Tuesday, May 19, 2026

A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart

Kallie Mae Bertram has harbored two dreams since childhood: to learn to read and to one day marry Quinn Spencer. But her first dream slipped away after her little sister died of a fever and her mother passed in childbirth. Kallie promised to care for the baby and her younger brother, which meant putting aside her own desires in order to keep her family together. But then a Moonlight School for adults offers Kallie hope of finally fulfilling that goal.

After Kallie's father forbids her from seeing Quinn, her second dream seems impossible. That is, until her frantic search for her missing sister leads to an unexpected encounter with Quinn in the woods--their first meeting in six years. The love they shared as children burns stronger than ever, awakening hopes Kallie thought were forever buried. But with their families locked in a bitter feud, following her heart could cost Kallie everything she's worked to protect. 

Amazon

About The Author

Ann H. Gabhart caught the writing bug at the age of ten and has been writing ever since. An award winning author, she's published many books for both adults and young adults. Her books cover several genres from historical to small town family stories to cozy mysteries (mysteries published with author name A.H. Gabhart). Her ideas are sparked by events in Kentucky history and by experiences in her own family. Her first Shaker novel, The Outsider, was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Fiction Book of the Year. Love Comes Home won the Selah Book of the Year award, and These Healing Hills was the Faith, Hope & Love Readers' Choice Women's Fiction Book of the Year.

Ann lives on a Kentucky farm not far from where she was born. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. Ann enjoys hiking on her farm with her grandkids and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. See more about her books at www.annhgabhart.com or join the conversation on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/anngabhart.

My Review

Such a great read, a head on look at life in the Kentucky mountains in 1911. People who were never able to learn to read or do math, are given a chance to learn. What a gift Cora Wilson Stewart brought to these people, and the author uses this as part of this story.
Old grudges here, family hating other families, and children hating other children because of grudges. The author throws in a bit of romance, and along with the hardships that these people took in their stride. You will love Aunt Sudie!
This was a story to get lost in and become a member of this group of people, and in the end I would love to have stayed here.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

The Island Bakeshop by Roseanna M. White

Come back to the sun-drenched shores of the Outer Banks and immerse yourself in another exciting and inspiring tale from Roseanna M. White. This dual-timeline, clean romance will have you reading late into the night to find out what happens next.

In this uplifting story of hope and renewal, you'll meet Harper Dailey, who returns to Avon, North Carolina, so she can help run the family business, Sunshine Bakery, after her father's heart attack. Suddenly, her thriving career at an upscale Savannah bakery is behind her, as is her rocky relationship with her ex-boyfriend―that is, until he shows up in Avon, letting her know he now owns the building the shop is in, and he may not renew the lease.

For Beckett Mills, Avon is a quiet refuge after his eight years of active service in the Navy. He works as hard at keeping folks at arm's length as he does at running his fishing charter business. His plan for distancing himself from others works well until the fateful day he enters the bakery and sees a beautiful Harper being harassed by her ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, he casts his fears aside and steps in to save the day.

Harper and Beckett have no intentions of beginning a romance, but when the pasts they are running from collide, they know it's not just a coincidence that they have ended up here at the same time. God has placed them together for a reason. Can Beckett let go of the worries that haunt him and welcome Harper into his life? Will Harper realize she can face any challenge with God―and just maybe Beckett―by her side? Don't miss this faith-filled story of hope, courage, and the grace to begin anew.

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 was such a great read to get lost in, such wonderful friends. The author does a beautiful job with this time split read, I loved how it all meshes together.
Some tough subjects are dealt with here, including abuse, both to adults and children. We witness some and others are brought to the surface.
Your in for some treats with all the delicious food being made here, if only we could taste them!
There are some recurring characters here, but this can be read alone! Your going to love how these friends really become family, and are there for one another.
The pages flew with this one, and a sense of loss when the the last page was turned!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.

Spies, Lies, and Alibis by Natalie Walters

Cybil Langford has spent years hiding behind her polished, professional facade as the executive assistant to a powerful real estate mogul, where she's perfectly positioned to collect intel on her boss's criminal network. But when her mission leads her into the path of Lorenzo Ramirez--a ruthless crime boss with deadly plans--she'll need every ounce of cunning and charm to stay one step ahead.

Then he walks back into her life.

Ben Bradley is deep undercover for the FBI, living under an alias, as a financial advisor with a reputation for helping the wealthy and corrupt launder their money. His target? Lorenzo Ramirez, a dangerous crime boss with his hands in everything from smuggling to murder. But when a familiar face from his past suddenly reappears, things get . . . complicated.

