy is the story of Alec and Clara, a cowboy and the ranch owner’s daughter. There’s cattle rustling, gunplay, good vs. evil, a damsel in distress…all the best parts of western classic lore. I had such fun writing it, influenced by those who had written the genre before me.

The setting was chosen (Southwest Idaho) because of a series of books I had read as a teen, written by Glenn Balch, about a ranching family near Nampa, ID. I’ve never been to that part of the US, but I felt as if I had because I read those books (many times!)

As I look back on the hours I spent watching classic westerns on tv and reading western fiction, I’m reminded of the impact they had on my life. How they taught that good and evil exist in the world, and that it takes bravery to stand up and do the right thing. I learned that honor and integrity do not come without cost, and that actions have consequences.

Who would have thought that watching a rerun of The Big Valley would instill a desire to embrace the cowboy culture through my own fiction?

I hope you enjoy reading Clara and the Cowboy, and that perhaps it takes you back to your own childhood of rooting for the man in the white hat to get the girl he loves before the credits roll.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 14

Book Looks by Lisa, October 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 16

For Him and My Family, October 17

Devoted Steps, October 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 18

Devoted To Hope, October 18

Simple Harvest Reads, October 19 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Fiction Book Lover, October 20 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 20

lakesidelivingsite, October 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 21

She Lives to Read, October 22

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 22

Books Less Travelled, October 23

Blossoms and Blessings, October 23

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 24

Cover Lover Book Review, October 24

Bizwings Blog, October 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 25

Pause for Tales, October 26

Holly’s Book Corner, October 26

Jodie Wolfe, October 27

Vicky Sluiter, October 27

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://promosimple.com/ps/3d27f/clara-and-the-cowboy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, October 18, 2025

My Thoughts and More on As Far as the West by Barbara A. Curtis

About the Book

Book: As Far as the West

Author: Barbara A. Curtis

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: September 23, 2025

His only chance at happiness lies in the hands of a woman determined to expose his family’s darkest secrets.

Josiah Calloway lives in the shadow of two battles—the war that cost him his future and his leg, and the shame of his father’s betrayal. To restore his family’s honor, Josiah secretly repays the debts his father left behind, one by one. But the largest debt remains unpaid—to the Morgan family, his father’s sworn enemies.

Determined to save her family’s ranch, Lizzie Morgan takes a job at a Boise tailor shop, only to discover her employer is Benton Calloway, a man with a decades-old vendetta against her parents. Lizzie suspects he’s up to no good and plans to uncover proof of his schemes against her parents. The one bright spot in her dangerous game is Benton’s kind-hearted son who walks her home each evening, whose gentle ways and protective nature make her heart flutter.

As every evening walk draws them closer, Josiah finds himself falling for this determined seamstress with fire in her spirit and grace in her heart. When feelings deepen and Benton’s threats escalate, Josiah is given an ultimatum. But protecting Lizzie from his father might risk losing her trust and love forever. Can love overcome a legacy of betrayal or will the truth shatter everything they’ve built?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Lizzie Morgan is setting out on her own to earn income to help her parents with the sudden downturn of their ranch and business. Her parents insist she look after herself and that they will be fine soothes her somewhat until she overhears her parents speaking about who could be behind their misfortune. It is none other than their old enemy, Benton Calloway. Worried now, Lizzie makes her way to Boise, hoping she will never see him.

Unfortunately, her life takes a sudden turn as the employment she sought is no longer available and she is saved from some unsavory men by a kind-hearted man, who is Josiah Benton, the son of the enemy. Except that Josiah is different from his father. He is actually trying to right the wrongs his father has done and is doing good for the poor people who have any dealings with his father.

This book is the second in the family drama and I found it so interesting that Lizzie and Josiah, children of enemies, would find their way to each other. And not only that but help in forgiveness and healing of both their pasts.

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

Barbara A. Curtis lives in Connecticut with her husband, and they have one grown son, a blessing to their hearts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Novel Academy.

