Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Hearts in Circulation

Little Creek's bookmobile is more of a death trap on wheels than a vehicle of literary delights, and circulation librarian Haley Holt is afraid it's going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Yet she sees it as a way to serve her community and be worthy of the liver transplant that saved her life as a child. However, her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove.

Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives in tiny Turkey Grove to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touch from the vibrant librarian leaves him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren't contained within the bindings of a book.

Review:

Hayley Holt is a librarian who has been gifted a “van” to be used as a bookmobile. She and Cletus (the name she gave the van) are happily headed to a nearby town to spread book happiness when it breaks down, and she is stranded with the road to the town becoming blocked. Levi Redding is the only mechanic in town, and he is forced to come to her aid. He is like a horse with a burr under his saddle with his gruffness, grunts, and one word answers. He was so abrasive when first meeting Hayley that if I had been her I’d have ended up dissolving into a puddle of tears. But, she is made of stronger stuff than me and determines to make the best of her situation. I really loved how Hayley was able to see beyond his behavior and admire Levi’s uniqueness. He was able to see for the first time that the sensory issues he had were actually a blessing and not the thing the defined him.

Things to love:
funny ill wishes
grumpy/sunshine
dual POV
forced proximity
humor
letters
literary clues
he falls first
sisters!
overcoming fear
faith thread

I highly recommend this book. Ms. Monzon knows how to write such funny scenes, and the inner monologues that Hayley has even had me reading a couple of pages aloud to my husband. It is the second book in the Checking Out Love series, but it can be read as a standalone.

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

Saturday, November 8, 2025

Defending You

About the Book

Book: Defending You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 14, 2025

She stumbled onto a deadly secret. The man she once wronged is the only one who can keep her alive.

Cecilia “Cici” Wright has built a life she loves as a jewelry appraiser. But when her latest find—a priceless ruby necklace—links to decades-old murders in her hometown of Shadow Cove, Cici becomes the target of ruthless killers. Forced to flee for her life, she must rely on the man she humiliated in the most shameful moment of her life.

Asher Rhodes puts his Navy SEAL training to good use as a bodyguard for high-paying clients. Keeping his emotions locked away is the secret to his strength. But Cici Wright isn’t just a client—she’s the girl who scorned him, the last woman in the world he ever wanted to see again. Having her close churns up all the reasons he once loved her. Protecting her means facing not just the killers chasing them but the wounds she left behind.

Cici and Asher find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where trust is their only weapon and attraction their greatest vulnerability. With time running out, they must overcome their painful history and work together to defeat their enemies—before it’s too late.

Don’t miss Defending You, book 7 in Robin Patchen’s Wright Heroes of Maine series. Packed with heart-pounding suspense, sizzling romance, and unforgettable characters, you won’t be able to put this one down.

Review:

If you like action and a heart pumping pace, you’ll want to read the story of Cici Wright trying to stay ahead of ruthless killers. But, they always seem to know where she is and she will only survive with the help of Asher Rhodes. I loved the mystery and danger that they find themselves in throughout the story. There is a mastermind behind the robbery of a valuable necklace, and you are caught up in who it is that is calling the shots.

Things to love:
danger
action
high school friends
second chances
romance
faith thread

This is the seventh book in the Wright Heroes of Maine series. While you do not need to read the previous books; I think you’d enjoy seeing the characters that appear. After all, it is the Wright family and not only siblings, but extended members too.

I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy romantic suspense. I am looking forward to what happens next!

I received a copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

More from Robin

Meet Cici Wright: The Relatable Heroine of Defending You

There’s nothing I love more than crafting a heroine who feels like a friend—someone to root for, cry with, and cheer on as she faces impossible odds. In Defending You, the seventh book in my Wright Heroes of Maine series, that heroine is Cici Wright. She’s a jewelry appraiser with a sharp eye for gems, a heart full of courage, and a quiet struggle that I think many of us can relate to: the need to prove she matters.

A Woman on a Mission

Cici Wright is the middle daughter of five girls, and if you’ve read the earlier books in the series, you know her older sisters, Alyssa and Brooklynn, have come through some difficult times—and proved themselves not just capable but heroic.

