Book Review - Deadly Currents

Cressida Valentine is in danger. Not the kind of danger one would expect to find in the process of finishing the book her father was researching before he died, but the kind that requires a bodyguard around the clock. After all, the subject of her research is the stuff of maritime mystery, hardly international intrigue. Yet somehow, every time she gets close to a source who can help demystify the ghost ship off the Washington coast, someone gets hurt, something gets damaged, or someone dies. The Specter’s Bounty body count exceeds her crew and Cressida just might be next.

Elizabeth Goddard hoists the sails on the third book in her Hidden Bay series with Deadly Currents, and it is no pleasure cruise. It is, however, a “cancel everything and curl up in front of the fire with lots of drinks and snacks because nobody is going anywhere until this is resolved” excursion. For proof, I submit the incredible patience of  the husband who got a late supper because I genuinely lost track of about three hours when the book got “really good.” I promise I meant to be cutting sweet potatoes instead of clutching my Kindle for dear life as the action unfolded in a way that I simply could not put down. Cressida is tenacious and probably more like her mother than she would care to admit. Braden has his own battles, but taking on Cressida and protecting her from herself is one he cannot refuse. The residents of Hidden Bay are practically family by this point in the series, and the ghost ship has a pull few can resist. With characters like these and a storyline crafted as intricately as any seafaring vessel, it is no wonder Deadly Currents pulls you into its world and only spits you back out when it is done.

Deadly Currents, the third book in the Hidden Bay series by Elizabeth Goddard, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - Prowl

After all the attacks on The Sanctuary in Ambush, the first book of the Sanctuary series by Colleen Coble, you might think Paradise, Blake, and their loved ones could catch a break in the sequel. Unfortunately for our friends on the wild animal park, someone is determined to shake their foundation and the public’s opinion of The Sanctuary, working relentlessly to undermine all that holds them up. From a murder in the tiger enclosure to eerie gifts left for Paradise, the path toward truth is as tangled as the Spanish moss and the search is entwined with the search for Paradise’s long lost brother and the person who killed their parents. Colleen Coble knows how to write characters the reader can bond with and action that will keep said reader awake all night turning pages. Prowl is yet another stellar example of that elite level skill.

Prowl, the second book in the Sanctuary series by Colleen Coble, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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I received an ARC of this book. It did not influence my review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review - Noble: The Story of Maakah

The second book in the King David’s Brides series by Mesu Andrews is Noble: The Story of Maakah. This one focuses on the third wife the Bible lists during his reign in Hebron. The Geshurite princess sent as a treaty bride to David has been trained all her life in the ways of royalty. Her mind is sharp and calculating, always putting the good of the kingdom before herself, relying on the wisdom of her royal parents and the priestesses of her goddess. David ben Jesse, however, is in passionate pursuit of God’s own heart. He already has two wives, one more than he ever intended, and does not plan to take this opinionated heathen princess as his third. But circumstances bring out the protector in David, prompting Ahinoam and Abigail to embrace Maakah and all of them to seek God’s wisdom for her future.

Andrews has an incredible talent for taking the information given to us in the Bible and reputable historical documents, then using fiction as necessary to bring life to characters easily overlooked in the Old Testament writings. With remarkable skill for crafting fully immersive stories so rich that one can easily believe her characters’ thoughts and feelings are her own, she wrestles with some intense topics. In Noble, that means struggling with betrayal, clarifying the difference between royalty and nobility, exploring some of the challenges people would have faced in the process of letting go of their idols and embracing Yahweh, and the elephant in the room that is the fact of David taking multiple wives. While it was a common practice among royalty at the time, it is expressly forbidden in the Law, as we read in Deuteronomy 17. How then does one handle the fact that this God ordained king who so passionately pursued God’s heart did not only break the law, but did so repeatedly? It is a very charged issue, and rightly so. The fact remains that we do not really know the answer to that. Andrews handles it carefully and prayerfully, as is well expressed in her excellent Note to Reader and Author’s Note sections, both of which are treasure troves of information and insight. Though it is not a topic that should be glossed over, one should not miss the exquisitely addressed differences between thinking and acting royally as opposed to having a noble heart and mind. This is the gold in the purse of Noble, a treasure beyond jewels, and one that is timeless.

