Book Recommendation - Children of the Shadows

 

Erica Vetsch is a relatively new-to-me author focusing on Regency time in England, writing historical romances. Having heard several rave about her Serendipity and Secrets books, I decided to check out her books and was glad that I did. Though her books are correctly classified as romance, there is also an element of mystery within, which keeps me turning pages more quickly to see what will happen next. Her characters are well developed and likable and her plots are filled with both adventure and romance. Her latest release, Children of the Shadows is the last book in the Thorndike & Swann mysteries. Though the story would stand on its own, I would definitely recommend reading this series in order so as to not read spoilers in the more recent books of the past novels. This series encompasses characters in the Serendipity and Secrets series as well, so fill your TBR stack with the backlist! Here's a bit about this book:

Detective Daniel Swann and debutante Juliette Thorndike once again team up to solve a dangerous mystery--while trying to keep their growing romance secret.

Someone is preying upon the street children of Regency London. They seem to think no one will notice when urchins go missing--and even if they are noticed, who will care?

Daniel needs to do something about the missing children. But with recent revelations about his past and an unexpected, somewhat unwelcome inheritance to deal with, this is a terrible time to dive back into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. Nevertheless, he's still a Bow Street runner, and his partner Lady Juliette is sensitive to the plight of these wayward youngsters. They're on the case, searching shadowed alleys and coal-drenched streets to find the missing.

But the tangle of expectation and the dynamics of power cannot be easily ignored, even if there are children in danger. When Daniel's past threatens to overwhelm his future, he will need a miracle and the help of his friends to both apprehend the villain and unravel his tangled family web. And it may be that his new responsibilities demand that he leave the children of the shadows to their terrible fate--or lose everything.

Erica Vetsch's popular Regency mystery series concludes with a bang, sure to satisfy readers who have hung on every page since book one.

This book released October 10, 2023 and can be purchased by your favorite book retailer. Please check out the following links for some additional information:

Erica Vetsch's website: https://www.ericavetsch.com/

Erica Vetsch's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/erica.vetsch

My Full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5939546183

Book Recommendation - What a Wave Must Be

 

Angela Hunt has long been one of my go-to authors. She crosses genres fluidly, writing historicals, contemporaries, Biblical historical and women's fiction. Her latest release falls into this latter category. She is typically an auto-read author for me, so when I saw she had a book coming out, I just signed up without noting what it was about. I wish I had dug a bit deeper before digging in. While this was well written and showing hope and life after death, this book dealt with the hard and heavy subject of suicide. For friends who enjoy reading the heavier books, this is one I can easily recommend. But if you prefer lighter reads or are overwhelmed with deaths around you, maybe hold off on this one for now. Here's a bit about the book:

From master storyteller Angela Hunt, a powerful story of a family’s journey toward healing and hope after an unimaginable loss.

Seventeen-year-old Maddie is left reeling after the unexpected passing of her beloved father. No one has any idea why he betrayed them all so spectacularly, but that’s exactly what his death feels like: a betrayal. With their world shattered, Maddie’s grieving mother sends her to spend a few months with her grandparents, thinking a change of scenery will do her good.

Susan and Frank, Maddie’s grandparents, are heartbroken over the loss of their son, but they welcome Maddie as an addition to their long-empty nest. Maddie settles in and makes friends at her new school, but she still wrestles with why her father took his own life. Then an unexpected twist throws all their lives into fresh turmoil, testing the very fabric of their faith. How Susan helps her granddaughter find hope, even as they both struggle with grief, makes this touching tale of love and recovery a must-read.

Contains discussion questions, making it ideal for book groups.

I enjoyed the dual perspectives that spanned generations and ways of coping with death. This beautiful tragic story comes out on November 7, 2023, wherever books are sold. For additional 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-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5897617195

Book Recommendation - The Peasant King

 

When I want to read Biblical Fiction (fiction set in times of the Bible - sometimes including characters that are named IN Scripture), Tessa Afshar is second to none. Her upcoming release, about the rise of King Cyrus during the Israelites' Babylonian captivity is just one example of her stellar writing that brings the time and culture of the places we find in the Bible to life! Here's a little bit about the book:

Jemmah has always thought of herself as perfectly ordinary . . . until she faces extraordinary circumstances.