More from Barbara

Have you ever felt like a kid in a candy store?

In As Far as the West, eleven-year-old Gideon Brighton has the joy of living out that saying as he works for his grandmother in her candy shop, with his pay being in candy. And as a young entrepreneur, he has big dreams for Brighton’s Candy Shop.

Can you picture yourself sticking a hand into a big glass jar and pulling out favorites like Tootsie Rolls and Mary Janes? And other favorites of the day—Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses and Clark’s Teaberry and Wriggley’s Juicy Fruit gums. DeMet’s Turtles, Whitman’s Samplers, Cadbury’s, Life Savers, and Brach’s caramel squares. Necco wafers and butterscotch Reed’s Rolls. Yes, all available in 1920 and ready for Gideon to dig into. But his favorite of all? His Grandma Brighton’s homemade fudge.

Do you have a favorite “old-fashioned” candy that fills you with nostalgia? Or images of being a kid in a candy store yourself?

If you continue on with the next book in the series, Gathered from the North, you’ll get to meet Gideon once again—as an adult and owner of Brighton’s Candy Shop—and see if the young businessman fulfills his dream of adding an ice cream parlor to it.

I hope you enjoy As Far as the West—and maybe it’ll inspire you to make a visit to an old-fashioned candy shop yourself.

Blessings!

Barbara

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, October 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 10

Simple Harvest Reads, October 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 12

For Him and My Family, October 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 14

Devoted To Hope, October 15

Books Less Travelled, October 16

Stories By Gina, October 17 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 17

Pause for Tales, October 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 19

Cover Lover Book Review, October 19

Lily’s Corner, October 20

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 21 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barbara 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d274/as-far-as-the-west-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, October 16, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Sense and Sustainability by Pepper Basham

Sense and Suitability Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sense and Suitability

Author: Pepper Basham

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Genre: Clean Regency Romance (Rom-Com)

In this clean Regency romance, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love--until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong?

After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel--until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson learned: never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate--or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs--has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic--no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small problem: the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?

Also Available:

About the Author

Pepper Basham

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of southwestern VA, where she is the wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

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

My Thoughts:

What a fun step back into time this Regency was. Emmeline Lockhart and Simon Reeves are in love with one another. In the eyes of society, they are a mismatched pair. However, true love has other plans for these two.

Emme has resigned herself to singleness. She is not like other young ladies, as she has a lucrative career. She is in fact an author, under a pseudonym of course, for who would read a novel written by a lady? Her writing has kept her occupied and mostly has kept her mind off of her one and only love match, with Simon. The man who broke her heart and left without a backward glance.

Unfortunately, for Simon, Emme does not know all the circumstances that has befallen him. The rumors, and there are plenty abound about him. He needs a wealthy wife quickly to not only help with the estate repairs but help raising his younger siblings. Another brother has joined the military, and his other sister has run off and no clue where she is. The estate itself is in shambles and there is no money.

Simon cannot forget about Emme. When he returns, they cannot help the sparks that rekindle between them, nor the swoony moments, or breathtaking kisses. For two people who are working so hard to keep apart, their actions say otherwise. Then Emme gets the great idea of trying to help Simon find a wealthy wife. Oh boy, author Basham takes us on quite the romantic rollercoaster, its ups and downs and rolls and twists that can leave a person quite dizzy.

There is so much to this delightful story. So much happening, and I just kept riding on this rollercoaster with them. These two were so in love, it was sometimes pathetic to watch them try to run away from that very real fact. And throw in their secondary relatives, chaos will ensue.

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.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will receive a signed copy of Sense and Suitability (or winner's choice of Pepper Basham's books) and a $25 Amazon 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 October 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 16, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

My Thoughts on The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer

About:

She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.

