A SCATTERING OF LIGHT by Lori Benton, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

CROCKETT'S LANDING Book One

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"His blessings freely scattered like light - readily seen if one didn't close her eyes for fear of the darkness."

When Scottish drover Will Crockett gains consciousness on a different continent, it is gravely apparent that he has lost everything dear to his heart. Under the roof of a kind young Quaker woman by the name of Verity Wilde, Will discovers that he was indentured to the Wildes as a way of saving his life, although Verity originally sought only to grant him a compassionate death and burial, for he barely had breath when they scooped him up off the deck of the ship that had delivered him to colonial Virginia. Miraculously, he lived.

Like Will, Verity had suffered great loss and was at an impasse about how to move forward in her life. Her strict religious parameters were a stark contrast to Will's obvious discomfort of all things pertaining to the Almighty, yet both are constrained by misconceptions of their own choosing. As circumstances continue to unravel outside the bounds of their every desire, can the two battered souls perceive the scatterings of light, God's abundant blessings relentlessly peeking through the shrouds of darkness, begging them to navigate beyond what they see, and hold fast to the truth of "every good and perfect gift . . . comes from the Father of lights".

While this story took awhile to develop, it was time well spent, for it was a story meant to savor rather than taste and to absorb rather than simply acknowledge. The character development was exceptional, the author giving her portrayals plenty of time to both succeed and fail, toil and rest, sympathize and adore. And for those still wondering if the darkness ever conquers the light, the message is clear, it does not.

A fabulous book with incredible depth and profound spiritual impact!
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:
A Scottish drover spirited into servitude. A young Quaker woman wounded by loss. Their meeting will leave no heart unchallenged, no life unchanged.

Colonial Virginia 1734

Mourning her wayward brother’s death, Verity Wilde has turned her back on Williamsburg society, striving to live by her notion of true religion: to keep oneself unspotted from the world. But when she boards a ship to claim an indentured Scottish clerk, she’s unprepared to find another Scotsman, starved and gravely ill, left on deck untended. With scarcely more knowledge of the man than his name and place of origin—William Crockett of Skye—pity compels Verity to purchase his indenture too, meaning to provide the compassionate death denied him by the ship’s crew. Only he doesn’t die.

Will Crockett’s survival upends Verity’s carefully circumscribed life, while he awakens to find his world shattered beyond recognition. As they seek to reconcile their broken pasts, bitterness and fear vie with hope to chart their futures. Can they find the courage to trust each other, and a God who scatters light in the darkness? 

Published by Story Architect, April 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

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THE INKLINGS DETECTIVE AGENCY by John R. Kelly, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

PAULA'S REVIEW:
“Throughout history, the minds of literary geniuses and the practical science of detection have walked hand in hand.” -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

An entertaining who-done-it featuring The Inklings of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien fame. Completely fictional but fun story that has The Inklings being asked to investigate a murder. With an underlying faith theme that did spell out the faith of Lewis and Tolkien, this was an interesting look at the British Isles in 1936 that had cameos of the likes of Agatha Christie, C.K. Chesterton, and Dorothy Sayers. I especially enjoyed the quotes by famous authors at the beginning of each chapter.  

The afterward told what real history was used in the novel. I was intrigued by The Detectives Club, a group of writers who had 10 rules of detective fiction. I will look for these when I watch my next Poirot or Ms. Marple. 

This had overtones of the occult but it was explained in light of Christianity and the Bible. 

“I suppose the greatest puzzles and mysteries in our lives are the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”
*A complimentary copy of the book was provided by Waterbrook via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review.All opinions are mine alone.*4.5 stars and an underlying faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
In the shadowy streets of 1936 Oxford, England, members of a secret society keep turning up dead. When J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and their fellow literary masterminds, known as the Inklings, are called upon to catch a killer, they trade their pens for magnifying glasses. With time running out, they get a helping hand from mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to unravel a sinister web of secrets.

Packed with historical details, intrigue, and a thrilling whodunit, this novel is a masterful blend of high-stakes drama. Dive into a world where the creators of fantasy and mystery confront a real-life menace in a race against the clock. Will dark forces prevail, or will these literary giants crack the case before the murderer strikes again? 

Waterbrook Publishing, May, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, or audiobook:

Buy THE INKLINGS DETECTIVE AGENCY at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House  

WITNESS PROTECTION by Robert Whitlow, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Lord, you know every detail about what Kelli is dealing with in this case. I ask you to intervene as only you can so that your will in heaven will be done on earth."

Following her divorce, single mom and attorney Kelli Quinn trades in her stressful job at a large Atlanta law firm for a small law office in Brunswick where she joins a former classmate. Having been offered a place to live with her favorite Aunt Carly, Kelli and her children begin their transition to a new normal. However, Kelli's first case is anything but normal.

Jon Tremaine has taken years to reinvent himself under the Federal Witness Protection program after offering highly valuable testimony against the drug cartel with whom he had been involved. He has a wonderful job, a beautiful wife, and a baby son arriving within weeks. When one of Jon's employees at the commercial tree farm that he manages is arrested under suspicious circumstances, Jon offers immediate assistance, including partial payment for a private defense attorney, Kelli Quinn. As it turns out, getting involved in another drug smuggling case, even on the periphery, has unintended consequences, not only for Jon but for everyone around him.