When her mother, the Persian king's famous senior scribe, is kidnapped, Jemmah and her sister must sneak undetected into enemy territory to rescue her. But infiltrating their adversary's lands proves easier than escaping them. Fleeing through dangerous mountain passes, their survival depends on the skills of a stranger they free from prison: a mysterious prince named Asher.

Asher is not who the world believes he is. Despite his royal blood, he has had to climb his way out of poverty to forge success from nothing. A manufacturer of some of the best weaponry in the East, Asher has only one goal: to destroy his father. But following his escape from prison, Asher is irresistibly drawn to Jemmah, unaware that she guards her own secret.

Jemmah must convince Asher to give up everything he has worked for, all for the sake of a higher purpose he's not sure he believes in. The fate of the Persian empire—and possibly the Judean people—hang in the balance and in the persuasive power of one ordinary woman.

This book releases November 7, 2023 wherever books are sold. For additional information, check out the following links:

Tessa Afshar's website: https://tessaafshar.com/

Tessa Afshar's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessaAfshar

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5882303401

Book Recommendation - The Letter Tree

 

When things around me are super heavy and the books I'm finding are too, I often want something that will leave me feeling warm and fuzzy afterwards, and Rachel Fordham's books are always a win in that department. Her stories still have depth and conflict, but the heavy angst is absent, making her stories feel a bit more light. And they're always enjoyable. The Letter Tree was no different in that regard and was one I thoroughly enjoyed. Here's a bit about the book:

Buffalo, NY, 1924

Laura Bradshaw adores stories with happily ever afters. But since her mother died seven years ago, the Bradshaw Shoe Company heiress has been as good as locked away in a tower. Her overbearing father cares little for her dreams, throwing himself instead into his tireless takedown of his competitor, the Campbell Shoe Company. However, Laura has been gifted with a reprieve: a mysterious friend with whom she’s been exchanging letters.

As heir to the Campbell Shoe Company, Isaac Campbell is a sought-after bachelor who has never felt an inkling of desire for the women who constantly bat their eyes at him. His thoughts are consumed by an oak tree in the Buffalo Zoo—or rather, the mystery woman he exchanges letters with courtesy of the tree. She’s been one of Isaac’s only joys in a life consumed by his father’s tireless hatred of Bradshaw. A hatred that, Isaac is coming to realize, may affect him more personally than he ever imagined.

When Laura’s father orchestrates a match between her and an important business owner, she resolves to pursue her only chance at freedom. But Isaac believes their story isn’t bound for a tragic ending. He’s certain there’s more to the Bradshaw-Campbell feud than meets the eye. And he won’t stop digging until he uncovers the truth that might bridge the divide between him and the woman whose words have captured his heart.

The author has this to say about her inspiration behind the story:

The Letter Tree, like every book, comes about in its own unique way. I knew I wanted to write a feud book but wasn’t sure what that would look like. 

I spent time reading about famous feuds hoping to find something that would trigger ideas for a story. The research was fascinating! I had so much fun reading about Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton, Hatfield/Mccoys and Capone/Moran, but it wasn’t until I read about Adolf and Rudolf Dassler that I felt like I was onto something. 

I found the feud that eventually resulted in the Puma and Adidas shoe companies (go read about it, you’ll be intrigued). 

With that feud in the back of my mind I took that bit of inspiration and threw it into Buffalo, New York in 1924, added some You’ve Got Mail (unanimous correspondence), a sprinkle of my own personal memories from Buffalo, New York and a giant scoop of imagination and before I knew it, I had the bones of an intriguing story. 

As the story came together it grew further from its inspiration until it was truly a story all its own. I fell in love with this story as I wrote it. It challenged me as a writer, not only because it was a new era to write in, but also because of the challenge of using letters to tell part of the story. 

The result is a story that will keep you turning pages and finishing with a happy sigh.

This book is set to release on October 31, 2023, wherever books are sold. For more information, check out the following links:

Rachel Fordham's website: https://rachelfordham.com/

Rachel Fordham's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RachelFordhamFans

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5423839982

Book Recommendation - The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

 

Two of my favorite genres are suspense and dual timeline. Jaime Jo Wright is the sole author who combines those 2 genres and gives a solid suspense plot-line that spans the generations to provide a spook-tacular dual timeline story full of mystery and suspense! This one was probably the most suspenseful to date, and the mystery element had me really turning pages! Here's a bit about the book:

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy's brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta's younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her uncover the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must put the threat of the phantoms to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. When television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher engages Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history, Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of also finding out what happened to her friend. As the theater's curse begins to unravel Kit's own life, she sets out not only to save the historical building and her friend, but to end the pattern of evil that has marked their hometown for a century.

