Tuesday, August 4, 2026

THE DARLING'S DAUGHTER by Sydney Schmied, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay


 (The Majestic Theater Book 1) 

PAULA'S REVIEW:
If you are looking for a book that is historical, steeped in faith, and has an intriguing mystery, try this one. 

Angie is painting backdrops in the The Majestic Theater where her late mother was a favorite actress. But her mother warned her to stay away from the historic building. It seems others do not want her delving into her mother’s death and she receives threats. 

Trace, who oversees the renovation of the theater, comes to her aid and together they try to puzzle out the mysteries surrounding the theater. 

The author has taken a real place and similar events and fashioned an absorbing story that has a surprising ending. This has the theme of realizing that God forgives completely, if we repent, then we can rest in His finished work of salvation. “We must not simply repent enough to be forgiven, but surrender enough to be completely changed.” “No sin you commit is greater than God’s grace.” 

I appreciate the honesty of this beautifully written book. 

The author gave a sneak peek of the next book in the series which looks equally as entertaining.
*A complimentary copy of the book was provided by Wild Heart Books . I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 4.5 stars an a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:

A woman chasing the truth. A man running from his past. And a secret that threatens the fragile trust between them.

Searching for answers about her mother's suspicious death, artist Angelica Woods takes a job painting backdrops at the Majestic Theater—the very place her famous actress mother warned her to avoid. When she discovers cryptic notes and bloody evidence of an old murder, Angie realizes her mother's warning may have been meant to protect her from a deadly secret.

Architect Trace Ackerman has worked hard to build a quiet, respectable life far removed from his former mistakes. Renovating the Majestic is meant to be a fresh start—until Angie awakens feelings he never planned to risk again. Drawn to her courage and vulnerability, Trace offers his protection as rumors swirl and danger edges closer. But the past he’s worked so hard to outrun threatens to surface, and Trace fears the truth could cost him Angie’s trust—and the future he longs to build.

With a killer determined to silence them both, Angie and Trace must decide if uncovering the truth about her mother's death is worth risking their own lives—and hearts. Set against the backdrop of a historic theater in 1912 Ohio, this romantic suspense weaves together murder, betrayal, and the redeeming power of faith and forgiveness. 

Wild Hearts Publishing, August, 2026

 

TWILIGHT TACTICS by Lynette Eason, Reviewed by Paula for the #Partners In Crime tour


TWILIGHT TACTICS by Lynette Eason Banner

TWILIGHT TACTICS

by Lynette Eason

August 3 - 28, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

TWILIGHT TACTICS by Lynette Eason

SOLDIERS IN SHADOWS

 

He came to protect a witness. She came to teach survival skills. Now they're targets with an enemy who won't let either of them walk away.

FBI agent Sully Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch with Ollie Callahan--a foster teen and sole witness to a mob hit. The ranch, started by Sully's cousin to provide a trauma recovery facility for veterans, should be a place he can keep Ollie safe until the trial. But what was meant as a peaceful haven becomes a battleground when armed attackers surround the property.

Survival expert Elena Thompson teaches wilderness skills at the ranch and coaches Ollie in self-defense. As the series of attacks on the ranch escalates into a full siege, the question becomes who the attackers are after: Ollie, the young witness? Or Elena, with her mysterious past? With communications down and help out of reach, Sully and Elena fight to keep everyone alive as secrets and danger close in.

A gripping romantic suspense thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason, full of action and danger and set on a remote ranch. Forced proximity, surprising twists, and a race against tech-savvy enemies make this a pulse-pounding read for fans of Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, and Elizabeth Goddard.

Book Details:

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published by: Baker Publishing Group
Publication Date: August 4, 2026
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780800744939 (ISBN10: 0800744934)
Series: Soldiers in Shadows, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

PAULA'S REVIEW:
I quickly got caught up in this intriguing story where danger was the norm. Broken Chains Ranch is the setting for an exciting adventure about an FBI agent Collin/Sully/Sullivan and his partner who are trying to protect teen Ollie before she testifies to witnessing a mob murder. On the ranch run by cousin Maya, Sully encounters Elena Thompson who helps Maya run the ranch. But Elena has secrets about her past that are about to catch up to her. 

“It awes me. That God can take our worst moments and turn them into something beautiful.” This was a great representation of a godly hero and heroine as they combat the bad guys.

I liked the cooperation between local agencies when they were up against tech savvy villains. The twists and turns kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out where the threats were coming from. 

The attraction between the main characters progressed slowly because of the proximity to danger, although danger brought out admirable qualities that advanced that attraction. Trust had to be earned. 

