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Book Review — The Bitter End Birding Society

18 Feb

I have loved every book I have read by Amanda Cox, so it’s hard to choose a favorite. But I believe that my most recent read, The Bitter End Birding Society, is now my favorite. I loved everything about it! It’s my book club’s February selection — can’t wait to discuss it.

Hometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt get her house ready to sell. Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she’s desperate for respite from her community’s attention and unwarranted admiration. While on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird watchers take her under their wing—a little against her will. However, she quickly warms to these genuine souls seeking solace in the great outdoors.

But when Ana’s adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree—one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son—what began as a quest to study Appalachian birds becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.

Immerse yourself in the lyrical prose and layered plotting of award-winning novelist Amanda Cox as she offers up an engaging story of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings in the most unexpected places.

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.

My Impressions:

My book club loves a story with well-developed characters whose struggles are true-to-life. Amanda Cox is one of our favorite authors because she consistently introduces us to relatable characters that we grow attached to. You know the ones — characters that become friends. The Bitter End Birding Society has several that captured my heart. The novel takes place in the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee. The story is told from a present day perspective that has been influenced by the 66 year old tragedy told through flashbacks. Ana has come to Bitter End to escape her present life as much as to discover her family history. There are others in Bitter End who want to escape the pain of their past as well. But ignoring the past does not make it go away. The characters in the book struggle with identity, guilt, and a sense of helplessness that their past experiences engendered. As they join together to form the loosely organized birding society, they find the answers they search for and the peace that comes from reconciling the hard things of life with the hope for a different future. I liked that not everything is tied up with a neat bow — life is still uncertain, yet it is secure. The author draws more than a few analogies from nature, especially the various birds the group encounters. I love that there is emphasis on the care and provision of God in all aspects of life. The spiritual thread is very strong, but naturally woven throughout the narrative. This book is never preachy.

The Bitter End Birding Society is a book that stayed with me long after the last page was read. It was a quiet yet powerful story that I won’t soon forget. I can’t wait to talk about it with my book club.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Deadly Currents

16 Feb

Don’t miss out on the thrilling conclusion to Elizabeth Goddard’s Hidden Bay series. Deadly Currents is filled with betrayal, intrigue, and a ghost ship! Find out all about it below.

Investigative journalist Cressida Dane arrives in Hidden Bay after a worldwide journey to finish her late father’s manuscript on shipwrecks. As she tries to discover the story behind the “ghost ship” Specter’s Bounty, her only lead is a name her father left behind–Evelyn Monroe. As Cressida uncovers more about the ship, she quickly realizes that her research has placed her in the crosshairs of dangerous forces.

County detective Braden Sanders is in Hidden Bay for one reason–to get his niece lifesaving medical treatment. To do that, he is assigned to protect Cressida from a revenge-driven enemy. Together, Braden and Cressida dig deeper to discern the myth from the facts surrounding the Specter’s Bounty. 

But more is brewing under the surface than they could ever imagine. Entangled in secrets, they must unravel the past before the current sweeps away their future.

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. For more information about her books, visit her website.

My Impressions:

Elizabeth Goddard has been a must-read author since her first book. Her books always deliver a suspense-filled plot with very satisfying HEAs. Her latest book Deadly Currents, the final book in the Hidden Bay series, brought it all — intrigue, betrayal, long-held secrets, sunken treasure, and ghost ships! It’s a wild ride from the first page to the last. I loved returning to Hidden Bay, the out of the way location on the Washington coast. Goddard does a great job of making the reader feel the incoming sea mists, hear the crashing waves, and savor the incredible views of the area. The book certainly makes me want to visit the Pacific Northwest now. The plot involves legend and lore surrounding a ghost ship. Journalist Cressida is in the area trying to finish her late father’s history of sunken ships. But someone really doesn’t want her to uncover what her father was researching. Local police detective, Braden, has more than just an interest in solving an attack on Cressida. He has secrets of his own. The two make an interesting team — there certainly is chemistry between them. But distrust and hidden motives may sink their romance before it begins. The puzzling mystery kept me turning the pages. And I did not see the ending coming! That’s a big plus in my book. Faith threads are very strong, but not preachy in any way. The struggles that the characters face will resonate with any reader.