The perfect match can't be far--certainly not at a Regency-themed singles' retreat--or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe's methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she's willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

My Thoughts:

This story was a fun regency inspired for modern day dating adventures that was both serious and a fun read. Zoe and her best friend, Eden, run a very popular podcast that deals with dating. They like to get their dating advice from the Regency period, like the author Jane Austen. Zoe has had some real doozy’s when it comes to her love life. And she is seriously wondering if there is anyone out in this big wide world for her as she is thirty now. I completely understood her desire for a relationship that was built on a strong foundation of love, trust, and loyalty. That she wanted someone she could rely on in all the years they would be married was not a fanciful dream. She wanted to be like her parents and their steadfast love in adversity.

Harrison, Eden’s brother, has been in the friend zone with Zoe for so long, he has just about given up. In fact, if just staying her friend was all that he could have with her, that was worth it for him. He certainly did not understand her or his sister’s fascination with fictional men of the Regency era. However, he saw that it was popular with a whole host of women.

This was a sweet lighthearted romance that takes some modern characters and puts them in the Regency era for a brief time as a retreat. What shenanigans and mischief could possibly happen? This was a fun story from a brand-new author to me.

I was provided a copy of this novel from Bethany House Publisher through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

My Thoughts and More on Mistletoe and Mayhem by Janice Tompson

About the Book

Book: Mistletoe and Mayhem (The Little Red Truck Mysteries: Book Three)

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction/Christmas

Release Date: September, 2025

A Wildfire Races toward the Hadley Ranch

Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book three of a new cozy mystery series.

It’s less than a week until Christmas in Mabank, Texas, and just a few days away from RaeLyn and Mason’s wedding on Hadley ranch. Unfortunately, a wildfire with mysterious origin is rapidly traveling across several counties and headed right for the Hadley acreage. Fire fighters rush to put it out before the family homestead goes up in flames, taking the business and the old red truck with it. Their perfect wedding may be ruined, and RaeLyn and Mason are determined to find the source of the fire.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Big changes are coming for RaeLyn and her family. RaeLyn and Mason are getting married, and poor Mrs. Hadley is having a hard time wanting to let her baby girl go. What secret plans does Mason have for him and RaeLyn? Is it just as RaeLyn's mother fears and he wants to take her far away? No, it couldn't be that as he knows how much RaeLyn loves her family and hometown.

However, as the wedding preparations continue and the big day gets ever closer, a wildfire breaks out that threatens not only the wedding, but all RaeLyn and her family hold dear. Will they be able to get the fire out in time, and what is the cause behind it?

Lots of questions to answer as the series wraps up with a happily ever after for RaeLyn and Mason, and for the whole family and town. I enjoyed these cozy mysteries, the small town bond, and the hilarity of the family dynamics.

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

Janice Thompson, who lives in the Houston area, writes romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies for the stage. She is the mother of four daughters and nine feisty grandchildren. When she’s not writing books or taking care of foster dogs you’ll find her in the kitchen, baking up specialty cakes and cookies.

More from Janice

In the mid-90s, as my children and I drove up to the Mabank area from our home in Houston, we saw smoke off in the distance. The closer we got to my mother and stepfather’s acreage—sixty-three gorgeous acres of cattle land—the thicker the smoke got.

When we arrived on Mom’s street the reality of what faced us was unavoidable. The property across the road, to our left, was in a roaring blaze, flames moving so fast my car could barely get past them on the narrow country road.

We miraculously made it to Mom’s driveway and went inside her home, hearts racing. In that moment, a decision was made to gather in a circle and pray. We offered up a passionate plea for the Lord’s protection then rushed outside to grab hoses to help water everything down.

As I sat to write Mistletoe and Mayhem, my latest cozy mystery from Barbour Publishing, I was faced with the memories of this terrifying trip. Just as you read in this story, firefighters got that massive blazed stopped, right at the edge of her property. And I can tell you as a first-hand witness that not a spark landed on any of us. Whenever I reflect on this event I’m reminded of God’s ultimate faithfulness. He spared us from certain catastrophe.

