AN APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY by Jayna Breigh, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:
I absolutely loved this story. The author makes 'legalese' understandable. The characters were stellar. J.D. was a flawed, redeemed, upright lawyer who fought for the underdog. Mahalia was a by-the-book judge who learned to loosen up and went back to her Christian roots. Since she was raised by a preacher granddaddy, those Bible quotes keep popping into her head.
 

Ms. Breigh writes in a natural, flowing way that put me right in the story, the elevator scene was epic. I loved the way J. D. calmed the situation by playing 20 questions to pass the time.
 

What started out as an at-odds relationship, blossomed into quite the romance. It goes to show that God might change the plans you thought were written in stone. The side characters rounded out the story to show the personality traits of J.D. and Mahalia.
 

What’s not to love when you mix an earthquake, someone making things difficult, and romance with interesting legal information.
 

Another excellent story by a very talented author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

 

BackCover Blurb:
As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.

Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.

Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.

A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk. 

 

Kregel Publications, January, 2026
Available in digital ebook, paperback, or audiobook:
Buy AN APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

BLAZE OF COURAGE by Avrie Swan, Tour and Review hosted by Paula Shreckhise #CelebrateLit

 

About the Book

Book: Blaze of Courage

Author: Avrie Swan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 13, 2026

A mysterious locket brings a fire survivor and a wounded veteran together, but their growing feelings might be more dangerous than the men pursuing them.

Charlotte Clarke survived the flames that destroyed her town and took her family, but at what cost? Left injured and alone, she seizes the chance for a fresh start when a dying friend asks her to take a locket to a relative in Kentucky. But she has no means to reach her destination until she meets a handsome horse trainer headed south and convinces him to let her travel with him.

Haunted by his years in the cavalry and desperate to save his family’s failing stables, Stefan Roberts is focused on transporting his father’s racehorses to Kentucky for the spring races. He isn’t looking for complications—especially not in the form of a determined young woman with secrets of her own. Yet as they travel together, Charlotte’s courage and determination begin to crack the walls he’s built around his heart.

When a shadowy pursuer closes in, Stefan and Charlotte must face the pasts they’ve been running from, and the faith they thought they’d left behind, before their fragile hopes for the future go up in smoke.

PAULA'S REVIEW:

Peshtigo, Wisconsin to Lexington, Kentucky 

Charlotte has lost everything in the great Peshtigo fire. Recovering from her injuries, she sets out to return a keepsake to relatives of a friend who died in the fire. On her journey to Kentucky, she encounters Stephan who is taking two thoroughbreds to his father’s stables in Montecello, Kentucky. In Chicago they help out twins Tom and Sebastian who join them on the journey. 

The story is about the travels and sinister men who are after something Charlotte possesses. 

Along the way, Charlotte questions why God would let bad things happen to her if He cared. Stephan and others show her that God does care for her because He sacrificed His Son. 

This touching story had mystery, intrigue, a clear gospel message, a bit of romance, and characters that showed compassion and bravery. 

I was expecting to read more about the fire but maybe that was in the first book of the series. I lived pretty close to Peshtigo many years ago so I am interested in the history of the fire.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Wild Heart books through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 4 stars and a solid faith thread

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Avrie Swan is a Christian author and avid reader with a love for all things historical. Having grown up exploring antique stores and museums, she eventually decided to combine her interest in history with her love for writing and began working on her first full-length novel at the age of fourteen. She especially enjoys writing stories that focus on themes of family, faith, and growth through difficult times.

When Avrie is not writing, she is watching old movies, collecting antique books, and hunting for agates. A native Wisconsinite, she enjoys spending the cold winters indoors with her cat on her lap and a good book in her hand.

 

More from Avrie

Hello, folks!

When I wrote Blaze of Courage, I wanted to create a story centered on three things I love: adventure, faith, and horses. I adored horses as a kid, and although my family didn’t have the time, space, or money for a big animal, my mom managed to enroll me in a horseback riding camp when I was around nine or ten. I was over the moon! Since then, I’ve had more chances to interact with and learn about these loyal, graceful (and sometimes ungraceful) creatures. Blaze of Courage wouldn’t be complete without them!

In addition to everything related to horses, Charlotte and Stefan’s journey in Blaze of Courage centers on the theme of returning to Christ. Unlike Carina, who held onto her faith despite her struggles, the fire and its aftermath severely challenged Charlotte’s beliefs. Have you ever felt like hiding from everyone after being hurt? It’s often easier to hide our feelings and blame others rather than face what truly bothers us, and in Charlotte’s case, this includes trying to hide from and blame God. Of course, hiding from God is a strategy doomed to fail. What happens once Charlotte realizes this is something for you, dear reader, to discover.