For those who like fast-paced plotting, sweet romance, and a strong faith-filled message, Deadly Currents is a great choice. If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you are in for a wonderful binge-reading treat!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Taking A Second Shot

9 Feb

Leslie Kirby DeVooght is an up-and-coming contemporary romance author you need to check out. With 3 novels published in 2025, she is well on her way to an impressive book list. She writes sweet romance with plenty of sass — something I love! Discover more about her third novel, Taking A Second Shot, below.

Can he convince her that he’s playing for keeps?

Struggling professional soccer player Rainey Allen has come to her grandparents’ small town in Georgia to train—certainly not to coach kids. But when a grief-stricken little boy gets excited about playing with her, she can’t refuse. Even if his uncle is Scott Wilcox, the source of Rainey’s worst preteen memory. Once on track to be a professional athlete himself, Scott is grappling with his new life as the high school baseball coach and guardian of his orphaned nephew. But as playing soccer puts the light back in Henry’s eyes, old wounds begin to heal. When Rainey gets her big break, will she give up on her dreams…or leave behind the family who stole her heart?

Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.

My Impressions:

Taking A Second Shot by Leslie Kirby DeVooght is the perfect choice for those who love sweet romance. This Love Inspired title is a quick read perfect for a weekend getaway. Especially good for soccer or baseball moms between games! But if you don’t have an athletic bone in your body, don’t let that keep you from picking up this book. There is so much more than sports just as the main characters Rainey and Scott discover. Really, any career would have worked for these two driven people. Fully committed to their paths, they often lose sight of what is really important, even when it is right in front of their noses. The banter between the two is great which adds to the chemistry they strive to deny. I loved that the two had people in their lives offering guidance and a healthy push towards each other. 😉 Spiritual threads are strong, with emphasis on discerning what God has planned versus what we think is logical or correct.

Sweet and sassy, Taking A Second Shot is the HEA you are looking for.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review — An Appearance of Impropriety

5 Feb
An Appearance of Impropriety JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

An Appearance of Impropriety

Title: An Appearance of Impropriety
Author: Jayna Breigh
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Genre: Romantic Legal Drama

Will their love turn into a scandal despite their efforts?

As the youngest female judge in Los Angeles, Mahalia Jackson has her career on a fast track to success. Her polished exterior makes sure of that. But when she volunteers for the Junior Jurors and ends up working side by side with attorney JD Cash, her plans begin to falter.

JD heads up the program—born out of his own troubled past—where local teens learn about the legal system. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God’s calling on his life: to support the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved fathers and husbands to TransNation’s eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America’s freeways.

Mahalia’s rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow’s attorney. When Mahalia is placed in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver.

Her increasing proximity to the empathetic lawyer sparks an onslaught from anonymous online adversaries attempting to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career by throwing around claims of an appearance of impropriety. The digital disgrace pushes Mahalia to ask one hard question: Is loving JD worth risking her career?

With a great story, well-developed characters, and a tale that explores the value of second chances and giving back, the latest from Breigh is a must-buy. —Library Journal, Starred Review

“An Appearance of Impropriety is filled with characters I cared about who were placed in challenging situations that compelled me to keep reading long into the night.”

—Cara Putman, award-winning author of the Secrets to Keep series

Excerpt

Somehow in this moment, hearing Granddaddy in her ear, preaching that verse about the excellency of Christ, both soothed and terrified her. What did all her accomplishments mean? Granddaddy had always been so proud of her, but every conversation with him ended with him asking if she’d joined a church or read her Bible.

“Sweet Mahalia baby,” his comforting voice would flow out. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

She’d always found a way to brush off his admonitions.

