Friday, August 7, 2026

The Husband Tree

About the Book

Book: The Husband Tree

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 21, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a spirited Western romance filled with danger, determination, and unexpected love—a tale of a fierce widow rancher, a hardworking cowboy, and the family that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and strong heroines.

Belle Tanner has buried three husbands under the “Husband Tree” and managed her Montana ranch alone while raising four daughters. When she needs help with a dangerous cattle drive, she hires Silas Harden—a man who actually knows his way around cattle and horses. Unlike her previous husbands, Silas isn’t afraid of hard work, but Belle’s not about to let another man take charge of her ranch or her heart.

Silas never planned on falling for a widow with four daughters, especially one as independent as Belle. But as they face treacherous mountain passes, wolf attacks, and winter storms together, he discovers that what he thought was just another job might be his chance at a real family—if he can convince Belle to trust in love one more time.

With winter closing in and dangers mounting, Belle and Silas must learn to work together and trust in God’s plan. But can Belle let go of her iron control and let love lead? And can Silas prove he’s different from the husbands who came before?

A heartwarming story of faith, family, and finding love in the rugged Montana Territory.

Review

Belle hasn’t made the wisest choices when it comes to husbands. After being widowed three times, she has no desire to try it again. I admired her courageous spirit and determination to raise her daughters and see their ranch succeed. Silas was just the man who was needed to help Belle with her cattle drive and to also help heal and win her heart.

There are three romances in the story, and while I enjoyed that aspect of the story, I felt that the timelines for two of them were rushed. I liked riding along on the cattle drive and thought the dangers they experienced made this part of the story interesting.

Readers of Western romances will enjoy Belle and her feistiness and grit she needs to see her ranch flourish. Her daughters were amazing young ladies and rose to the occasion in being a part of the drive. 3.5 stars

I received a copy of the book through Celebrate Lit. I was not expected to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

More from Mary

The Husband Tree remains the book I am asked about the most when I talk to readers.

Or, if I get asked, which is your favorite character…someone inevitably says Belle Tanner.

There’s something about that woman.

The title of the book is based on the tree where she’s buried three worthless husbands. After Anthony died falling off the roof…where he was hiding from work as usual, she’s tossing dirt on his face while vowing to God and her children to never marry again.

She’s taught her girls to work hard at her side, but her main lesson is to teach them to avoid men at all costs. A warning that doesn’t survive, but not for lack of effort on Belle’s part.

She’s the meanest good guy I’ve ever written, the most enduring ‘fiesty lady rancher’. Yet somehow, her REASONS for being mean are so well tuned, that she gets away with being a very hostile-to-men woman.

Not that I haven’t written plenty of feisty lady ranchers…in fact I love the type so much I have to fight putting one as the heroine in every book. But Belle is in a league of her own.

Silas Harden is also NOT interested in a woman. He’s been burned bad TWICE by women. One woman a betrayer, another a sneaking liar who stages a ‘compromising situation’ to force a marriage. He’s lost two ranches because of it. He wants a place of his own and he’s not risking letting a woman ruin things for him. It’s cost him too much.

But, much as she hates to admit she needs a man’s help, Belle’s going to lose her herd if she doesn’t get the cattle to market and there’s no one else to help but the wandering cowpoke, Silas.

Belle and her four daughters, including a diaper-wearing baby, need to punch one thousand head of cattle over the roughest trail in the whole world…not that Belle’s familiar with the whole world, but it’s a brutally hard stretch.

Off they go, both bristling, but soon enough they’re working so hard they’re too TIRED to hate each other.

And then here comes love. A man Belle can’t help but respect. A woman Silas can’t help but trust.

If they all survive this drive…both of them might just take a chance again, on love.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 28

Texas Book-aholic, July 29

For Him and My Family, July 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 31

Guild Master, August 1 (Author Interview)

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 3

She Lives To Read, August 4

Simple Harvest Reads, August 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

Fiction Book Lover, August 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 6

Book Looks by Lisa, August 7

Cover Lover Book Review, August 8

Labor Not in Vain, August 9

Holly’s Book Corner, August 10

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/GRmzP/the-husband-tree-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

When the Silence Breaks

A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in.

