The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White

 

When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.

For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.

As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

 

My Review

 This is such a good read to get lost in, can friends form a deeper relationship, and not risk loosing the friendship?
A dual time split read, that the author messes together beautifully!
A beautiful setting for a story, North Carolina's Outer Banks, a serious accident, a dream job, family revelations, and renewing friendships. This a page turner, you wonder what changes are going to happen in the lives of these people you now care about.
Major decisions need to be made, not easy, and they need to find important paperwork, and answers.
I got very invested in these characters, and in the end wanted to extend my visit, and glad there is another book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.

Celebrate Lit Presents: Bernadette: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Twist Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

 

About the Book

Book: Bernadette: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Twist

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy

Release Date: August 4, 2025

She’s supposed to be a small-town girl…

…He’s billed as America’s biggest heartthrob.

What could possibly go wrong? How about everything?

Tiny Bernie Sawrey is perfectly happy fixing carburetors until her stepmother ambushes her with a blind date. The catch? It’s with movie star Garrett Lomas, Bernie’s secret celebrity crush and the reason she’s haunted the drive-in alone her entire adult life.

There’s just one teensy problem: Bernie’s about as Hollywood-ready as a rusty muffler.

But when her dad’s garage faces financial ruin, suddenly playing Kokomo’s answer to the girl-next-door doesn’t seem so impossible, if it will help. How hard can it be to fake being normal for a few weeks?

Meanwhile, Gabe Lomas thought being his identical twin’s stunt double only involved driving race cars—not impersonating him at charity events in small-town Indiana. But when the movie studio execs set up the deal and Garrett’s fiancée says no way, Gabe trades his helmet for a fake smile and a very real problem.

The problem? Bernie Sawrey, all five-foot-nothing of her, with enough quirk and innocence to charm the grumpiest producer. That’s the problem.

Gabe is falling for her hard, only she thinks he’s his famous brother.

And she just might be falling for him too.

Now he’s caught between protecting his brother’s career and protecting his own heart. Because telling Bernie the truth might send her racing away—but not telling her guarantees he’ll lose her when she finds out.

Return to 1973 Kokomo, Indiana, where the cardinal in the sycamore knows that love—like a good engine—runs best when all the parts are genuine. A sweet, hilarious tale of mistaken identity, small-town charm, and finding love when you’re not even being yourself.

You will enjoy this sweet, quirky tale of secret twists, because sometimes the best love stories start with a little white lie and maybe a bit of motor oil.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Historical Christian Romance author and three-time Selah Award nominee, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty-plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy, as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.

More from Jennifer

As I put this series together in my head, certain books were right there, laid out, easy to have a handle on them. But with Bernadette, I knew two things: she was a tiny spitfire, and the first line of the book had to be someone calling out her name. Why? Because that’s the way the Four Tops started the song that was my inspiration. Sort of. Actually, that is the only thing I used from the song.

I also wanted to introduce my readers to other places I remembered in Kokomo during the 1970s. I’d only been to the Kokomo Speedway once, and all I could remember was that it was loud. It was my one and only date with a longtime friend who had been an on-again, off-again boyfriend of my best friend. After we moved to Arizona, I had a chance to go back home for a few weeks before my senior year. Cheryl and Jim were no longer an item, but I’d been friends with both. Jim asked if I wanted to go to the races and I agreed. Can’t remember if we took his motorcycle or not, but I did ride with him once or twice on that trip. The funny thing is, we knew we were better as friends, and especially with the long distance between us, that was all either of us wanted. We remained friends for many years before we lost contact—I got to meet his wife and daughters, and he met my husband.

About the time I was starting this book, as the plot ideas were coming together, one of my sweet sisters from our Bible study group succumbed to cancer. Debbie was a sweet light, and I wanted to honor her. I asked her family if I could use her name in the story and they agreed.

Finally, I think every girl remembers the first boy to ask her to go steady. The thing is, I’m not sure who it was. From kindergarten through fourth grade, I went to school with the Richardson twins. Both were sweet and funny. Mike was the more outgoing, Mark was quieter.

I remember one time going to their house and making Christmas ornaments from straws after we learned how in school.

One day I got a phone call. I’d learned to tell them apart in person, but on the phone, not so much. I got asked to go steady. My dad had already informed me that ten-years-old was too young, so I blamed it on Dad and declined.

A few minutes later, I got a second phone call. Again I was asked to go steady and had to say no. The thing is, I never knew who asked first!

After that year we moved across town though I kept in touch with my friends. It was only about two-three years later that I learned Mike had died from an accident. It wasn’t my first intro to death, but it was concerning someone my own age.

