THE FILLING STATION by Vanessa Miller, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

A USA TODAY Bestselling Historical Fiction Novel about the Tulsa Race Massacre

REBECCA'S REVIEW: 
"I choose to believe that God is good. What do you choose to believe?"

Margaret Justice believed no such thing. After she and her younger sister Evelyn survived unspeakable horrors on the night that their prosperous community of Greenwood, Oklahoma had been burned to the ground, countless citizens mowed down by gunfire, and local businesses utterly destroyed . . . while elected officials and law enforcement looked the other way . . . how could anyone declare that God was good? There was no way that Margaret was going to sit back and wait on the Almighty to rebuild what had been reduced to rubble.

What happens next is the most remarkable of stories, told with the actual 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre sewed into its very fiber from beginning to end. Courage, determination, heartache . . . insurmountable obstacles and unbelievable blessings; so many unsung heroes who deserve the microphone and others who are suitably garbed in fictional attire. These are the kinds of stories that need to see the light of day so that they are never repeated, except between the pages of a book; which once read, can never be forgotten.

The overriding question remains . . . do you have a "filling station"? 

*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER! · A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKS OF 2025 PICK · A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE PICK FOR 2025 · 

Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.

Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma--also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all--movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.

Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.

But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost.

The Filling Station weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported into a story about strong Black women in a pivotal moment of history.

Discussion questions are included, so it's perfect for book clubs! Keep your tissues nearby because this one is practically guaranteed to make you feel all the feelings.

Thomas Nelson, March, 2026

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

BUY The Filling Station at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

 

SUNG IN THE SHADOWS by Crystal Caudill, Reviewed by Winnie Thomas #NewRelease

 

The Art of Love and Danger Book Two

WINNIE'S REVIEW
“Hiding your pain and thoughts doesn’t make you a stronger person. It makes life lonelier to walk through.”

Sung in the Shadows by talented author Crystal Caudill is a heart-tugging story filled with engaging main characters, despicable villains, and an assortment of other people ranging from cruel to kind and everywhere in between. Also included is Tristan, a demon of a cat with an attitude. The plot of the tale is very creative and attention-grabbing, and it kept me turning the pages.

Nora was the victim of a kidnapping as a child, and her parents changed their names and hid their identities to try to keep themselves safe from the villains. Nora’s mother is a renowned singer, Constanza Brisbane, and her paranoia has caused her to be confined to the Longview Asylum. As Nora visits her mother there, she meets Ezekiel Beaumont whose mother also resides at asylum. He works at an opera house, which is a forbidden place for Nora, so she intends to avoid him. I loved Ezekiel’s compassionate and caring personality, and his persistence in trying to help Nora.

“Maybe Jesus has paired us under the same yoke so we can share each other’s burdens as He guides us through this mess of life.”

As past collides with the present and Nora’s family is once again in danger, the intrigue, mystery, and intensity ramp up. The author does a wonderful job of interjecting some humor and lighter moments into the rather gritty and heart-wrenching subject matter. Themes of family, faith, and hope among the darkness give an inspirational tone to the story. The author handled the subject of mental illness realistically and compassionately.

This book is part of Caudill’s Art of Love and Danger series but can be read as a stand-alone book. I enjoyed seeing Nora’s friends, The Guardians, show up in this book and be a support for her. 
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Kregel Publications. All opinions are my own.

SEE REVIEWS BY PAULA AND REBECCA

 

BackCover Blurb:
When past darkness prowls, will stepping into the light lead to a brighter future?

In nineteenth-century Cincinnati, fear keeps Nora Davis caged with secrets and lies. Her true identity as the daughter of a famous opera singer is too dangerous to reveal with her former captors still on the loose. But weekly singing lessons at Longview Asylum—her paranoid mother's permanent residence—light a flame in Nora, and it's one she can avoid fanning for only so long.

With his suicidal ma in the asylum, Ezekiel Beaumont's soul is weary, but Nora's presence at the asylum intrigues him. As a Pike's Opera House employee, Ezekiel thinks Nora might be cut out for the stage. He also begins to wonder if Nora's ma is really the famed Constanza Brisbane, who went missing mid-performance. He's determined to find out.

Though Ezekiel brings the performance world a little too close for comfort, Nora is drawn to his warm personality all the same. The two of them steadily grow closer, but then Nora begins to fear she's being watched, and her own paranoia blooms. 

