First Line Friday — Canyon of Deceit

24 Oct

I love a good romantic suspense novel, and DiAnn Mills is one of the best authors to combine fast-paced plotting with sizzling sparks between her characters. Her latest book, Canyon of Deceit, does both equally well. You’ll hold your breath as the two mains face danger and their attraction.

Here’s the first line of chapter one:

The shrill ring of my mobile phone jolted e awake at 2:00 am., a haunting prompt that emergencies seldom emerged in daylight.

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?

Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.

DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, International Thriller Writers, Outliers Writing University, and The Christian Pen. DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.

A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.

Learn about all of DiAnn’s books and connect with DiAnn @ diannmills dot com.

Happy Release Day — How to Sparkle

24 Oct

A very happy release day to Leslie Kirby DeVooght! The second novel in her contemporary romance series, How to Sparkle, is now out in the world! I loved my trip to Magnolia Bluff in Stealing Magnolias, and I know I am going to love this book too! Read all about it below. And stay tuned for my review in the coming weeks.

When a whimsical interior designer and a rock solid contractor join forces, they discover that sometimes the biggest renovations happen in the heart. While Zoe Stockton knows how to sparkle, no amount of fairy dust could transform her into a leader. But with the biggest renovation project of her career at stake, she must crush her anxiety and gather the confidence to navigate intense clients and looming deadlines. Far from her support network in Chicago, Zoe needs a partner with insight into the Georgia Low Country. Thankfully, general contractor, Brad Chastain, not only exudes southern charm, but he’s also great at his job.In ways that go far beyond construction, Zoe and Brad connect. But he needs stability, not sparkles and whimsy, to convince his parents that he’s ready to take over the family business. As they work together at Magnolia Bluff, will their friendship bloom into something more or wither under the pressures of work and family?

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.

Book Review — The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

23 Oct

I am a big fan of Agatha Christie. Having read so many of her novels, I almost feel like I grew up in the small town in which Miss Marple lived. LOL! So I was hooked from the opening pages of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens. Although set a few years later than the Miss Marple series, this 1950s-era novel set in a small town in England had all the makings for a great mystery. Louisa Everly is faced with quite a problem — either her twin brother had set fire to the church in which her father had served years before and then disappeared or he was framed and met with foul play. She chooses to believe in his innocence and begins an investigation in which she runs head long into a number of dangerous situations. Her childhood friend and now detective is on the case as well. You can probably guess where that relationship heads. 😉 I loved the small English village setting, the many twists and turns that the case takes, and the lovely romance that grows between Louisa and Malcolm. Plus, I never saw the ending coming! That’s huge for one who reads so many mysteries.

If you like a historical setting for you mystery reading, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is a great choice.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she’s about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents’ tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection—she felt her twin’s death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul’s closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an Inspy Award shortlister and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight. Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in New York with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

Spotlight on Historical Romance — The Heart of Bennet Hollow

22 Oct

The Heart of Bennet Hollow JustRead Giveaway

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Heart of Bennet Hollow

Title: The Heart of Bennet Hollow
Author: Joanne Bischof DeWitt
Publisher: Tyndale
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

An Appalachian farmer’s daughter and a wealthy businessman find a surprising love but must reckon with what divides them in this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by the award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart .

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.

An inspirational historical romance retelling of Pride and Prejudice for fans of Julie Klassen, Sally Britton, and Sarah E. Ladd. A clever, clean love story. Southern historical fiction in the vein of Michelle Shocklee and Pepper Basham. Includes discussion questions for book clubs.

Excerpt

Ma nodded, looking pleased. “It’d do well to marry a few of you girls off sooner rather than later. And to think of such wealthy men here in town. I hope they stay a good long while.”

“Ma!” Lizbeth gasped.

“Well, you two are of age, and your sisters are right behind. It doesn’t seem like anyone ‘round these parts has caught your eye. A mother can hope. Least give me that.”

Jayne widened her eyes playfully and chose another flower. “I’ve been told the train car has a parlor and a dinin’ room. All dressed up in velvet curtains as deep a blue as the midnight sky. Just imagine being whisked away into the grand unknown aboard such a dream.”

