A HEART ON CONSIGNMENT By Mindy Steele, Reviewed by Trixi Oberembt

The Heart of the Amish Series Book #12

TRIXI'S REVIEW:

First off, I often tell myself that I need to add more Amish stories to my reading palate because I enjoy them so much. I love seeing the culture brought to life from an author who makes you feel like you fit right in. Mindy Steele has done an excellent job of this in my opinion! She made Salina and Seth characters that I quickly came to care for and long to see fall in love—in spite of all the difficulties they faced.

Salina’s Mamm tries to play matchmaker for her, overlooking the fact that she is happy as she is. Of course she longs for a family of her own someday, but her Mamm’s meddling ways are frustrating at times. Even trying to set her up with her best friend Jacob! Salina knows it’s all in God’s timing. She also feels a bit invisible and ignored by others. Learning that being different isn’t always a bad thing, but that God loves her and made her as she is. That’s sometimes a hard lesson! I love her steadfast faith; she’s a great example to me of what it means to trust in God for everything and in everything.

Jacob tries to run from a recent painful breakup, but running from God is impossible! He begins to feel like part of a community and is immediately drawn to Salina. In spite of his broken heart, she plays a part in his healing by bringing laughter and fun back into his life. Can these two discover what it means to embrace God’s will for them and find new purpose—maybe even love?

This is such a wonderful story! I have only read two other ones in the Heart of the Amish series, but have very much loved each one—they are all stand-alone in case you’re wondering. There are gentle reminders of God’s promises, love and faithful characters to walk alongside as they journey along life’s pathways. I especially like that this one also has a strong theme of forgiveness in it.

“Forgiving others and ourselves releases us from our hurts, which are memories of pain we can’t let go of. It’s the straight way to being forgiven by our Father.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.*

BackCover Blurb: 
Love Is Not for Sale

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Despite knowing her parents are getting desperate for their only child to marry and give them grandchildren, Salina Stoltzfus is weary of seeking the perfect match. Every time she thinks she has found “the one,” he marries another.

The best way to forget you are the last woman any man in Havenlee, Indiana, wants to hitch his buggy too is to find something passionate to focus on. When the area is overrun with donations after a tragic storm, Salina suggests opening a consignment shop. The deacon supports the idea and offers his visiting nephew to help set things up.

After the embarrassment of having his fiancée call off their wedding, Seth Weaver takes his mother’s advice to leave Kentucky to stay with his uncle for a while. Unfortunately, Seth knows nothing about building furniture in his uncle’s factory, which is the only reason he agrees to help ready the consignment shop next door—not because of the little chatterbox working inside.

When Salina’s parents are caught meddling in her love life, she comes up with a crazy idea that might gain her some time and space. Could it be the road to happiness is paved with good intentions and epic fails—until we cross paths when the one made especially for us?

The Heart of the Amish Series Includes:
The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele
Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne
The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
Courting the Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele
Mary’s Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne
Serenity’s Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele
Lizzie’s Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne
Hunting for a Husband by Mindy Steele
The Daughter's Choice by Kelly Irvin 

 

Barbour Publishing, April, 2026

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

Buy A HEART ON CONSIGNMENT at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

 

EDGE OF TRUTH by Janice Cantore, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

PAULA'S REVIEW:

An excellent, suspenseful story that kept me reading until the wee hours. 

I was captivated by the premise that Detective Lainie Jensen is shocked at the death of her sister by a shark attack while on vacation in Hawaii. Lots of intrigue and unfolding connections to the first arrest Lainie made as a rookie cop. A lot can happen in fifteen years and the web of deceit gets more tangled. 

At first Lainie is upset with FBI agent Ben Isaacs when he takes her present case from her. But things happen to pair them together. 

The drama and excitement were mesmerizing. The romance was subtle but an integral part if the story. Faith plays an important part of Ben’s life and Lainie come to appreciate her spiritual roots and soon realizes she can trust God again.
Super good story. I have enjoyed many books by this author.
*I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale via NetGalley and I won a print copy from the author. 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:
One case almost destroyed her career. Now the past seems to have caught up with her. And as a high-stakes game of truth and lies unfolds, someone’s out for retribution at any cost.

As a detective in the Long Beach Police Department’s violent crimes division, Lainie Jensen is no stranger to hard-to-crack cases and unusual disappearances, but then her sister Evie vanishes on a trip to Hawaii. After traveling there to look for her, Lainie quickly realizes her brother-in-law Stan is telling law enforcement a story that doesn’t appear to add up.

FBI special agent Ben Isaacs has spent six months collecting evidence to take down a money laundering operation. While his fellow agent Efren Gomez goes undercover to infiltrate the ring, Ben investigates those connected to it, including Stan Moffitt, who Ben believes could help lead to the criminal kingpin. Then Stan’s wife goes missing just days after Ben contacted her seeking information, and he knows there’s more to this case, especially when he loses contact with Efren and law enforcement comes up short in their search for him.

