Across the Crying Sands

Author: Jane Kirkpatrick

Series: Women of Cannon Beach #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 20, 2025

A heartwarming tale set in just the right time and tone.

Mary Gerritse, like most young girls her age, wants one thing: to find a husband and start a family. Even though sixteen is young to be married, it is not uncommon and when Mary finds a husband, she isn’t sure why she still feels unsatisfied with her life. Being antsy for something new she jumps at the chance for a change along the Oregon coast.

Jane Kirkpatrick has done a great job in crafting the start of a new series with new characters that will be easily likable and one readers will want to cheer on. I enjoyed this story and the characters throughout, Mary in particular was easy for me to like, she was spunky and full of life. Remembering the time frame this is set in will help readers relate to the characters and the hardships and even the accomplishments they might achieve. This was a quick read that I enjoyed more than I expected for a historical fiction, which can sometimes be slow reads. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical fiction and have been fans of Jane Kirkpatrick.

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

An Unexpected Grace

Authors: Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse

Series: The Jewels of Kalispell #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 20, 2025

A combo of two powerhouse authors makes for a great story.

Parker Bennett has spent a long time away from home as a performer and is almost afraid of what he will find when he gets back. It doesn’t take long being home before he is face to face with the first woman he ever fell in love with. Feelings come crashing back hard and he can’t help but have hope that it might not be too late for a second chance at first love. Johanna St. John has been widowed for three years and trying to survive with a young toddler and helping her injured father. When she sees Parker, she doesn’t want to get her hopes up at a second chance at love.

Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse have teamed up once again to craft a fantastic historical romance full of witty characters, a storyline that is hard to put down and so much more. Peterson and Woodhouse are two of the most well known in Christian fiction for a reason, they write well and pull readers in with each page. Parker and Johanna represented those looking for a second chance at love, a group of readers that will be strongly connected to the story. That is the best thing about this story, the way readers will connect to the story and characters. This is a story that readers who enjoy historical romance 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.

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford

Author: Ann H. Gabhard

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Publisher: Revell

An Ann H. Gabhart novel with all the right feels for a good story.

Elena Bradford has never wanted to marry but when her father passes away and she finds herself in a heap of debt, Elena goes with her mother to Kentucky to hopefully find a husband and a way out of the trouble her father left her in. While her mother works to find her a husband with money, Elena finds herself attracted to two different men that her mother would not approve of. Elena’s life because intertwined with the men and more is at stake than any of them could realize.

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford was a book that was good but fell flat at times for me. The story didn’t hold my interest as well as I was hoping and in a year that I find myself struggling to enjoy reading it wasn’t the best fit. As with a lot of historical fiction, if you are not in the mood for that type of novel, it will not be as enjoyable as it could. Ann H. Gabhart is a great author, but this one didn’t hit the mark. While it didn’t hit the mark for me, I am sure it is the type of book that many readers will enjoy.

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

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 15, 2025

A whimsical romance with mystery sprinkled throughout.

In the early 1900’s, Sydney Forrester is surprised when she is bequeathed Blakely House, the island estate of her estranged uncle. The house has secrets of its own and Sydney quickly finds herself in the middle of a house filled with inventions she is excited to toy with and explore. The house is located on an island that is home to several other people that are not taking kindly to Sydney’s intrusion into their lives. With each new secret uncovered, Sydney finds herself in more danger but also more intrigued in the mystery in front of her.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story but was pleasantly surprised by the mystery that I found in the story and how invested I became in the characters. Sydney was a great female protagonist that kept me wanting to find her with a happy outcome. I also enjoyed the mystery of the island and how it all came about by the end of the story. There was relatively good pacing with this story, a little slow at a few moments but still pretty quick overall. While I did enjoy this one more than expected I would say that this is a book for those that enjoy historical romance, if historical isn’t your genre you might not enjoy this one very much.

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

A Constant Love

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: Hope of Cheyenne #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 4, 2025

An addition to historical romance bookshelves that readers will not want to miss out on.

Micah Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich have ben though a lot. After a harsh winter that saw them both losing loved ones, they have to find a way to move on with their lives. Micah shuts himself off from others and even though Charlotte has loved him forever she doesn’t know if it will be enough to not lose him. Even though they both lost their loved ones and have feelings for each other it may not be enough to keep them safe and find a way to be happy together.

I love when I pick up a historical fiction novel and can tell that the author has done their research and isn’t just throwing a story together. In the winter of 1886 in Cheyenne Wyoming, we see these characters battling hardships and try to find a way to come together and find their own happily ever after. The story was a quick read that I enjoyed and was very pleased with how it all played out. Peterson is a really good author that has a way with making the story come to life for readers. I recommend this to readers that enjoy historical romance.

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

Hold Strong

Author: Robert Dugoni with Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: January 28, 2025

Hold Strong is a fitting name because the book had the strongest hold on me until the very last page!

