Book Review - Last Light Over Galveston

Jennifer L. Wright combines historical fact with eloquent fiction to create a rich and compelling novel in her upcoming release, Last Light Over Galveston. Centering around the life of debutante turned runaway Kathleen McDaniel as she hides for her life in a Galveston orphanage in the fall of 1900, this novel dances about the topics of social responsibility and identity until everything collides in full force. Wright’s characters are spunky and flawed, her setting developed so well that the reader is fully immersed, to the point that I might have checked once or twice to make sure my feet were not wet. Kathleen’s struggles are understandable, her longing for home familiar, and her flaws relatable. The supporting characters are well developed, pulling at the heartstrings just as I am sure the author intended. And when nature proves that Galveston is not actually immune to hurricanes, all comes to a climax that will leave the reader gasping for air and anticipating the next nail in the coffin until the point that the delicious conclusion is revealed.

Last Light Over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright releases on August 12, 2025 and is currently available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, the publisher, or the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review and Author Interview - Kimberly Williamson of Riley Sloan is Nine: Raising a Medically Complex Boy

Riley Sloan is Nine: Raising a Medically Complex Boy is a mother’s heart song for her little boy. It is poetry poured from soul to page as the author weeps for joy at his arrival and heartache as he struggles, from difficult delivery to developmental delay. Regardless of your child’s abilities or disabilities, the feelings poured out within are relatable. We all watch our children grow and celebrate milestones. We all worry when they struggle and hurt for them when they hurt. Riley Sloan is Nine (RSi9) is a heartfelt exploration of one mother’s experiences that is an excellent bit of insight for parents, family members, and those dedicated service providers who work with children of various abilities. Although it is a quick read, there is plenty to absorb from its pages. It is as cozy as sitting down with the author over a cup of coffee and allowing her to pour her heart out for your benefit, and I can promise you Kimberly Williamson has heart worth hearing. Take a little sit down with Riley Sloan is Nine and savor it. You won’t regret it.

It was a joy and an honor to get the opportunity to discuss upcoming release Riley Sloan is Nine with the author, Kimberly Williamson. Read here to get to know a bit about this dear young man and consider sharing this post and this book with someone who might benefit from it. Riley Sloan is Nine: Raising a Medically Complex Boy releases on July 31 on Amazon and will be available at Kimberly’s studio, Once a Rose Studios in Calico Rock, Arkansas.

Woman by Grace: You and I both know Riley is an amazing young man with a big heart. What is one thing you want readers to know about him?

Kimberly Williamson: He does have a big heart. He is happy, overall, in spite of all the reasons he may not be if he was any typical person. He won’t go to college. He won’t be able to live on his own. He won’t be able to drive a car or get a driver’s license. He sees his peers getting married and beginning to have children. He loves children. He has expressed a desire to have a wife and kids, and while we love his heart, and don’t want to discourage him; we just don’t know what the future holds. Riley says in his interview not to stress about it or it will ruin your life. Live each day as it comes, and do your schoolwork! How profound of my young man!

RSi9 covers the first few years of his life, but Riley will be 20 by the time of publication. (On the day of!) Can you tell us a bit about the path this story took to get to publication?

I have always been a writer, and very fond of poetry. I think I wrote my first little rhyming couplet when I was six years old. Since the idea started as a poem, it made sense to me to continue with that when writing the rest of the story.