When Ben’s and Lainie’s investigations converge, Lainie’s not eager to work alongside Ben given their complicated history, but she’s willing to do so if it means figuring out what Stan knows and locating Evie. Soon, Lainie can’t deny Ben’s dedication to finding the truth or her growing admiration for him. And the more the two examine the evidence, the more they suspect Evie’s disappearance is tied to a highly publicized criminal case from Lainie’s past . . . and someone is playing a perilous game aimed at personal revenge.

-Great for fans of thrillers by Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, and Allison Brennan
-Police procedural featuring a detective and an FBI agent written by a former police officer
-Clean, stand-alone romantic suspense novel filled with high stakes, edge-of-your-seat adventure, elements of mystery, and themes of fighting for justice
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs 

Tyndale Fiction, February, 2026

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

BUY Edge of Truth at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

THE LUMBER BARON'S WIFE by Lynn Austin, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“The choices we make are very important. Regret can be a very heavy weight to get out from under.”

 
I absolutely loved this book. I identified with modern character Ashley and her love of old houses and their preservation. I grew up in a house on the National Register and my mother was an antique dealer. This story spoke to my heart. It is so much more than the renovation of an historic mansion, it is the story of how God can renovate a hurting heart. It handles tough subjects that are common to every era.

This story was so well-crafted and very emotional. The characters were realistic and had depth. The two timelines were tethered by a 1870s mansion in Michigan owned by a lumber baron and the mysterious disappearance of his wife. The author showed that grief, hardships, and difficult decisions are part of the human condition and transcend time. But so are answers to age old questions. Christ has gone before us so that He is our strength in all types of situations. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

 
This will easily be one of my top reads for the year and not a story I will soon forget.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale on behalf of the author. 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 the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy―a friend of her husband, John―offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home―built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife―Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. 

What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth―one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.Standalone historical fiction about marriage, grief, and the power of female friendships from the author of All My Secrets and Long Way Home
-A richly layered Christian women’s fiction novel with elements of mystery, perfect for fans of Martha Hall Kelly, Kristy Cambron, and Susan Meissner
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs 

Tyndale Fiction, April, 2026

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

Buy THE LUMBER BARON'S WIFE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

 

HARBOR POINTE by Irene Hannon, Reviewed by Paula and Winnie #ReleaseDay

(A Hope Harbor Novel Book #12): Small Town Contemporary Opposites Attract Clean Romance with a Ballerina and a Single Dad

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Sometimes you need a feel-good story and that is what you get in a Hope Harbor book. "If you lived in a town with the name Hope Harbor, how could you not wish for a happy ending?" "Nothing is impossible with God. Blessings seem to abound in Hope Harbor."

I love the atmospheric setting on the Oregon coast, and the neighborly inhabitants who show kindness. “Kindness does not cost a thing. We should all give it away generously.”
Ms Hannon writes a superb story where things do not start out so rosy but eventually, through the help of sage wisdom by Charley of the taco truck and advice from two pastors in town, the characters find healing and forgiveness through the Grace of God. 

Ballerina Devyn is a strong, independent woman and has come back home to help tend her sister Lauren after a head injury. Widower Aaron with daughter and grandfather, has a past that haunts him. Diane and Martin have a marriage that is rocky. But with the help of the Holy Spirit nudging, reconciliation has begun, new friendships are forged, a romance blooms, and a community comes together for a common goal. 

This story makes me want to head to Hope Harbor. Until then, I will soak up the ambiance by reading these wonderful stories. I am so glad there will be more.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

WINNIE'S REVIEW
“But remember, you’re in Hope Harbor. And in a town with a name like that, anything is possible.”

It’s always a delight to return to one of my favorite fictional towns—Hope Harbor, Oregon. Talented author Irene Hannon has created this charming community of eclectic characters who have become almost like family. I enjoy revisiting the characters I’ve met in previous books. Charley with his taco stand is always a favorite of mine with his sage advice and positive outlook on life.

Devyn Lee is a principal ballerina in New York when she learns her estranged sister has been injured in Hope Harbor. When she stays to help her sister recuperate and try to mend their relationship, she meets widowed lumber mill worker Aaron Steele and his nine-year-old daughter Isabel. As she gets involved in a community project, Devyn is faced with some life-changing choices.

Uplifting messages of forgiveness, family, hope, and faith make this an inspirational, as well as an entertaining, tale. Be prepared to fall in love with the inhabitants of this charming town. There are several other books in this delightful series, and I hope there are many more to come. 
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

BackCover Blurb:

When life throws you off pointe, love helps you find your balance.

As a principal dancer with a prestigious New York ballet company, Devyn Lee is far from her hometown of Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast. But when a family emergency compels her to return, her visit turns into an extended stay after complications arise.

Widowed mill worker Aaron Steele pays no attention to the buzz in Hope Harbor about the famous dancer in town. Until his grieving nine-year-old daughter takes a fancy to Devyn after she agrees to help with a fundraising show for a local charity in which the young girl is performing. As the show--and Devyn--begin to lift his daughter's spirits, his own life is brightened by the beautiful ballerina as she slowly but surely captures his heart.

But what are the odds that such an accomplished, polished woman from the city could ever fall for a small-town lumberman with two left feet?

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Revell Publishing, April,2026

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

Buy HARBOR POINTE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House