Author: Jocelyn Green

Series: On Central Park #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: June 4, 2024

Step back in time with this historical romance by a great writer who knows how to bring history alive.

Elsa Reisner has wanted to work for the American Museum of Natural History all her life and now she is finding out that it might not be what she expected. All her life she had a passion for ornithology and now her passion may be running out. When she is assigned to work on a catalog for a recently deceased patron of the museum, she discovers a mansion full of treasures and secrets. At the estate, she meets the gardener and her daughter and together they go on a treasure hunt like never before.

The Hudson Collection is a great addition to my Historical Fiction shelf. The way that Jocelyn Green has written these historical fiction novels has a way of pulling me into the past with the characters. Elsa was unique and intriguing with the mystery of the mansion she discovered. The characters in these books are developed in a way that makes it easy to connect with them and also to want to follow along in the romance they find themselves involved with. At times historical romance novels can drag but I didn’t feel like this one did, the story had a good pace and overall well-developed plot line to keep me interested. I would recommend this one to 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.

Author: Amanda Dykes

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: June 18, 2024

Amanda Dykes has a way of tugging at my heartstrings with the way she writes. So beautiful and thought provoking.

Set deep in the heart of the Colorado mountains is the town of Mercy Peak, a town full of tall tales and possible lost treasure. Mercy Windsor arrives in the town after leaving Hollywood as a leading lady and major scandal. Trying to leave behind the scandal, she is hoping this small town will help her find a new life. The life she is hoping for is harder to find with a dark history and more standing in her way.

This book was a good addition to my shelves and one I know I can recommend to others as an enjoyable read. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction lately and this one will be at the top of my list for that category this year. The beautiful setting and the mountains were perfect to pull me into the story and make me want to see them come out on the other side safe and happy. Mercy in Mercy was so great and I loved the mystery and intrigue that came with the town. There was so much tension with all the talk of lost treasure and haunting history which I loved. I recommend this book to those who love history, mystery and romance.

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

Author: Gabrielle Meyer

Series: Timeless #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 7, 2024

This book, and series took me by surprise and I’m hoping readers will jump on board with this fantastic read.

Grace and Hope, identical twin sisters have a unique ability, they can cross between times and places. The two have been going back and forth between 1692 Salem, Massachusetts and 1912 New York City. But they are about to have to pick one and stay forever. When they are in 1692, they help their father in his tavern and try to solve their mother’s death that has been shrouded in mystery. In 1912, Hope works to become a pilot while Grace a journalist, not usual professions for women in that time. As they must choose which time to stay in and how to leave the other behind, the decision becomes harder than expected.

There was something about this series that spoke to me, maybe it was the time travel, maybe the twin aspect (I’m an identical twin), or maybe it was just the way the story was so well written. I loved the time slip, back and forth between time and locations and the way Meyer wrote the sisters and all they went through. I connected more with Hope than Grace but still had a connection to both of the girls and the struggles they faced going through life and time. This is a great series that makes the pages fly and will have readers engaged throughout. I love it when I can pick up a novel, especially one that isn’t my go-to genre like this, and be immediately engaged and connected to the characters.  I would recommend this book to those that have read the series and want to continue to see it all play out.

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

Authors: Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse

Series: The Jewels of Kalispell #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 21, 2024

When two of the best in Christian fiction get together, you are sure to get a novel that readers will devour in one sitting.

Since the death of her mother, Eleanor Briggs has been going across the country with her father and they now find themselves at Glacier National Park. Her father is a conservationist and Eleanor helps him with his work but what she really wants to do is settle down and write. When she meets Carter Brunswick, there is immediate attraction and the future both of them imagined changes quickly. But they are both in for hard going with tension over the railroad and their families.

When Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse get together to write, I know it is going to be a great story. Independently they are great at what they do, together they bring the best of their independent styles and make a great historical fiction novel. While this isn’t my favorite genre to read, it is one I pick up when I know the writing is going to be top-notch. I am happy to say that this is a story that this is a story that readers that enjoy 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.

Author: Angela Hunt

Series: The Emissaries #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 21, 2024

Another sure fire hit from the queen of biblical fiction.

The city of Corinth has a new governor and the Chief Magistrate. Narkis Ligus is excited for the opportunity to get one of his daughters united in marriage and elevate his family status. His plans don’t go as hoped when Mariana doesn’t want to marry a man devoted to the Roman gods with her faith in Yeshua. Prima, Mariana’s sister, is willing to betray her sister and follow the path their father has set for them. A marriage could be great for the family but not their faith and is a hard decision for all of them to make.

Angela Hunt is my go-to when I want a great historical, biblical fiction novel. The way she writes these characters and all they go through puts the reader right there in the thick of the action. Bringing biblical characters to life is hard, many writers have tried and not had the success that Hunt and few others do. I am happy to say that this book lived up to my expectations of what I have come to know and love from Hunt’s writing. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean, thrilling story with biblical characters and a storyline they will love.

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

Author: Tavi Taylor Black

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Release Date: April 24, 2024

Good premise, but felt disjointed throughout the story.

Mabel Rae was born into servanthood, but always felt greater aspirations.  Not an easy thing to accomplish in the early 1900s between class and gender.  When she becomes of age, she takes on a position as a maid in an upscale estate in Bar Harbor, Maine. She begins her career in defiance by going up to the main house, where the butler quickly sends her to the servants quarters.  When he receives attention from the master of the house, she gives in quickly and dreams of becoming the lady of the manor.  But when she discovers she is pregnant, she learns the hard truth of her life and her social class.

I really felt that this book had a great premise and was excited to read something different. However, the story took several different pathways throughout and sometimes felt disjointed when reading between the different characters.  It did make me do some fact checking and seemed to be pretty accurate overall for the time period.  The setting was the best part of the whole book and carried most of the story for me. 

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

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.