Noble: The Story of Maakah, the second book in the King David’s Brides series by Mesu Andrews, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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I received an ARC of this book. It did not influence my review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review - Splendor of the Land

Time and place fall away as vivid details bring the reader face to face with the characters of Splendor of the Land, the third book in The King’s Men series by Connilyn Cossette. The cover of this book is rich with the textures of the setting, and it is only a taste of the treasure within. As her characters cross through untamed lands and venture into new cities, it takes little effort for the reader to feel the sand shift beneath their feet or the hot wind blowing across the back of their neck. And if her stories were the sum of her world building, it would be one thing, but the characters are crafted so carefully and easily become so familiar that one cannot help but become entangled in their lives. It is no surprise that I wept and laughed with Gavriel, Zahava, their families and their friends as this captivating story unfolded.

One is a prodigal, running from the shame of his lineage and barreling headfirst into chaos as if his life is worth nothing. The other is the apple of her father’s eye and trusted with a knowledge that will carry on her family legacy, wrapped in an unassuming package and easily overlooked. He a Benjamite and she a Kenite, they would not have been bound together, except for the nudging of guidance given to her father. Through joy and strife, their bond is formed as they are refined in life’s fire and the truths they were not prepared to see before become clear as Gavi and Zahava begin to understand who they are according to their Creator. I highly recommend clearing your schedule for this one, because putting it down is a challenge once you have started it. 

Splendor of the Land, book 3 of The King’s Men series by Connilyn Cossette, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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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:

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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:

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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.

Book Review - Break My Fall

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn is a return to Gossamer Falls and our friends, the Quinn family. This time, Dr. Meredith Quinn has seen and heard too much during her trips to neighboring Neeson in her mobile dentistry van, a fact that becomes painfully obvious when she finds herself stranded on the side of the road with an empty gas tank that should have still been full. It is a good thing Chief Grayson Ward is nearby to save the day. But why is he sticking so close to Meredith, especially when he keeps pushing her away? Drugs and trafficking run rampant in the county next door, but Gray has a problem with letting crime run amok on his doorstep. Fortunately, he has allies in his fight. Unfortunately, the woman he cannot let himself love is in the crosshairs of the worst of the perpetrators. And we all know what happens to those carefully constructed walls when the people who construct them find themselves in the line of fire.

If you read Never Fall Again, you are already a member of the Gossamer Falls community and are practically a Quinn, as well. Meredith and Mo, Cal and Cassie, Donovan and Gray are our people and we know them. Of course, we also know something has got to give between Meredith and Gray. And happy dance of happy dances, we get just that in Break My Fall. Blackburn’s characters stick with you; they are vibrant and relatable, and it is easy to want good things for them. The tension is very real, both in the romance and in the action of trying to keep headstrong Meredith safe when her primary concern is taking care of others. And the romance is so sweet. Maybe I am just a sucker right now, but I think it is more likely that this book is just one of the most downright delicious romances I have read in I don’t know how long. No need to worry, though… Mo keeps it from getting too sappy. Because that is just gross. (By the way, now that my hopes for Meredith and Gray are fulfilled, i have turned my sights on Mo and Bronwyn. Someone has some explaining to do there!) I like when characters from parallel storylines converge, and I have a great appreciation for the way Blackburn weaves in some beloved characters from her other novels to give this one some extra depth. Break My Fall absolutely earns 5 stars, and also a little heart in the margin of my book tracking spreadsheet!