When we meet Cici in Defending You, she’s doing what she loves: traveling from city to city and gazing into some of the world’s most precious gems. But beneath her confident exterior lies a woman who feels the weight of her sisters’ accomplishments and wonders if she’ll ever measure up.

Who hasn’t felt the pressure to prove themselves—whether to family, friends, or even their own inner critic? Cici’s journey begins when she discovers a long-lost necklace tied to a decades-old crime. Her decision to protect it sets off a chain of events that thrusts her into danger, forcing her to confront not just external threats but her own insecurities.

Strength in Vulnerability

What I love most about Cici is how her strength shines through her vulnerability. She’s a woman who loves beauty, who finds joy in the sparkle of a well-cut diamond, and who’s suddenly caught in a deadly game with rules she’s never learned. Despite her lack of training, Cici manages to keep herself alive long enough to get help.

Cici’s resourcefulness proves that heroism doesn’t always come from training or experience; sometimes, it’s born from sheer determination and a refusal to give up.

Enter Asher Rhodes, the bodyguard tasked with keeping her safe. Their history—his high school crush was crushed by the most humiliating moment of his life—adds layers to their dynamic. I loved writing their reunion, which is filled with tension, a little humor, and a slow-burn romance that I hope will leave you swooning.

Cici’s not afraid to call Asher out when he’s being overbearing—which she thinks is pretty much all the time. But she learns to trust him…for the most part.

A Journey We All Understand

For Cici, the story is about more than surviving danger; it’s about discovering her own worth. She starts desperate to distinguish herself, to be seen as more than the other Wright sister. By the end, she’s learned that her value doesn’t come from outshining others but from embracing who she is—flaws, fears, and all. It’s a journey I think many of us can relate to, whether we’re chasing a career goal, navigating family expectations, or simply trying to find our place in the world.

As I wrote Cici’s story, I thought about the readers who’ve told me they see themselves in my heroines. Cici’s not perfect—she’s stubborn, a little impulsive, and sometimes lets her pride get in the way. But she’s also fiercely loyal, quick-thinking, and willing to risk everything for what’s right. She’s the kind of heroine who reminds us that courage doesn’t mean being fearless but acting despite the fear.

Join Cici’s Adventure

Defending You is a story of heart-pounding suspense, a romance that sparks amidst danger, and a heroine who discovers her own strength when it matters most. If you’ve ever felt the need to prove yourself or wondered if you’re enough, Cici Wright’s journey will resonate with you. And if you love a good mix of action, mystery, and a love story that grows through trust and second chances, I think you’ll fall for Cici and Asher as much as I did.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 30

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31

Texas Book-aholic, November 1

The Mommies Reviews, November 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 2

For Him and My Family, November 3

Mary Hake, November 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Stories By Gina, November 5

lakesidelivingsite, November 6

Blogging With Carol, November 7

Holly’s Book Corner, November 8

Book Looks by Lisa, November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 9

Blossoms and Blessings, November 10

Pause for Tales, November 11

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 12

Bizwings Blog, November 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Capturing You!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d28b/defending-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

Danger at Darkmoor Park

Hidden treasure. Murder. Mystery. Romance. All while snowbound at Christmas.

While trapped by a blizzard at a remote country manor house over Christmas, a school headmistress teams up with a charismatic doctor to solve a murder and hunt for hidden treasure.

But can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?
Selena Taylor is thrilled to cohost a Christmas house party at Darkmoor Park, the beautiful Yorkshire estate she will one day inherit. But a massive snowstorm hits the area, and no one can leave. When one of the guests dies after giving Selena a cryptic clue to a cache of hidden money, she suspects that he was murdered.

Dr. Adrian Scott arrives out of the blizzard and he and Selena, fueled by a burning mutual attraction, become partners in investigating both mysteries—a thrilling hunt for hidden treasure and the search for a ruthless killer—while trapped with holiday guests who all seem to be hiding a secret.

When another guest dies and she starts receiving threatening notes, Selena realizes that she is in terrible danger, pursued by a relentless villain and involved with a man whose touch makes her heart race but who may be hiding a deadly secret of his own.