The last time Cybil saw Ben, he was an annoying prankster--and her first crush. The last time Ben saw Cybil, she stole a piece of his heart. Neither expected to run into each other at a high-stakes fundraising gala where crime, corruption, and undercover agendas collide.

Forced to work dangerously close, neither knows the other's true agenda. Cybil sees the boy who once broke her heart, now a man whose motives are deeply suspect. Ben sees the woman he never got over but can't determine if she's an innocent caught in the crossfire or a willing accomplice. As they navigate a world of spies, lies, and fragile alibis, they must dismantle the walls around their hearts.

Amazon

About The Author

Natalie Walters is a best selling author who loves writing romantic suspense with dynamic plots, memorable characters, humor, heart, and adventure.

As an Army wife, she fills her stories with the right balance of romantic and suspenseful tension to get the heart-racing and a cast of witty characters--all of which, may or may not be inspired by true people and/or events.

When she's not writing, she's dreaming of her next vacation, spending time with her family, or chasing after her sock-eating Goldendoodle, Scout. Annnd binging CourtTv.

You can find Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliewalters_writer/

My Review

This was at times a scary read, but it was also a fun read.
Loved the bantering between the two main characters, they have know each other for years, but have just now reacquainted, under unusual circumstances!
The author gives us fun characters, Cybil aka Billy, and Ben aka Craig, but there is danger here, with men that won't think twice about taking a life, and we wonder whom will survive to the end.
You have to love Cybil, and how she takes things in her stride, from hitting carts to climbing buildings, and denying her love for things she craves!
I am so glad I had a chance to enjoy this book!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review!

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Disposable Wives: Murder and Menace in Green Bay's Rural Belgian Settlement by Lynda Drews

He was known as the Bay Settlement Bruiser, the Belgian Archfiend, and, to some, a murderer. Over four decades, suspicion shadowed him through a series of disturbing deaths and disappearances—among them, his three wives.

Determined to uncover the truth, Pauline Villiesse—sister to Soquet’s third wife—refuses to let the past be buried. With the help of Xavier Martin, a respected translator navigating both language and loyalty within the Belgian immigrant community, she begins a relentless pursuit of justice.

Set in the decades following the Civil War, this riveting true story reveals a world shaped by faith, survival, and tightly bound traditions—where secrets are protected, reputations are everything, and justice is far from guaranteed.

Drawn from archival court records and primary sources, Disposable Wives is the true story of the women Wisconsin's justice system failed—and the woman who refused to let them be forgotten.

Amazon

About The Author

Lynda Drews, a Wisconsin native, gave the commencement speech at her University of Wisconsin-La Crosse alma mater. She encouraged students to journal their lives as she had.

In 2009, Run at Destruction: A True Fatal Love Triangle was the outcome. Publisher's Weekly said: "the author and victim's shared moments... are remarkable." The Investigation Discovery Channel filmed a segment based on that book, and it was endorsed by Ann Rule, the best-selling true crime author.

Lynda's Door County, Wisconsin mystery novel, Circle of Innocence, was published in 2014. Midwest Book Review said it "excels in psychological depth," and Brian Freeman, the best-selling author of The Bone House, endorsed it.

Desperate Parallels (released in 2018) was inspired by Lynda's IBM global executive career. While working in America and Japan, she learned first-hand the issues women faced, and continue to face, in the corporate business world.

The Maid and the Socialite: The Brave Women Behind Green Bay's Scandalous Minahan Trials (released in 2023) takes place in Lynda's hometown in an era where women were treated as less than equal to the city's powerful men. The Midwest Book Review states that this true story is told with "the drama of fiction and the compelling research of fact."

When Lynda's not writing, she teaches classes for WRITE ON DOOR COUNTY, reads, runs, knits, plays bridge, and drinks coffee. The latter is a necessity, even at bedtime.

My Review

The author did such an thorough job of presenting this crime, you would think it was recent, instead of the late 1880's.
Yes, evil walks among us, and we get to meet one up close and personal. From doing away with his wives, and children, with no regard for human life, everyone is disposable!
I found it interesting that this was a Belgium community, and they had their own language, and we learn quite a bit about them.
The story is told from the POV of a sister of one of the victims, and the author gives us a glimpse into her life, and others in this community.
We get an in-depth look into this trial, and did it turn out like I hoped?
We also go on in years and all that happens after the trial, and concludes with what happens to some of the other characters in this read!
Great job!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Book Whisperer, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Celebrate Lit Presents: Fairest Inn All (Real Life Fairy Tales Book Two) Author: Amy R. Anguish

About the Book

Book: Fairest Inn All (Real Life Fairy Tales Book Two)

Author: Amy R. Anguish

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: March 24, 2026

When Kari White’s seven uncles beg her and her brother Jake to come to Georgia and revamp their inn, she isn’t happy about it. She doesn’t remember them nor does she want to leave West Virginia. But family comes first, and the Apple Inn has a lot of potential, despite the deadlines they’re up against … not to mention the land-hungry Queenie Ville, who has her eye on buying their property.

