Book Recommendation - The Wings of Poppy Pendleton

 

Melanie Dobson is a master storyteller who excels in telling dual timeline stories that flow seamlessly and delve deep into the characters in both timelines. She uses her words in such a way that they paint vivid pictures so that you can get fully lost in the story until the stunning conclusion. Her upcoming release is no different. Here's what the story is about:

In this compelling new time-slip mystery, a little girl goes missing from her family’s castle in the Thousand Islands of New York. Eighty-five years later, a journalist teams up with a woman living on Koster Isle to find out what happened to Poppy.

1907. On the eve of her fifth birthday, Poppy Pendleton is tucked safely in her bed, listening to her parents entertain New York’s gilded society in their Thousand Islands castle; the next morning, she is gone, and her father is found dead in his smoking room.

1992. Though Chloe Ridell lives in the shadows of Poppy’s ruined castle, she has little interest in the mystery that still captivates tourists and locals alike. She is focused on preserving the island she inherited from her grandparents and reviving their vintage candy shop. Until the day a girl named Emma shows up on Chloe’s doorstep, with few possessions, save a tattered scrapbook that connects her to the Pendleton family. When a reporter arrives at Chloe’s store, asking questions about her grandfather, Chloe decides to help him dig into a past she’d thought best left buried. The haunting truth about Poppy, they soon discover, could save Emma’s life. Chloe and Logan must work together to investigate exactly what happened long ago on Koster Isle.

This book releases September 19, 2023. Check it out wherever books are sold. For additional information, check out the following links:

Melanie Dobson's website: https://melaniedobson.com/

Melanie Dobson's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDobsonFiction

My full 4-star review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5729158178

Book Recommendation - A Beautiful Disguise

 

Roseanna M. White has made her way to the forefront of my "to read" list when it comes to historicals. Because she creates vivid imagery with her words and opens the door to actually "see" into the past, created wonderful characters that you can't help but want to get to really "know" and includes mystery and intrigue true to the times, her stories are ones that keep me turning pages to see what will happen. Though her stories always include romance, the romance elements are always well done enough for this non-romance lover to even enjoy. A Beautiful Disguise is among my favorites in the romance department and the hero of this novel is among my favorites as well. Here's a bit about the story:

1909

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father’s death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend’s father as a potential traitor.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the most elite guard, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they’re creating a new secret intelligence branch, he’s intent on showing his worth. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend’s sake, and she’s more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can’t possibly be as noble as he seems.

As part of the author's launch team, I was able to do a Q&A session with the author herself. Here's how that went:

1. What was the inspiration for this story/series?

 The original idea for the Imposters series actually came to me in a dream! Only one I can say that about. ;-) I woke up knowing there was a story about investigators who moved among the elite and called themselves The Imposters, Ltd. I had an image of some derring-do and hijinks and knew a brother and sister were involved. Took me a couple years to flesh it out from there, but I took the sibling-aristocrats part for book 1 and saved another aspect of that original dream for book 2, introduced some circus aspects that were SO much fun, and then got excited too when I realized MI5 (England’s first intelligence branch that combined military and police) was founded then as well, giving me the perfect way to have a hero involved in it.

 2. Who was your favorite character to write and why? Which character do you best relate to?

 Honestly, my favorite character is Leonidas, a retired circus lion. Not that I relate most to him, but how can I resist a lion character? Otherwise, in this story I really loved developing the siblings relationship between Yates and my heroine, Marigold. So I’m going to cheat and name the two of them. I don’t think I’m really like any of the characters per se, but I enjoyed writing them all!

 3. What was the most interesting thing you learned in your research for this story?

 There was so much new-to-me stuff in this one! But I think the most fascinating tidbit was learning that there was a genuine spy-mania going on in England in the first decade of the 1900s, and it was all because of a novelist! William Le Queux’s books, all about German spies invading England, were so popular that the general populace was constantly reporting “suspicious” activity…which is turn was part of what forced England to up its intelligence game, to counteract all these false reports. How cool is that?

4. What are you hoping readers will glean from this story?

 One of the themes through the book is Lady Marigold choosing and crafting a public persona that she at once enjoys and resents. She needs that mask to protect her family…but she also just wants to be seen and understood. My prayers is that through her, we can all see that we do that—everyone. Everyone picks the “them” society will see…but everyone wants to be truly known too. How can we make an effort to know people better—and how can we open ourselves up to be truly known?

5. The Imposters reminded me a bit of the American Pinkerton agency in that they were well known for getting results. Did England actually have such an organization?

 The Imposters are 100% fictional (so far as we know, mwa ha ha ha), but the country certainly has a history of private investigators like the Bow Street Runner in the 19^th century, and the popularity of the fictional Sherlock Holmes proves that investigators remained a fascination well into the 20^th century.

