Once Upon a Christmas Carol

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 2, 2025

A whimsical and holiday filled romance that has put me in the holiday spirit early in the season.

Unlike most people, Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. It has never been a happy time for her growing up causing her to avoid the holidays altogether. Her job doesn’t help matters; she manages seasonal décor for wealthy clients who love the holidays. This year she wants to get as far away from the holiday happenings as possible and plans to go to the Bahamas by herself. Bad weather causes her to end up in Michigan instead of the tropical paradise she planned. The change ends up for the best and she just might find some holiday spirit after all.

Melody Carlson is a queen of Christmas romance novels and never fails to put me in the holiday spirit after reading one of her sweet Christmas books. The best things about these sweet holiday reads are they are quick and so fun. Honestly this is one of my favorite reads in a long time, it was sweet, fun and hit all the right feels for me as a reader. There wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy about this one, the setting was cozy for romance even though it was in blustery Michigan instead of a tropical paradise. Readers that enjoy cozy holiday mysteries will not want to miss this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Christmas House

Author: Beverly Lewis

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: September 2, 2025

A fun holiday romance with lots of sweet moments.

Liz Lantz loves the holidays and loves sharing Jesus with others using her buggy tours in Hickory Hollow. Many tourists come to Lancaster County and when her brother and dad are called away she needs help with the tours and finds that help from Matthew Yoder. The Amish community they are in is very traditional and as things start to change Liz tries to help the old ways and new come together and also work through her feelings for Matt.

The Christmas House is a great book to get readers in the holiday spirit. Amish fiction isn’t always my favorite, but I did enjoy the way Lewis wrote Liz and Matthew. There was a sweet drama to the emotions and build up in relationship between the two of them that I enjoyed. The Amish dynamic is always interesting to me to read, such a different dynamic which makes it a fun story with different experiences. This is the type of book that will make readers want to curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket and warm up of cocoa to be swept away into a Christmas romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Gelato at the Villa

Author: Robin Jones Gunn

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 19, 2025

Charming characters that will sweep readers right off their feet.

Grace and Claire become the Suitcase Sisters when they take their love of reading and adventure out of the library and go to Venice, Florence and Bellagio. A whirlwind trip with lots of amazing sights and even better sweet treats and pasta as they strengthen their friendship. Being able to have a friend to help in hard times is hard to find and the two realize how lucky they are to have someone to count on, especially in hard times.

Gelato at the Villa was a fun read full of whimsical characters, engaging settings and a sweet ending. Grace and Claire were the perfect dynamic duo that will have readers glued to the page and enjoy tagging along on their grand adventure. The travel throughout the Italian countryside was a fun detour from many of the same old reads I’ve been seeing lately. It felt like a little vacation right from the comfort of my own home. This is a great clean read full of faith and fun, just the right combination for a perfect read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Moment to Love

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: Hope of the Cheyenne #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 21, 2025

A journey along the Wyoming frontier full of love, faith, and a little bit of danger.

It is one thing to have your heart broken but another to have your life’s work stolen by the man you loved. Dr. Carrie Vogel was on the cusp of groundbreaking medical research when her ex-fiancé steals her work and gets the credit for her discovery. Having to rely on her faith to get her through, she reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage with Spencer Duval more as a cover story for his mission to find justice than anything else and they return to her hometown of Cheyenne. Spencer is trying to find his father’s murderer and revenge has been at the center of his life for so long he isn’t sure what to do with the feelings he develops for Carrie.

A Moment to Love is the third book in the series by Tracie Peterson and probably one of my favorites of hers. The dynamic between Carrie and Spencer was perfect, I hated the way her ex-fiancé betrayed her, it really sucked me into the story and had me rooting for a happy ending for her. Sometimes historical romance can be a little slow moving, but this one had just the right pace throughout the story with great tension between the characters and all they were going through. As Carrie and Spencer draw closer to each other and their feelings grow it is easy to see they are meant to be making for a great story. I recommend this to anyone looking for a faith filled historical romance novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Buried Wilderness Secrets

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense

Release Date: July 29, 2025

A great quick read full of suspense by Jaime Jo Wright.

Aaliyah Terrence loves working as a park ranger even when things get crazy and she finds the burial ground of a serial killer. Once she finds the burial ground, she finds herself under attack by the killer. Wade Marlowe is the detective assigned to the burial ground and finds out that Aaliyah’s mother was this killer’s first victim, and she is his next target.