Lizbeth smiled softly. At twenty, she was two years younger than Jayne. Her other sisters—Maryanne, Kit and Lacey—stair stepped after her. Though the younger three still walked to school each day, they were just grown enough to attend the coming barn dance. The very girls that bounded down from the second story now, brown braids flying. Like chicks on a stoop, they filled the crooked stairwell in a chorus of sun-faded skirts, mountain drawls, and tattered boots.

“I heard tell the owner’s a sight to see as well!” Sixteen-year-old Lacey winked brazenly and twirled around the post. “A coal baron all the way from Vermont. They say he’s rich enough to own all of New River if he fancies to. Oh, I hope he notices me.”



Also Available:

The Lady and the Lionheart

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Tyndale Fiction | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub


About The Author

Joanne Bishof DeWitt

Christy and Carol Award–winning author Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes romantic fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. Her historical romance The Lady and the Lionheart received an extraordinary 5 Star TOP PICK! from Romantic Times Book Reviews and was the very first independently published novel to win a Christy Award. It has also recently taken to the stage. As a longtime Jane Austen fan, Joanne is often making popcorn with her mom so they can rewatch their favorite adaptions, and as a new wife, she celebrates God’s own redemptive love stories. Joanne thanks the Lord daily for bringing along her very own hero who’s a perfect balance between Colonel Brandon and Mr. Darcy. Together, they’re a blended family and the grateful parents of six teens and young adults, making them huge advocates for conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables.

Connect with Joanne by visiting JoanneBischofDewitt.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Heart of Bennet Hollow and a $25 gift card to Amazon, Baker Book House, Christianbook, or Walmart!

The Heart of Bennet Hollow 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 October 22, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 29, 2025. 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


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Top 10 Tuesday — Cozy Reads

21 Oct

Happy Tuesday! This week’s TTT topic is Cozy/Atmospheric reads. When I see those two descriptors I think of very different types of books. Cozy makes me think of small communities, quirky characters, and a feel-good plot, regardless of genre. Atmospheric reads, to me, are ones in which the setting plays a big part of the plot, often setting the stage for spooky goings-on. I am going to focus on cozy books this week, and for next week’s Halloween Freebie, atmospheric novels.

For more cozy/atmospheric books, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Cozy Reads

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

The Gardins of Edin by Rosey Lee

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

The Light on Horn Island by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Memory Lane by Becky Wade

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham

Stealing Magnolias by Leslie Kirby DeVooght

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner

Spotlight on Contemporary Romance/Holiday Fiction — Together This Christmas

20 Oct

Together This Christmas JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Together This Christmas by Beth K. Vogt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Together This Christmas

Title: Together This Christmas
Author: Beth K. Vogt
Publisher: Story Architect
Release Date: October 13, 2025
Genre: Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Romance Christmas novella (spiritual thread)

What if true love is only a text away?

Mila Maxwell is happy with her life in New York City. Her boyfriend Zane is perfect for her – and yes perfect means he offers her the stability she’s always wanted. Zane’s also not threatened by the endless text thread she keeps with her best friend, Ben Kendrick. Why should he be? They’re friends, nothing more.

Christmas is coming – a holiday she’d much rather skip – and Mila’s the maid-of-honor for her college roommate’s December wedding. When disaster strikes the wedding coordinator, Mila rushes to Colorado to save Angie’s big day and plunges headfirst into all the marital falalala.

As Mila works the details for Angie and Charles’ wedding, Ben steps up to help. After all, he’s the best man and someone in his life should have a happily ever after. This may be Ben’s last chance to convince Mila that they were meant for more than long texts and short video chats.

Mila must confront her fears about love and choose: Zane, who offers her the security she’s always longed for, or Ben, who has never given up on her. What if her true love has always been one text away?

Excerpt

Unlike some people, New York City didn’t bypass Thanksgiving and move right to Christmas. Even after living in Manhattan for three years, Mila—like many other New Yorkers—still loved the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, now less than two weeks away. And no, Santa’s appearance at the end wasn’t her favorite part. Mila would ignore hints of the upcoming fa la la la la and enjoy time with Zane.

“That bag isn’t too heavy for you?” Mila nudged her boyfriend’s shoulder as they maneuvered through the crowd on Fifth Avenue. Ever considerate, Zane adjusted his pace to accommodate her much shorter stride. While her three-inch heels compensated for her five-foot-nothing frame, there were some things she couldn’t overcome.