It’s been almost sixty years since I last saw Mike Richardson, but I still remember him with fondness. Another reason I had twins in this story. If only I knew which twin had asked me to go steady first.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 27 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 28

Texas Book-aholic, March 29

Blossoms and Blessings, March 30 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 31

Blogging With Carol, April 1

Stories By Gina, April 2 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, April 3 (Guest Review from Donna)

She Lives to Read, April 4

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 5 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 5

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, April 6

Pause for Tales, April 7

Books, Books, & More Books, April 8 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/iwo6B/bernadette-celebration-tour-giveaway

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow

 

All is finally good. Jon Tremaine has created a new life in Brunswick, Georgia, as part of the Federal Witness Protection program after testifying against the former drug cartel he was involved with. Only his wife, Sarah, and a handler with the US Marshal's office know his true identity, and he is now the manager of a large commercial tree farm with a baby on the way. But when one of Jon's employees is arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the United States, he goes against his better judgment and inserts himself in the middle of the case, believing the man is an unsuspecting mole manipulated by sophisticated drug dealers.

Kelli Quinn, a highly skilled litigator with an Atlanta law firm, has moved to Brunswick to work with her best friend from law school, hoping to rebuild her life after a painful divorce. She and her two children find a temporary home with her aunt Carly, a woman whose great faith is making an impression on her new houseguests. For the first time in a very long while, Kelli sees a future where she can find balance between the job she loves and the family she loves even more.

New to the firm and in need of clients, Kelli agrees to represent Jon's employee. The unfolding investigation reveals layers of criminal activity and possible connections to Jon's past, putting everyone at risk of exposure--and even death.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 

Robert Whitlow grew up in north Georgia. He graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a BA in history in 1976 and received his JD with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1979. A practicing attorney, he is a partner in a Charlotte, NC law firm. He and his wife Kathy have four children and nine grandchildren.

Robert began writing in 1996. His novels are set in the South and include both legal suspense and interesting characterization. It is his desire to write stories that reveal some of the ways God interacts with people in realistic scenarios.

 

My Review

 

This read quickly became a page turner for me. I loved that this is a faith based read.
Spiritual warfare is so strong in here, and evil sure is raising its ugly head.
I loved the children, with all the uprooting in their lives, but what a champion they find in Aunt Carly!
This read deals with cartels, witness protection, danger and false charges, but how to get out of them. There are those who are willing to sacrifice almost anything for those they care about, and others that pray for there healing and safety.
Do things all turn out like I want? Well, the page turning did answer my questions, and I'll be looking for more reads by Robert Whitlow!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon

 As a principal dancer with a prestigious New York ballet company, Devyn Lee is far from her hometown of Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast. But when a family emergency compels her to return, her visit turns into an extended stay after complications arise.

Widowed millworker Aaron Steele pays no attention to the buzz in Hope Harbor about the famous dancer in town. Until his grieving nine-year-old daughter takes a fancy to Devyn after she agrees to help with a fundraising show for a local charity in which the young girl is performing. As the show--and Devyn--begin to lift his daughter's spirits, his own life is brightened by the beautiful ballerina as she slowly but surely captures his heart.

But what are the odds that such an accomplished, polished woman from the city could ever fall for a small-town lumberman with two left feet? 

 Amazon 

 

About The Author

 Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

 

My Review

 

I know I'm in for a good read when I pick up a book by Irene Hannon. She never disappoints, and this read was wonderful!
We do get to experience the wisdom of Charlie, as he serves up some of those delicious taco's, I always get hungry while reading about him. This is a faith based read, and I love the banter between the two clergy members that are recurring characters in these books!
This is a love story, of family, of children, with a bit of sweet romance!
There are long standing hurts here, and we wonder if the relationships can ever be healed, will people wake up before all is lost?
Now I can't wait for the next book in this amazing series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revel, and was not required to give a positive review.

 

Take the Horse and Run The Incredible True Story of a Horse Fleeing for His Life--and the Girl Who Would Stop at Nothing to Save Him by Haylee Graham

 

When her parents’ devastating divorce uprooted her life, Haylee Graham plunged into a downward spiral. Heartbroken and afraid, the young girl turned to her beloved horse, Cartier, as a lifeline. The only place she felt safe was hiding with him in his stall; the only time she felt like herself was when the two jumped fences together.

So when a corrupt lawyer threatened to seize ownership of Cartier and sell him to a slaughterhouse to repay their debts, Haylee knew she would do anything to save him. Her mom said 'Take the horse and run!”—and she did. Their late-night escape set off a relentless pursuit with a shady private investigator terrorizing Haylee and Cartier every step of the way as they tried to outrun the forces that threatened to tear them apart.

