THE HIDDEN KEY OF BROOKE SUMNER by Susan L. Tuttle, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Your safety is far more important than any grudge you believe I should have against him."

Storm Whitlock and Brooke Summer were childhood friends, watching each other's backs while growing up in the foster system, going into business together buying, selling, and searching for items of worth from around the world. It was a bond forged by fire until mistrust broke what seemed as solid as steel.

Now Storm is back in Brooke's periphery, and as persistent as an unwelcome gravitational pull, invited to join an elite treasure hunting group that Brooke is not at all sure she wants to participate in again, even though their elusive benefactor anticipates that finding the lost half of an antiquated key should be their final assignment. Will their probe end with a vast amount of earthly riches or irreparable emotional heartache, for at the center of their quest is a decades old family feud, rife with murder, mystery and cold-blooded revenge.

Intense generational conflicts drive this search for priceless artifacts of a worldly nature while the underlying story is one of trust, authenticity, and relational bonds that are born from shades of eternity. A deeply moving and quite romantic story, both literally and spiritually. 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.4.5 stars

SEE KIM'S REVIEW

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8474120936

LOVE AND BASEBALL by Jaime Jo Wright and Chloe JoAnne, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

CLEAN Young Adult ROM COM

REBECCA'S REVIEW

"Soooooo . . . like, I sorta pretended you into existence. Now that you are real and here, everyone thinks we are dating."

Tired of trying to explain why having a boyfriend wasn't on her radar, book and baseball fan Brielle Walters thought she had come up with the perfect solution . . . create a fake! Using AI and a host of little white lies (or untruths that she failed to correct) Brielle conjures up Brooks Mason, who conveniently lives very far away. And her plan was working just fine, until a very real Brooks Mason shows up at school.

What???? There were only so many places for a girl to hide, but viral social media reels were not one of them.

This is just about the sweetest, funniest, conundrum of a story that I have ever read! 

BackCover Blurb: 
She needed a boyfriend. AI came to her rescue. But then her fake boyfriend showed up at school.

Brielle has never wanted a boyfriend. She's happy with her book boyfriends--purely fictional, right? Easy to maintain. She's also not a huge fan of sports, except baseball. Not playing it. No. Again, books and cozy afternoons are her thing. But Brielle can get into baseball with the best of them when it comes to watching, repeating stats, and wearing her favorite jerseys. But apparently, that's not enough in life. At least according to her four nosy aunts, who all think she needs a boyfriend, people at school who are convinced Brielle is a closet serial killer because she's happier with her books, and yeah. Valentine’s Day is on the calendar.

There is a purpose for AI, and Brielle decides the genius thing to do is make a fake boyfriend. Complete with deepfake photos, Brielle creates the perfect boyfriend, and no one needs to know he's entirely fictional. They just need to believe she met him over summer vacation, and he lives somewhere in North Carolina. Only he doesn't. When baseball catcher, Brooks Mason shows up at high school, a lookalike to Brielle's AI boyfriend, her entire world becomes a dog-eared, bent pages book nightmare.

Brooks is getting sick of all the girls at school wanting to date him. He wants to play ball and hang out. So, yeah. It makes sense to help Brielle out. Fake date? Why not? But once together, dating for show becomes an act that both Brielle and Brooks aren't quite prepared for, and dealing with unexpected attraction, complicated situations, and interfering aunts and bffs?

It's a grand slam of problems just waiting to happen, plus a game-changing shot at a championship home run at love.
** CLEAN YA Rom-Com Fiction you can read without skipping a page **
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review
 

MadLit Publishing, February, 2026

Available in digital ebook or paperback

Buy LOVE AND BASEBALL at Amazon 

THE LOST STORY OF VIA BELLE by Melanie Dobson, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #NewRelease

PAULA'S REVIEW:
“A good story is strong enough to save a life.”

 I am partial to dual-timeline stories and Ms. Dobson is an expert at weaving the two times together. 

This is such a great story about a popular author Via Belle of the 1940s who goes missing after her second marriage. 

Harper in the 2006 returns to a place she visited as a child and is caught up in the stories of Via Belle as she searches for a topic for a script that she wants to write. What she finds is a little romance and connections that are surprising. 

Especially interesting is the historical look at the life of an author from the past and her struggles with her faith and her newfound love. The descriptions of the house, gardens and lake that were an inspiration to Via put you right in the story. I began to care about the heroines in both timelines and cringed at the duplicity of the villain. All the mystery and subterfuge made for an exceptional story. 

You will want to put this on your list!
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale 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:
Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

1940. Via Belle's sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via's reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother's favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she'll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

-Described as a "powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction" (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

-Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue
-Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry

-Includes discussion questions for book groups

Tyndale Fiction, April, 2026

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

Buy THE LOST STORY OF VIA BELLE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

THE SONG BIRD by Carrie Cotten, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

(The Huntress: Medieval Christian Fiction Book 5)

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Viking adventure story worthy of a saga. 

“Every mighty wind began with a whisper of a breeze, and every legendary ballad with a single note”

This is an exciting tale of mortal enemies and brutal war. Of ancient people who believed in many gods who are being taught about The Christ and having to stand for their convictions. But it is also a love story that is brought about through hardships and a common faith. 

Tove, the songbird, has become a Christian and sings the Psalms and Christian ballads. She brings hope to the hopeless. She is brave and warrior-like. Gerrit is a former pirate who has found Christ but is wary of revealing his beliefs. Once an enemy, he becomes bodyguard to Tove as they flee captivity to warn her Viking clan of impending doom. 

Excellent writing and a clear gospel message along with interesting, relatable characters make this an entertaining story.

If you like Medieval history, give this series a try.
*A great copy ofvthis book was provided by the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 4.5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Her songs were her secret—until they became his deliverance.

Tove Volfsbydottir is willing to do anything for the Shieldmaiden who redeemed her from slavery, even enter into a marriage alliance with a near stranger. But soon she finds herself homesick and heartbroken in her new village—and alone except for a little slave girl whose sorrows Tove understands well. Dark forces are at work around her, including a mysterious army sweeping through the land, looking to rid every village of those who follow The Christ. The one man willing to help Tove is the last person she has reason to trust.

Gerritt the Grimheart flaunts the most feared name on the northern sea, created one battle at a time in a desperate grasp at honor and atonement. But even after he abandons piracy, his attempts to live a new life result in havoc. When he loses Sanne, the child who means more to him than any treasure, his sole purpose becomes her rescue. Will the woman he knows only as the Songbird help him save Sanne, or will Gerritt end up destroying her life as well?

Can the simple melody of truth break through their sorrows and save the Northlands before it’s too late?

The Songbird is book 5 in The Huntress series, but can be read as a standalone. It is a closed door, kisses only, Christian romance.

April, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and hardcover

Buy THE SONG BIRD at Amazon