Review:

Headmistress Selene Taylor feels that her chance at love has passed her by, but she is happy to oversee the school she and her sister founded. Wanting to be with her family for the hoildays, she made the difficult decision to stay at Darkmoor Park to act as hostess for Mrs. Hillman who has invited a group of acquaintances to spend ten days with her. No mystery would be complete without something to investigate, and I was glad to be part of Selene and Adrian Scott’s discovery of clues to the murders, and a large amount of money that one of the victims had hidden somewhere on the grounds. You are sure to get caught up in this story with secret passages, catacombs, money to be found, a handsome doctor, and a murderer to catch.

Things to love:
danger
treasure hunt
hidden identity
Gothic atmosphere
red herrings
estate folly
romance

I love this third book in the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire. It can be read as a standalone because the author does a great job of telling you a bit about each of the sisters so you feel informed. But, I loved each book and highly recommend you read this one as well as the other two mysteries.

I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher, NetGalley, and Austen Prose. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

To Love a Baron

Description:

He returned from war hailed as a hero, but a stranger to himself—and to the wife he never knew he had.

Dominic Stevens, Baron Warwicke, comes home bearing the physical and emotional scars of battle. Haunted by fragmented memories and burdened by duty, he’s stunned to learn he has a wife—a woman he does not remember marrying.

Dorothea rejoices when Dominic comes to remove her from her brother’s abusive household. But the man who stands before her now is colder, harder… a shadow of the husband she once knew. Still, she is determined to reach the heart he has forgotten, believing the man she married is still there, merely buried beneath the pain.

Intent on seeking an annulment to free them both, Dominic fights his growing feelings for the gentle, resilient woman who refuses to give up on him. But when danger threatens Dorothea’s life, Dominic must confront not only his past but also the possibility that the love he thought forever lost in his life may be the very thing that saves them both.

As the third novel in the Courting the Unconventional series by author Laura Beers, To Love a Baron continues the series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era.

Review:

Dominic Stevens has returned from war a broken man who feels guilty about surviving, what comes to realize to his surprise is that he also has a wife. Dorothea Haverleigh nursed Dominic while on the battlefield and came to love the gentle, caring man he was. I could imagine the shock that both of them had when Dominic returns home. I loved this story of Dorothea never giving up on Dominic, even against all odds. This was such a wonderful story of overcoming past hurts, looking forward, and choosing to hold onto hope.

Things to love:

war hero

second chances

grumpy/sunshine

villain

courage

A favorite quote:

“Treasure what you have. Life can change in the blink of an eye.”

I highly recommend this story. It is the third book in the Courting the Unconventional series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are several characters that are a part of the story whose stories were told in the two previous books, but you will have no trouble following the story. I definitely recommend reading the other books as well.

* abusive brother

I received a copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Friday, November 7, 2025

Against a Crescent Storm

Description:

The Serbs defied the world’s most powerful ruler, and now Danilo and Maja must fight to save their people and their newly forged love before the sultan exacts his revenge.

The Balkans, 1389

Three years ago, Danilo’s people won their freedom from the hated Ottoman Empire, but with enemies on every side, the Serbs’ hard-earned peace remains fragile. Knowing the sultan will soon come for revenge, Danilo sets out to gain key allies for the coming war—and to escape the haunting grief of personal loss.

War has orphaned Maja and her brother, but they’ve moved forward from the turbulent aftermath of battle by crafting religious mosaics. Yet after being cheated and robbed, they are desperate for help. Rescue comes from Danilo, the man who once saved them from slavery to the Turks. What begins as an offer for safe escort is soon complicated by threats from a Hungarian noble who suspects them of conspiracy and from Iskandar, an Ottoman spy consumed by a vendetta against Danilo and a dangerous obsession with Maja.

As their journey grows more perilous, Danilo and Maja are drawn together by shared grief and affection. Yet upon returning home, Danilo finds that his župan, unaware of Danilo’s growing emotional entanglement with Maja, plans to use Danilo’s hand in marriage as a tool to forge a crucial alliance. Danilo is soon torn between love for Maja and loyalty to his family and people.

As tensions escalate, sabotage and vicious rumors weaken Christian unity, and hope of victory in the Balkans grows dim. Allies and enemies converge on the fields of Kosovo, where an epic battle will shape the destiny of nations for centuries to come.

Review:

Danilo seems to be there to help Maja when she needs it the most. When he finds Maja and her brother Luca, in need of assistance, Danlo takes them to the village that he calls home. I found the mosaic profession intriguing and a unique way for Maja and her brother to earn a living. I enjoyed seeing the romance develop between Danilo and Marja, and I was really rooting for them and was caught up in the scene where Maja (once again :) ) needed rescuing from their enemy.