Amazon 

 

 About The Author

 

Haylee Graham has been a professional writer for over a decade, earning recognition at the International Christian Film Festival, Indie X Film Fest, CARE Awards, and the 168 Film Festival. She is the author of four Young Adult fiction novels, a member of SCBWI, and has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and GoodNews Northwest Newspaper. Her work and story have been featured by The Los Angeles Tribune, KTLA 5, Voyage LA (“Most Inspiring Stories in Los Angeles”), Creativ Mag, Canvas Rebel Magazine, Bold Journey Magazine, Warriors Rising Podcast, and Connection Pointe City Church in Brownsburg, Indiana.

Her short film Out of the Quiet earned more than 28 awards and nominations at film festivals nationwide, while her most recent project, Planted, won the top prize at the prestigious 168 Film Festival, including awards for “Best Screenplay,” “Best Speed Film,” and “Best of the Festival.”

Haylee has signed with Tyndale Publishing for her memoir Take the Horse and Run, releasing April 7, 2026. She is also the daughter of actor Gary Graham and award-winning actress Susan Lavelle.

 

My Review

A very emotional read. From her journey of living with adults that scream and fight, to broken homes, and then basically living on the street.
A young girl given a beautiful show jumping, and she falls in love with this beautiful animal! Her life is often in turmoil, but Cartier knows her and all her problems and secrets.
This is a faith based read, but life is at times very hard here, for both Haylee and her horse.
Sadly, this is a true story, and the meanness of some of the people that touch their lives, is terrible.
I have never owed a horse, but dogs, yes, and you see the abuse, and hurting that goes on.
I loved the life span of a horse, and how this story ends. I also like how the story goes to a full conclusion.
I received this book through Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.  

The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin

 

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy—a friend of her husband, John—offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Hope College and Southern Connecticut State University to work as a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother, and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels have won Christy Awards for excellence in Christian Fiction: Hidden Places (2001), Candle in the Darkness (2002), Fire by Night (2003), A Proper Pursuit (2007), Until We Reach Home (2008), Though Waters Roar (2009) While We're Far Apart (2010), and Wonderland Creek (2011). She was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2013. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

 

My Review

First this is a beautifully written faith based read.
The story focuses on homes built in the 1800's in Michigan. This is a dual time read, beginning with the original owners and then to the present day owners. The story is woven around these homes, and the people who dwell in them, and the going back and forth in the time periods is done beautifully.
This is a page turning read, and there are surprises here, a lot I didn't expect, but as they unfold, they come into the story and answer the questions you have at the right time.
Would I have like some things to turn out differently, yes, but I did enjoy how things turn out.
I received this book through Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review. 

New York's Coldest Cases: Ten Unsolved Murders that Rocked the Empire State by David Bushman, Mark T. Givens

 

Unravel Ten of the New York's Most Interesting Murder Mysteries.

David Bushman's and Mark Givens' engaging retellings take readers through the history of the crimes and the personal anecdotes of family and friends who were impacted by the deaths. Breakdowns of the crime scenes, timelines of the victims and the suspects, and various clues give readers a personal guide to the unsolved murders that have rocked New York. 

Amazon 

 

About The Authors

 David Bushman is an author, publisher, and media professor who was a longtime (27 years!) television curator at The Paley Center for Media. He also spent two years as program director at TV Land. He is co-president/publisher/managing editor at Fayetteville Mafia Press (www.fayettevillemafiapress.com), specializing in true crime and pop culture. His greatest professional achievement was interviewing Alan Moore about the TV show "The Prisoner." He lives in NYC with his wife, two daughters, and strangely recalcitrant dog, who is named after Agent Dale Cooper from Twin Peaks. His next dog will almost certainly be named Rorschach. He loves the Pogues and thinks "Fairytale of New York" is not only the greatest Christmas song ever written, but very possibly the greatest song ever written.

 

 

Mark T. Givens works as a consultant for the federal government and is the creator and host of the Twin Peaks–centric podcast Deer Meadow Radio. He lives a with his wife and three children in Washington, DC. 

 

My Review

This book intrigued me, I've lived in NYS all my life, but a long way from the city. One of the stories took place in an area that I'm familiar with, North Greenbush, a bit different with all the farm land!
This book highlights with a lot of detail, and unfortunately, no real arrests. Except one case, where to suspect admits guilt, but in the end was justice served?
There are many cases mentioned here, some victims just disappear off the face of the earth, never to be seen again, and others are seen deceased but again there really isn't any justice.
I know that all of these cases happened before all forencics that are available today, DNA.
But, personally I live in a rural, farm land part of NY and know of at least 3 unsolved murders.
I loved all the information that the authors provided, and the conclusions that were made. Justice sure wasn't served! Not that some of the victims, well, I'll just say that in some cases justice was served.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Globe Pequot, and was not required to give a positive review.