He’d let her deflect but always retorted, “I’m not giving up on you yet, Mahalia. The Word has a way of getting down deep inside of you, working. Even when you aren’t thinking about it.”

The clink of knives tapping against wine goblets, signaling time to quiet and begin the meeting, found her with moisture in her eyes, threatening to spill. She swiped a knuckle under her bottom lids, straightened her spine, and watched the woman at the dais. She forced out the bittersweet memories of Granddaddy and supplanted them with her mantra. Prestigious college. Ivy League law school. Top-drawer law firm. And she added her new hoped-for position—assistant supervising judge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop

Also Available:

The Hunted Heir

My Impressions:

I loved Jayna Breigh’s debut novel, The Hunted Heir, so I was really excited for the opportunity to read An Appearance of Impropriety. Breigh again brings her knowledge of the law and the courtroom in this legal drama with a good dose of romance. Mahalia Jackson is on track to achieve all her (and her family’s) career goals. But her personal life has been less than stellar. An accidental fall leaves her mentor unable to preside over his cases, and he taps Mahalia to fill in. Enter JD Cash, a brash and committed personal injury lawyer, and soon the sparks fly. There’s intrigue and betrayal behind the scenes in the courthouse, plus complicated pasts and insecurities that stand in the way of their relationship. But this seemingly mismatched pair are perfect for each other. I loved the youth program the two are involved in, and the heart and passion that each brought to both sides of the bench. The spiritual thread is strong as the two characters struggle with being good enough. I especially liked the growth that Mahalia experienced. And if you are a fan of Breigh’s first book, you will love the cameo appearance of one of its main characters. IYKYK! 😉

An Appearance of Impropriety is a delight! Make sure you put this book on the top of your TBR.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Jayna Breigh

Jayna Breigh is a retired attorney living in the southeastern United States and the author of The Hunted Heir. She brings to her writing over a decade of experience in trust and estate litigation in Los Angeles.

Connect with Jayna by visiting www.jaynabreigh.com. to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of An Appearance of Impropriety and a $20 Amazon gift card!

An Appearance of Impropriety JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 4, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 11, 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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Mini-Book Review — Dragonfly Ashes

26 Jan

If you are looking for a spooky-read, then you really need to check out the Cherry Creek Mysteries by C. C. Warrens. I loved book 1, Firefly Diaries, and book 2 Dragonfly Ashes continues the suspense-filled goodness. (I recommend that you don’t skip book 1.) The small town of Cherry Creek is the setting for a legendary serial killer and it seems like that the past has re-emerged. Author Noelle McKenzie is drawn into the mystery as a stalker shadows her and her adopted daughter. Or is it the Dragonfly come back for revenge? This novel is a puzzler as well as an edge-of-the-seat read. It sure kept me guessing while giving me definite chill bumps! Read this one with the lights on!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I borrowed the ebook from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Flames cast an ominous orange glow against the night sky as a barn catches fire, consuming everything within: from the hay bales to the victim bound and left to die.

News of the murder sparks fear in the small community of Cherry Creek, and that fear only grows when the arsonist leaves a calling card belonging to a killer everyone believed was long dead.

The Dragonfly mysteriously disappeared from the local asylum decades ago, stepping out of existence and into legend. The story draws the attention of Noelle McKenzie, a local author, and she digs into details from the past while Captain Derek Dempsey searches for evidence in the present.

But there’s more going on than either of them suspect, and this threat doesn’t just come knocking; it kicks in the door with a wicked plan and a lit match. If they don’t stop the arsonist soon, there may not be anything left of Cherry Creek to save.

Jesus and laughter have brought C.C. Warrens through some very difficult times in life, and she weaves both into every story she writes, creating a world of breath-stealing intensity, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sparkle of hope. Writing has been a slowly blossoming dream inside her for most of her life until one day it spilled out onto the pages that would become her first published book.