Zane shifted the yellow bag with the red LEGO trademark and took Mila’s hand. “I can manage just fine.”

“The real question is, how many hours will you need to put that vintage PAC-MAN Arcade together?”

“You want to help me?” Zane’s brown eyes registered surprise.

“That’s not a serious invitation. You get too much satisfaction out of completing a model all by yourself.”

“Maybe I’ll slip a LEGO set into your stocking. Something small for you to start on.”

“Already thinking about Christmas shopping?”

“Never too early, right?”

Mila sidestepped a trio of teen girls who talked and texted as they walked. “Agreed.”

Because it was easier to agree than talk about what she really thought about Christmas.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | BethVogt.com | Amazon

Also Available


About The Author

Beth K. Vogt

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She writes both contemporary romance and women’s fiction because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International (now MomCo), Beth blogs for The Write Conversation and enjoys speaking to writers groups and mentoring writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people.

Connect with Beth by visiting bethvogt.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card, a “My Holidays are All Booked” mug from Pippi Post, and a print copy of Together This Christmas!

Together This Christmas JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 20, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 27, 2025. 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.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

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Happy Release Day! — Battle Charged

17 Oct

Happy release day to Hannah Hood Lucero. Her latest romantic suspense novel, Battle Charged, is now available! I had the pleasure of meeting Hannah at a book festival in January of this year. What a fun author she is (her mother is great too 😉 ). If you like books that feature the military, check this one out! Hannah knows her stuff — she’s a veteran and a military spouse.

Silence kills.

As a professional body builder, Gatlin Baker knows fitness. And as a survivor of a
chronic diagnosis and a broken family, he’s no stranger to overcoming insurmountable odds. Yet no one has ever mystified him more than the laser- focused young woman who comes to his gym at five o’clock every morning to complete a flawless routine. Something other than a training goal is motivating the army medic he secretly nicknames “Athena.” Gatlin wants to figure it out, but her story is far darker and more complicated than he ever imagined.

Randee Carter’s whole world came crashing down in one week’s time. Now she’s
threatened with the loss of her career, while ghosts of the past keep haunting her
at every turn. Betrayed by those closest to her and plagued with guilt and grief, whom can she trust, and how will she ever find answers to move forward in her life?

As Gatlin and Randee draw together in a blossoming romance, dark forces close in, threatening to rip them apart. Will the truths kept silent too long be revealed before it’s too late?

HANNAH HOOD LUCERO is a wife, mom of three, Army veteran, and self-proclaimed word-slinger. While it is the brackish waters of the Mississippi Sound that flow through her veins, western North Carolina holds her heart. Her love for storytelling is the fruit of a lifetime of cultivation in the vibrant cultures of the Gulf Coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. She currently resides in South Mississippi with her husband and three children on their ten-acre homestead. They have a dog, thirteen chickens, and at least fifty species of mosquitos, depending on the month of the year. When she isn’t in the garden, at the stove, or homeschooling, she can be found at her computer—just follow the sound of frenetic typing. Her motto is, “Draft, edit, read, repeat.”

First Line Friday — The Heart of Bennet Hollow

17 Oct

Happy Friday! I am a big Jane Austen fan, so when I saw that Joanne Bischof DeWitt had written a P&P re-telling I knew that I had to get it! Y’all, The Heart of Bennet Hollow is set in the Appalachian region of Virginia! And the Darcy character, William Drake, is a coal baron! I felt my roots calling! You see, my maternal grandfather was a coal miner in Virginia. Yes, my mother was a coal miner’s daughter. 😉 I am reading it now. Even if you haven’t read anything my Austen, you won’t want to miss this book!

Here’s the first line:

Lizbeth Bennet clutched the handle of the wicker basket with hope.

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.

A Christy and Carol Award winner, Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. She lives in California with her new husband and their six children making her a big fan of conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables.

Cover Reveal!! –Long Trail Home

16 Oct

Long Trail Home JustRead Cover Reveal Takeover

Welcome to the Cover Reveal Takeover Blitz for Long Trail Home by Lacy Williams, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Title: Long Trail Home
Series: Wagon Train Matches #9
Author: Lacy Williams
Publisher: Lacy Williams Books LLC
Release Date: February 26, 2026
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

All roads lead home in the dramatic conclusion to one family’s journey of love, sacrifice, and survival.