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn, the second book in the Gossamer Falls series, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - Storm Warning

Storm season in the Pacific Northwest is particularly harrowing this year, as it finds Remi Grant facing her demons and running for her life. A chance run in with a foreign physicist has made her the target of arms dealers and government operatives hungry to get their hands on the dead man’s technology. Hiding was an effective strategy until it was not. Now the winds, waves, and storms pummeling her beloved coast are just added complications as she struggles to stay alive. Hawk Beckett is also a complication; he seems to arrive at just the right time and is oddly attached to Remi, unless there is an ulterior motive. Struggling to regain her memory seems more urgent when she cannot tell who to trust. But Hawk knows a thing or two about trust; learning that his brother and his mentor are both involved in this situation with Remi in one way or another is enough to shake all he thinks he knows.

Elizabeth Goddard knows romance and suspense. Storm Warning is no exception. With characters so well developed they feel like family and settings so vivid you cannot help but feel like you are there, Goddard pulls you in and holds your attention securely through the entire story. Storm Warning is a gutsy, action packed wallop that is the first in a series I can’t wait to continue.

Storm Warning, the first book in the Hidden Bay series by Elizabeth Goddard, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - Serial Burn

It has been burning for a while now. Serial Burn is the third book in the Lake City Heroes series from Lynette Eason, and friends of the heroes have hoped for a bit of accelerant on the sparks flying between Jesslyn and Nathan. They both know a thing or two about fire; one claimed the lives of her family when she was a child, leading her to pursue a career that would allow her to someday find the person who killed her parents and sisters. He holds his fire related secret close, along with the guilt and shame burned on his soul. Their personal tragedies and perceptions are a wall of flames between them and should stay that way. But when fires start popping off around Lake City and someone starts targeting Jesslyn, things heat up in a way neither of them expects.

Jesslyn is not the only one well versed in fire, as Lynette Eason pens a well researched novel that engulfs the reader. Her knowledge allows the story to flow in a way that keeps the reader from tripping over technicalities and allows maximum enjoyment of the fast paced action paired with the slow burn romance. And of course, relatable characters are a keystone of an Eason novel, especially since we have been friends of the heroes for two books already and are fired up for the next. So, if those things are your jam, I recommend getting into Serial Burn. But if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!

Serial Burn, the third book in the Lake City Heroes series by Lynette Eason, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - The Queen’s Cook

Tessa Afshar concocts a beautiful Queen Esther story in her new release, The Queen’s Cook. This installment of the Queen Esther’s Court series focuses on Roxannah, daughter of an impoverished Persian noble, whose work in the kitchen is an aberration from the way things are done among women of her station and whose talent draws attention of both the favorable and unfavorable kind. Forced to work in order to keep a roof over her mother’s head, Roxannah is thankful for her position in the queen’s kitchens and does not want to jeopardize this security, but it does not take long for her to stand out in her own way. Such great talent draws Roxannah into the presence of her queen and then into the drama and intrigue of court life when she and the Jewish physician Adin learn of a plot against Amestris, Queen Esther’s nemesis and the powerful wife of their king. Opposition seems to come from all sides, and yet through the faithful encouragement of Adin and Esther, Roxannah comes to find the life and the light in the midst of her darkness. With delicate storyline layers of bitter struggle and sweet redemption, Afshar crafts a delicacy worthy of royalty.

The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - Brave

As a reader of biblical fiction, I have a process that precedes actually reading a new novel. First, I look to the author to determine the original text from which they draw their work. Then I read the original text and sit with it for a time to digest God’s holy word before diving into the novel. I want to hold the fact separate from the fiction, but have grown to love the way the fiction fills in context and points toward God’s truth while helping us consider things we sometimes don’t want to stop to consider. One thing many of us hesitate to ponder for long is the relationship between David ben Jesse, God’s anointed king, and his wives. It makes sense that we do not want to linger on the polygamist relationship of a historical figure we tend to put on a pedestal as the icon of a man after God’s own heart. This is an incredibly sensitive subject to cover, but I have great respect for Mesu Andrews and her approach to it in her latest release, Brave. Because the fact of the matter is that even a man after God’s own heart is still a man. David did have multiple wives. And they are important enough that God inspired man to record them by name in the Old Testament.

