Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Amanda Cox‘s upcoming release, The Things We Cannot Keep. Amanda is one of my favorite authors. She has a style that is easy to read, yet her books are anything but easy. They tackle real life struggles through her true-to-life characters. I cannot wait to read this one! Check out the details below.
Here’s the first line:
People always used the phrase “can’t see the forest for the trees” like it was a bad thing, but Tess Holcomb had learned to survive by letting the big picture fade into meaningless blur.
A mysterious package. A name she thought she’d erased. And the one person she never expected to see again.
Tess Holcomb has built a new life in Alabama, repairing timepieces and avoiding her troubled past as she restores her customers’ family heirlooms–treasures she never had. When a mysterious package arrives addressed to Teresa Baker, the name she abandoned, Tess finds herself drawn into a puzzle that threatens her delicate peace.
Then Elliot Sullivan appears at her door after eighteen years, and Tess knows he’s after more than just forgiveness. She doesn’t trust his motives, but he could be the key to uncovering the origin of the mystery package and its cryptic contents.
Tess has found safety in her simple life, but to reunite this lost heirloom with its rightful recipient she will have to come out of hiding. Each clue leads her further from the security of home, and each story reveals hidden truths. The question is whether she’s brave enough to face what she might find–and whether the man beside her can be trusted with what matters most.
Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.
A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes.
She finds sisterhood in the Amish Widows Club–but will she risk loving again?
Leanna Mast never imagined she’d be a widow at forty-one, but it seems God had other plans. After mourning her husband for a year, she realizes it’s time to start living again. But her community expects her to remarry, and after living on her own, she’s not eager to start cooking and cleaning in another man’s home.
When she’s invited to join the Amish Widows Club, she discovers a place of belonging she didn’t even know she needed. In this group of women who support each other through sharing books, stories, and companionship, Leanna immediately feels welcome. She’s sure her life as a widow will bring her the fulfillment she craves . . . until handsome, kind Evan Keim comes calling. As their relationship deepens, her heart becomes involved. But how could she possibly leave the widows club for a dream that might be too good to be true?
New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray skillfully draws readers into an endearing and delightful Amish community of friendship during widowhood and a second chance at love.
Excerpt
She was so tired of being nice. No, that wasn’t true, Leanna Mast decided. She liked being nice. She was a nice person. She was just tired of being nice to the string of men who had started calling on her on Sunday afternoons. Most of them she’d known all her life. Some were old enough to be her father. None of them were husband material.
Though, if she was being honest, the fault was probably hers.
The problem was that she’d already been married once and had no desire to be married again. Ever. So this constant parade of suitors was neither desired nor asked for. They’d just started appearing at her doorstep one year and one month after Willis died.
When the first one had shown up, she’d been so surprised, her good manners had taken over her personal preferences. Instead of politely sending the man home, she offered him kaffi and a slice of the almond cream- cheese bread she’d made that morning. When he asked for a second slice, she gave it grudgingly. She really hadn’t wanted to give him any of her favorite afternoon treat in the first place.
“This is mighty gut bread,” he’d said with his mouth full.
“Danke.” She’d said the word while staring at her hands clenched in her lap.
“You are a modest woman. Not only can you cook and clean, but you are shy too.”
When she lifted her chin to meet his gaze, she’d seen true appreciation there.
She’d bitten the inside of her lip so she wouldn’t ask him to leave.
Unfortunately, that little decision with her first caller had created quite a stir among the single men in the area. Next thing she knew, men started coming around all the time. She’d had to start baking cookies, pies, and bread every morning just to keep up with their hearty appetites.
It was annoying. And exhausting.
Because she was ninety-nine percent sure that she didn’t want to be another man’s wife. The only reason to consider such a thing would be to have a baby. At long last. Even though the doctor had promised that there was nothing wrong with her, she and Willis had never been blessed with a child in their nineteen years of marriage.