 6. Is there any "behind the scenes" fun or trivia you'd be willing to share with my readers?

Well in addition to spy mania and the formation of MI5 that I’ve already mentioned, I also had a blast incorporating high fashion. Haute couture was just entering the scene around this time, with Coco Chanel opening her first boutique in Paris in 1909. This is when we first really began to see extravagant styles on runways that then had “accessible” counterparts for most women to wear. Lady Marigold sets herself apart, however, by wearing the extremes…only hers don’t come from Paris. They come from her own attic, with the help of a retired circus costumer.

 7. Did anything surprise you in the story as you were writing? Or did anything you learned change the trajectory of the story?

 Two big things happened during the editing process, actually. First, my villain changed. I can’t tell you how, exactly, but originally it was all laid out in very straight lines and there was no surprise. That bugged me even as I turned it in, and when my editors asked for some work to the ending, I said, “Okay, let’s just totally rewrite this part.” And I did. The other rather hilarious one is more the trajectory of the whole series. One of the main secondary characters, Lavinia, was originally only intended to be in this book…but my editors “can’t wait for her story in book 3.” Uh…well…okay then. Sure. Lavinia in book 3! LOL. (I’d originally intended to introduce a whole new female lead, but their assumption about Lavinia led me to a new idea I absolutely adore.)

 8. What is coming next and when can we expect it?

Next up is book 2 in The Imposters, A Nobel Scheme, which focuses on the two Imposters who are clearly at odds in book 1—Gemma and Graham. We learn their history as they work together (under duress) to rescue a kidnapped boy. It will release in March 2024. And then, between that and book 3 in the series, I have a Christmas story coming as well! The Lady of Sugar Plum Manor is a Nutcracker-meets-Downton-Abbey sort of story and will be coming in time for the 2024 holiday season.

So excited for both of these upcoming releases!

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 

This book is set to release August 22, 2023. Check it out wherever you buy your books! For more information, check out the following links:

Roseanna M White's website: https://www.roseannamwhite.com/

Roseanna M. White's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite

My full 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247140983

Book Recommendation - Positively Penelope

 

Pepper Basham is steadily gaining traction as a go to rom-com author for me.  Of the books of hers I've read, the Skymar books are my favorites. Set in epistolary style, the books follow the Edgewood family and their correspondences with each other. I've really enjoyed the family dynamics portrayed in these books and the sarcasm and humor found within. Though I've never coined the term "book boyfriend" personally before, that may be changing as I find myself crushing a bit on Luke Edgewood, the grumpy sarcastic big brother. (He reminds me a great deal of my husband, so there's that). Every time Luke responds to a text or email though, I found myself in a fit of giggles. I don't honestly know that I've ever laughed out loud so much in one book as I did this one. This book will definitely be a contender for "top read of 2023" for me. This is book 2 in the Skymar series, but can be read on its own. Fans of the first book, Authentically, Izzy will be familiar with the Edgewood family personalities, the fictional land of Skymar and the overall writing style. Here's a bit about the book:

Told mostly through letters, texts, and email, this contemporary romance will charm its way into hearts as Penelope rescues a theater and discovers her true self in the process.

Penelope Edgewood is practically positive in every way, so when, fresh out of college, she is awarded a paid internship to help save a century-old theater on the island of Skymar, she jumps at the chance. After all, a crumbling theater needs the special touch of someone who reveres all things vintage and adores the stage.

Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems at Darling House Theatre. Finances are in shambles, the local theater group is disenchanted, and the two brothers, Matt and Alec Gray, can’t seem to see eye-to-eye about how to run their theatrical business. So, of course, it’s the perfect place for Penelope to shine her own personal brand of sunshine.

With a little help from GK, the person emailing her encouragement along the way, she puts all her heart into helping the Grays save Darling House. But between Matt’s ever-present skepticism, Alec’s tendency to treat Penelope a little too much like the “princess” she thinks she wants to be (until someone actually started treating her that way), a grandfather who is stuck in his grief, and a mysterious person stealing Penelope’s marketing ideas, she’s not sure her optimism is enough to make a happily-ever-after of her own story, let alone The Darling House’s.

Between an adorable little girl, a matchmaker, a sea monster or two, and a copious amount of musical references, can Penelope draw enough confidence from her faith, her family, and her adoration of all things Julie Andrews, to find the thief and save the theater . . . without getting her heart broken in the process?

Because I follow the author on social media, I've got some extra "scoop" to share with you. Ms. Basham lost her dad quite suddenly last year. Her dad was her biggest cheerleader and read all of her books (including this one - it was the last one he read), but when reading he would frequently text her about how "Rambo" should come and save the day. It was a running inside joke between them. There's a part in this story where she pays tribute to her dad when Luke suggests how Rambo could come and save the day. It made me a bit misty-eyed when I read that part, as well as making me chuckle. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If you're not a fan of epistolary novels or stories that change voice periodically, you may want to set this aside though, as it does venture back between epistolary and story mode. I feel like the transitions were well marked and fluid, and it better told the story than fully in one mode or the other, but I've seen reviews from others who differ with that. 