I can assure you, we as a family never forgot the mercy and grace of God as we faced our Isaiah 43 moment. No doubt you’ve been through a few fires, too. Fear not. The Lord is right there, ready to carry you through. You can trust Him, even in the fiery trials of life.

Blessings on you all,

Janice Thompson

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:1b-3

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5

Texas Book-aholic, October 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 7

For Him and My Family, October 8

Blossoms and Blessings, October 9 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 9

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 11

Holly’s Book Corner, October 12

Lights in a Dark World, October 12

Bizwings Book Blog, October 13

Pause for Tales, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Labor Not in Vain, October 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d26a/mistletoe-and-mayhem-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Rescued Heart by Angela Hunt

About the Book

Book: Rescued Heart

Author: Angela Hunt

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release Date: October 7, 2025

In Ur of the Chaldees, Ishcah faces the daunting prospect of marrying Abram, a man she has never met and who renames her Sarai on their wedding day. Their union tests her as she grapples with uncertainty and Abram’s devotion to an unseen God. Her skepticism toward seemingly impossible promises grows, and only a miracle can prove Adonai’s faithfulness.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

In Rescued Heart we are given a fictional account of Sarah, the wife of Abram, and a detailed look at how her life might have been. The author has notes and answers several questions in the back of her book as to why she took some liberties and why she wrote certain scenes.

I have always enjoyed author Hunts's detailed fictional reads, and this one was no different. Though it does take creative license, I did enjoy getting into what Sarah may have been thinking, what her life was like before marriage, during marriage, and her walking alongside Abraham as his wife. Things like her extraordinary beauty and giving birth well past her time and into her old age makes her a very unique person. Her rocky relationship with Hagar and all the drama that came from that. She was also married to a man who was destined to be the father of many.

After the flood, and Noah and his sons, Abram picks up the one true message of the only God to bring to a world that has forgotten him yet again. There is always a witness and bringing in all the well-known parts of Genesis made this a riveting read.

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

Angela Hunt is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 160 books, with 5.5 million copies sold worldwide. Angela’s novels have won or been nominated for the RWA RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion. Four of her novels have received ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and Angela is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Romantic Times Book Club and ACFW. Angela holds doctorates in biblical studies and theology. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs and chickens.

More from Angela

Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel Rescued Heart?

Rescued Heart is the story of Sarah—taken from Scripture and another ancient manuscript, the Book of Jasher. Scripture tells us relatively little about the first matriarch of our family, so this novel explores more of what her life might have been like.

What drew you to write about Sarah as the first subject in your new MATRIARCHS series?

I have been writing biblical historical fiction for a few years now, and I had yet to go back this far in history. It’s a challenge to find authentic history about the bronze age, but when you can find something, it’s fascinating.

How did you research daily life in ancient Mesopotamia and the nomadic existence Sarah would have experienced?

As I mentioned above, I used the Book of Jasher to fill in many of the details that Scripture does not give us. Jasher does not claim to be inspired Scripture, but it does give us ideas about what daily life in that age could have been like.

Sarah faces many difficult situations in her journey, including barrenness in a culture that deeply valued fertility. How did you approach writing about her emotional struggles?

Writing about infertility was easy for me, as my husband and I personally experienced it— though not nearly as long as Sarah did. I simply took what I knew and multiplied it by decades of years.

The relationship between Sarah and Abraham spans decades. What challenges did you face in portraying their evolving relationship over such a long period?

A marriage, like any relationship, goes through seasons—the honeymoon phase, the getting to-know you phase (especially in an arranged marriage), as well as various struggles regarding finances and leadership. Sarah put up with a lot—Abraham’s lies about their relationship, for one thing, and Sarah’s twice ending up in harems of foreign kings—yet they remained committed to each other.

How did you balance staying true to the biblical account while creating a full narrative with dialogue and interior thoughts?

Whenever I write in this genre, I aspire to 1) never contradict the biblical record, 2) never contradict the historical record, and 3) fill in the rest with what fits with what we can know about society, environment, governments, and technology at that time. The rest is emotional, because human nature does not change.