We were in a particularly hard season of his life at around age nine (2014). Behavior was a huge issue. We were seeing a psychiatrist every three months, and we changed medications at least that often. He had a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder at the time, and we were warned that this would progress into conduct disorder, which is the same diagnosis, with criminal charges. This terrified me, of course, but it didn’t feel like the right fit. Every medication he was given to calm him had the opposite of the intended effect. This was very telling, but we didn’t know it yet. We were on the cusp of a breakthrough, telling us that he did NOT have ODD, but rather, a host of other comorbid conditions, anxiety and intellectual disability chief among them. He was under the care of behavioral therapy while at school, and one particularly horrific therapist wanted to send Riley to a group behavioral hospital because she felt he was a danger to himself and others for throwing a backpack on the school bus. We discontinued behavioral therapy immediately and pursued a program at UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) we were recommended by the intake person at the behavioral hospital we were referred to. I’ve never been so grateful for a conversation with a stranger. The program, the Psychological Research Institute (PRI) was a 28-day inpatient program meant to safely remove all non-essential medications and do tons of baseline testing. We learned so much from this. Cramming all we had just learned into this book didn’t seem like the right place to end this story, since for us, it felt so much more like a beginning. So, I wrote Riley Sloan is Nine, the last poem in this book, at that crossroads. I shared it with his educators, and the reception was surprising. The principal asked if she could share it with other colleagues. Given such positive feedback, I decided that I needed to write his story from the actual beginning.

What a journey it was to go all the way back, and feel those feelings again. I kept working on it until it felt reasonably ‘finished’, which took the next 11 years. Last spring, I got a very strong feeling that it needed to be released on his 20th birthday. Thanks very much to you, Emily, for helping me believe it could happen.

Your heart’s rollercoaster is penned on page in RSi9. Please tell us about your reason for sharing the difficulty along with the joys of raising your disabled child.

I actually touch on this in the book. I did tons of research on where he should be in relation to where he was at every given time. There was not much content 15-20 years ago. Living in rural Arkansas, to boot, made the search difficult. And the longer we went on, and the more we learned about our boy, the less I was able to find. Spoiler alert: as of the publication of this book, Riley Sloan has around twelve different diagnoses. I do cover them in the introduction of this book, mainly to ensure that people looking for support may be able to find it here.

At the end of the day, Riley Sloan is a boy, not a collection of diagnoses. His life has been hard for those of us raising him, but he is able to find and spread joy in living it. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry. I’ve never met any other child like Riley in my entire life. If I struggle to understand things about him, how can I expect others to? So I wanted a total picture. Diagnoses, disappointments, hope and happiness. It’s all in this story.

What is a childhood story about Riley that makes your heart happy?

One thing that lots of people notice about Riley is his sense of humor. He may be mentally age 10 at present, but he’s quite sharp! A story that will follow us always, is the “makin’ cookies” story.

Riley Sloan was probably 7 or so, and he was playing inside while I was cleaning the bathroom. He is a repetitive kiddo. He would alternate between “mama, love you!” And “mama, whatcha doing?” on every path past me. I’d finally had enough “I love you too” and “I’m cleaning out the litter box” that this time he dashed past, he said “whatcha doing mama?” I replied “Making cookies! What’s it look like I’m doing!?” He giggled and dashed away. A little time went by, and by this time I was on to folding laundry. He ran up this time and stopped short. “Hey mama, whatcha doing? Making cookies?” I turned to see him wearing an impish grin, and he dashed off cackling without waiting for an answer.

What are some of the daily challenges he faces?

Riley has developed daily routines over the years that require sameness. Same schedule, same questions, same habits, be they good or bad. And aversions. He doesn’t like to change clothes. He doesn’t like to shower. He can barely stand to brush his teeth. He doesn’t want to take the time to apply deodorant. There are so many things. One of the most limiting things is his impulsivity. He cannot have unsupervised access to the remote control or anything related to the internet because of that. We have to put more than one day’s snacks behind lock and key to protect him from getting sick eating an entire box of Swiss rolls or pop tarts in one day.

A support system is crucial in raising children, especially so when certain factors are involved. Who is your support system?

Thanks to the Arkansas CES waiver program (more on that later), Mom and Dad provide full-time care for Riley now, and one of his grandmothers works as a part-time caregiver. We also have a dear friend who does part-time. Over the years, we have been SO grateful for anyone and everyone who helped us. Everyone who has ever met Riley remembers him. I feel like trying to mention every family member, every caregiver, every healthcare provider in our support system is impossible. We have this interesting synergistic support “ocean”. When one ebbs, another flows, and we support Riley and each other like buoys on the surface.

What are some resources available for parents of disabled children that have been helpful for your family?