I appreciated the map, the glossary of terms and the list of characters that were provided at the beginning of the book for easy reference in case I needed them. Ms. Sowards also wrote a note about historical events that were based upon the story in the back of the book. Wether you are a historical fiction fan or not, you will enjoy the rich details of the story and how the characters come alive.

Things to enjoy:

rich details

epic battles

selfless love

danger

strong heroines

mosaic designs

plot twists

This is the third book in the Balkan Legends series. I highly recommend you read the other books before this one in order to be able to fully enjoy this story.

I received an advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Lily and the Lawman

About the Book

Book: Lily and the Lawman

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 13, 2025

A desperate aunt and a duty-bound sheriff—thrown into marriage by necessity, driven by danger, and risking everything to rescue a child…and their hearts.

All Lily Whitman wants is to open her bakery and provide a good life for her sister and infant niece. But when her niece is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, Lily is frantic to get her back. The only one who can help is the new acting sheriff, Trace McConnell. Though she’s sworn never to trust a man again, she finds herself forced to rely on this quiet lawman—worse, she’s forced to marry him to protect her reputation during the search.

Trace McConnell, a man who sees the world in black and white, does everything by the book, and keeps his feelings to himself. He’s dreamed of being a real lawman his whole life, not just a temporary replacement. When a U.S. Marshal arrives with news of a child kidnapping ring, Trace sees his chance to prove himself worthy of the badge. But his new “wife” keeps throwing his carefully laid plans into chaos with her determination to help—and his growing feelings for her threaten to compromise his focus on justice.

Can two people burned by past betrayals learn to trust again in time to save an innocent child? Or will their fears cost them not only their chance at love, but the life of the baby they’re desperate to rescue?

Review:

Trace McConnell and Lily Whitman were like water and oil, but they must pose as being married in order to catch a couple of kidnappers. This was an exciting adventure-filled story that I really enjoyed. Lily has to overcome her bitter disappointment in men and learn to trust Trace that he isn’t like the other men she has known.

Lily is very headstrong and has a difficult time taking orders from Trace. She really should listen because he is only trying to protect her, and it would keep her safe. I love that Lily is a determined young lady and wants to do everything she can to get her niece back, but this gets her into a lot of trouble.

One of the bad guys is caught while the other escapes, leaving you to wonder where he went and who is the boss of this organized crime ring. I ma looking forward to reading what will happen next in this series.

Things to Enjoy:
danger
faith thread
wild west
learning to trust

I received an advanced copy of the book from the CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Click here to get your copy!

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

Lily and the Lawman has one of my favorite opening lines that I’ve ever written.

No man should have to arrest his own father—at least not more than once a month.

And so begins Trace McConnell’s adventure to lasting happiness. Trace is a lawman, and his father is the town drunk. He heads out on the trail of some bad men who have kidnapped a baby girl. He doesn’t go alone, the child’s aunt goes with him. Mayhem, danger, and love along the way happen, hopefully leading to a satisfying conclusion for everyone but the bad guy.

But I wanted to talk about first lines in fiction. First lines have to do some heavy lifting! So much responsibility! If you are a writer, you have to consider so many things when writing that first line. Does it set the tone of the book? Does it reveal something up front about the character? Does it make the reader ask a question? Does it make the reader want to continue on to see what happens next?

When I’m writing a new story, I often put in all capital letters in the first draft: WRITE A GREAT FIRST LINE HERE. Then I go on with the opening scene.

You see, there is something intimidating in starting a new story, seeing all the blank, white space where words need to go. And it’s worse when you know how important a first line can be. So I put in a place holder. Often I don’t know what the first line should be until I’m into the story a ways. Only rarely do I know what the first line will be, and even then I often change it later.

When I need inspiration, I peruse my bookshelves to read first lines. Here are two of my favorites, both from the late secular writer, Dick Francis

From To the Hilt: I don’t think my stepfather much minded dying. That he almost took me with him wasn’t really his fault.

From Longshot: I accepted a commission that had been turned down by four other writers, but I was hungry at the time.

Do you have a favorite first line?