Tag: Christian Fiction

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The Amish Ballerina 

320 pages Publisher Barbour Fiction Publication date October 1, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

An Amish Woman Hides a Secret Passion

Eighteen-year-old Arie Kauffman loves to twirl and leap around the barn in her Amish bonnet and dress, practicing ballet moves her English friend taught her. Her parents would be upset to learn that this longtime interest has progressed to her secretly attending ballet classes. Arie even hides her dance skills from her boyfriend, Edwin Chupp, who often invites her to try new things, knowing she has an artistic heart. Her secrecy, however, is causing damage she may not be able to repair. When offered new opportunities to dance, will Arie break from Amish tradition or hold true to the bonds of her faith and family?

MY THOUGHTS

The Amish Ballerina sounded like a very unique and interesting story. I know Englisher interests such as ballet dancing is forbidden to the Amish so I was interested in seeing how this would be pulled off.
Arie has been interested in ballet for years as her Englisher friend Lorina has been a ballet dancer for years and is teaching her.
This is a huge secret she is not only keeping from her family but her boyfriend as well.
The writing style is different that Wanda’s. I’ve read all of Wanda’s over the years and have loved them all. This is not her writing. It’s slow, stilted and very formal sounding.
There is not a warmth in these Amish families, they almost act as casual acquaintances towards each other, but a closeness and homey feeling is not to be found.
There are unreasonable expectations put on Arie by her mother, she is at times talked to as a young child, but the mother’s responsibilities are unreasonably put on her.
There were a lot of secrets and dishonestly in the book. Some understanding did come through. She has a big decision to make; will her heart lead her to give up her worldly ways or will Arie be drawn to the Englisher world and all it has to offer?
This book was not a favorite of mine, but I have enjoyed all of her other books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she’s learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, her first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean.

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Thank you for stopping in. Have a lovely day.

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Legends of Gold (Golden State Treasure Book #2)

282 pages Publication date June 17, 2025 Publisher Bethany House Publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK

On a risky treasure hunt in the rugged wilderness, can love trump all odds?

After years of solitude, Tilda Muirhead’s life takes an unexpected twist when she accepts a teaching position at Two Harts Ranch following her cross-country pursuit of two brothers obsessed with a treasure map left by their grandfather. Tilda is now tasked with educating those mischievous MacKenzie boys, who are bent on remaining out west with the rest of their family until they find the hoped-for treasure. Then a man named Ben arrives, claiming to be her own long-lost brother. Raised as an orphan with no memory of her past, Tilda is both fascinated and wary of Ben’s sudden interest in finding her.

When Ben’s motives grow increasingly suspect, rancher Josh Hart suggests Tilda and the young MacKenzies set off on a quest with him that aims to protect Tilda while unearthing the map’s secrets. As they explore the wilderness, Tilda becomes captivated by the history behind the map, though she doubts it leads to anything more than old artifacts. Yet danger looms ever closer, and Tilda and Josh must rely on faith and their blossoming love to navigate the treacherous path ahead.

MY THOUGHTS

It’s been a few months since I’ve read the first book in the Golden State Treasure series, and this picks up right where the first left off.
There are a lot of characters and a lot going on, so much crammed into one book.
The first bit of the book is a recap of the first book and then the action picks up and goes nonstop til the end. There were a lot of surprises in this fast-paced book, but I loved it and the descriptions of the rural land, treasure hunting and family.
A clean Christian historical fiction that has me looking forward to the next exciting book in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison’s Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie’s daughters, and has man other books.

She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She’s a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She’s got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.

Find Mary online at:

Her website: maryconnealy.com

Her blog for aspiring writers: Seekerville

Her blog for lovers of western romance: Petticoats & Pistols

Sign up for her newsletter at maryconnealy.com/newsletter

Mary is on Facebook at facebook.com/maryconnealy

And Twitter at twitter.com/maryconnealy

Thank you for stopping in. I hope you are having a wonderful day!

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The Christmas House: An Amish Christmas Novella by Beverly Lewis

146 pages Publisher Bethany House Publishers Publication date September 2, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

Beverly Lewis, the number-one bestselling author of Amish fiction, delivers a delightful Christmas novella of faith, romance, and heartwarming holiday traditions.