When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.

After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.

Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.

Review:

Reading one of Elizabeth Goddard’s book always gets my heart racing with its action-packed, suspenseful scenes. This time the setting is the ruggedly beautiful Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Sarah Ellison has been lead there through her investigation of her grandfather’s past. I love the twists the book has as Sarah and her guide, Ryder discover secrets that would have been better to stay hidden. I will say that I had no idea what the plane was carrying and was just as surprised as Sarah and Ryder.

I highly recommend this suspense with a light romantic thread. It is the first book in the Mercy Ridge series, and I can’t wait to read more! The author has historical notes at the end of the book that I found fascinating.

I received a gifted copy from Revell Fiction, JustRead Book Tours, and NetGalley. Many thanks! I was not expected to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Friday, July 24, 2026

The Bachelor Spy

Spies Infiltrate Havensbooke Hall. . .and Another Mystery Adventure Begins

Stephen Blake's life goal is to protect people, especially those closest to him, but war in 1915 England doesn’t follow any rules. When Blake is informed that a noted German spy may have taken up residence at Havensbrooke Hall—his cousin Lord Astley’s estate, which is being used as a convalescent war hospital—he’s sent there to uncover the plot.

Lady Grace Astley has become a force to be reckoned with while Frederick is out on the war front. With Havensbrooke as a hospital, she’s shocked by the devastation the war is bringing home; but ever hopeful, she is determined to help these weary soldiers find some relief. However, not everything is as it seems inside Havensbrooke. Precious items soon start disappearing. . .and not just the kind that are worth a lot of money.

Through a case of mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, a kidnapping, and a race for time within the crumbling subterranean passageways beneath Havensbrooke, can Blake and Gracie work together to root out the criminals, thieves, and spies before time runs out?

Review:

WWII has created a very different life for Grace and Freddie as he is at war and Grace is living at their estate that is being used as a place for soldiers to recuperate from their injuries. Of course, there is a mystery afoot with rumors of a hidden treasure on the estate, and Grace becomes involved.

Frederick’s cousin, Stephen Blake, is working for the Home Office investigating a possible spy that is gathering intel while posing as a nurse at Grace’s home/hospital. I loved the cloak-and-dagger activities that involve primarily Stephen and his partner, Evie. There is not only tension in their mission, but also their personal relationship as they navigate a budding romance. This story has several subplots and an exciting conclusion that you are going to love.

This is the ending to a great series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Ms. Basham created Grace and Freddie so that they seem to be a part of my life. I am sad to see this series be finished. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend you read all of them in order to fully enjoy this story. Readers of all ages will love this book for its action, mystery, family relationships, and romance.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher, Great Reads Book Promo, and NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Bookmarked for Love

Can a jeopardized children's library program spark a partnership that saves their careers but costs them their hearts?

When children's librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library's children's programs, she's determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library's behalf. The bad news? She swore she'd never step foot in his office again.

Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family's publishing empire, and now he must prove he's ready to take the helm by turning around the company's languishing children's imprint. That wouldn't be a problem, except he doesn't know the first thing about children's literature. So when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can't refuse. He'll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a bestselling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they're forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line.

Review:

Martha Aldridge is the perfect children’s librarian. She has all kinds of energy and fabulous ideas for the children. So, when she hears about budget cuts and the danger of losing the job that is clearly her passion, she turns to the wealthy King family for funds. What she didn’t expect was to find Julien King poised for taking over the family publishing dynasty.

I love how the author wove the story around two major aspects of books. I thought it was both clever and interesting. Martha was a great character and did a great job seeing herself as confident and competent and helping Julien with seeing his worth and seeing the company carry on the printing house’s legacy.

Things to discover for yourself:

swamp monster

Signal Rock

Sabrina vibes

popular book titles mentioned

secret crush

age gap

This is the third book in the Checking Out Love series. I have recommended these books to many fellow readers, and think you’d really enjoy this story too. It is a kisses-only book and will be enjoyed by teens through adults.

I received a copy of the book from the Bethany House Fiction, the author, and NetGalley. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Unmasking the Diamond

Unmasking the truth means risking everything—even love.