This book releases August 1, 2023 wherever books are sold. Be sure to grab your copy! I, for one, am REALLY looking forward to Loyally, Luke, coming next year! Squee! For more information, check out the following links:

Pepper Basham's website: https://pepperdbasham.com/

Pepper Basham's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/pepperbasham/

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247142638

Book Recommendation - The Best Summer of Our Lives

 

Rachel Hauck is a New York Times best-selling author of historical, contemporary and dual timeline Christian fiction novels, both in the romance genre and the women's fiction genre. She writes primarily character-driven novels, which makes her stories hit or miss for me as a plot-driven reader. However, this one fully intrigued me and I'm so glad I chose to read this one. Taking place in both the summer of 1977 and 20 years later, this one was in timelines that were different from the norm. Having been born in the summer of '77 myself, it was interesting to see a bulk of the story take place at that time, including some of the lingo of the time period (jive turkey anyone?). Seeing 1997 again was like a trip down memory lane as well. Here's a bit about the novel:

Summer Wilde is a wannabe country music star. But when her latest girl band abandons her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of her life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons, 4ever--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. Arriving with hidden secrets and buried fears, those two months changed their friendships and the course of their lives.

Now, thirty-something and with no direction for her future, Summer is at a crossroads. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she left and never wanted to see again. It's the place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

Celebrating the songs of our hearts, the joys of love, and the threads of friendship that tie us all together, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck's radiant story perfectly captures all the romance, heartache, and hope of the best summer ever.

Bethany House Publishers did an interview with the author. Here are a few of the questions and answers from that interview:

Can you please tell us a little bit about your new novel, The Best Summer of Our Lives?  

RH: When Summer Wilde’s music career crumbles, she returns to the place where secrets, wounds, and fears destroyed her closest friendships. It will take a reckoning with her past and the friends she lost to help her gain the closure she needs to move forward.  

What do readers need to know about each of the four girls—Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Snow?  

RH: At eighteen, on the verge of a new independence and going off to college, they have big plans.  They are very much like their seasonal names. Summer is passionate and bold. Autumn is the beauty of fall and somewhat caught between summer and winter. Snow is winter—simple, yet calculating, with an inner passion. Spring is beauty and grace, the one everyone wants to be. They are like all of us at eighteen—naïve, yet wise. Insecure, yet full of hope.  Some major themes that The Best Summer of Our Lives addresses are friendship, secrets, and forgiveness.

This novel is arguably a bit different than other books you’ve written recently. Can you share what inspired the idea for this story?  

RH: I was a teenager in the summer of ’70 and have wanted to explore that time in history. The original title was The Summer of ’77, and I knew the story would be about four friends right after high school. One day, while taking a walk, Summer Wilde’s character joined me! The rest of them, aka the Four Seasons, came along on subsequent walks. The title changed as the story developed into the idea of the four friends wanting “the best summer” of their lives. My husband gave me the idea for the girls’ camp setting, which anchored the story for me.  

Which character would you say you relate to the most—Summer, Spring, Autumn, or Snow?  

RH: There’s a little bit of me in all the girls, but by the end of the book, I wanted to be Summer—well, the woman she allowed herself to become. She was very real to me, and I could feel her heart.  

What lessons do you hope readers gain by picking up The Best Summer of Our Lives?  

RH: I hope readers are inspired to pursue friendships that may have faded. To forgive new and old offenses. It’s hard to face the pain that often comes with misunderstanding and hurts, but it’s worth it for healing and closure. I’m a strong believer in God’s love protecting our hearts. The Best Summer of Our Lives is about how the unexpected is often better than the expected. I also would love for readers to pause and remember a special summer or moment in their lives.  

Can you share what you’re working on next?  

RH: It’s top secret, but I suppose I can tell. It’ll be our little secret. I’m working on a story about a beautiful old skating rink called the Starlight. The timeframe will alternate between the 1930s and ’40s and 1980s, with three main protagonists. It’s a story of healing and restoration.  

This book releases June 27, 2023, wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out! For additional information, check out the following links:

Rachel Hauck's website: https://rachelhauck.com/

Rachel Hauck's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rachelhauck

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5571604614

The full BHP interview with Rachel Hauck: https://baker-book.powerappsportals.com/bestsummerofourlivesinterview/

Book Recommendation - The Woman from Lydia

 

Angela Hunt has long been a go-to author for me. Spanning multiple genres, she writes women's fiction, historicals, contemporaries, mysteries and Biblical fiction. This book is the first in a new Biblical fiction series and her Biblical fiction is among my favorites. This book is about the woman mentioned in Acts 16 as Lydia. She lived in Philippi, but was from Thyatira, which was the largest province in Lydia. Since she would be an outsider, it was likely that her neighbors would call her "The Lydian woman" and may have shortened that to Lydia. The author chose to make her name Euoida, whom Paul references in the book of Philippians, which seems likely since the church met at her house. This book had a lot of added nuggets from scriptures, which I just loved!