Sarah is often remembered for her laughter when told she would bear a son in her old age. How did you interpret this pivotal moment in her story?

Wouldn’t you laugh if someone told you—at ninety—that in a year you’d be nursing your own baby? I would! Sarah was not only old, but she had also been through menopause, so she thought of herself as a dried husk, no longer a woman. No wonder she laughed.

What surprising insights about Sarah did you discover during your research and writing process?

I don’t know if I “discovered” this, but I portrayed her as a woman who trusted in God through her husband. After all, Abraham was the one who talked to God, saw Him, prayed to Him—Sarah simply believed in her husband, who believed in God. But when God told Abraham to sacrifice Sarah’s beloved son, she had a real crisis of faith, and Jewish tradition holds that the shock of that realization was what resulted in her death. If you examine Scripture, you’ll see that Abraham and Isaac left Beersheba, where the family had been living, and went to Mount Moriah for the sacrifice . . . but Sarah doesn’t die in Beersheba, where she must have been living, but at Mamre, where Abraham had built an altar. And that’s all I can say without spoiling the ending of the book.

What do you hope readers take away from Rescued Heart?

That our relationship with God must be personal, not secondhand.

What are you working on next?

I am currently writing Righteous Heart, the story of Rebekah. Loving the research.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 10

Mary Hake, October 10

Inspired by Fiction, October 11

Devoted Steps, October 12

Texas Book-aholic, October 13

She Lives to Read, October 14

Pause for Tales, October 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 16

Lily’s Corner, October 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 18

For Him and My Family, October 19

Stories By Gina, October 20 (Author Interview)

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, October 20

Cover Lover Book Review, October 21

Holly’s Book Corner, October 22

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 23

The Bookish Pilgrim, October 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and a 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d278/rescued-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, October 10, 2025

My Thoughts and More for On a Midnight Clear by Tracie Peterson, Karen Witemeyer, and Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: On a Midnight Clear: A 3-in-1 Christmas Novella Collection

Authors: Tracie Peterson, Misty M. Beller, Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 5, 2025

Can they find a place to put their hearts and hope this Christmas?

Beloved authors Tracie Peterson, Misty M. Beller, and Karen Witemeyer come together with this festive novella collection inspired by the Nativity story and filled with faith, promise, and romance.

The Shepherd’s Heart by Tracie Peterson
On the frontier, widowed sheep rancher Vincent Duran seeks a mother for his two children. Angel Lewis agrees to marry him despite believing Vincent will never truly love her, but as they work together during a fierce winter storm, will their broken hearts finally find peace, joy, and love?

No Room at the Inn by Misty M. Beller
When Noah Bentwood and his charge are snowed in while traveling through the Rocky Mountains, he must stay in a barn since the stage inn has no vacant rooms. Then innkeeper Hope Palmer’s family heirloom disappears, and she and Noah work together to find it before Christmas. While the snowfall holds them captive, will unexpected feelings bloom?

A Star in the West by Karen Witemeyer
Friendly correspondence with Stella Barrington evolves into something more when Harvard mathematics professor Frank Stentz arrives in Waco, Texas. As the two experiment with extending their relationship beyond letters, an impossible dilemma arises between love and logic. Will her wise man be able to calculate a way for them to be together?

Rediscover the joy of Christmas with these faith-based historical romances from bestselling authors featuring sweet Western frontier stories with themes of marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and friends-to-more.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This is a fun set of novellas from some of my favorite authors over the past years. A novel to lose yourself in as the characters find even more joy in celebrating Christmas as they learn to love one another. I also did not realize until later, but the titles and some story details are from the Nativity story, how clever.

The Shepherd's Heart is my favorite, just because marriage of convenience is my favorite trope. Here we have a bride who was jilted and a widower who has lost his wife and two children to tragic circumstances. What made this story stand out, it that they grew up together and were once friends until he married and moved away. Their reuniting and reconnecting were a joy to watch.