Miss Charlotte Winslow may be the diamond of the Season, but beneath her flawless exterior lies a secret—she writes for the Society pages. Years of hiding behind her carefully crafted mask have left her doubting her own worth and believing happiness to be a luxury meant for others. That is, until she crosses paths with Lord Luca Dexter—an infuriating, perceptive man who sees far too much and refuses to be ignored.

Luca may be the younger son of a duke, but unlike most men of his rank, he earns his living as the owner of The London Gazette. When he discovers Miss Winslow’s secret talent, he’s determined to recruit her to write for his newssheets. But Charlotte refuses to be reduced to mere gossip columns—if she writes for him, it will be for something that matters.

Luca and Charlotte agree to have her write something of substance. When their investigation uncovers a dangerous conspiracy, Luca finds himself torn between his growing affection for Charlotte and his desperate need to protect her. But Charlotte is not a woman who wishes to be saved. And as tragedy looms, Luca must risk everything—including his heart—to rescue the one woman who taught him that love is worth unmasking for.

Review:

Charlotte Winslow and Luca are like oil and vinegar as they seem to delight in exchanging barbs with one another at various social functions. I love how this transforms into a deeper relationship over time.

There is something sinister at work as women seem to just disappear throughout the city. Luca and Charlotte team up together to investigate, which adds suspense and danger to the story. I loved these two finding leads and bringing the story to an exciting conclusion.

Once again, Ms. Beers has written a Regency romance that is so hard to put down once you start. I received a copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.

As the seventh novel in the Courting the Unconventional series by author Laura Beers, Unmasking the Debutante continues the series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile

Margaret Kingsley's routine revolves around invention not investigation--until her ordered world springs a gasket.

London, England, 1895
Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines--until her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor.

Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as a secretary by day and tends to his disabled father by night, but he can't pass up the chance to take a temporary job as event coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire. As strange occurrences cause Charles' event planning to collide with Margaret's case, the pair must unravel a plot of sabotage against the inventor's legacy while also investigating the sparks of attraction between them. 

Review:

I loved this book! The inventions, mystery, inspectors team, and a kisses-only romance had me all wrapped up in this exciting story. Margaret feels as though she is a burden to her family and friends due to her limited ability and chronic pain. Only when she confesses her thoughts to Charles, and he opens her eyes to the idea that others help her because they love her and want to do what they can to ease her pain does she see the truth. It was a touching scene when she shares her heart with her friends.

Things to love:

funny sayings

Margaret’s wheelchair adaptations

analogy of teaspoons of ability

Daughters of Genius Society

mystery

faith elements

piano duet

daring rescue

While this can be read as a standalone, there are characters that are in a large portion of the story that were in the first book, A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures. It was so fun to see them again. I highly recommend this book to readers both young and mature, and I can’t wait to read more.

I received a copy of the book through Bethany House, NetGalley, and Great Reads Book Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Sunday, June 28, 2026

The Escape Game

About the Book

Book: The Escape Game (The Game Masters Book 2)

Author: Gina Holder

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: May 5, 2026

20 years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared…

Demi Kayne, owner of a popular puzzle shop, has spent years searching for her father, who vanished without a trace. When she cracks the code he left behind, the trail leads her to a secluded mansion—and straight into danger.

Liam Shepherd, a missionary with a passion for puzzles, is desperate to find his missing sister. His investigation brings him to Silver Falls, where his path collides with Demi’s in ways neither of them expects.

Drawn into a deadly escape game designed by a brilliant and vengeful mind, Demi and Liam must unravel twisted riddles and confront buried secrets before time runs out. Losing could cost them everything. Their faith and each other may be their only means of escape.

Review:

Demi never loses hope that her father will return home, but it has been twenty years and very few clues point to what might have happened to him. Until one day she finds a clue that leads her and her new friend, Liam, and his twin sister to the Ives Mystery House. With codes, secret rooms, and perilous booby traps I was interested in seeing what would happen next. I was also wondering how they were going to escape the mad woman who lived there and controlled their destiny.