If she’s not writing, she’s attempting to bake something—however catastrophic that might be—or she’s enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her husband. One of the many things she’s learned since she started this journey is that the best way to write a book is to go on a long stroll with her husband. That is when the characters—from their backgrounds to the moments that make them laugh or bubble over with anger—come to life.

**Disclaimer from the author**

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery or romantic comedy with an ending wrapped up in a nice little bow, well . . . these books aren’t for you. My books are intended to reflect the real world—a world that is messy, terrifying, wonderful, and sprinkled with humor. My hope is that these books will touch someone who has been through something traumatic and remind them that even in our darkest moments, God is with us.

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Mini-Book Review — The Women of Wynton

19 Jan

If you like vintage mysteries, then definitely check out The Women of Wynton’s. Set in a Florida department store in the 1950s, this novel by Donna Mumma features 4 very different women who band together to get to the bottom of all the mysterious goings-on. There’s definitely a hierarchy at the store and long-held perceptions color the attitudes of the women. I liked that they overcame misconceptions and preconceived notions to form not just a partnership, but strong friendships. This mystery is girl power circa 1950! Although I wasn’t born until later, the vibe this book brought was reminiscent of the department stores I grew up with in small town Florida. I loved feeling all grown up eating lunch at the Jordan Marsh Oak Dining Room. The Women of Wynton’s brought back fond memories while entertaining me with a puzzling whodunit. And good news — there are more in the series!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Mid-Century Glam Meets Murder Mayhem
 
Get swept away to the glamor of a 1950’s department store where four women’s loyalties, vanity, friendship, and detective skills are put to the test.
 
Audrey Penault once led a glamorous life as a model but now works as devoted secretary to Mr. Wynton. To her fellow employees, she is too vain and uppity.
 
Mary Jo Johnson, a wife and mother, longs to find her worth in the cosmetics department, but it may take a while for the shy housewife to discover her voice.
 
Vivian Sheffield owns and runs the bridal salon within Wynton’s. She is proud of her accomplishments and won’t let anyone take them away.
 
Gigi Woodard dislikes her job as waitress in the store’s lunchroom, but she is determined not to let her secret shortcomings cause her to lose the position.
 
These four women have much to dislike about each other, but they unanimously agree that Mr. Wynton is the best of employers and must be protected at all costs from someone who seems determined to see him gone for good. When other employee deaths occur, can the women band together to solve the murders, or will they discover it is one of their own bent on destroying Wynton’s from within?

Donna Mumma is an award-winning author, a native Floridian, farm kid and dreamer. She was blessed with two wonderful parents who taught her how stories enable readers to learn, escape, connect, and be inspired.

Her writing inspiration comes from the folks she knew growing up in rural Florida. She hails from a small town that was filled with storytellers who spun yarns of hunting trips gone awry, flipped airboats, eccentric relatives, and beloved hunting dogs. These seasoned her childhood and she learned to love a good story filled with twists, turns, and a dash of suspense. Donna now weaves each of these elements into her works of southern fiction.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Florida taught her two important lessons. First, life comes with sunshine and hurricanes. Second, with God’s help, we can flourish in both. She has always been drawn to characters who are bruised and broken but keep pushing forward. These same folks inhabit her story worlds. Before she started writing, she earned her degree in teaching and honed her story-telling skills as a first-grade teacher working to keep antsy six-year-olds enthralled. She believes the best stories grab a reader’s heart and mind and nudge them into discovering something about themselves.

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Book Review — All We Thought We Knew

14 Jan

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee was the 2025 Christy Award Book of The Year, and I can see why. This dual timeline novel told from 3 points of view is excellent! It covers hard topics with sensitivity and grace. I loved it!

She was so sure she knew her family’s story . . . Now she wonders if she was wrong about all of it.

1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold the answers Mattie is looking for.