No Room at the Inn is where two strangers meet and are trapped at the inn due to a snowstorm. Throw in a little mystery and these two have their own adventure to a Christmastime love story.

A Star in the West takes an old maid who feels less than and teams her up with the math professor she has been corresponding with. Unfortunately, she is embarrassed to meet him as she views herself as ugly. Frank on the other hand, thinks no such thing and watching their courtship unfold was classic Witemeyer style.

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 Authors

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, with more than 6 million copies sold. Learn more at TraciePeterson.com.

USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories woven through with the truth of God’s love. Learn more at MistyMBeller.com.

Bestselling and award–winning author Karen Witemeyer pens historical romance with a flair for humor and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Learn more at KarenWitemeyer.com.

More from Misty

When Friends Join Forces…Magic Happens!

For me, teaming up with my dear friends Tracie Peterson and Karen Witemeyer has created pure Christmas magic!

Ever since I was young, Christmas stories have held a special place in my heart. There’s something truly enchanting about the season—the warmth, joy, and love that seem to fill the air. And when you combine that with the charm of a good story? It’s absolutely irresistible! Can you relate?

I’ve also long been a HUGE fan of Tracie Peterson and Karen Witemeyer. Their books have been favorites of mine for years, and I’ve read so many of them multiple times. The chance to join them on this Christmas novella collection, On a Midnight Clear, has been a dream come true in every way.

If you love Christmas books as much as I do, you won’t want to miss On a Midnight Clear. This collection is our holiday gift to you, our readers—stories filled with the wonder of the season, unforgettable characters, and the timeless message of love and hope.

We hope these novellas bring the same joy and warmth to your heart as they brought to ours while writing them.

So, curl up with your favorite blanket, grab a cup of cocoa, and let the magic of On a Midnight Clear transport you to a world of Christmas cheer.

Merry Christmas reading!

Misty

Blog Stops

Library’s Lady Kid Lit, September 30

Madi’s Musings, September 30

The Avid Reader, October 1

lakesidelivingsite, October 1

Simple Harvest Reads, October 1 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 2

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 2

Inkwell Inspirations, October 2

Devoted To Hope, October 3

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 3

By the Book, October 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Devoted Steps, October 4

Texas Book-aholic, October 5

Maureen’s Musings, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 6

She Lives To Read, October 7

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 8

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 8

For Him and My Family, October 9

Blogging With Carol, October 9

Vicky Sluiter, October 10

Pause for Tales, October 10

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 10

Stories By Gina, October 11 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 11

Bizwings Blog, October 12

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 12

Cover Lover Book Review, October 12

Holly’s Book Corner, October 13

Blossoms and Blessings, October 13

The Bookish Pilgrim, October 13

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Tracie, Karen, and Misty are 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d261/on-a-midnight-clear-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, October 9, 2025

My Thoughts and More on First Comes Marriage...Then Comes Murder by Donna Mumma

About the Book

Book: First Comes Marriage. . .Then Comes Murder

Author: Donna Mumma

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release Date: September, 2025

Vivien’s Bridal Creations Found at Murder Scenes

Mid-century glam meets murder mayhem in a series of cozy mysteries at Wynton’s Department Store.

It is 1956 in Levi City, Florida. Vivien Sheffield, renowned bridal gown designer and consultant for Wynton’s Department Store, is facing the greatest challenge of her career. Someone has been killing brides who wore one of her custom gowns in their wedding! Vivien’s fellow employees and close friends—Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi—and her assistant Mirette spring into action to save Miss Vivien and the young brides of Levy City before the murderer succeeds at destroying Vivien’s business at Wynton’s. . .and her reputation.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Who knew working in a department store could be so dangerous. This is the second installment in the Women of Wynton series, and our four ladies are back. Unfortunately, murder has come knocking again, and these four must figure out who is killing the brides and framing Vivien.