Since the moment he saw her, Coop Spencer has been single-minded in his quest to protect Belle. She’s running from something—someone—and he’s never met anyone so scared. When the wagon master forces an ultimatum: a marriage or Belle is expelled from the wagon train, Coop makes the only choice he can. He’ll do everything in his power to prove he’s the kind of man she can trust. But overcoming the mistakes of his past may prove too much…

Belle knows that the danger she escaped is still out there, still hunting her. Experience has taught her that she can’t rely on anyone, not even the man who promised their marriage was in name only.

As they traverse the Oregon Trail together, Belle is taken in by Coop’s big family, and the more time she spends with her temporary husband and his siblings, the more she starts to long for something she’d forgotten ages ago: home.

When danger closes in, one of them must sacrifice everything for love…

  • Forced marriage of convenience
  • Redemption
  • Family saga
  • Heroine with a dark past/sworn off men

Ready to see the cover?

Long Trail Home Cover

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon


About the Author

Lacy Williams

With multiple hits on the USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestseller lists and more than 1 million copies sold, Lacy Williams has won the hearts of readers worldwide with her heartwarming romances set in the rugged beauty of the American West. A proud Oklahoman, she balances writing with the joyful chaos of raising four children and snuggling her fur babies.

Connect with Lacy by visiting lacywilliams.net to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of A Trail so Lonesome and ebook copies of the rest of the series!

Long Trail Home 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 October 16, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 23, 2025. 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

Book Review — Wicked Is The Hollow

16 Oct

I stepped way out of my reading comfort zone when I chose Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert. While I have read and enjoyed adult fiction written by this author (Katie Ganshert), I am not generally a YA reader. I do like a spooky, speculative book in October though, and this book sounded so intriguing. Find out my thoughts below.

A STRANGE TOWN. A SPRAWLING MANSION. A PERILOUS ROMANCE.

Ever since her mother vanished, Selah Whitlock has been drawn to the unexplained. So it feels almost fated to live in Foggy Hollow, a place where mystery abounds. Even more so when her father accepts a job at the Vandenberg estate, the epicenter of the town’s most infamous cold case.

Moving into the estate’s carriage house pulls Selah into the orbit of the Vandenberg cousins: Jude, the brooding heir with a tragic past, and Rafe, effortlessly charming and undeniably dangerous.

Then a centuries-old portrait surfaces bearing Selah’s exact likeness. Suddenly, she isn’t just chasing a mystery. She’s caught in the heart of one. As the town prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, Selah and Jude are pulled into a secret that spans generations. Something sinister is stirring beneath the golden leaves and carved pumpkins. And the deeper they fall, the deadlier the consequences.

K.E. Ganshert writes romantic speculative fiction filled with high stakes, big emotions, and exciting twists. Her stories feature heroines with gifts they don’t fully understand, emotionally guarded heroes who fall hard for the girl, and dangerous worlds that aren’t quite what they seem. Perfect for readers who want to escape into supernatural, dystopian, or fantasy tales—where the romance runs deep, but never explicit.

When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming up new story ideas, playing a competitive game of pickleball, cheering on the Indiana Fever, or spending time with her family in the Midwest.

My Impressions:

While I have read adult novels by K. E. Ganshert (writing as Katie Ganshert), I have never read any of her YA offerings. At sixty-something, I am definitely not her target audience. 😉 But there was something so intriguing about the description of Wicked Is The Hollow, that I gave it a chance. This book is a speculative (paranormal)/romance/thriller with all the great spooky October vibes. I really liked it! The story centers on Selah, a high schooler with baggage from a missing mother and a penchant for all things uncanny and weird. Living in Fog Hollow, WV helps keep her interests piqued, and she and her best friend Twig are on the case of all the mysterious happenings of their home town. But they get a lot more than they bargained for when the Vandenberg family returns. This novel will keep its readers on their toes while making their fingers turn the pages furiously. The ebook is 500+ pages, but is a surprisingly fast read. I loved all the twists and turns! I also loved that this clean romance is never morally ambiguous. The bad guys are truly bad, and for those looking for truth, evil never is attractive. Do some fall for the temptations? Sure, but that is real life. For a fun reading experience, grab a YA friend or loved-one for a buddy-read. This novel will make you want to talk!

Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: YA (16 year old-ish+) and adults.

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