Against the Wind

Author: Amanda Cabot

Series: Sweetwater Crossing #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Amanda Cabot has another historical romance that is not to be missed!

Louisa Vaughn has been working to become a doctor. After helping a friend in Sweetwater Crossing, she wants to move on as quickly as possible. As she tries to leave, she finds an injured man on the side of the road and knows she must stay and help him heal. Josh Porter did not plan to end up with a broken leg, but he uses the time to try and expand his business in the small community. Louisa is able to help but the town doesn’t want her help and if she isn’t careful, they will convince her to leave her dream behind of healing others and be able to stay with the man she is falling for.

Against the Wind is an inspirational and enjoyable Christian romance read. This is the second book in the series, but each book can also be read as a stand-alone. In these stories, we see a family of three sisters and how each uses the talents they have to move forward in the world. Diving into Louisa’s world and all she is trying to work through was interesting and I found myself rooting for her to succeed not only in life but in love. She was faced with almost every hardship imaginable and almost let it bring her down. I loved the way the story played out and how all the characters interacted so naturally. I recommend this book to those that enjoy Historical Fiction with great romance.

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

Lost and Found

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 26, 2023

Amish fiction that is exactly what readers have come to expect from Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Trudy Yoder has been trying to fight feelings for Micah Weaver for a long time and just when their friendship is heating up, Micah gives her the cold shoulder. Micah was once involved with Trudy’s older sister, Shelley, but when she left a year and a half ago, she left Micah with a broken heart. Shelley left wanting to be a singer and after leaving Micah and her family behind, Micah starts receiving unusual messages for him. Micah finds a reason to go to Nashville and see for himself if Shelley is ok and winds up in over his head.

It is hard to think of Amish fiction and words like intriguing and nail-biting at the same time. At moments that was where I was with this one. I enjoyed the story points and the relationship tension throughout. Depending on how deep readers want to dig, you will find deep truths and a spiritual element to the whole story. Even if you don’t dig that deep, it will be an enjoyable and clean read that anyone can read without questionable content. This is the kind of book that can be read quickly over a few days or quicker. I would recommend this to readers that enjoy clean Amish fiction.

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

On Moonberry Lake

Author: Holly Varni

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 26, 2023

A fantastic debut from Holly Varni that will stick with readers long after the last page!

Cora Matthews looks at her life and wonders what happened. After a failed engagement and the death of her mother, she isn’t sure what her new normal will look like. Her mother left her a rundown lodge on Moonberry Lake and as she goes to see about the place, she finds a group of interesting neighbors all ready to help her in some form or fashion. This wasn’t what she came looking for and as she works to put her life back together, she is going to have to change her expectations of what that life is going to look like.

I absolutely love it when I find a debut author that blows it out of the water with their words and story. So many stories end up the same these days and can be a bore, On Moonberry Lake is far from that; it is moving, heartwarming and just enjoyable. Holly Varni has crafted a story that is remarkable in the gentleness of the healing we have to find after such hardships. Each of the interesting neighbors Cora encounters turns into someone you would want to meet yourself and interact with. I recommend this story to readers that enjoy a heartwarming contemporary read.

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

The Heirloom

Author: Beverly Lewis

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing

Release Date: September 12, 2023

A read as cozy as an Amish quilt you can snuggle up with and float away into the story.

Clara Bender doesn’t know what to do with herself when her father remarries and she isn’t needed to take care of the house anymore. Her small Amish community doesn’t provide many options for marriage, so she sets off to visit her mother’s aunt in Lancaster County’s Hickory Hollow. When Clara arrives, her aunt Ella Mae feels it is an answer to a prayer after her own children have left and she is trying to move on with her own life. She now helps Clara meet the area’s eligible young men and might end up finding love herself.

Beverly Lewis takes readers back to some of her earlier characters from past reads and anyone who has read her books will enjoy this one. Amish fiction is written for a specific group of readers and those that pick these up will fall into a world that is more primitive and so different from what is normal everyday life for most of us. The amount of time that Lewis obviously spent crafting the plot and love story made the book so easy to read and the characters act naturally. This book has nothing that would be unacceptable for the Christian fiction audience. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy books by Beverly Lewis and Amish fiction in general.

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

Rocky Mountain Promise

Author: Misty M. Beller

Series: Sisters of the Rockies #2

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing

Release Date: November 21, 2023

A very different historical romance that had all the right feels.

When Lorelei Collins is off exploring in the Rocky Mountains and finds an orphaned buffalo calf, she brings it home to her and her sister’s ranch. She has a heart for animals and wants to help whenever she can, but now she has put them all in danger with the rare buffalo calf that is now wanted by trappers, some wanting Lorelei to marry and others just wanting to animal. Lorelei ends up with help from Tanner Mason, the new owner of the trading post in town and it isn’t long before a spark of interest starts to grow between the two.

The thing that saved this book for me was the love Lorelei had for animals and was willing to do whatever she had to do to help those in need. Tanner and her relationship were good, maybe a little forced at times, but with historical romance that tends to happen. Many people will resonate with this story because of the love for animals. This is the second book in the series and if readers haven’t read the first it will still be an enjoyable read, the author provides enough information to help the reader along. While this was a good book it didn’t pop for me and make me want to read it again and again. I recommend this book 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.