With the holidays approaching, Liz Lantz is dedicated to using her Hickory Hollow buggy tour business to share God’s love with the Englisher tourists who visit her Lancaster County community. But when her father and brother are called away for a while, Dat finds a young Amishman to assist her on the tours in her brother’s place, much to Liz’s dismay. Regardless, the popularity of her Christmas House Buggy Tour means she could use the help, so as the countdown to Christmas begins, she works alongside Matthew Yoder, who quickly takes a genuine interest in the tour customers–and Liz.

As an Englisher family in Hickory Hollow expresses their festive spirit with a lavishly decorated house for the second year running, Liz’s Amish community becomes increasingly concerned about attracting unwanted traffic and attention, and Liz wonders if there is any way to bridge the gap to help the new neighbors feel welcome. At the same time, she grapples with her growing feelings for Matt, whose position with her is only temporary. Can she find a way to bring harmony to Hickory Hollow in time for Christmas?

Beverly Lewis’s homespun Amish romance will draw in readers who love family, small towns, and Christmas festivities. This charming holiday novella brings cheer and faith for the winter season.

MY THOUGHTS

I haven’t read a book by the author in several years and I was thrilled to see a new Christmas novella releasing by her this Fall.


The writing was just as I expected, faith filled, fun, and a little romance.
This is Liz Lantz’s story. Liz Lantz gives the Englishers buggy tours in her Lancaster Amish community all the while spreading God’s word while doing so. So, when her father and brother are unexpectedly called away right during the peak Christmas busy season Liz is worried her business will have to be put on hold.

What she doesn’t expect is her father to arrange for a handsome Amish man to go with her as she gives the buggy tours as her brother’s replacement.


Such a beautiful story full of kindness, gentle reminders and it will leave you feeling happy and full of good Christmas cheer.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ve had my nose in a book, for as long as I remember. When I was about 9 years old, I started writing my own stories. By sixth grade, I’d hand-written a 66-page semi-autobiographical book titled, “She Shall Have Music.”

After I was married and our three children were in middle school, I began submitting articles and short fiction to various magazines.

My first book (Holly’s First Love) was published in May 1993, the start of a 14-book series for pre-teen girls. Soon after, my first chapter book was published for 7-10-year-old readers (“Big Bad Beans”) which later became part of my 24-book series, The Cul-de-Sac Kids. I wrote another long-running series for girls, titled “SummerHill Secrets,” which was set very close to Neffsville, PA, where I grew up–near the heart of Amish country.

But it was the story of my grandmother Ada Buchwalter’s shunning by her ultra-strict father and subsequently her old order Mennonite community that nudged me toward writing adult fiction. THE SHUNNING was published in 1997 by Bethany House Publishers, and along with its sequels, has touched a nerve in millions of readers intrigued by the Plain tradition of Lancaster County, PA. Many readers have enjoyed the Hallmark Channel’s adaptation of this book and the other books in the Heritage of Lancaster County series.

My passion for Amish-related stories continues to keep me up at night, and I’ve written over three dozen novels for adults set in Lancaster County.

When I’m between writing deadlines, I enjoy hiking in the Rocky Mountains with my husband. Cooking from scratch, playing Mozart at the piano, and making family memory albums, as well as traveling to meet my devoted readers during book tours, are some of my very favorite things. I also adore reading biographies and memoirs, as well as classic literature.

Thank you for stopping in.

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TLC tour for THE VOICE WE FIND by Nicole Deese!

About The Voice We Find

• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (April 15, 2025)
• Paperback: 416 pages

Two voices. One story. A chance to rewrite their future.

Sophie Wilder returns home to California with nothing more than a failed Broadway career and a geriatric cat. Stuck working at the family winery with her egotistical brother and desperate for a way to revive her acting dreams, she takes a side gig as an audiobook narrator with Fog Harbor Books. But getting mixed up in the life of her reluctant sound engineer was never a part of her plans.

August Tate is still reeling from taking on guardianship of his teen sister. Determined to find a solution to her degenerative hearing loss and to prevent his private recording studio from going under, he agrees to produce audiobooks part-time. When Sophie breathes new life into his creativity and forms an unexpected bond with his sister rooted in their common faith, he must confront the reasons he turned away from his own or risk losing the second chance he’s only just started to believe in.

The Voice We Find is the third book in Nicole Deese’s Fog Harbor Romance Series for fans of clean, faith-based stories, deaf and hard of hearing representation, workplace romance, books about books, found family, and sibling bonds.