Royal Barrett loves Brunswick, Georgia, and wants to help preserve its heritage. That’s why he convinces the Chamber of Commerce to start a Fairest Inn All contest to encourage inns across the town to refresh without becoming too modern. But when he meets the gorgeous Kari White, he discovers some other aspirations—like winning her over to a happily ever after with him.

Driven together by goals and weather, Kari can’t help the attraction between them. But she’s rejected a happy ending for so long, it’s going to take more than a few walks under Spanish moss-covered oaks to win her heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

More from Amy

Fairest Inn All was never supposed to exist. Honestly, I never expected to write a fairy-tale retelling, even though it’s one of my favorite tropes to read. But then God gave me the idea to write Rendersella a few years ago. I was inspired by a trip to West Virginia and the story would not leave me alone until I got it all typed up. And I had an absolute blast weaving in characters and plot points that reminded the reader enough of the classic fairy tale, but still told a new story.

Thing is, by the end of writing Rendersella, I discovered something. One, Ella’s best friend Kari was supposed to be Snow White. And two, that her stepsister Bellamy needed to have her own story told in Beauty School and the Beast (releasing March 2027). This put a crimp in my plans. After all, I’d barely reconciled myself to telling one fairy-tale retelling, to say nothing of three. But the characters wouldn’t hush.

So, with Kari’s story itching to be told, I had some decisions to make. I knew it was going to be in Brunswick, Georgia with her seven uncles and her ornery brother Jake. But how to weave in all the elements that make a story sing fairy tale without it sounding like every other version?

Well, one of the changes I made was to name the uncles after apples. After all, their last name is Apple, and so is the name of their old inn. That was fun, picking from the thousands of apple names to find ones that matched the personalities of the gentlemen. Then, I brought in an evil character named Queenie to be the nemesis of Kari, aka Snow. Queenie wants the inn and will stoop to all sorts of levels to try and get it. And, of course, I needed a princely character. Enter Royal Barrett, son of a man on the Chamber of Commerce. He is helping organize a contest called the Fairest Inn All, meant to encourage the owners of old inns to revamp and preserve the history of the area. Add in some fun scenes, a hurricane, and a bit of “poison,” and voila!

If you think that sounds too easy, you’re right. I agonized over several of the parts of this book. But it turned out so much fun, in my opinion. And you might even discover a few extra characters along the way.

Retelling stories that are already much-loved, I’ve discovered, is a delicate balance. It’s hard to make sure everything comes out familiar enough while still new. But when it works, it leaves the reader wanting even more. And maybe even the author too. Hence, another fairy-tale retelling from me with another on the way next year.

Do you love fairy-tale retellings? What are some of your favorites? How do you feel about stories you’ve loved forever being rewoven in a different way?

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 2

Inspired by Fiction, May 3

Simple Harvest Reads, May 4 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 5

Holly’s Book Corner, May 6

Artistic Nobody, May 7 (Author Interview)

By the Book, May 8

Texas Book-aholic, May 9

Guild Master, May 10 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , May 11

Fiction Book Lover, May 12 (Author Interview)

Fruitfully Planted, May 13

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 14 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Rendersella and Fairest Inn All!!

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

https://gleam.io/Y7seJ/fairest-inn-all-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

The Forgotten Midwife by Laura Anthony

New Jersey, 2023. Riley Carmichael is getting married and finally joining a huge, loving family, but she can’t help but feel the emptiness of her own side of the church. For most of Riley’s life, it’s been just her and her grandmother, Betty, but as late-stage dementia overtakes her grandmother’s mind, Riley knows she’s losing her, too. On one of Riley’s visits to Betty’s nursing home, she encounters her grandmother in one of her increasingly rare moments of lucidity, and Betty desperately shares with Riley a tatty birth certificate for an unknown baby born in Ireland in the 1950s. Full of questions about her heritage, Riley embarks on a trip to Ireland to find that elusive sense of home, identity, and belonging.