I like the time period, the 1950's this series takes place in. I don't think there is enough stories for then. I also really liked the four points of view we get, and the chapter headers with the picture of whose point of view it is, is a really nice touch.

The friendship and comradeship this series continues to show makes these stories really unique and unforgettable. If you like settings of department stores and shopping, with a murder or two thrown in, this is a read for you. I personally enjoyed taking a visit back in time to a place that seems to be much simpler, or is it? Love the cover.

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

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She is an award winning author who loves to blend history, mystery, and a dash of hope in stories that explore ordinary people who learn extraordinary life lessons. Donna is an active member of Word Weavers International, serving as president for the Tampa chapter as well as a mentor for chapters around the country. She was recognized as the Word Weavers traditional groups president and mentor of the year in 2022. She also serves as a line editor and contributor for Inskpirationsonline.com, a site featuring devotions written for writers by writers. An avid believer in education, Donna earned her M. Ed in elementary education and writes educational blogs and articles to assist teachers overseas for the International School Project. A native Floridian, she loves sharing life with her husband and her energetic collie, Duke.

More from Donna

Til death do us part comes sooner than expected in Levy City, Florida. In Vivien Sheffield’s bridal salon at Wynton’s Department Store, the goal-of-the-day is to make her brides happy. But since all brides were not created equal, some days she leaves for home with a smile, while others send her straight to the mirror searching for new gray hairs. It’s the life of a wedding gown designer and bridal consultant. Miss Vivien, along with her dearest friend and assistant, Mirette, are ready for all the surprises that come with helping girls down the aisle to their happily-ever-afters. That is until someone decides to start killing her brides.

It wouldn’t be Wynton’s department store without some sort of drama going around. Miss Vivien’s friends Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi are no exception and must work around their own troubles when they jump in to help save Levy City’s brides. Audrey has been promoted and works to find a suitable replacement for her old job as Mr. Wynton’s secretary while her new position takes her back to the heart of the fashion industry, a world she turned her back on. Mary Jo battles to keep her family together amidst trying to honor the needs of her parents and fulfilling her duties as a clerk at Wynton’s. Gigi has been given a golden opportunity to work her way up in the store, but her deep insecurities may ruin her dreams of success. Miss Vivien faces public scorn and distrust. She wonders if the time has come for her to follow society’s rules for women her age and just be a grandmother.

Not ones to bow to trouble, the women of Wynton’s lean on the bonds of their friendship while working together to try and make sense of the strange clues the murderer leaves behind.

Female friendships is a strong foundation for this story. We girls all know when you’ve found your special circle, no matter how large or small, you can count on them to come behind you when life throws you a bouquet of rotten flowers. I’m blessed to have a group of friends I met in college almost forty years ago who have supplied me with wonderful building blocks to use for the ladies of Wynton’s friendship.

Because we’re scattered across the country, we don’t see each other often. So, a few years ago, the organizer of our bunch decided we needed to have a yearly reunion. For a week, we get together to eat, laugh, share life-stories, and love on one another in the special way only dear friends can. We have a motto, “You can’t make old friends.” There is something wonderful about being around the women who knew you when you were young and fresh yet still love you when life has started to trace a roadmap of wrinkles across your cheeks and brow. We’ve been there for each other during the blessed times, and there when life steam-rolled one of us and flattened us on the ground.

There are seven of us, from different backgrounds, countries, races, careers, and opinions. We met when we all lived in an old, non-air-conditioned dorm at the University of Florida, where we laughed, sweat, and helped each other grow up a little. Three of us married guys who also lived in that dorm.

Like my ladies at Wynton’s, we know each other’s warts, and we love past them to the greatness we see in each other. There is something special about long-standing female friendships, where that same mama-bear ferocity we had for our children spills over to those select sisters God brought into our lives. And like Miss Vivien, Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi, we will rush in without fear to help us get through the worst of times.

These are the women who help me grow up, shape up, and live up to who God meant for me to be. They are a gift. They are my tribe.

They are my friends. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.