However, if she ever did decide to get married again, it would not be to the man currently sitting on her couch. Zeke Detweiler was too brash and too bossy. Plus, he stared at her chest too much. Did he think she wouldn’t notice?
Then, to make matters worse, he’d been her husband’s boss. Leanna hadn’t liked Zeke when Willis was alive and she liked him even less now. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean she could ask him to leave before his hour was up.
She’d learned that a widow, no matter what her age, was expected to be kind and proper. And demure.
Since she still had eighteen minutes to go, she gestured to his empty coffee cup. “Would you care for some more kaffi, Zeke?”
“I would.” His gaze drifted over her again when she started to bend down to pick up his cup and saucer. “You are over forty now, jah?”
“I am forty- one.”
“That’s a gut age, I think. Not too young. Not too old.” He crossed his legs. “You could still have a babe.” His eyes narrowed. “You could, jah?”
“I suppose so.”
“Hmm,” said Zeke.
Gritting her teeth, Leanna forced her expression to remain calm.
“I’ll be right back,” she murmured.
“Don’t forget that I like two teaspoons of sugar,” he said.
“I would never forget that, Zeke.” He needed all the sweetness he could get.
Only when she reached the privacy of her kitchen did Leanna press her hands to her eyes. Tears were threatening. She needed to fight them back before Zeke noticed. She’d learned that most of these later-in-life suitors looked for weaknesses. Flaws. They could be used as ammunition to make her feel like she shouldn’t be alone anymore.
Or, perhaps, simply to make themselves feel better.
Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and finalist for both the Christy and the Carol Awards, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail. Learn more at ShelleyShepardGray.com.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 13, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT is an open prompt — Books Whose Titles Contain The Word _____. I chose the word story(ies) because that is what has always drawn me to books — the stories you find in people’s experiences, places, and history. I only have 5 titles, but they are gems you will want to check out.
Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Elizabeth Goddard‘s upcoming release When Silence Breaks, the first book in the Mercy Ridge romantic suspense series. Goddard will take readers on a thrilling ride in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Releasing on August 4, 2026, this novel will be the perfect book to round out your summer reading!
Here’s the first line:
Secrets can’t stay buried forever.
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.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.
Can an unexpected turn lead her right where she belongs?
Pregnant, single and stranded in a storm with her two young kids, Olive Hart is out of options—until gruff mechanic Hank Valentine comes to their rescue. When her housing falls through, he reluctantly offers them shelter at his ranch in exchange for help at his garage. It’s just a temporary arrangement…but Olive’s chaotic, lovable crew begins to warm his guarded heart. They’ve both been burned by the past, but can they find the courage to build something lasting…together?
Excerpt
“Hank, I—”
“Olive, please—”
They spoke over each other. He lifted a hand, palm up. “Ladies first.”
That earned him a tiny grin and a win in his book.
“I hate to be a burden—”
He opened his mouth, but she stopped him with the same look he’d seen her level on her kids when they misbehaved.
“As you probably figured out, my family needs a place to stay a bit longer—”
She licked her lips—a mouth he had no business noticing—then brushed a hand over her ponytail. At first glance, she looked young, but exhaustion clutched her like an extra layer.
He was too old—and too worn down himself—to be getting any ideas. Wasn’t he?
“So the sooner I can start work at the garage—” she took a deep breath, then exhaled “—the sooner I can pay our way.”
“Look, Olive, you’re—”
She didn’t miss the flicker in his eyes toward her ample middle.
“I’m what…pregnant?” Humor laced her tone.
He shrugged. “Well—yeah.”
Her bottom lip jutted out. Way too full, if you asked him.
Olive squared her shoulders and sat a little taller on her chair. “I’m starting on Monday.”
Chris Maday Schmidt is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author who writes contemporary inspirational romance—real-life fairy tales filled with hope, humor, and heart. A member of Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers, she is the author of the Love Inspired Sweetwater series for Harlequin, including her latest release, A Mother’s Prayer (June 30, 2026). Her debut novel received a 5-star review in the 2024 Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews and Award Contest.