MY THOUGHTS

Just like when you read any of the author’s other books you know you’ll be in for an emotional roller coaster.
I liked that the book had ASL and deaf representation. This is a closed-door romance.
The book really had me experiencing a wide range of emotions. I was rooting for the ones who seemed to not be represented but fell into the background. Full of hope on every page these characters have found their voice and their strength by books end.
Every book I read by the author has me contemplating what the outcome will be. Hard hitting this is one you’ll not be able to put down until you’re done.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Nicole Deese is a Christy and Carol Award-winning and bestselling author. When she’s not sorting out character arcs and story plots of her own, she can usually be found listening to an audiobook and multitasking at least four different chores at once. She’s a hoarder of sparkling water, a lover of long walks and even longer talks with friends, and a seeker of fun and adventure at all times. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

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TLC tour schedule:

Friday, April 11th: @subakka.bookstuff

Monday, April 14th: @samanthakreads – REVIEW

Monday, April 14th: @niks.bookshelf

Tuesday, April 15th: @hannahk_reads – REVIEW

Wednesday, April 16th: @nerdy_book_lover_1987

Thursday, April 17th: @oilycaffeinatedmama

Friday, April 18th: @sarahs.bookish.reviews

Monday, April 21st: @liarossreads 

Monday, April 21st: @kristens.reading.nook – REVIEW

Monday, April 21st: Girl Who Reads – REVIEW

Tuesday, April 22nd: @books_old_and_new 

Wednesday, April 23rd: Vegan Book Blogger – REVIEW

Thursday, April 24th: @stumblingintobooks

Friday, April 25th: @naesreadingnook

Saturday, April 26th: @booksandcoffeemx

Monday, April 28th: @webreakforbooks 

Monday, April 28th: @becomingbookbybook 

Tuesday, April 29th: @thecalicobooks and The Calico Books – REVIEW

@NicoleDeeseAuthor @BethanyHouseFiction #TheVoiceWeFind #NicoleDeese #BHPFiction #contemporaryromance @tlcbooktours

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping in.


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Land of Dreams (Home to Green Creek Book #1): (A Frontier Historical Fiction with Drama, Love and Faith) 

343 pages Bethany House Publishers April 1, 2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

During her voyage on a ship to America, Norwegian immigrant Amalia Gunderson makes a solemn promise to a dying mother to watch over her five-year-old daughter, Ruth. Together, Amalia and Ruth trek to Iowa to claim the farm and former boardinghouse that Ruth has inherited, despite opposition from a difficult cousin. Struggling with an empty house and scarce resources, Amalia resolves to return the boardinghouse to its former purpose, aided by the kindness of strangers and the resilient spirit of her young charge.

As Amalia and Ruth endeavor to make ends meet, tensions rise due to a trail of orphans showing up on their doorstep. Meanwhile, Absalom Karlsson–the magistrate’s son–offers legal assistance and helps them advocate for justice. With each challenge they face, Amalia and Ruth find hope in believing that with faith and determination they can overcome even the most daunting of trials.

In this heartwarming series starter, bestselling author Lauraine Snelling weaves together a delightful story of new beginnings.

MY THOUGHTS

I am always so excited to read a book by one of my favorite Christian fiction authors. I know some years ago I read a series by the author with Norwegian characters and the Norwegian culture and enjoyed it very much this has the same in it.

I read it awhile ago so I can’t remember if any of the characters from that series are in this book or not.
Making a new start is not easy but when the unexpected happens it’s doubly hard.


On a ship bound for America Norwegian immigrant, Amalia Gunderson becomes the guardian of a young girl who lost her mother on the voyage.
She and five year old, Ruth find themselves in a strange and new land with a house, Ruth will inherit when she is of age but it is not empty.

Despite being pushed and pulled in a lot of directions with opposition to what she is doing and some bad advice Amalia show her strength and perseverance. Doing what is right in this new land by taking care of the child and honoring God is her mission and though struggles are ever present she will not give up on herself or God.

With a boarding house being run there are other orphans that show up and through hard work and sacrifices all work towards a common good.
The author has a way of writing realistic fiction that I feel as though I am there experiencing it as well.


I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley for my honest opinion.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.

Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply … if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

Thank you for stopping in.