If you enjoy learning a bit of the history of some of the codes and how they work, you'll enjoy this suspense-filled story. Liam's faith was evident throughout the story, which helped Demi resolve some of the things from her past and seek reconciliation.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. My opinion is my own.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Gina Holder is a Christian award-winning author of romantic suspense and cozy mysteries filled with faith, intrigue, danger, romance, and epic twists you’ll never see coming.

She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog.

When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.

More from Gina

The Book I Almost Gave Up On

When I turned in the first full draft of The Escape Game last September, I hated it.

Not in a playful, self-deprecating way. I really, truly hated it.

I had that awful, hollow feeling in my stomach. The one that whispers, This isn’t good enough. You aren’t good enough. Why did you ever think you could pull this off?

Honestly, I believed this book was beyond my abilities.

And it was.

But I forgot I have Someone on my side who can do all things.

Back in 2022, this story idea was supposed to be simple. A shorter novel inside a collection. I had a fun premise, a few intriguing characters, and a basic plot: a second chance romance with the two main characters locked in a deadly mansion.

Easy peasy, right?

Wrong.

I realized the story needed space to breathe, so I wrote something else for the collection, and put this story back on the shelf until the right time.

Fast forward to 2025. The Escape Game was proposed as book 2 of The Game Master series.

I started writing. Characters pushed back. They wouldn’t talk. Inside my head, there was silence.

Some books flow. This one fought.

I wrestled with tone and pacing. I rewrote entire sections only to delete them again. Scenes that sparkled in my head fell flat on the page. I second-guessed everything.

My heroine was supposed to be the faithful Christian girl who wins the bad boy to the Lord.

She wasn’t.

And my hero? He was all wrong.

So, I did something terrifying.

I replaced him.

Completely.

I created an entirely new character—Liam Shepherd.

On the surface, Liam was perfect—kind, protective, devoted to the Lord, close to his family. Every Christian girl’s dream.

But fiction doesn’t work that way. Perfection isn’t compelling.

I asked God to show me Liam’s wound.

When it came, I cried.

No, I bawled like a baby.

Liam wasn’t abused. He didn’t come from a broken home. He had love and stability. Then tragedy struck, and he faced a choice.

He chose wrong.

And it haunted him.

But the troubles were far from over.

This wasn’t just a tricky plot or a stubborn manuscript.

This story touched some deep places in my own heart—places I didn’t expect to have to revisit. Writing it meant digging into tender, uncomfortable emotions, facing truths about fear, grief, and courage that I hadn’t fully confronted. It hit a little too close to home.

Some days it felt less like writing fiction and more like surgery.

And surgery is exhausting.

By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t excited. I was just tired. I turned it in because it was due, not because it felt finished.

Then the editing began.

If drafting this book was wandering through a dark forest, editing was finally being handed a flashlight. Sentences tightened. Motivations clarified. Scenes I thought were essential were cut, and others grew stronger. What felt hopeless started to feel possible.

Slowly—painfully at times—the story started to come into focus.

My editor asked hard questions. I rewrote the entire book. (Not completely, but it felt like it.)

Each round of edits chipped away at the parts I disliked and revealed the story underneath—the one I’d been trying to tell all along.

Somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened.

I stopped hating it.

More than that, I started to like it.

Everything clicked. The story finally had the depth—and the heart—it had been missing.

And now, sitting on the other side of the process, I can honestly say something I never imagined saying last fall:

I’m proud of The Escape Game.

Not because it’s perfect—no book ever is—but because it represents persistence. Growth. The courage to dig into hard places and stay long enough to find the heart of the story.

And that heart is what I hope you feel when you read it.

What started as a small, simple idea grew into something deeper than I expected. Something that required more from me than I thought I had to give.

And in the end, it became something God and I built together.

This book reminded me of something important:

We’re all first drafts.

God is shaping us, molding us … and we fight back. We look at our lives and wish things were different. We replay our wrong choices. We feel regret, frustration, and fear.

Sometimes, we even hate what we see.

But hating your draft doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

It just means God isn’t finished yet.

And sometimes, the stories we struggle with the most end up being the ones we’re proudest to hold in our hands.