Connect with Chris by visiting chrismadayschmidt.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a book tote, a B&N gift card, and a signed print copy of A Mother’s Prayer!
(1) winner will receive a Sweetwater, Arizona book bundle: A Father’s Vow, The Fire Chief’s Surprise, and A Mother’s Prayer! (print for US winner, ebooks if winner is outside the US)
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 30, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 7, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print copies & book tote. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are sharing upcoming books that they cannot wait to read. It’s really hard to limit the list to just 10, but here goes.
Buildings with secretive pasts, ghostly rumors, dual timelines — if you like books that feature any of these elements like Jaime Jo Wright’s The Book Shop of 99 Doors, then I have some more reading recommendations for you. Of course, you cannot go wrong with any of Wright’s books, so if there are some you haven’t read yet, start with her backlist. I hope you find your next great read!
The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock
Will Edyth prove her sanity before it is too late? Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
On Blackwell’s Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving.
With her late parents’ fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Foster does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. And Edyth fears she will never be found.
At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?
The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman
Can a Legacy of Sadness be Broken at the Menger Hotel?
Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.
Young widow Hedda Krause checks into the Menger Hotel in 1915 with a trunk full of dresses, a case full of jewels, and enough cash to pay for a two-month stay, which she hopes will be long enough to meet, charm, and attach herself to a new, rich husband. Her plans are derailed when a ghostly apparition lures her into a long, dark hallway, and Hedda returns to her room to find her precious jewelry has been stolen. She falls immediately under a cloud of suspicion with her haunting tale, but true ghost enthusiasts bring her expensive pieces of jewelry in an attempt to lure the ghost to appear again.
In 2017, Dini Blackstone is a fifth-generation magician, who performs at private parties, but she also gives ghost walk tours, narrating the more tragic historical events of San Antonio with familial affection. Above all, her favorite is the tale of Hedda Krause who, in Dini’s estimation, succeeded in perpetrating the world’s longest con, dying old and wealthy from her ghost story. But then Dini meets Quinn Carmichael, great-great-grandson of the detective who originally investigated Hedda’s case, who’s come to the Alamo City with a box full of clues that might lead to Hedda’s exoneration. Can Dini see another side of the story that is worthy of God’s grace?
Passages of Hope by Terri J. Haynes
Discover the Story Behind a Secret Passageway
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.
Gracie Kingston begins renovations on the Philadelphia house inherited from her grandmother and finds a secret room. It is connected to a house nearby, the home of William Still, the man known as the father of the Underground Railroad. As she researches, she discovers a mystery in her house’s ownership. In 1855, Olivia Kingston helps a mother and her young child by hiding them in a secret room in her home. As she helps, she learns that there may be an impostor conductor in their community. As Gracie’s and Olivia’s stories intertwine, they learn the meaning of sacrifice and love.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Work in Development by K.A. Ross, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:A Work in Development Series: A Work in Progress Series #2 Author:K.A. Ross Publisher: Sweetwater Books (a Cedar Fort imprint) Release Date: July 1, 2026 Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
For a woman who has edited hundreds of romance novels, Nellie’s own happy ending feels out of reach. After the death of her first husband, Daniel has offered her a second chance at happiness and love. But just as Nellie begins to hope for a future with him, her in-laws arrive to celebrate her late husband’s memory. Bringing more confusion than comfort, the well-intentioned relatives test Nellie’s determination to be brave.
Problems escalate when an unexpected threat emerges to tear open deep wounds from Daniel’s past and jeopardize everything Nellie has built with him. Nellie never thought she’d find love again. Now that she has, she’ll do anything to protect it. With only a week to keep everything from spinning out of control, keeping her romance from becoming a rom-com cliché is the least of Nellie’s problems.