1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works to process legal documents for the military, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows . . . as do her feelings for him. Faced with the possibility of losing Gunther, Ava must choose whether loving someone deemed the enemy is a risk worth taking, even if it means being ostracized by all those around her.

In the midst of pain and loss two women must come face-to-face with their own assumptions about what they thought they knew about themselves and others. What they discover will lead to a far greater appreciation of their own legacies and the love of those dearest to them.

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, the 2025 Christy Award Book of the Year; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage–her father’s family is Hispanic and her mother’s roots go back to Germany–she has always celebrated diversity and feels it’s important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction. With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee. She loves to hear from readers, so please connect with her at: http://www.MichelleShocklee.com.

My Impressions:

All We Thought We Knew is a historical novel set in America in the WWII and Vietnam-eras. It is told through the first person voices of Ava (1940s), her daughter Mattie (1960s), and the third person experiences of Gunther, a German student imprisoned as an alien enemy during WWII. Shocklee takes these complex times and fills them with personal perspectives and experiences that tell a whole, sometimes, painful story. Mattie is very opinionated about the role America should play in Vietnam. When her brother is killed there, she is filled with anger at just about everyone around her, but especially her father. She runs away from her grief, but is called home when her mother who is dying of cancer needs her. The second story set in WWII is an unveiling of her mother’s life and the secrets that the family has kept for so long. Wow, this book was hard to read at times. It took me longer than usual, but the emotions are raw, the issues are full of gray areas, and I needed time to process. I flew through the final quarter of the book though, as I grew invested in each character’s story. It was the best kind of reading experience. I learned a lot, a cried a bit, and I was encouraged by the growth that Mattie went through, the peace that Ava found, and the dignity that Gunther came to achieve. All We Thought We Knew is my book club’s first selection of 2026. I look forward to a great discussion.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — Storm Warning

14 Jan

I am a big fan of Elizabeth Goddard‘s books and was excited to start a new series. Storm Warning, book 1 in the Hidden Bay series, starts off with edge-of-the seat suspense and never lets up — so hold on to your hats while you furiously turn those pages! 😉 I loved the Pacific Northwest setting with its big storms and big vistas. I have never been to that part of the country, so it was great to see it through this book. Especially in an off-the-grid inn on the cliffs overlooking the ocean! The main characters have incredible chemistry, but no one is really to be trusted in this book. Betrayal seems to be the order of the day. So much so, that I never saw the ending coming. I read this book with my book club and they all loved it! Book 2, Perilous Tides is already out and the final book of the series, Deadly Currents releases in February. I can’t wait to get back to Hidden Bay!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Haunted by a half-forgotten past, former army photographer Remi Grant is working at an isolated storm-watching lodge on the rocky Washington coast when she receives a mysterious puzzle piece. The piece may be the catalyst to unlock a disturbing incident she struggles to remember–the event that sent her into hiding. But with heavy storms rolling in, she must focus on the present, not get caught up in the past.

When a mysterious man at the lodge saves her life–more than once–Remi becomes suspicious and confronts him. After a catastrophic event in his own life, former military pilot Hawk Beckett is trying to get some perspective at the suggestion of his former commanding officer. Faced with the fiercest storm to hit the coast in a decade, Remi and Hawk are forced into survival mode. 

But they’re not alone at the lodge. Someone doesn’t want Remi to remember what happened–and they will stop at nothing to see her dead.

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. For more information about her books, visit her website.

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Mini-Book Review — Christmas With The Queen

12 Jan

Christmas with The Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb was the last book I read in 2025. I set for myself a goal of reading all the holiday-inspired novels during December. This historical fiction set in the first years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was the perfect ending to the season. There’s great historical detail, plausible fictional interactions between the Queen and Prince Phillip, and a satisfying second-chance-at-love relationship between the two main characters, Olive and Jack. There are even some characters who make cameo appearances from Gaynor and Webb’s previous books. I completely enjoyed my reading time spent in 1950s England, a time of optimism for the future and relief from the hard days of WWII. I think this book could be enjoyed at any time of the year, but was especially nice read in the days leading up to Christmas.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue the tradition of her late father’s Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must evolve with the times, and the queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change. 

