A Killing on the Hill

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: April 9, 2024

A very different book by Dugoni, but still an outstanding thriller that will find a whole new audience for this fabulous author.

In Seattle in 1933, it is the middle of the Great Depression and Prohibition when William “Shoe” Shumacher is working as a reporter trying to make enough to get by and maybe send some money home to help his family. One night he gets a call about a murder up on Profanity Hill and when he arrives, he finds himself the first reporter on scene of what will be the story to change his career. Killed at the club is Frankie Ray and the owner of the club is the one on trial for murder. Shoe now works with the detectives to help uncover the truth of what happened, but the more clues he finds, the more danger he finds himself in as well in a case that is anything but ordinary.

Robert Dugoni is a master thriller writer; he is one of my absolute favorite authors and I will pick up anything he has written without thinking about it, I’m that sure I will enjoy it. While a historical read is not usually a type of book I enjoy very much, this one is written well and flows quickly keeping the reader engaged. I can’t say this is my favorite book by him, but it was an enjoyable read. I don’t think any other writer could have written a historical novel like this and made me enjoy it to the level I did. William is a great protagonist and the way he goes up against those trying to bring him down is great and inspiring. One of the things Dugoni does best is make you fall in love with characters and want to see them succeed. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a great thriller.

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

These Tangled Threads

Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 2, 2024

A historical fiction read with heart and a tale of friendship that will touch the heart.

Lorna Blankenship is a weaver for Biltmore Industries and is asked to create an original design for Cornelia Vanderbilt’s upcoming wedding. Lorna worries she will not be able to come up with a worthy design in time. She has heard of an artist in the Blue Ridge Mountains that might be able to help but being able to track down this weaver is going to be harder than expected. Years earlier, Lorna and several of her friends had a falling out and now she must try and put those friendships back together in order to accomplish the task in front of her.

Any book that is set in such an area such as the Blue Ridge Mountains is easy to pull me in. I loved the setting in this book so much that I was able to look past any moments that didn’t feel right for the story, which were few and far between. The dynamics between these characters was intriguing and engaging. This story was a fun one to fly through, I enjoyed all aspects of it and felt satisfied with the way it all played out. This is a book that fans of historical fiction 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 Season of Harvest

Author: Lauraine Snelling

Series: Leah’s Garden #4

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 30, 2024

Oh I love a sweet budding romance type novel and this one hit the target with a perfect bullseye!

Larkspur Nielsen runs a homestead with her sisters and even though they have been struggling she is determined to stay strong and keep at it. With the troubles at the homestead she hasn’t had time to worry about her heart. That is until Isaac McTavish comes to town and tries to convince her to let him help. It doesn’t take long for feelings to develop between the two and even more trouble for her at the homestead.

A Season of Harvest is a sweet romance that readers of historical romance will quickly fall in love with. The story played out in such a sweet way that I found myself smiling as I turned the pages. The story has a picture painted so clearly that I felt like I was standing in the places along with these characters. This is the fourth book in the series and while it could possibly be read as a standalone ,I would recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of each and every book. This book has a high faith element and readers will feel that connection as they read and hopefully get something out of it more than just a good story. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical romance in the best sense.

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

Up From Dust

Author: Heather Kaufman

Series: Women of the Way #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 23, 2024

A biblical story that will hit the heart strings hard and leave the reader so incredibly satisfied.

Martha of Bethany has the responsibility of raising her siblings after the sudden death of her mother. Raising two young kids while trying to find herself is a struggle in and of itself. Her first love isn’t turning out to be what she expected and all she has worked for is falling apart. Years later Martha and her friends ask Jesus to help heal her husband and when Martha remembers who he is she watches him closely. Miracles or not she is unsure how to proceed and what is the right thing to do.

I have read several books over the last few years dealing with characters from the bible in some form or fashion and this one ends up pretty high on the list. In this we see the difficult times Martha faces not only with her family but also her interactions with Jesus. These interactions are well done and engaging. I loved the way the story played out and kept me invested. Readers that are interested in biblical fiction will not want to put this one aside. It is a great read that has a lot to offer.

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

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 9, 2024

A bit of a slow start but an overall enjoyable historical fiction read.

Peter Driscoll is an investigator of the wealthy and when he meets Lily Temple a film actress who he is instantly attracted to. Peter is in charge of finding the Briarwood Teardrop, a sapphire that Lily happens to have with her. Even though he is now investigating, her feelings are hard to deny and the more they investigate the more danger they both end up in.

While I went into this one skeptical that it was going to be a very slow read, I did find myself enjoying the story once it got going and quickly became intrigued with Peter and Lily There were a lot of different levels to this story and I loved the way the author brought everything together. Each of the characters had a very natural feel to them and I found myself along for the ride, one that I enjoyed very much. This is probably my favorite Joanna Davidson Politano novel I have read yet and will be looking forward to the next by her.