Calling on the Matchmaker

Author: Jody Hedlund

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing

Release Date: December 12, 2023

A historical romance that will pull readers back in time and fill their hearts.

Finola Shanahan no longer feels she can have a family of her own and spends her time helping those in need. Her parents, however, keep arranging relationships for her and she must find a way out of each one. She is able to work her way out of each until she meets Riley Rafferty and realizes things are different with this one. As their attraction grows, a cholera outbreak hits St. Louis and their lives are all put at risk.

Finola is one spunky character; even though her parents keep trying to set her up, she has decided it isn’t for her. Once she meets Riley, that all changes and we see her life get turned upside down as she can’t deny the attraction. All this made for an interesting read at times but did take away from the story when it was over the top with their heated glances and such. There is a lot of sexual tension throughout which may turn some readers off. While it was interesting with the characters and what they went through I have to say I liked this one but didn’t love it.

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

The Best Summer of Our Lives

Author: Rachel Huack

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing

Release Date: June 27, 2023

By far my new favorite Rachel Hauck book; she keeps getting better and better!

In the summer of 1977, Summer Wilde was expecting to have the best time with her friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow, nicknamed the four seasons. All their plans change as they end up at a camp in Oklahoma as counselors with secrets they wanted to stay hidden and a summer that would end up changing all of their lives. Years later, Summer ends up back in Oklahoma as she is stranded back in a place she never expected to be and finds healing she didn’t know she needed.

This story sucked me in from page one and wouldn’t let up, I have actually found myself rereading it just for the enjoyment. Rachel Hauck has created characters filled with such raw emotion that it was hard to turn away from. Summer was full of charm and such a relatable character in the struggles she went through and how it changed her. I found myself nodding my head as she faced each struggle and came out to the other side a better person. This is the type of story that readers can get so much out of, each reader might end up getting something different from the pages and still be completely satisfied by that.

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

Indigo Isle

Author: T.I. Lowe

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Release Date: June 6, 2023

A very interesting and unexpected, enjoyable read!

After leaving South Carolina over fifteen years ago and working to become a successful Hollywood location scout, Sonny Bates never thought she would end up back home. Her crazy schedule and demanding boss keep her from thinking about the past she left behind, until she is back of the coast of Charleston for a film and runs into a reclusive owner that the locals refer to as the Monster of Indigo Isle. This Monster is Hudson Renfrow who left his life as a successful attorney in New York and now works to keep up the fields of Indigo. When a hurricane hits the area, Sonny and Hudson are forced together until it passes. They find an unlikely friendship that quickly develops into something more.

Inigo Isle was a breath of fresh air. After several books that were sub-par for me, this one was quick and very enjoyable. I loved the way Sonny and Hudson were forced together and the flames of attraction ignited and were impossible to put out. As far as contemporary romances go, this one is a keeper for me. This is one that hooked me from the start and wouldn’t let me go. If you are looking for a fun and quick read, I highly recommend Indigo Isle.

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

Marshalling Her Heart

Author: Mary Connealy

Series: Wyoming Sunrise #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 17, 2023

The conclusion to the Wyoming Sunrise series returns readers to the frontier that is a sure bet for readers that enjoy inspirational romance.

Becky Pruitt knows life on the prairie is hard and running a ranch as a woman is even harder. She has worked hard to know what’s happening and keep it running smoothly. When Nate Paxton, her ranch foreman, comes to her one day and tells her that the ranch would be the perfect spot to allow U.S. Marshals to stop a notorious gang, Becky is hesitant to be involved in such an undertaking. Knowing it is the best thing for the town, she reluctantly agrees to let Nate and the Marshals do what they must. The one thing Becky didn’t count on was her heart falling for Nate and it might end up being a problem for them all.

Mary Connealy is a staple in the libraries of those that enjoy Wester and Historical Romance and even though this isn’t my favorite genre to read I have found her books to be enjoyable. This is probably my favorite of the three in this series with the danger and suspense that brought Nate and Becky together. Becky is a strong and independent female protagonist, and I enjoyed watching her go through the motions of trying to run the ranch and stay independent and finally giving into her heart. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that fans of historical romance will enjoy.

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

A Winter by the Sea

Author: Julie Klassen

Series: On Devonshire Shores #2

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Release Date: December 5, 2023

Another fun read for fans of series such as Downton Abby.

Emily Summers and her sisters end up hosting some of the royal family’s male staff when the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter come to rent a neighbor’s cottage. Emily wants nothing more than to become an author and she is given the opportunity to get published if she writes a guidebook first. One of the Duke’s secretaries helps Emily, and she is quickly attracted to him. She finds herself in a dilemma when someone from her past shows up and her heart is pulled in two directions.

After reading several historical fictions in a row, this one fell midway into the pack. It was a good read but not outstanding. Julie Klassen did a great job setting up the scenery to pull me in but the romance aspect fell a little flat. I would have liked to see a little more tension to draw the characters together and apart before they found their way fully to each other. Overall, it was an easy quick read that fans of historical romance will enjoy.

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