Tipperary, Ireland, 1954. Margaret Lannigan’s life is made up of weekly dances and time spent with the love of her life, Joseph. But when Margaret’s older sister dies suddenly, it falls to Margaret to fulfill the family’s commitment to the Catholic Church: the eldest daughter of the Lannigan family has joined a local convent for generations. Forced to part with Joseph and take the veil, Margaret is sent to Ballyvale Home for Fallen Girls to care for expectant mothers who fell pregnant outside of marriage. With no training or midwifery skills, she must fight to provide the compassionate care she feels these women deserve amid the cruelty they face.

When Margaret meets a young and terrified Delia O’Rourke, the sister of her childhood best friend, she must find the strength she needs to protect this young woman and her baby in the face of a system built to ensure they disappear.

Told with courage and heart, The Forgotten Midwife is a haunting, hopeful novel about the strength of women, the meaning of family, and the life-saving power of friendship.

Amazon

About The Author

Laura Anthony is the author of THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO, and the forthcoming novel THE FORGOTTEN MIDWIFE (May 2026). Laura lives in Kildare, Ireland, with her husband, children, and their exceptionally fluffy dog who insists on supervising all writing sessions!

Learn more (or say hi!) at www.laura-anthony.com

My Review

The author did a beautiful job of weaving this gripping dual time read.
A book filled with emotions, and the author's notes bring us full circle! A tale of fiction, but? Yes, these things really happened, sadly!
Family, yes, this is a story of wanting, a new beginning a journey, and big revelations.
The things that happened here, made me want justice, but keep reading!
I loved the epilogue, and as I said the author's notes, they made the story complete.
What people did in the name of religion is horrible, and not what God intended, evil takes over, and when you read that this is based on facts, it really hits home.
I'm glad I read this book, and will be looking for more by this author!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Monday, May 11, 2026

Celebrate Lit Presents: Meet Me in the Yorkshire Dales Author: Valerie Massey Goree

About the Book

Book: Meet Me in the Yorkshire Dales

Author: Valerie Massey Goree

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: February, 2025

To inherit her grandfather’s estate, Roxanne Clarke has to prove the identity of her birth mother. Considering all the ancestry help online, that shouldn’t be a problem. However, the only clues Roxanne has are an old photograph and hints provided by a member of her grandfather’s household that her mother was born in Yorkshire.

Accompanied by her best friend, Avery, and Avery’s twin brother, Lucas, Roxanne travels to England. Their attempts to identify Roxanne’s mother send them from one village to another. To add to their frustration, a fellow Texan is following them, threatening them, trying to locate the woman first.

Lucas has been in love with Roxanne since high school, but botched their relationship two years ago. While helping her find her mother, can he salvage their once-blossoming romance, build a new beginning, and keep her safe when the Texan’s actions intensify?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides in San Antonio, Texas.

She was born in South Africa and grew up in Rhodesia—now Zimbabwe. Valerie met her husband, Glenn, at a Christian university in the USA. After they married, they served as missionaries in Rhodesia. When the family returned to Texas, Valerie began her teaching career. She served 25 years in the public school arena, focusing on children with special needs.

Her writing journey only began when their children were in high school. Attending workshops and ACFW conferences helped propel her toward publication. She has eleven romantic suspense novels published.

Valerie and her family traveled extensively throughout North America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Now retired and widowed, she spends her time writing, reading, traveling, and spoiling her grandchildren.

Valerie loves to hear from her readers.

More from Valerie

Meet Me in the Yorkshire Dales is the second book in my series From England with Love and…Treachery. The three standalone stories feature American characters who are visiting or working in England. When they meet, romance blossoms, but is hindered by misfortune, menacing strangers, betrayal, and dead-end clues. Book One, Meet Me Where the Windrush Flows, is set in the Cotswolds. Book Three, which I’m writing now, takes place in the City of Bath during the Jane Austen Festival.

As an author, my goal is to set stories in places I’ve lived or visited. What a hardship it was for me to travel to England to research the Cotswolds area for Book One, and the next year to visit the Yorkshire Dales and Bath!

During my two-week sojourn in the Yorkshire Dales, I stayed in a cottage in each of the villages featured in the story. When I walked down the ‘Snake Path’ in Grassington, I knew I had to include it in the story.

Roxanne, my heroine, has never been to England and is enthralled by the villages’ narrow roads, cobblestone streets, and the ancient cottages, some built in the seventeenth century.

When I made the reservation for the cottage in Grassington, I didn’t know that the TV show All Creatures Great and Small is filmed there. They usually film in April, but alas, I was there in September. I did recognize many places used in the show, such as the village center, featured in the photo.

Needless to say, I loved visiting these places. Roxanne did, too.