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historical fiction

A Constant Love: (A Western Christian Historical Romance Series Set in Frontier Cheyenne, Wyoming) (The Hope of Cheyenne)

304 pages Bethany House Publishers March 04,2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Heartache has left them emotionally desolate, but traces of love and healing could forge a future.

In the wake of a harsh winter, Micah Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich are grappling with loss and guilt after the disaster that took the lives of their loved ones. Struggling to cope with his grief, Micah abandons his father’s dreams of a prosperous ranch and cuts himself off from the rest of the world.

Charlotte has loved Micah her entire life and is determined not to lose him as well. With her mother’s help, she begins coaxing Micah to live again. Despite their enduring heartache, the affection between them deepens, but just as Charlotte thinks her dreams may come true, a scorned suitor threatens everything she holds dear. Micah and Charlotte must embark on a journey of healing and renewal to build a life founded on faith, hope, and love.

MY THOUGHTS

I am always excited to see a new book by the author and this is the first in The Hope of Cheyenne series.


Micah Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich have known each other since childhood, and she has loved him just as long. Even as a child she said she was going to marry him someday, but her father has other plans and makes plans for her to marry a man who she doesn’t love. He thinks he is doing the right thing as this man has money and will take her away from the ranch and give her a life of luxury. All she wants is to run a ranch along with her husband and be a rancher’s wife, just like her mother who has happily lived this lifestyle.


The winter of 1887 outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming was particularly rough, not fit for man or beast. Devastatingly a significant number of open range cattle died due to record breaking temperatures and heavy snow in the Great Plains region. The author described this very well, the tragedy and many ranchers and their hands died as well trying to save the cattle. This time period is referred to as “The Great Die-Up.”


After the death of Max’s father during this time period he becomes a shell of himself. Dealing with grief, second chances, and sweet romance and is a Christian fiction historical romance.


The restorative power of faith in a well-developed story line with characters I’ll look forward to reading more about in the next book in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

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historical fiction

His Perfect Bride (Bride Ships: New Voyages Book 3)

284 pages February 18, 2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sage Rhodes is eager to escape Manchester, England, and leave behind the pain of a broken engagement. When she’s offered the job as a lady’s maid to Augusta Lennox, who is traveling to Vancouver Island to visit her brother, Sage happily accepts the position.

Not so long ago, brilliant engineer Jackson Lennox faced a terrible tragedy during the building of a suspension bridge in the Fraser River Valley and becomes a recluse in his fine home in Victoria. When his sister and her beautiful lady’s maid arrive on his doorstep, he’s reluctant to welcome the visitors.

Organized and efficient, Sage starts to bring order not only to Jackson’s home but also to his life. Even though at first they clash, the attraction between the beauty and the beast is undeniable. Still, they do their best to ignore it. But when Augusta goes missing and they’re thrust into a dangerous adventure together, circumstances require them to pretend they’re married.

Will the charade—and their forced proximity—change their hearts…or ruin them both forever?

Forced proximity

Broken past engagement

Beauty and the beast

Different social classes

Reclusive hero

Opposites attract

Fake relationship/marriage

MY THOUGHTS

Having read the other two books in the Bride Ships: New Voyages series I was so excited to read another book in this series. I love that it continues on with characters and situations we’ve met in past books and also introduces us to new characters as well.


The characters are genuine and realistic and it’s well plotted as you could picture these things actually happening.
The descriptions make it easy to visualize the going Ons as they happen.
This is another lovely and exciting book taking place in the Pacific Northwest as we take another trip there.


I enjoyed setting sail once again and personally I couldn’t imagine myself being onboard for such a long trip but sometimes things become of the utmost importance that you don’t think you could possibly have done.
The love story was sweet and moved at a realistic pace. I enjoyed how protective her was of her and how she put such a priority on finding her sister.


A true Beauty and the Beast story as she discovers the true beauty behind the gruff outer appearance. A real winner and I can’t wait to read the next book in the story as it’ll continue this exciting series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean historical romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).

Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping in.