If you find yourself living a life of uncertainty with a medically complex child, reach out to your state department of human services. Ask about programs like Early Intervention. Early Intervention was amazing for us. We met with a caseworker periodically who helped get Riley things he needed. His was mostly nutritional supplements, but for kids with mobility issues or medical equipment needs (braces, wheelchairs, etc.), they can be a huge help, and will often know of programs or organizations that would be more specific to a family’s needs.

The big one for us was the CES Waiver program. It has a very long waiting list (ours was 10 years), and the idea is to get on the list early, and keep up with it until the person nears adulthood. We started Riley on the list just of out Early Intervention, around age 8, and he reached the top of the list just before his 18th birthday.

Every child and every state is different, but advocacy for your child is key. At times, I felt like a bulldog. I may have even been called one a time or two. It’s not a bad trait to nurture when living this life. I have included Arkansas’ links here:

Early Intervention: https://portal.arkansas.gov/service/ar-early-childhood-intervention-first-connection/

CES Waiver: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/developmental-disabilities-services/ces-waiver/

Passe Program - PASSE - Provider -Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/healthcare-programs/passe/

Readers can’t help but get emotionally attached to Riley through the book. What does the future hold for him?

This may be the single toughest question, and the one we have yet to fully answer. We just don’t know. Perhaps in a few more years, we’ll have a better idea about who of our younger generation might be willing to take over care for Riley if/when we’re gone. We have a lot of work to do, and we always will. But would we do it all again?

Read and find out.    

Book Review - The Strength of Samson

Tyler Kraft sheds light on Old Testament judge Samson in his new biblical fiction release, The Strength of Samson.. Beginning with the messenger’s first appearance and delivery of instructions to his mother Abigail and father Manoah, Kraft brings Samson to life before our very eyes and gives us an idea of what life might have been like for the only known Nazirite who didn’t actually choose that path for himself. 

Kraft has developed carefully created characters to support Samson through his lifelong journey. Their strengths and weaknesses are clearly written to help develop Samson’s struggle to be accepted and live a normal life when he was preordained to be anything but ordinary. The adventure seeking young Nazirite with a penchant for getting into less than desirable situations is not surprising as the adult Samson with a fondness for enemy’s women. Though Kraft’s Samson is not a particularly lovable character, he is an effective portrayal of man’s sinful nature being used by and ultimately redeemed by God. I appreciate Kraft’s attention to detail and exploration of Samson’s understanding of his calling and the world around him, as well as the inner turmoil that must come from constantly wearing the mantle of his people’s expectations. It is an opportunity to sit with Samson and gain a bit of insight.

The Strength of Samson by Tyler Kraft is available now from Amazon.

Thank you to the author of allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

The Magnolia House Listening Room Experience

If you are a repeat visitor to the blog, you know by now that I love to read and I have a crazy little thing called Alpha Gal Syndrome that greatly impacts my life. With those two factors, it is probably not a surprise that I don’t get out much. Evenings are one of my favorite times to cuddle up with the pups and a good book. Eating away from home is always a risk; I don’t deign to micromanage another cook’s kitchen and failing to do so could result in accidental allergen consumption, which is never a good time for my family or me. So when my dear friend Rachel at Magnolia House Listening Room informed me the menu for a particular dinner concert would be vegan and totally safe for me, I set aside my book for an evening and enjoyed a night out. Sit back and get cozy, and I will tell you the tale of a girl who had a magical experience practically in her own backyard.

Magnolia House is a darling little coffee shop in an historic building in the heart of downtown Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Just down from Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, you will find Magnolia House lining the street alongside a handful of fascinating little shops in beautiful old storefronts. The front porch is inviting on a balmy day, but step through the doors to meet some of the sweetest people you will ever meet. During the daytime and Thursday evening open mic nights, you can sample their handcrafted coffees, house blended teas and homemade pastries. Their brunch and lunch menus will delight even the soggiest curmudgeon. I could go on for days about how their food is made from scratch in a cozy little kitchen just like my grandmothers did, or how blissful it is to sit and soak up the nostalgia as you enjoy your culinary delights. But a very different kind of magic happens on Saturday nights, when Magnolia House dons her exclusive elevated identity and shines as Magnolia House Listening Room.

