NORTHARGYLE ABBIE by Janelle Leonard, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #NewRelease

ROYALLY AUSTEN SERIES #1 

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Such a delightful book. It had the best quirky heroine, Abbie, and a very swoony hero prince, Colter. Abbie is the daughter of a pastor and has five brothers who are very accomplished. She is trying to establish herself as a researcher in a museum. Her grandmother has fostered a love of history and discovery in her. 

Gran has left her a cottage in Australia. She embarks on a book tour to Australia with her Aunt Vi, an author who has used Abbie as a character in one of her series.

I love her quirky, close family. They are so well written. Abbie writes silly placards in her head for any occasion and plays the storytelling “what if game” at the drop of a hat. This book brought with it a ton of smiles and a few heartfelt tears.
Both main characters were strong Christians and it was nice to see how their different personalities showed their faith to others.

This was a cute, entertaining, substantive book. Kudos to Ms. Leonard for an exceptional debut.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by WhiteCrown, a division of WhiteFire Publishing. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*Beyond 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

BackCover Blurb:
When Abigail Morgan, a naive pastor’s daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother’s past—an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.

While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother’s mystery—and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago—than she ever imagined.

In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.

WhiteCrown Publishing, March, 2025

Available in digital ebook and paperback

Buy NORTHARGYLE ABBIE at Amazon

 

IVY'S INHERITANCE by Linda Shenton Matchett, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides Book 57

 

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Mail order bride Ivy Cregg has escaped being forced into marriage by her gambler father. She heads west to Lincoln, Nebraska to wed rich rancher Slade Pendleton. They agree on a month to get to know each other before the wedding. Ivy teaches school and learns about being a ranch wife from neighbor Dinah who became a friend. Ivy and Slade want what is best and seek God for the answers.
 

I liked the way the author showed Ivy interacting with the students and how Slade was a good and fair boss and learned from his mistakes.
 

The story was a good look at life out west after the Civil War and got very exciting when Ivy was kidnapped. There was a slow build romance and a happily ever after.
 

For fans of Historical Christian Fiction and a feel-good story with strong faith thread.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Shortwave Press on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*4 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Ivy Cregg’s father is a gambler, but this time he’s gone too far. He loses his mining fortune and her along with it in a high-stakes poker game. Unwilling to go along with the deal, she hides out with a friend who tells her about Ms. Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency who is in town. The prospective groom is a wealthy man which seems like an answer to prayer until Ivy discovers he made his fortune in mining. Is he as untrustworthy as her father?

After emigrating to America to fight for the Union during their Civil War, Slade Pendleton moved West while working on the railroad, then headed to the plains of Nebraska to seek his fortune. He was one of the lucky ones and now has everything he could ever want. Except a wife. With the few women in the town already married, he sends for a mail-order bride. The woman arrives carrying the telegram that explains her need to flee, but now that she’s safe, she seems to have no interest in going through with the ceremony. Should he send her packing or try to convince her to stay?

 

April 2025

Available in digital ebook at Amazon

FINDING YOU by Robin Patchen, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

PAULA'S REVIEW:
This was the third in a series about the Wright brothers, but it can be read as a stand alone. It did make me want to read the books about the other brothers.
 

Finding You is about a flawed hero, history professor Bryan, and an American, Sophie who works in a Museum in Munich. So lots of fascinating scenery. It also included danger and intrigue featuring terrorists.
 

Bryan and Sophie are strong Christians who have a heart for lost souls and also want to do something for their country. The opportunity comes up for Bryan to identify an artifact, but soon the task turns dangerous. They search for a hidden cache of something that is vital to security, but they need to follow a clue to even know what it is!
 

A favorite character was Aaron who runs a mission for refugees in Munich. He follows God and leaves the consequences to Him.
 

Both Bryan and Sophie are dealing with backgrounds that could effect their Christian walk but they ultimately seek God and work through difficulties. I loved the solid faith thread and lessons taught.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*4 stars and a solid faith thread 

 

SEE REBECCA'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:
Don't miss this race-against-the-clock story of suspense and intrigue from a USA Today bestselling author.

One obscure Babylonian artifact in the hands of terrorists could bring down an entire city…

When antiquities professor Bryan Wright is tasked with discovering why a band of terrorists might target a museum in Munich, he teams up with the museum’s attractive exhibit designer to study their ancient artifacts. Something in this collection holds special value to the terrorists, and Bryan must figure out which item and why—before enemies get their hands on it.

An American living in Munich, Sophie Chapman wouldn’t have expected to be attracted to a musty old antiquities professor—but this guy is neither musty nor old. Even so, she’s not ready for a new boyfriend, considering she hasn’t figured out how to get rid of the old one. When her apartment is broken into, she has bigger worries than the ex who won’t leave her alone.

The seemingly random break-in is anything but. Terrorists are closing in, and their plot will destroy more than the romance growing between Bryan and Sophie.

It’ll destroy everything they hold dear.

Terrorism, romance, and a 20-year-old mystery with shades of Raiders of the Lost Arc thrown in. The stakes couldn't be higher as evil men plot to take down their enemies--and any innocent civilians who get in their way. And that's just one part of their plan. 

Buy FINDING YOU at Amazon in digital ebook, paperback, or Audiobook

OVERFLOW by Linda Rodante, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise for #JustRead

Book 2 of The Waterfall Mysteries, 

Christian romantic mystery and suspense

 

PAULA'S REVIEW:

This is a continuation of Waterfall and is the best read after that book. 
 

The four friends, Anna and Laurie who own a B&B and Richard and Trevor who are psychologists, are hiking near a beautiful waterfall. Laurie is injured, and the other hikers go to summon help. While sitting by the falls, she sees something frightening in the water: a body of a woman with a flashy ring on her finger.
 

This was an absorbing, complex story that kept you trying to figure out who could have put the body there, who took the ring, and who was threatening which of the friends. What an exciting plot, and a surprise ending.
 

I enjoyed the portrayal of faith discussions between the four friends and the romance that progressed.
 

I am looking forward to more stories in this fictional Tennessee town.
*A complimentary copy of this. Book was provided by the author for review. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

4 stars and a solid faith thread 

 

BackCover Blurb:
Can a peaceful waterfall hold the answer to a murderer's darkest secret?

In the small town of Benton, Tennessee, Laurie Brooks is seen as quiet and unassuming until she makes a deadly discovery at a waterfall. Determined to find justice for the victim, Laurie embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she thought she knew about herself.

Trevor Oppenheimer, a young, successful psychologist, loves his work helping others overcome emotional turmoil. But when Laurie begins to unravel a dangerous maze of secrets, Trevor's pain-filled past rises to threaten her investigation. Can he trust God and conquer his fear, or will he drive Laurie away?

While Laurie and Trevor navigate their struggles of faith, fear, and growing love, a killer lurks in the shadows. As the danger escalates, they’ll have to unravel the truth before they find themselves the victims of a vindictive killer.

Fans of faith-filled drama, suspenseful whodunits, and strong female protagonists, will love Book 2 of The Waterfall Mysteries. Although fun as a series, each book can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery.

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