Brave is the story of Ahinoam of Jezreel, who is interpreted by Andrews as a Kenite with exceptional dagger throwing skills and who works with her father to forge weapons for David’s ragtag army during the years of running from King Saul. She is spirited, fierce, and loyal. She is also not interested in marriage or being a silly woman, like the mother who abandoned her and her father so many years ago. Yet the Lord works in mysterious ways. In this instance, it is to bring Ahinoam and David together as husband and wife, to forge their relationship as the Lord gives and takes away. Giving and taking provision, giving and taking friendships, giving and taking family. Through it all, they must learn grace and forgiveness. They must learn to praise Him and seek His will. They must learn to keep their focus on Him instead of their human desires. Especially when Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel, also becomes David’s wife.

Andrews is a voracious researcher and I am always fascinated by the context provided in her novels. It is an honor to camp in the wilderness with Ahinoam, feeling the cool walls of the cave at my back, if only in my mind. It is hard to avoid building relationships with the characters she brings to life in text, particularly this strong dagger throwing, God seeking match for the future king. Brave’s narrative switches between Ahinoam’s point of view and David’s, and though I initially thought I just wanted her POV, it did not take long to see that his is essential for greater understanding. Brave is an enlightening read, if not an easy one, and I now wait as patiently as I can for the next installment of the King David’s Brides series.

Brave, book one of the King David’s Brides series from Mesu Andrews, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - Tea with Elephants

Robin Jones Gunn takes readers on an awe inspiring and faith filled journey to Africa in her latest release, Tea with Elephants, which is the first book of her new Suitcase Sisters series. This delight for the senses has a soul stirring storyline, which follows long distance best friends through a swanky safari while they deal with personal struggles that are an easier load to bear when shared. Fern and Lily both board the plane to Nairobi with heavy hearts, exploring their stages of grief while reveling in the messages from Heaven that come through the various people they meet. Big hearts, big adventures, big animals, and big blessings abound over cups of tea and shared confidences. Gunn paints such vivid pictures of the settings and people the Sisters meet throughout their journey; it is no surprise that I eagerly await the next chapter in the Suitcase Sisters saga!

Tea with Elephants, the first novel in the Suitcase Sisters series by Robin Jones Gunn is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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

Book Review - The Blooming of Delphinium

Holly Varni had managed to slip under my radar with her debut novel, On Moonberry Lake, so I went back and read the first Moonberry Lake novel before starting The Blooming of Delphinium. I noticed quickly that she writes with wit; zippy dialogue between lively characters draws the reader into Moonberry Lake as a new resident in their own right. Settled in my new literary home, I then proceeded to The Blooming of Delphinium, and stayed firmly entrenched in Moonberry until I reached the end.

Delphinium is at a crossroads, facing foreclosure on the building in which she both runs her floral shop and lives in the apartment where her beloved grandmother lived, she has to find a way to appease the bank without sacrificing her dream. If only that was the sum of her troubles, which are compounded by the small army of old men playing poker in their undershirts in her cooler. It is a small army that grows into a motley crew of senior citizens as the eccentric elderly ladies start tagging along. But big blessings come in slightly frustrating packages sometimes, and these seniors find an understanding ally in Delphinium. It seems the seniors want what we all want: a compassionate listener and a purpose in life. Delphi’s challenges add up quickly as the zany seniors work their mischievous magic to solve their problems and hers in one goofy swoop. Varni’s settings are cozy and homey, but it is her characters that really bring these stories to life. Just as Delphi finds her heart for these larger than life seniors, they will keep you in stitches while you fall in love with them. Along with these relationships, Delphi learns a lot about romance and finds revelations about her family that change her perspective of her parents and herself.

The Blooming of Delphinium, the second book in the Moonberry Lake series by Holly Varni is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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