The light outside was fading and the streets of small town America were tucking themselves in for the night on this particular evening. Patrons stood with bated breath, waiting for the doors to open and allow us to find a table in preparation for the carefully curated three course meal. Homemade hummus anchored the appetizer with a glorious pour of olive oil, accented by fresh cut vegetables and freshly made flatbread. This hummus sang with vibrant, fresh flavors, and enough garlic to make the body feel joyful for having consumed it. I could have made a very satisfying meal on the appetizer alone, but then the entree was discreetly swept into place and I found myself looking at the very portrait of a perfectly crafted baked sweet potato. Well seasoned, perfectly cooked black beans, slivered fresh red onions, a delicately portioned mound of perky little sprouts, and a well balanced sprinkle of scallion weighed perfectly on the fork and satisfyingly on the tongue. Closing my eyes and savoring each bite, my body thrummed with energy, good health, and great happiness as life leapt from fork to tongue. To be honest, one half of this masterpiece could have sufficed as supper, the second as dessert. But the creative genius behind this meal left no such opportunity, as a moist and flavorful spiced apple cake was set before me. My heart and body were so very blissful. And then the music began.

The delightful fare provided by MHLR.

Looking at the venue area of Magnolia House does not evoke thoughts of great acoustics or a particularly special listening experience. But do not be fooled. The music in the Magnolia House Listening Room is unamplified, so it is not overwhelming, but it will take someone more familiar with sound engineering than I to explain how the particular shape of the room manages to take that sound and channel it directly to the soul. And the musical magicians of this evening are storytellers who speak directly to the soul, haunting and delighting and tickling the spirit with musical Ozark folklore that evokes a visceral reaction. Still On The Hill delights like no one I have heard before, and I noticed several times that I was holding my breath, leaning forward in my chair or settling relaxed in my seat, depending on the lyrical story they were telling. With quilted slideshows and instruments that tell their own stories, the duo carried me away like pixies in the night, and slipped me home none the wiser by morning. And when the show ended, I was surprised to find that any time at all had passed. The only appropriate response I could give was to sit in my seat, eyes closed, cells humming joyfully through my body, and savor the experience. I might have actually been to enthralled  to applaud, but in the intimacy of the setting, I’m sure they felt the extent of my gratitude.

Woman By Grace and Magnolia Rachel with Kelly & Donna of Still On The Hill

My Partner In Dine for the evening was my heart’s sister and Magnolia House bakery genius, Rachel.

Still On The Hill is one of the phenomenal artists who have graced the patrons of the Magnolia House Listening Room, and the schedule is packed past and future with more acts that are not to be missed. Each one specifically curated by the musical genius of owner and outstanding musical artist, Rachel Fields. You can find the lineup and purchase tickets online: https://www.magnoliahousepg.com/events and I recommend doing just that. For less than the cost of a night on the town, we were immersed in a magical experience that is simply a shame to miss. 

Book Review - The Collector of Burned Books

What is it about the written word that causes people to fear it? And what kind of beliefs must one have that they cannot stand against reading what is written from a different point of view? Roseanna M. White probes these questions in her upcoming release, The Collector of Burned Books, in which two literature professors in very different circumstances find themselves both thrown together and pulled apart.

Set during the occupation of Paris in 1940, Corinne Bastien and Christian Bauer find themselves on opposing sides politically. But despite the glaring differences, they find that free thinking and literature brings them together in a dangerous way. Bauer is assigned the task of library protector, including responsibilities at the rather curious Library of the Burned Books, a place with which Corinne is quite familiar. Though their political responsibilities are as different as darkness and light, their intellect and sensibilities find each other in the city filled with strife. White’s research shines in this novel, allowing the reader to see the contrasts and similarities in humanity through focused shaping of the setting and characters. The debates about literature, censorship, and free thought are well balanced and provocative, inspiring the reader to consider their own stance on the situation. The reader is reminded that there is often a very true person hiding beneath the projected facade. Though Corinne and Christian are the main characters, understanding and openness shine in their small corner of the City of Lights. The Collector of Burned Books is an enthralling read for its fiction, and an inspiring one for the light it shines on literature as a valuable conduit for thoughts and ideas.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White releases July 15, 2025 and is currently available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine. 