The characters in Blaze of Courage are some of my favorites, and I thought it would be fun to create a little game based on them! Feel free to check out the link below and take the quiz to see which of the four group members you resemble most. If you play, share your results on social media or leave a comment on my Instagram! I’d love to see what you get. As always, God bless!

https://take.quiz-maker.com/QNUD28ZQX

Sincerely,

Avrie Swan

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 25

Books Less Travelled, January 25

Simple Harvest Reads, January 26 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 27

Inkwell Inspirations , January 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 29

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 30

Holly’s Book Corner, January 30

Devoted Steps, January 31

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, February 1

Betti Mace, February 2

Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Pause for Tales, February 3

For Him and My Family, February 4

Stories By Gina, February 5 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, February 5

Connie’s History Classroom, February 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Avrie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

Giveaway

HEARTS IN CIRCULATION by Sarah Monzon, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

 A Christian Contemporary Autumn Rom-Com Book-about-Books with Forced-Proximity, Grumpy-Sunshine, and Pen-Pal Romance

 

PAULA'S REVIEW:
“The downside of having an active imagination is that it can run away with me pretty quickly. I take mine by the metaphorical reins and yank hard until it comes to a screeching halt.”
 

This was a hilarious story but it taught some realistic lessons. 

 

The two main characters are not run-of-the mill. Levi, a mechanic, is a huge man with teddy bear qualities. He has a condition that has his senses on overload, so he is perceived as a reclusive grouch. Haley, a librarian, thinks she is living on borrowed time since her liver transplant. She does not want to commit to a long term relationship. God works in mysterious and comical ways to bring the two together and show them that love is possible.
 

I love the internal dialogue that Haley shows us. She has a witty banter with her friends. Levi is really sweet and loves his family but due to his condition is wary of people.
 

There is a clear gospel message and faith is presented in a realistic way as the answer to a flawed humanity.
 

I loved reading about two people who loved books. It makes me want to read the rest of the series.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

 

BackCover Blurb:
Can a rundown bookmobile be the vehicle that brings two unlikely hearts together?

Little Creek's bookmobile is more of a death trap on wheels than a vehicle of literary delights, and circulation librarian Hayley Holt is afraid it's going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Yet she sees it as a way to serve her community and be worthy of the liver transplant that saved her life as a child. However, her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove.

Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives in tiny Turkey Grove to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touches from the vibrant librarian leave him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren't contained within the bindings of a book.

Sarah Monzon pens a charming contemporary rom-com for fans of books about books, the forced-proximity and grumpy-sunshine tropes, and pen-pal romances. Fans of Melissa Ferguson and Pepper Basham will find this no-spice, heartwarming love story magnetic.

 

Bethany House Publishing, November, 2025

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:

Buy HEARTS IN CIRCULATION at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

THE FAULT BETWEEN US by Stephanie Landsem, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

PAULA'S REVIEW:
This story struck me with its heartfelt, realistic descriptions of an earthquake and rescue efforts afterward. That was the tense and dangerous part but what also struck me was the relationships in the Reilley family. Sisters Claire, Bridget and Frannie grew up not knowing their mother and with an overprotective father. That situation colored their whole life and choices. The excellent writing showed how their decisions shaped them and how circumstances brought out the best in them.
 

The theme of trusting and trustworthiness came through as well as redemption and reconciliation. I especially like the viewpoint of Claire and her appreciation of the beauty of her surroundings, attributing them to God. Her faith and Christian outlook shine through.
 

Ironically, I have also been reading a contemporary book set in Yellowstone with a scene mentioning the quake of 1959. It was interesting to see the overlap.
* A complimentary copy of this book wa# provided by Tyndale through NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread 

 

SEE REBECCA'S REVIEW: 

BackCover Blurb:
In this gripping new work of historical fiction from the award-winning author of Code Name Edelweiss, three sisters fight for their lives and for each other amid the danger of a cataclysmic earthquake that rips Yellowstone National Park asunder.

1959. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly were once as close as sisters can be. Though their mother left when they were young, their loving father raised them with everything they could want. But when Claire marries a handsome cowboy and settles out west, a thousand miles away, the sisters’ strong bond begins to unravel.

Claire struggles to adjust to a life utterly unlike her upbringing, and surprising revelations about her husband’s past make her wonder if she’s made a terrible mistake. With a new baby and a shoestring budget, the last thing she needs is her family’s interference.

Sensing something isn’t right, Bridget takes a temporary nursing assignment in Yellowstone, promising her father she’ll bring Claire home—with or without her husband. When Frannie, the rebellious youngest sister, is sent along in hopes it will corral her behavior, the Reilly sisters reunite on the eve of a seismic event that rips Yellowstone apart, tests their survival, and exposes the ever-widening rift in their relationship.

Based on real events of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake and inspired by true stories, The Fault Between Us is a suspenseful exploration of the bonds of sisterhood, the depths of family drama, and how hidden wounds can only heal when they’re brought into the light.

-Christian historical fiction based on fascinating historical events
-Perfect for fans of Cathy Gohlke or Susan Meissner
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Tyndale Fiction, November, 2025

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:

Buy THE FAULT BETWEEN US at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House