In this atmospheric dual-time tale, two women--separated by a century yet bound by the ghosts of the past--pursue light in the face of darkness.

Based on an actual theater in Wisconsin (related to the Ringling Brothers, as in the circus people), and the lore surrounding it, this tale is well fleshed-out and the theater is visible in one's mind's eye. The author also drew from her experience as an adoptee and placed the emotions and mentality surrounding that experience into one of her characters. It made the character come to life a bit more and really helps you "get to know" the author better as well. I enjoyed these extra tidbits in the author's note section at the end of the book. 

This book releases October 10, 2023, wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out! For more information, check out the following links:

Jaime Jo Wright's website: https://www.jaimewrightbooks.com/

Jaime Jo Wright's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JaimeJoWright

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5844278510 

Book Recommendation - Voice of the Ancient

 

Connilyn Cossette is one of the best writers in the arena of Biblical historical fiction. With her words, she brings the old testament world to life and pulls the reader to see it through new eyes. Her upcoming novel, Voice of the Ancient, takes place during the time of Samuel, when Israel clamored for a king. I really enjoyed her take on what Israel was like during that time and absolutely adored the characters of Avidan and Keziah. Here's a bit about the book:

As the eldest son of a Levite and a Philistine, Avidan is torn between his duty to his family legacy and the desire for something more. When Ammonites attack the city of Yavash-Gilead, he takes the opportunity to fight with his cousins for the newly crowned King Saul. But when one of the cousins goes missing during the battle, Avidan stays behind to search for him in hopes that he's still alive.

Keziah is the daughter of one of the most powerful clan chiefs in the territory of Manasseh. On the brink of a forced marriage to a loathsome man decades older than her, she has no choice but to run. Dressed as a boy, she takes her horse and heads for the south, hoping to find sanctuary with her mother's family.

Battling to survive the dangers surrounding them, Avidan and Keziah make a pact to travel together. As Keziah's true origins are revealed and Avidan's search for his cousin becomes increasingly futile, they must not only rely on each other to stay alive but learn to trust the true and eternal King of Israel to guide their every step.

With impeccable research and award-winning writing, bestselling author Connilyn Cossette brings to life the first years of King Saul's reign.

As part of the author's facebook group, I was privy to some additional Q&A options. Here's what else I learned!

What drew you to this time period to set a series? 

Since I just fell in love with Eliora and Lukio/Natan’s family in the Covenant House I didn’t want to let them go! And I thought it would be fun to slow down a little in the early King’s period and discover what things must have been like during this transitional period in Israel’s history. 

Who was your favorite character to write and why? 

Hands down, Sarru. (Sorry Avi and Keziah!) I’ve never written a horse into a story before and it was fun to write about a horse with such personality. I kept thinking of Maximus the horse in Rapunzel because he’s my favorite character in that movie too. 

Which character do you most relate to?

I would probably say Avi. I grew up in a Christian home and knew the Lord from an early age but I spent some time in my late teens mucking around trying to do my own thing and following my own desires instead of seeking God’s voice in my decisions. Thankfully, the prayers of my faithful mama and my heavenly Father’s steadfast love helped bring me back from the far country and over time, like Avi, I’ve embraced the calling I have to speak truth through story and help remind the people of God of their true and sacred identity and point those who are lost to the hope found only in surrender to the One True King. 

How do you choose the names of your characters? Does their Hebrew meaning play a part? 

I have a few different resources that I use to find names (websites, Messianic bibles, etc.) and try to select ones that won’t be too difficult for western ears. But yes, a lot of times I will select names based on their meanings. For the ancient Hebrews the meaning of the names were so important and were even changed, like Abraham or Jacob, because of a shift in character or purpose, so I keep that in mind. But sometimes, especially with names of foreigners in my stories I just make them up!

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while researching this book? 

I discovered that many Israelites believed that Yahweh and Asherah were married. There is now archeological evidence of such worship, including idols of both together. Unfortunately, mixing of pagan worship with pure worship of Yahweh has been around for millenia. 

Did anything surprise you as you were writing this story or did anything happen during writing to change the trajectory of this story? 