This was the first Love Inspired book I have read after hearing of them for a long while. These books are written to be quick reads, which it really was. But anytime I read a book by Jaime Jo Wright I know I am going to be in for a good story. This one didn’t rank at the top of the list of her books, but I did enjoy the shorter quicker style of her writing with this one. I enjoyed the wilderness aspect and Aaliyah had great chemistry with Wade which kept me glued to the story. If you are a fan of Jaime Jo Wright and quick romantic suspense reads this is one you will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 1, 2025

Another fantastic suspense story by Wright that will leave readers with goosebumps and happy hearts.

In 1874, a young woman wakes up on top a gravesite in Lake Superior with no memory how she got there or even who she is. With no memory, she can’t tell anyone her name, so they call her Rebecca, the name on a locket around her neck. One of the only things she can remember is little snippets of Annabel, a mysterious woman who died in the lake years ago. She stays close to the lighthouse and caretakers who worry for her safety with no memory of what happened and who might be after her.

In present day Shea Radclyffe rents out the lighthouse for an escape from her troubled marriage and to have time to write. She is researching the tale of Annabel at the lighthouse The ghosts from the past are still haunting the lighthouse and anyone who stays there.

The Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse is another great timeslip romance with great suspense from Jaime Jo Wright. She is one of the very best when it comes to this type of writing. A lot of times the back and forth in timelines and characters can get confusing or slow the pace of a story but not when it comes to one written by Wright. Both Rebecca and Shea were great female protagonist that kept me into the story and what was going to happen. I love the way Wright is able to write such wonderful suspenseful stories that are gripping but also not too dark and twisty that will turn off some readers. There is a lot to enjoy about this book as with all the books by Jaime Jo Wright, this one was a little slower at times but was still a very enjoyable read that fans of the genre will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Sea View Christmas

Author: Julie Klassen

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: September 2, 2025

A fun and quick read to get fans in the mood for the holiday season.

Sarah Summers wants nothing more than to make this year’s Christmas at Sea View the best it can be for her sister. Even with the best intentions things don’t always go as planned. Georgiana, her sister, is eager for the holiday and is hoping to experience young love and maybe a happily ever after for her and her sister.

One of the things that sets this novel apart from others is the quick pace in which it reads, especially for being a historical romance. Sarah was such a fun character, as was her sister, which is unusual, most stories have one that you enjoy and one sibling or character that is just annoying. The fact that I was invested in both characters and wanting to see them happy made for a delightful read. Honestly there isn’t anything negative I can say about this story, it was fun, fast and full of all the holiday feels. If you are a reader that enjoys romance and a sprinkle of holiday fun this will be a great read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Hidden Hope

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Suzanne Woods Fisher crafts a story that is like taking readers back home, comfort and joy in a few hundred pages.

After a news story raises her popularity in the medical field, Ruth Stolzfus gains many patients and must supervise two new medical residents, Wren Baker and Charlie King. Wren is at the top of her class and Charlie at the lower end. Also with them is a traveling nurse, Evie Miller who is in love with Charlie. Set in a small Amish community the group try to balance plain living with the modern world of medicine, something that ends up far harder than any of them expected.

A Hidden Hope is a great story of redemption, hope in love and so much more. I enjoyed the dynamic of the group in this story; it was very different than many stories that focus on one or two main protagonist. The story was touching and painful at times when things seemed as if they would not work out for the group. But as all good stories, things work out in the end as they should and that is something Suzanne Woods Fisher is great, writing a story with a great ending. I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of Fisher’s writing and Amish romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Fire Mountain

Author: Dana Mentink

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: July 1, 2025

A great contemporary read with beautiful setting and issues the characters face that readers will resonate with.

Ana Leigh Watkins has been through her share of trauma lately and going to spend the summer in Bitter End Tennessee to help her great-aunt clear out her house to move to a retirement home is just what she needs. When she gets to Bitter End, she finds out her Aunt has planned a trip and is leaving Ana Leigh to handle the house details herself. While cleaning it out she meets a group of bird watchers in the mountains and finds herself enjoying the time with them and taking her mind off her past problems. Along with the solace of the group Ana Leigh also finds her share of family drama she didn’t know about and finds herself transformed by the journey she goes through in Bitter End.

Amanda Cox is a phenomenal contemporary author and I always find myself excited when she has a new release coming out. While I have loved all her books I would not say The Bitter End Birding Society was my favorite. The story itself was good and the characters were engaging, just not as much as some in the past. Ana Leigh is a great protagonist and I enjoyed the way her story played out. A few of the secondary characters were a bit much for me and tended to take me out of the story at times, which is not fun. Other than those minor frustrations, I will say it was a very enjoyable read that I can recommend to anyone who enjoys a good contemporary story.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.