In addition to offering its readers a superb legal case, this story is anchored on the faithful prayers of a dear woman whose health is precarious but whose faith is firm. The authentic fears and doubts that Jon and Kelli both experience throughout this novel are notably compelling, and while resolutions seem just out of reach, they provide a divine opportunity; "entering into God's rest at any level was better than the alternative of despair".

What a wonderful book! 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:

Jon Tremaine has lived in hiding for years--will coming out of the shadows to help a friend be too great a risk? Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Charles Martin, Witness Protection is a legal drama with a deep undercurrent of faith.

All is finally good. Jon Tremaine has created a new life in Brunswick, Georgia, as part of the Federal Witness Protection program after testifying against the former drug cartel he was involved with. Only his wife, Sarah, and a handler with the US Marshal's office know his true identity, and he is now the manager of a large commercial tree farm with a baby on the way. But when one of Jon's employees is arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the United States, he goes against his better judgment and inserts himself in the middle of the case, believing the man is an unsuspecting mole manipulated by sophisticated drug dealers.

Kelli Quinn, a highly skilled litigator with an Atlanta law firm, has moved to Brunswick to work with her best friend from law school, hoping to rebuild her life after a painful divorce. She and her two children find a temporary home with her aunt Carly, a woman whose great faith is making an impression on her new houseguests. For the first time in a very long while, Kelli sees a future where she can find balance between the job she loves and the family she loves even more.

New to the firm and in need of clients, Kelli agrees to represent Jon's employee. The unfolding investigation reveals layers of criminal activity and possible connections to Jon's past, putting everyone at risk of exposure--and even death.

With its gripping pace, layered legal intrigue, and heartfelt exploration of faith under pressure, Witness Protection has already been praised by early readers as a standout Robert Whitlow novel--one that keeps the pages turning while asking deeper questions about courage, identity, and redemption. As danger closes in and past sins resurface, Whitlow expertly weaves suspense with grace, showing how even the safest hiding place can't protect the heart from truth.

Thomas Nelson Publishing, April, 2026

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

Buy WITNESS PROTECTION at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

INTO A GOLDEN ERA by Gabrielle Meyer, Reviewed by Rebecca and Paula

 

An Inspirational Gold Rush and Hollywood Golden Age-Era Time Travel Romance

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Let's decide to hope. To believe that God will make a way where there seems to be none."

Time-crosser Ally Bennett, a notable 1929 Hollywood film star is also Ally Adams, a near destitute newcomer to 1849 San Francisco. As her twenty-fifth birthday draws near, the decision of which pathway to choose as her forever life becomes blurred as her small family owned production company faces bankruptcy and her chances of striking gold in California seems nearly impossible.

Two men also take up room in Ally's dilemma. One, a charming playboy whose reputation has been shattered and needs the respectability that a fake romance with Ally could provide, the other a boardinghouse owner whose past is just as damaged as her Hollywood heartthrob. After Ally finally makes up her mind, history throws a significant obstacle into her plans, and every time-crosser knows how dangerous it is to change the course of history.

With impressive expertise, this author constructs a bridge between two very different but equally interesting time periods, all while reminding her readers that wherever, whenever, God has a plan and is trustworthy even when the end of the story seems impossible to write.

PAULA'S REVIEW
Another compelling time-crossing novel by the talented Gabrielle Meyer. While each story in the series consists of two timelines, each story is unique and mesmerizing. This time Ally Adams is in San Francisco in 1849 and looking to strike it rich in the gold fields. Her other timeline is 1929 in Hollywood as a leading lady for her family’s production company, just as talkies are emerging. 

It was fascinating how the stories connected and showed the dangers of trying to change history, even in the slightest way. Since the times are only 80 years apart, you could possibly meet someone you had known in your other time. You could feel the pull that each time had on Ally as she tries to make a decision of which time she chooses to stay in. 

With stellar research, Ms Meyer deftly crafts another distinctive story that brings home faith lessons and the meaning of true love and sacrifice.
*I purchased a copy of this book from Baker Book House and read an ecopy via NetGalley through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions are mine alone.*5+ stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Two eras. One future. An impossible choice that will determine the course of history.

As a time-crosser, Ally lives in two worlds. In 1849, in an attempt to secure her family's future during the California Gold Rush, she finds herself penniless and stranded in San Francisco. Forced to take shelter in a dangerous boardinghouse owned by an infamous gang member, Ally is desperate to escape. But when she discovers that history has changed around her, and it now claims she will do something unthinkable, she must use her time-crossing knowledge to find answers.

In 1929, Ally is an up-and-coming starlet during the Golden Age of Hollywood, but her family's film studio is on the brink of ruin, and their remaining resources are invested into a production of Little Women. If the endeavor fails, Ally's family will lose everything. To ensure their success, she agrees to stage a fake romance with a notorious Hollywood heartthrob in hopes of using his fame for their movie, but she risks her heart in the process. When history doesn't play by the rules, Ally must decide if she will throw all caution aside and risk everything for the people she loves. But which path will be worth sacrificing to save the other?  

Bethany House Publishing, May, 2026

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

Buy INTO A GOLDEN ERA at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House