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

A Noble Scheme

Author: Roseanna M. White

Series: The Imposters #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 19, 2024

A very clever and fun historical romance with more to it than meets the eye at first glance.

Gemma Parks broke Graham Wharton’s heart and working as a columnist in London, she works to help the Imposters. She uses her skills as an investigator to help them gather intel, but Graham is in the way of her investigation and her heart healing. When the Imposters take on a bigger job of helping in the investigation of a kidnapping Graham uses the time to not only find the missing boy but also try to get back with the woman he still loves.

A Noble Scheme is a great addition to the historical romance bookshelves. I enjoyed the investigation that Gemma and Graham investigated and how it was able to bring them back together. It was played out well in a back and forth between the two in a slow steady way that never felt rushed. Gemma was a tough cookie, but Graham was patient and determined to get back what he lost. There was a great aspect to the love story and the suspense of all they were looking into was top notch. I recommend this book to those that enjoy clean historical romance.

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

Set in Stone

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Series: Treasures of the Earth #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 12, 2024

Set in Stone is much more than a Historical Romance, it is adventurous, fun and just a great read.

Martha Jankowski has always dreamed of working as a paleontologist and as her dreams come true and she is about to uncover a huge find when another team of paleontologists try to come and steal her find. Jacob Duncan has been working as a student digging for dinosaur bones when he meets Martha Jankowski, and they clash over the dig and feelings that rush to the surface between the two of them.

Set in Stone is another Kimberley Woodhouse book that readers of her work will not want to miss. This was just what I have come to expect from Woodhouse, a good book with a story that has heart, humor and an adventurous storyline. Martha was a protagonist I enjoyed reading, her love for paleontology made her more interesting, especially for being set in the time period it is with this being an unusual occupation for a woman. This was more than a historical romance and I loved it. This is a book that readers of historical fiction will love.

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

A Love Discovered

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: The Heart of Cheyenne #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 5, 2024

Set in the wild frontier, Tracie Peterson will have the hearts of readers swooning before turning the last page.

Edward Vogel gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is invited by a friend to help establish the new town of Cheyenne. He isn’t sure about heading out west, but when he gets the opportunity to leave behind painful memories, he thinks it might be for the best. He asks his friend Marybeth to marry him and after the death of her father, marriage might be the only way for Marybeth to keep her young sister with her. Being thrown together in marriage and now in a new town they find more than their hearts in danger of being hurt.

An unexpected love was a good read but not great. I was expecting a little more with this one and felt it fell short of my expectations. I am thankful for good, clean Christian fiction and this one was good and clean but not memorable. It had all the elements of a good historical romance, and I enjoyed the story of Edward and Marybeth as they moved west. Fans of Petersons books will enjoy this one and if you haven’t read Peterson’s work before this is a good one to start with as it is the first in a new series. I do see good potential for the rest of the series and will likely be reading them when they become available.

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

The Seamstress of Acadie

Author: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 9, 2024

With great characters and a heartfelt story, The Seamstress of Acadie is a great historical read by Laura Frantz.

Sylvie Galant is a seamstress in 1754 in the middle of tensions between the French and British on Canada’s Acadian shore. She and her family have land in between the two and with the unrest it is hard to stay on the outside. William Blackburn is a British Army Ranger and he encounters Sylvie and warns her of an upcoming invasion. He quickly falls for her and resigns but is too late to keep her from losing what she had with her family. Now she is trying to work through the mess that has been made and figure out a life for herself.

If you are a lover of historical novels this is one you won’t want to miss. Laura Frantz has crafted a beautiful story that readers will fall in love with. This story had a great romance that was brought along at just the right speed. For a little while I was worried there wasn’t going to be a happy ending, but the story played out well in just the right way. While the reading of this was a little bit slower for me it was a good read and just right for those that enjoy historical romance.

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

The Foxhole Victory Tour

Author: Amy Lynn Green

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 23, 2024

This book very quickly became my favorite by this author without a doubt. Amy Lynn Green has outdone herself with this one.

Maggie McCleod is a one of a kind, she is smart, sassy and often finds herself in trouble. She plays in a wartime orchestra until her tongue gets her in trouble and she ends up on an overseas adventure with the USO. While on tour, she meets Catherine Duquette, who signs with the USO to leave behind a life of privilege and find answers in the disappearance of the man she loved. Together the two women join with a group from the tour and when their manager says one of them is up for a special job in Hollywood their close group quickly changes. Not only are they all fighting for the position, but they must keep themselves alive during wartime.

Amy Lynn Green has written her best novel yet with The Foxhole Victory Tour. I was immediately drawn to these characters and all they were going through. I wanted nothing more than to see them come out the other side happy and healthy. There was plenty of tension throughout that drove the story and kept me turning the pages way past my bedtime. This story had so much heart and soul that I found myself choked up at times, something that not many authors can do. The characters as so spunky and full of everything I love to see in a historical novel.

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