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Stand by Me: A Sweet and Wholesome Christian Romance (Family Is Forever Book 3) 

255 pages Sourcebooks publisher Publication dateNovember 2, 2021

ABOUT THE BOOK

Acclaimed inspirational African American romance author Pat Simmons brings you a love story filled to the brim with everything you’re looking for:

  • Emotional, poignant fiction that explores what it means to take care of family
  • Christian romance that delves into the connection between two people
  • An uplifting story about embracing love and giving others—and yourself—one more chance

When it comes to being a caregiver, Kym Knicely has been there and done that. Then she meets Charles “Chaz” Banks and soon learns that every caregiving situation is different. Chaz takes care of his seven-year-old autistic granddaughter, Chauncy. Although Kym’s attraction to Chaz is strong, she has to decide whether a romantic relationship can survive and thrive between two people at different stages in life. It’s a journey with a different set of rules that Kym has to play by if she and Chaz are to have their happily ever after and the faith and family they envision.

MY THOUGHTS

A wonderful story, filled with the goodness of faith, family and acceptance.
An older gentleman is the caregiver of his granddaughter, who is autistic. Many grandparents are not done raising children as they’re doing it all over again with their grandchildren.

Kym is a career woman, childless and at a very different stage in her life than Charles. Meeting each other as they start spending more time together, they wander if a relationship could become a possibility with how different they are.

A clean, Christian romance that I enjoyed. The cover is so appealing to me as well especially with Fall right around the corner.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance and recipient of the 2022 Leslie Esdaile Trailblazer Award. Christmas Dinner was also an Emma Award winner for Book of the Year. Christmas Dinner and Here for You were featured in Woman’s World Magazine.

As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. Visit her at http://www.patsimmons.net.

Thank you for stopping in.

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Their Unlikely Protector: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Love Inspired) 

208 pages July 23, 2024 publication date Love Inspired romance

ABOUT THE BOOK

To give two little boys a home…

She must take a chance on forgiveness.

The last person Valerie Williams expects to rescue her and her toddler twin brothers from a fiery blaze is Brett Richardson, her high school nemesis. But with her house burned down, Valerie is forced to stay at the same inn as Brett and work together on the town festival. Now Brett has the chance to make things right, but can Valerie let go of the past to make way for a future together?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

MY THOUGHTS

This is my first read by this author.
I loved this story so much, it’s a Christian romance.


The twin three years olds stole the story, they were adorable. The two main characters each had important decisions to make. Decisions that if made incorrectly would affect their life in a negative way.

This is a story where at first you aren’t sure if the main characters are even going to get together. I think it has a nice faith element added to it as well. The characters seemed so realistic to me.

Forgiveness, compassion, putting others needs before your own and a sweet romance are all found in this charming read that I recommend.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meghann Whistler writes sweet Christian romance novels that WON’T make your grandmother blush.

Her debut novel, FALLING FOR THE INNKEEPER, was named one of “Six Sensational 2020 Debut Series Romances” by the American Library Association’s Booklist Reader, and was a finalist for the 2021 Book Buyers Best Award.

Her latest book, THE BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET, was a #1 bestseller and #1 Hot New Release across multiple categories on Amazon.com, including Christian Romance, Christian Women’s Fiction, and Contemporary Religious Fiction, among others.

Before settling down with her rocket scientist husband and raising three rambunctious boys, Meghann earned a B.A. in English from Amherst College and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College.

Learn more and get insider updates by joining her newsletter at http://www.MeghannWhistler.com/newsletter

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Sycamore Circle (The Rumors in Ross County Series Book 2) Shelley Shepard Gray

284 pages 07 Feb 2023 publish date Blackstone Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel “Bo” Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off—much to the dismay of practically everyone they know—but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

MY THOUGHTS

Sycamore Circle is the second book in the Rumors in Ross County series. Shelley Shepard Gary is an author who is talented in writing multiple genres.


I enjoyed reading Bo and Joy’s story. They both do community service.
She’s helping people better themselves as she’s serving as a literacy teacher. Bo is a counselor for transitioning ex-cons. He’s big, brawny has tattoos and is an ex-con she’s soft, sweet and kind to everyone.

You wouldn’t think there would be that connection there but there is. Both are learning to trust again and recovering from things in their past. Joy has an ex-husband, a daughter and a secret she’s been keeping from Bo.

Someone is stalking her and sending harassing messages to her. The story moves at a steady pace and escalates as we approach the end. This is not one of the author’s Amish books but there are Amish characters and the culture added to the book which I enjoyed.

A light faith message, we see no one can do it all but through him all things are possible. Positive and uplifting. I look forward to many more books by this author.

Pub Date 07 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.

Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

Do you have a favorite genre this author writes? Mine are her Amish books.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in.