A fantastic start to a brand new series by a prolific writer of suspense.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through PICT tours and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

 

Read an excerpt:

 

 

Author Bio:

Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Twilight Tactics and Deadly Charade. She has written many thrilling romantic suspense series, including Lake City Heroes, Extreme Measures, Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians. Learn more at LynetteEason.com.

Catch Up With Lynette Eason:

LynetteEason.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @LynetteEason
Instagram - @LynetteEason
Threads - @LynetteEason
X - @LynetteEason
Facebook - @lynette.eason

 

Tour Participants:

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Monday, August 3, 2026

THE BRUNSWICK by Callie Murray, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney


REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"What good is the anchor when the ship is already sinking?"

Cora Cain's life has become as predictably ordinary as the Air Line Belle railway station that sits across the road from her family's once thriving Norcross, Georgia hotel, The Brunswick. Except that the railroad isn't on the verge of bankruptcy, whereas the hotel's guest rooms stand empty and the once grand lobby has been reduced to housing a general store. When a virtual stranger walks in the door and offers to take some of the load off of Cora's shoulders, it seems as if a lifeline has been thrown her way.

Needing a bit of anonymity, Thomas Watkins leaves medical school in New York and makes his way towards Norcross, where the rest of his family has already resettled. Family and friends encourage Thomas to offer his services to Cora, who is bending under the weight of paying off her father's debts. When the opportunity presents itself for The Brunswick to serve as a safe haven for Jewish children seeking refuge from the escalating atrocities in Austria, Thomas accompanies the group scheduled to retrieve the children, never imagining the consequences. Meanwhile, the curtain has been pulled back on the secrets that both Cora and Thomas have been so desperate to conceal.

Drawing from bits and pieces of historical detail gathered from various local, international, and personal sources and experiences, the author has woven together a generous story of family, faith, and the determination to grow beyond original intentions; "cut, bound, and healed" . . . "grafting" . . . better and stronger together.

*I purchased this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 
 
SEE REVIEWS BY  PAULA, and WINNIE

BackCover Blurb:
When Cora provides a safe haven for Jewish refugee children, she discovers that opening her doors means risking everything, including her heart.

In 1939 Georgia, far removed from the war brewing overseas, Cora Cain's world feels small--and shrinking. There, she runs The Brunswick, her family's once-grand hotel, which is now struggling as the town's general store. When Thomas Watkins arrives seeking work and solace after his mother's death, a connection sparks between them. Through Thomas, Cora glimpses a life beyond obligation and her war hero father's unpredictable moods.

But everything changes when Cora is asked to turn The Brunswick into a sanctuary for Jewish children fleeing persecution in Germany. As Cora and Thomas prepare for the children's arrival, they struggle to confront their pasts--and the prejudice of their neighbors--as their fragile hope is put to the test.

Meanwhile, in Vienna, ten-year-old Charlotte is offered refuge in America. But even with the horrors she sees around her, she wonders how her parents could possibly send her away. As war's shadow begins to reach small-town Georgia, each person must face what love demands and decide what to hold on to and what to let go. 

Revell Publishing, May, 2026
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:



ATTEMPTED MOUNTAIN MURDER by Jaime Jo Wright, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney


REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Her apartment was ransacked."

When Lainey Jo Beckett returns home to chaos, and before she could even process that development a bullet grazes her forehead. Running for safety she dives into the front seat of a rusty old truck parked across the street from her apartment building, pleading with the unknown driver to just "Go, go, go!".

Bowen Mays (who just happens to be a former Navy SEAL) knows trouble when he sees it, and his frantic passenger has trouble written all over her face. The fact that she is in the Witness Protection Program confirms their suspicion. Her cover has been blown. But who? And why?

A tense suspense with all the markings of a complex web of deceit. Add in a gracious, kind grandmother along with a work-in-progress hero and Lainey Jo gains much more than she loses.
*I purchased this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 


BackCover Blurb:
The key to survival
is staying one step ahead of a killer.

When a sniper shoots at Lainey Jo Beckett through her apartment window, she knows her cover in WITSEC has been blown. Injured and desperate to escape, she jumps into the first car she sees, which just happens to have former navy SEAL Bowen Mays behind the wheel. He may no longer be on active duty, but when they discover her WITSEC handler dead, Bowen takes Lainey Jo’s protection into his own hands. As they escape deep into the Bighorn Mountains, with not one but two shooters on their tail, can Bowen overcome his past failure and keep Lainey Jo alive?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith. 
June 2026
Available in digital ebook, paperback, and hardcover

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