Book Review - Sunrise Reef

If you are also a longtime resident of Hope Harbor, I welcome you home. If you are a visitor, I hope you enjoy your stay. In the decade since Irene Hannon released her first Hope Harbor novel, many people have found home in this place where hearts heal and love blooms. Some are characters in the eleven novels of the series, but many are readers who have fallen in love with the town and its cast of vibrant characters.

Sunrise Reef is the eleventh Hope Harbor novel and focuses on Bren Ryan, one of our favorite baristas at The Perfect Blend. With a past full of heartache, Bren has started to find healing in her new home. Everything seems well settled for her until the day she finds herself in need of a temporary home, accosted in the middle of the night, and opening her arms to a stranger who feels like a kindred spirit. Noah Ward has a laser focused plan for his visit to Hope Harbor, and the sooner he can convince his father to move back to St. Louis, the sooner he can end this faux vacation and get back to work. That laser focus is how Noah has climbed to success in his world and how he will achieve his goal. This naturally means that Bren and Noah inevitably collide in glorious fashion on a regular basis. Hannon takes this seriously and delivers one run-in after another that will have to make or break this opposites-attract couple in a cozy and adorable page turner that keeps all of Hope Harbor on their toes.

Not one to shirk her supporting character duty, Hannon creates a supporting cast like no other. A job partially done by the lovingly crafted characters of the previous novels, the supporting characters are rounded out by some new additions, including Emma Blair. Emma has been riding a wave of bad luck for several years and it seems to have run out when her car dies in Hope Harbor. Fortunately, it never seems to be bad luck for anyone to get stuck in Hope Harbor, and though I enjoyed the way Hannon developed her story, I do hope Emma gets her own book someday. Sunrise Reef is a charming addition to the Hope Harbor series, but I am not going to judge too harshly if you decide to read it as a standalone. It will flow just fine. However, for real richness, indulge in the series and build all that backstory that comes with a decade of knowing and loving the residents of this hopeful little seaside town with big heart.

Sunrise Reef, the eleventh novel in the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - The Voice We Find

When I received the review copy of this book, I quickly realized I had not yet read the first two books in the Fog Harbor Romance Series. While I am happy to report that The Voice We Find can be read as a standalone, I am also quite glad I took the time to binge read all three books in order last week. It makes certain things a bit sweeter to have the greater context. I also thoroughly enjoyed each intricately woven storyline and the tapestry they weave together. Nicole Deese has created these characters lovingly, with great depth. I convinced my soul sister to read along so we could shoot texts back and forth the way we did when we parallel watched Gilmore Girls and When Calls the Heart, and my favorite from her has been, “Tell me I’ll always love Chip.” I will resist the urge to tell you what I told her, as I recommend finding out for yourself.

The Voice We Find is, like every other Nicole Deese I have read, an experience with dear friends. Sophie Wilder is a brilliant stage actress whose star has fallen and must drag her disgraced self back to a home and trauma she has spent years avoiding. August Tate is still trying to find his footing in a world upended by tragedy, which is compounded by soul crushing shame. It is Chip that brings Sophie and August together with a business proposition that is like nothing either has ever imagined. While Sophie struggles to find her voice, August struggles to find his sister’s lost hearing, and Gabby struggles to be heard as she embraces the challenges of her new normal and meets them head on with grace and grit. The Voice We Find will have you cheering for beloved characters, rooting for the downfall of the villains, and searching out your own Twilight Theater experiences. The lessons learned by each are worth carrying close to the heart and the romance fermenting between Sophie and August will have you feeling just a bit tipsy with bliss!

The Voice We Find, the third book in the Fog Harbor Romance series from Nicole Deese, releases on April 15, 2025 and is currently available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.