Well, since I was enduring chemotherapy for much of the time, things got a little convoluted and bogged down in the brain fog I was suffering. It was incredibly frustrating. When I was finished, it was almost like two separate books and all sorts of important connections with plot and character were missed or just a hopeless tangle. It took major, major edits to pick through all the mess and to figure out how to fix those issues so I ended up rewriting at least a third of the book, mostly toward the end. But the Lord sustained me, cleared my mind of chemo-brain, and now I love this story so much! 

What are you hoping readers will glean from this story? 

As usual my goal is always to point readers back to the Word in hopes they will dig in and study it for themselves, especially the Old Testament with an eye toward ways it illuminates the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I also hope that they will come away with a desire to listen more closely for the still small voice of the ancient one in every step they take. 

Any fun bits of trivia you'd like to share with my readers about this story/your research/process of writing this one, etc or any behind-the scenes fun? 

My favorite part of researching this book was when I took my kids horseback riding at a local ranch. But of course the horse I was riding had zero interest in going anywhere that day and pretty much trotted a couple times and then just was done. At least my kids got their horses to cooperate! It was a really fun day anyhow and I got absorbed in some great sensory detail for the story! 

Was there any part of this story that ministered to you specifically? 

I think it was just a good reminder of why I do what I do and the unique calling the Lord has on my life to share truth through stories that glorify His name. And it was such a blessing to lean on His strength when I had none during the difficult process of writing this book while undergoing aggressive cancer treatments and to be reminded of his constant, steadfast love. 

For fans of your other books, what references can we expect to past series? 

There are multiple appearances of characters from the Covenant House series since this is a spin-off of Between the Wild Branches. It’s always so fun to revisit old friends! 

What is coming next and when can we expect it? 

Book Two of the King’s Men will release August 20, 2024! I’m not ready to say much about it yet, except I LOVE the hero/heroine pairing in this book. It’s an enemies to lovers with lots of sparks and twisty-turns along the way! What I will say it that it takes place two years after the events of Voice of the Ancient, so we will catch up with the four cousins (well, three of them at least…) after some time has passed and Saul has been king for a couple of years. Stay tuned for more in the coming months!

This book releases August 15, 2023, wherever books are sold. You don't want to miss this one! Anyone who pre-orders will also get a copy of a prequel novella that sets the stage for this series. I found it very helpful. More information on that in the links below.

For more information, check out the following links:

Link to get the prequel novella: https://www.connilyncossette.com/pre-order-gift

Connilyn Cossette's website: https://www.connilyncossette.com/

Voice of the Ancient pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/connicossette/voice-of-the-ancient/

Connilyn Cossette's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ConnilynCossette

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247141466

Book Recommendation - All's Fair in Love and Christmas

 

Sarah Monzon is an author I've recently come to appreciate. Though she writes in multiple genres, I find her rom-com's absolutely delightful. Her upcoming Christmas rom-com is no exception to this. With a socially awkward heroine and well put-together, confident hero, this has a bit of an opposites attract vibe to it, but is also very sweet..... and hysterical. Filled with fun pop culture references, lots of holiday traditions and wonderful characters, this is one I can definitely recommend to add to your holiday reading. Here's a bit about the book:

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham--Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they'll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she'd be a contender in her company's holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher's life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year's promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but the raise will help him as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she's his rival, he can't stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he's afraid that if he can't get his head on straight, the job isn't the only thing he'll end up losing to Mackenzie.

'Tis the season for romance, faith, and humor--all wrapped up in this enchanting holiday rom-com from award-winning author Sarah Monzon.

This book had a few fun surprises for me as well - the main male character has custody of his niece and nephew, Nathan and Natalie. The niece and nephew who are the oldest of my 7 are also Nathan and Natalie (and the 3rd oldest married a Jeremy (as did my sister Kari (who shares a name with Mackenzie's best friend, though with a slight spelling derivation), who is the leading male character in the book). So, I had quite a bit of personal connection to this one. Also, fans of Hallmark Christmas movies - there is a scene in this book that is reminiscent of the funniest scene in the movie "Three Wise Men and a Baby", which is probably my all-time favorite Hallmark Christmas movie.

This book releases September 5, 2023, wherever books are sold. Be sure to pre-order to add to your holiday reading! For additional information, check out the following links:

Sarah Monzon's website: http://www.sarahmonzonwrites.com/

Sarah Monzon's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sarahmonzonwrites

My full 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5736438841