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—are unexpectedly reunited by the occasion. Olive, a single mother and aspiring reporter at the BBC, leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, but even a chance encounter with the queen doesn’t go as planned and Olive wonders if she will ever be taken seriously. 

Jack, a recently widowed chef, reluctantly takes up a new role in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. Lacking in purpose and direction, Jack has abandoned his dream to have his own restaurant, but his talents are soon noticed and while he might not believe in himself, others do, and a chance encounter with an old friend helps to reignite the spark of his passion and ambition. 

As Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmases, they grow ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret that threatens to destroy everything. 

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, there is one final gift for the Christmas season to deliver…

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times and internationally bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A debut author recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award, her work has since been shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown Award, the 2020 RNA Awards, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2025. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG & BRAVE was a national bestseller in the USA and THE LAST LIFEBOAT was a Times of London historical novel of the month and a 2024 Audie winner for Best Fiction Narrator. Her co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim. Hazel’s latest novel, BEFORE DOROTHY, became a USA Today bestseller and is shortlisted for the 2025 Irish Book Awards. Her work has been translated into twenty languages and she is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.

Heather Webb is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of eleven historical novels, including Queens of London, Strangers in the Night, The Next Ship Home, and Christmas with the Quenn. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was a Goodread’s Top Pick, and in 2018, Last Christmas in Paris won the Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. In 2019, Meet Me in Monaco was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Goldsboro RNA award in the UK, as well as the Digital Book World’s Fiction prize. To date, Heather’s books have been translated to seventeen languages. Check her website for more details on release dates and book club visits.

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Mini-Book Review — Frostbite

24 Dec

As I continue my Christmas reading-binge, I have searched out books from a variety of genres. After several historical romances, I was ready for something a little different. I found the novella Frostbite by Christy Barritt. Barritt always delvers edge-of-the seat mystery/romance that keeps me up way past my bedtime. Frostbite is part of the Pros And Cons Mysteries series, and while this book set in the Hallmark-worthy Smoky Mountains can technically be read as a standalone, I must confess I wish I had read at least a few other books in the series. The book features main character Olive Sterling as she and the other members of her team are set to relax and reset in the days leading up to Christmas. But relaxation is not what they find! Instead a snowstorm, a power outage, a mysterious inn, and a dead body all conspire to keep the adrenaline flowing! There are lots of twist and turns that I did not see coming. As suspicion builds, no one can be trusted, even long time friends and colleagues. Frostbite is perfect for a quick winter’s night read. Fans of the Pros and Cons series are in for a treat. And if you are like me and insist on reading it without any other introduction to the characters, you will not be lost. You’ll just be yearning for more from Olive and Barritt.

Recommended (read the other books in the series first).

Audience: Adults.

(I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

During this snowstorm, the true danger isn’t the cold—it’s the secrets people keep.

Olive Sterling and Jason Stewart expected Aegis’s Christmas retreat in the Smoky Mountains to be a rare chance to breathe, reconnect, and enjoy a peaceful holiday away from the chaos of their high-risk world. Instead, they discover that even the most picturesque setting can conceal the darkest of intentions.

When Olive finds a teammate’s body frozen in the snow, she instantly knows his death was no accident. As a brutal storm traps the team on the mountain with a killer in their midst, Olive and Jason must uncover the truth before the body count rises.

But when every footprint leads to more questions—and every teammate becomes a suspect—suspicion turns as lethal as the dropping temperatures. With trust eroding and fear closing in, Olive and Jason must decide who they can truly rely on—and who they can’t.

A USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy Barritt writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold more than three million copies, one has been made into a TV movie, and another is being developed for a TV series.

Christy’s books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.

She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.

Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.

For more information, visit her website: http://www.christybarritt.com.

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