 

Kregel Publications, March, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback,

BUY SUNG IN THE SHADOWS at Amazon,  Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

 

 

 

THE HIDDEN KEY OF BROOKE SUMNER by Susan Tuttle (Treasures of Halstead Manor 3), Reviewed by Kim #ReleaseDay

KIM'S REVIEW:
I have been waiting for Storm and Brooke’s story since they first appeared on the page in The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, which is book one in this series. I loved their chemistry and banter and could not wait to find out what their backstory was. I’m happy to say it did not disappoint!

Where to start? I loved everything about Brooke and Storm—their history, chemistry, banter, and how well they knew each other. My favorite scene in the book was a moment that showed just how well Brooke knew Storm. I won’t spoil it, but a porch is involved and it is perfection! Storm was so protective of Brooke, and I was here for it! I’m so glad we got more of Gertie in this story—she’s just the best!

This story perfectly balanced adventure and romance and was well paced. The ending literally made my jaw drop! I knew there were some secrets, but I had no idea what they were or how many there would be! I really loved the faith thread about Jesus calming our storms and helping us find rest in them.

I have read and enjoyed each story in this series, but The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner is my favorite of the three! I loved it—don’t miss this series!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light. 5 stars!

BackCover Blurb

Will the key unlock more than a vault filled with treasure? Brooke Sumner has been carefully avoiding Storm Whitlock ever since he betrayed her trust. When he joins Caspar's mysterious treasure-hunting group, she steps away to focus on her antique shop and keep herself busy.

Then Caspar invites her back for one final assignment, and Brooke is torn. Returning to Halstead Manor to help the team find the second half of a key is intriguing. It also means she'd be working with Storm. But she doesn't trust his motives, so she reluctantly rejoins to keep him in check.

As they dive into their expedition, Brooke finds her heart softening toward those she'd once held at arm's length. And is it possible she misunderstood Storm's betrayal of their friendship?

Kregal Publishing, March, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy THE HIDDEN KEY OF BROOKE SUMNER at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHEN JUSTICE COMES by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

(A Tupelo Grove Novel Book 3)

PAULA'S REVIEW
Exciting conclusion to an absorbing series, this one kept me on the edge of my seat. Wonderful cast of characters including Savannah and Hez, a married couple who divorced after a tragedy and are now engaged and looking forward to another wedding. They are anticipating adopting her nephew Simon. 

With a long-standing feud between the Willards and the LeGares and a custody battle ensuing, Savannah and Hez have more to worry about than their jobs, renovating their house and their upcoming wedding. Danger lurks around every corner as they try to honor God and decipher who to trust. 

This was a fast-paced story in a beautiful setting with a complicated plot. It made me want to read the whole series again.  

It is worth it to travel to Nova Cambridge, Alabama and read the story of Savannah and Hez.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson 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: 
USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker deliver the final book in their beloved Tupelo Grove series.

Hez and Savannah Webster have survived storms that would bury others without a love as strong as theirs--but can they withstand the final battle in the deadly Legare-Willard feud that threatens to sweep away everything they've fought for?

Hezekiah "Hez" Webster and his fiancée, Savannah, stand on the brink of a new life, but their dreams are haunted by specters of the past. Just as they're getting ready to adopt her nephew, two other petitioners also file for custody--both of whom only want Simon for their own gains.

Between the financial company that Hez outmaneuvered to save the university from ruin and the bad blood from the head of the Willard family, it's hard to say who wants them out of the way more. Hez and Savannah's quest for justice leads them through a labyrinth of family law, where loyalties are tested and trust is a dangerous luxury when every decision could be their last.

With the clock ticking, Hez and Savannah must confront the ghosts of their past and their deepest fears to secure a future for Simon. But with every secret revealed, the stakes grow higher. Can they build the family they've always dreamed of, or will their enemies succeed in tearing them apart forever?

The Tupelo Grove series reaches its breathtaking conclusion as an enemy's agenda for revenge runs darker than swamp water and justice remains as precarious as quicksand in this heart-pounding narrative that underscores the power of redemption and forgiveness.

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker's When Justice Comes is gripping suspense with closed-door, second-chance romance.

 

Thomas Nelson Publishing, March, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audibook

BUY When Justice Comes at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House