Here's a bit about the book:

Widowed Euodia, known to her neighbors as "the Lydian woman," seeks to make a fresh start by moving to the foreign city of Philippi. She finds new purpose after meeting Paulos, apostle to the Gentiles, who opens her eyes to helping those in need, particularly women and those who have been enslaved.

Retired Roman soldier Hector has settled in Philippi with dreams of a future filled with wealth and status, pooling his army earnings with Lucius, his fellow comrade in arms turned business partner. His hopes are dashed, however, when Paulos robs their youngest slave of her lucrative ability to foretell the future, rendering her worthless to Hector's ambition.

When Euodia becomes aware that Sabina is being mistreated, she buys Sabina from Lucius, intending to set the girl free. But when Hector claims the sale was not legitimate, he takes Sabina back and swears he will find someone to restore her valuable "gift" . . . even if he must travel to the ends of the earth to do so. Following close behind him, Euodia and her servants set out to rescue Sabina, not for gain, but to rescue and set her free forever.

In her stirring series starter, New York Times bestselling author Angela Hunt dives into the perilous days of the early church as Christians struggle to remain true to their faith amid the highest of risks in a hostile pagan culture.

This book comes out July 11, 2023 wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out!

For more information, check out the following links:

Angela Hunt's website: https://www.angelahuntbooks.com/

Angela Hunt's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/angela.e.hunt

My full 4.5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5581998231

Book Recommendation - Fairest of Heart

 

Historical fiction is always thoroughly enjoyable because in reading, you also learn about a past time and get a sneak peak into how those who lived in that time frame lived. When a fairy tale retelling goes alongside it, it's even more of a treat. And when Karen Witemeyer is the author, you know it's going to be a good one. Set with a western spin, this new take on Snow White (or Penelope Snow in this instance) and the Seven Dwarves (or Seven Drovers in this instance) is a lot of fun and was thoroughly enjoyable. With some familiar elements due to the fairy tale retelling, there were also some unique historical elements with some real-life characters included, and some fun nuances to give readers a fresh take on a familiar tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Here's the back cover blurb:

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the west, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters—and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from females and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus investigates a robbery case tied to Penelope’s old acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus’s heart divines a different truth—one that might just get Penelope killed.

An enchanting Western take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, Fairest of Heart will sweep you away from once upon a time to happily ever after.

Belonging to the author's reader group on Facebook, I've been privy to discussions about character names and their looks and a lot of conversation about this whole series of fairy tale retellings. One of my favorite things to glean from this is how the author envisions the characters as that helps my mental picture as well. Here's her take on Penelope and Titus:

I love how this model captures not only the beauty, but the innocence of Penelope that make her so fair of heart. 

This book releases June 6, 2023 wherever books are sold. Be sure to pre-order your copy today! For additional information, check out the following links:

Karen Witemeyer's website: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/index.html

Karen Witemeyer's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KarenWitemeyersAuthorPage

Karen's Facebook group (the Posse): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839437643052460

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247140753

Book Recommendation - Blind Trust (SNAP Agency)

 

Natalie Walters has been one of my go-to authors for romantic suspense since she first came on the scene a few years ago. Her debut was stellar and the books she's released since then have measured up to the standard she set for herself from the get-go. I've always enjoyed her books, filled with characters that you can't help but love, page-turning action, heart-stopping suspense, laugh-inducing witty banter, and just the right amount of romance. Her upcoming release, Blind Trust, is no different. It's the final installment of the SNAP Agency series, which follows an elect group of people who take on the missions that the government can't. This whole series has been fabulous, but this book tops my list as a favorite for the series. Lyla and Garcia have been hovering in the background of the other books and I'm so glad to finally get their story! Here's a blurb about the book:

Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can't stop herself from going all in to find out why he's coming after her. Unfortunately, she's going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.

 

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolas Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous--to both the mission and his heart.

 

Natalie Walters closes out her SNAP Agency series with a bang with this nail-biting story of a deadly government conspiracy, an unlikely couple, and an ending that will leave you breathless.

Being on the author's launch team gives me an inside look at some things, including how the author pictures the main characters. Here is how she pictures Garcia and Lyla: 

This book releases on April 11, 2023 wherever books are sold. Be sure to check this one out! For additional information, check out the following links:

Natalie Walters' website: https://www.nataliewalterswriter.com/

Natalie Walters' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041917969557

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4775848962