Nellie must face the fears buried inside herself to save her and Daniel’s story—or risk the next plot twist breaking it apart.
Excerpt
It occurred to me that all clichés that involved gazing into the eyes of the one you loved had a common thread. Getting lost in one’s eyes, drowning in them, etcetera. They all centered around the inescapable rush to feel the adrenaline of seeing your love reflected back to you. Vulnerability transformed into acceptance in a pure exchange of souls. And for all that, it could also sap the energy from the back of your knees.
K.A. Ross loves stories so much she can’t write in just one genre! Find her fantasy works under “Kay Ross” and her romance under “K.A. Ross.” When she’s not at work, she’s finding new stories, discussing old stories, or writing her own. If she’s ever not thinking about stories, she’s either trying not to be too invested in sports or climbing up a mountain so she can run down it. She may live out West, but she considers any open space with a view home. To be the first to hear about upcoming releases, and receive a free short story, sign up for her newsletter at authorkayross.com!
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each receive a signed copy of A Work in Development & a $15 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 29, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 6, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Today I am featuring Janet W. Ferguson‘s newest contemporary romance, Forever April. This second-chance-at-love novel is part of her Coastal Hearts series though it can be read as a standalone. Grab a copy for your weekend getaway or staycation!
Here’s the first line:
“This is freedom.”
Michael Galloway has always believed freedom means living life on his own terms. His career is dedicated to saving the environment and teaching others the importance of taking care of the earth, rivers, and oceans. He’s building a life with no room for complications. Especially in his love life.
Then tragedy turns April Yancy’s world upside down.
After her husband’s death, April discovers he’d been hiding devastating secrets, leaving her buried in debt and struggling to protect her children’s future. The last person she expects to come to her rescue is Michael—the man who shattered her heart years ago.
Michael has few regrets, but hurting April back in grad school still haunts him. When her situation grows desperate, he devises a risky plan to help her rebuild her life…even if it means jeopardizing his carefully guarded independence.
Accepting Michael’s shocking offer could cost April more than her pride. His resistance to her faith clashes with the convictions she holds dear, and trusting him again feels impossible. Yet as doors keep opening and her prayers keep nudging her toward him, April begins to wonder if God is offering her a second chance at more than survival.
An emotional second-chance love story of forgiveness, redemption, and unexpected faith.
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist, Maggie Award Winner, and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after.
Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children and a cat that allows them to share the space.
Happy release day to Janet W. Ferguson. Her latest contemporary romance, Until April, is now available! I will be sharing my thoughts on this second chance love story in a couple of weeks, but until then, check out all the info below.
Michael Galloway has always believed freedom means living life on his own terms. His career is dedicated to saving the environment and teaching others the importance of taking care of the earth, rivers, and oceans. He’s building a life with no room for complications. Especially in his love life.
Then tragedy turns April Yancy’s world upside down.
After her husband’s death, April discovers he’d been hiding devastating secrets, leaving her buried in debt and struggling to protect her children’s future. The last person she expects to come to her rescue is Michael—the man who shattered her heart years ago.
Michael has few regrets, but hurting April back in grad school still haunts him. When her situation grows desperate, he devises a risky plan to help her rebuild her life…even if it means jeopardizing his carefully guarded independence.
Accepting Michael’s shocking offer could cost April more than her pride. His resistance to her faith clashes with the convictions she holds dear, and trusting him again feels impossible. Yet as doors keep opening and her prayers keep nudging her toward him, April begins to wonder if God is offering her a second chance at more than survival.
An emotional second-chance love story of forgiveness, redemption, and unexpected faith.
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist, Maggie Award Winner, and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after.
Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children and a cat that allows them to share the space.
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
I am an Amazon.com affiliate, which means that I earn a small percentage of the sales from products purchased through links on my site. I NEVER recommend a book in order to receive a profit. Proceeds from affiliate sales help to defray operating costs of the blog.
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