Sam Carlson and his family have been hit hard by the depression. He has been working multiple jobs to help and one of his jobs is running the projector at the small town theater in Minnesota. He likes to meet his sweetheart there for some alone time. Sarah Haber is headed to college to study math that leads her to working as a code breaker for the military when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and Sam is sent to the Philippines. Sam is captured and ends up as a POW on the Bataan Death March. Sarah moves up the ranks and finds herself as one of the top code breakers; she intercepts a message from Japan about a convoy including the Arisan Maru ship. The Navy believe it is clear they must sink this ship, a ship containing American POW’s, including Sam. Sarah is in the middle of the biggest battle of her life and they world hoping they can have a satisfying outcome.

I used to say that my favorite genre of books was a good suspense thriller, but now I have to admit that my favorite genre is a Robert Dugoni book! It doesn’t matter what he writes it is going to be a phenomenal book. Hold Strong is a fantastic book with characters at the heart of it all and a plotline that will tug at readers heartstrings. The back and forth between Sam and Sarah was fantastic and written so well, as are all the books by Dugoni. Historical fiction is not my usual go to genre, but when it is done well it will end up as one of my favorite reads of the year, just as this one is going to be. This book was so good! Fans of WWII and historical fiction will not want to miss out on this one!

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

The Queen’s Cook

Author: Tessa Afshar

Series: Queen Esther’s Court #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: November 19, 2024

A delightfully engaging read that left me thinking about the story long after I turned the final page.

In ancient Persia, Roxannah, the daughter of a Persian lord wants to help her Jewish friends but it’s not that simple. In order to of help to her friends and also her family, Roxannah finds the royal physician, Adin, to get employment in Queen Esther’s kitchen. As she rises in the ranks she gets the eyes of others, some in a good way and others not as much. She quickly earns the trust of Queen Esther and soon they become friends. Being involved in the day to day workings of the kitchen gives Roxannah a unique place, hearing things many others might not and when she uncovers a plot in the castle she has to do whatever she can to help Esther continue her reign unharmed.

Tessa Afshar has crafted a masterpiece with The Queen’s Cook! I couldn’t put this one down!! I loved the way Roxannah was the kind of character that I connected to instantly and couldn’t stop reading until I saw if there was a happy ending. The story had a quick flow with plenty of tension that will keep readers wanting more. I felt transported back in time and space to ancient Peria as I read this one and loved the feeling of being in such a time with these characters. This is the first book in a new series and I have a feeling it is just the start of a fantastic new series.

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

A Truth Revealed

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: The Heart of Cheyenne #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: November 5, 2024

A faith-filled clean read that will be perfect for fans of historical romance.

Laura Evans has returned home after college and tries to reconnect with her father, not an easy task. Laura has a strong faith and doesn’t want to let anything change that, her father on the other hand has contrasting views to her own. Wilson Porter has been working to help the Shoshone people even with the delays from the government making his job much harder. Wilson encounters severe troubles causing his faith to be shaken. Laura tries to help Will not lose his faith with all he is going through and together they grow closer and try to determine if they can move forward or if all they have faced will be more than they can overcome.

A Truth Revealed was a breath of fresh air, I loved the story of Laura and Will. There was a unique dynamic between Laura and her father and then Laura and Will that helped the pace of the story and kept me intrigued. There were a few slow parts throughout but not enough to make me not want to finish the book. Laura is a good female protagonist and one that I found myself routing for to have a happy ending. For a historical romance this one is well written and enjoyable that fans of this 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.

The Seaside Homecoming

Author: Julie Klassen

Series: On Devonshire Shores #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: December 3, 2024

The third book in the Devonshire Shores series is a great story of sisterhood and the strong bonds they hold.

Claire Summers has been living in Scotland since becoming estranged from her family. She feels her chances of finding a husband and making a life for herself are slipping further away with each day. One day she sees an ad from someone looking for “a respectable female partner” and wonders if it is an answer to prayers or just another wrong turn she has taken over the years. When she leaves and her family learns she hasn’t been seen with her aunt in a while, her sisters go to find her and hope that even with the time apart their sisterly bond will overcome for their reunion.

The Seaside Homecoming is the perfect read during the holiday season, drama, tension, romance, and even more written right the right moments. I enjoyed the moments between Claire and each character she interacted with throughout the story. There were a few slow moments but overall the story was a quick and enjoyable read. Historical fiction has to be well written in order to not slip away unnoticed with all the options out there to read. This one hit about mid-range for me, it was full of good moments but also a few slow moments making it for a fairly balanced read. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance.

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

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

Author: Naomi Stephens

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 15, 2024

A historical romance that will leave readers wanting more from this fun and endearing read.

In the mid 1950’s at the ruins of Rosemont Abbey, Paul Everly is accused of arson, being the town troublemaker makes him an easy target. Paul is nowhere to be found though and his twin sister Louisa is left to prove his innocence. Being a twin has given her unique abilities, like the connection she has with her brother and feeling it deep inside when he died before the Abby was set on fire. Knowing he couldn’t have had anything to do with the fire and proving it are two different things.

While this one was a fun and entertaining read, I found a lot of coincidence moments that were hard to overlook. I did enjoy the story and the mystery within the pages and the tension is what kept me turning the pages. While this is more romantic suspense than mystery, there is enough mystery to keep my attention. The small-town atmosphere of the story was just what it needed and it made what the characters were going through seem right for them most of the time. There were plenty of predictable moments that I wish wouldn’t have been there but overall, it was an enjoyable story for readers that steer towards historical romance.

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