THE LIFE SHE FORGOT by Joanna Davidson Politano, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW: 

"Some stories are lost to time. Some are rewritten. And some - broken, imperfect, and true - continue to echo, even in minds that have forgotten the details." 

This is a story like none other; elegant as a poem and crafty as an imposter, sneaking and waltzing from page to page like a memory that cannot decide whether or not to become a nightmare or a dream come true. Grief mingles with joy, broken vessels become parables, hidden paintings tell sad stories, and the forgetting, always the forgetting.

Remembering . . . regretting . . . restoring . . . remaining . . . mingling . . .mixing . . defining . . . love.

When Merryn Dunn loses all remnants of her past, she is locked into a world where anyone and everyone can have her best or worst interests in mind. Upon saving the life of a young child, she inherits a substantial sum of money and the guardianship of the boy whose life she saved. Her good fortune earns the scorn of the woman who was born into that wealth and in order to protect what is hers, Merryn agrees to a marriage of convenience, after all her husband is a handsome, impetuous man whom she has come to adore.

Except that the memory of another striking profile flashes in and out of her subconscious . . . is it possible that she belongs to another? Why can she not remember the life that she has forgotten?

This book is as much of a wild ride as it is a slow drift, meaning that it is so very much a love story . . . for "love stands in the gap between . . . "
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

SEE REVIEWS BY PAULA AND WINNIE

BackCover Blurb:
He promised to help her reclaim the memories she lost—no matter what they found.

Until she remembered another man.

Cornwall, 1913
For three years, Merryn has lived without a past—no family, no history, no home that's truly hers.

When the threat of being locked away for her own “protection” looms, she takes a desperate chance on AJ Winthrop—a warmhearted, whimsical stranger who offers a hasty marriage of convenience and a promise: he will take her back to Cornwall and help her uncover the truth about who she once was.

But along the wild Cornish coast, the memories that begin to surface are not the ones she expects.

Another man.

Another wedding.

A life that may already be hers.

When a hidden painting reveals Merryn’s own face staring back from another life, the fragile life she’s begun to build with AJ begins to unravel. Because the truth waiting in her past could destroy the love she’s only just found.

Cornwall, 1947
Haunted by the war and estranged from the wife he still loves, William Crawford is determined to save their family home for her—even if it means selling the mysterious portrait of Merryn Dunn tucked away in his cottage. But the secrets hidden within the painting threaten to overturn everything he believes…or lead him toward a redemption he never expected.

Decades apart, two lives are bound by a single portrait—and the truth it refuses to keep hidden. This sweeping dual-timeline historical mystery weaves together lost memories, buried truths, and a love story that refuses to fade.

Perfect for fans of Mimi Matthews, Susanna Kearsley, and Kate Morton.

Grafted Page Press, April, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy THE LIFE SHE FORGOT at Amazon

 

SHIPWRECKED FAITH by Danielle Grandinetti, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

DAWNING SISTERS SERIES Book #1

PAULA'S REVIEW:
“Nothing for it but to put one foot in front of the other. To trust God to work out the future while being faithful in the here and now.”

Drawing on a real ship that was lost in a storm, the author has penned a wonderfully exciting story of two strangers escaping Chicago and ending up in a shipwreck. The scenes where Sadie and Kellen were fighting for their lives in the midst of a storm were terrifying and realistic. The trouble just keeps coming as they reach her family farm in Wisconsin. Kellen sees this as an opportunity to help Sadie’s family and at the same time hide from thugs he left behind in Chicago. 

This was a story of sustaining faith and how God showed the characters a solution to their problems and kept them through all of their difficulties. 

I enjoyed the family atmosphere at the farm and the way the sisters each wanted to help rescue the farm from foreclosure. Kellen was the perfect hero when he resolved to help in any way he could. It illustrated how he had grown in his faith. 

This engaging story was coupled with some interesting history. 

Danger and romance is a winning combination. I look forward to reading more in this series.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required ro post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:

Chicago, October 1929—Kellan O’Roark is running on borrowed time. After handing over his cousin’s incriminating bootlegging ledger to the police, he intends to vanish before the mobster exacts revenge. His destination: the SS Wisconsin, a steamer headed for Milwaukee, upon which he’s secured work despite his fear of the water.

But despite his pressing need for escape, Kellan faces obstacles while leaving Chicago—including one who may break open his heart. Sadie Dawning, desperate to return to her family’s Wisconsin farm and ailing father, escapes a kidnapping attempt at Chicago Union Station when Kellan steps in and offers to smuggle her aboard the Wisconsin. His decision turns nearly fatal when an autumn storm capsizes the ship.

Washed ashore, the pair arrive at Sadie’s family farm to find new storms brewing on land. While Kellan hides his past to continue evading his cousin, Sadie fights for her place among her sisters while the farm battles the beginnings of the Great Depression. Caught between duty, a dangerous past, and a budding love, Kellan and Sadie must rely on their newfound faith in each other and renewed faith in God to weather the growing storm. 

Ashberry Lane Publishing, May, 2026

Available in digital ebook or paperback. BUY SHIPWRECKED FAITH at Amazon 

 

 

NOT WHAT WE PICTURED by Becca Kinzer, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Was there anything that ruined a perfect marriage proposal more than a snoozing, potentially dead body on a bench?"

And so it began. McKenna Boston was determined to plant her sister's engagement ring on a particular bench at a particular time in a particular place and then scurry out of sight to take pictures of the momentous occasion, thus opening the door to pursue her own aspirations. There was just this teeny, weeny flaw with the plan. A very real man was sleeping on that one-of-a-kind bench.

Nate Lambert had been minding his own business and trying to doze off a headache after attending the funeral of his beloved mentor and before catching a flight out of Nebraska. When a crazy acting redhead fumbles into his arm pit Nate somehow got the distinct feeling that his life was about to take an unexpected turn . . . like a ride on a roller coaster turned tilt-a-whirl.

The story that follows is one the funniest that I have ever read! Filled with rings zipped inside pants pockets, uninvited kisses, dunks in a river, trips to an emergency room, lost luggage, a crazy acting redhead (yes, her again), interrogation by airport security guards (with that aforementioned woman), and by this point you are still only a few chapters into the story.

Yet beneath all the hilarity, a steady cadence beats true; that God's love is unearned, immeasurable and everlasting. It doesn't get any better than that! 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.4.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:
This is absolutely not how they pictured their summer going.

McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She's spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She's ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister's boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?

Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom's bed and breakfast is struggling and there's a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn't have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.

With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can't help getting swept up in Nate's bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate's suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.

-A clean, witty rom com with a forced proximity trope and a reluctant allies love story
-Features laugh-out-loud humor and a sweet, endearing couple
-This contemporary summer romance with a Southern small-town setting is great for fans of Sarah Adams, Pepper Basham, and Emma St. Clair
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Tyndale Fiction, April, 2026

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

Buy NOT WHAT WE PICTURED at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

MISS BETH BETTENCOURT by Eva Marie Everson, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“Miss Beth Bettencourt was not some flighty female, and she did not appear to be one to back down either.” 

“Beth Bettencourt was a puzzle of a thousand pieces.”

Miss Beth Bettencourt is shown respect around her small town and a bit of sympathy considering what happened several years ago. 

Newcomer Marty makes the mistake of entering the wrong house and finds himself at the mercy of the court and beholden to Beth who offers him employment and a place to lay his head. 

This was a southern comfort story with some angst in the backstories. The theme seemed to be how Beth worked through forgiveness and went beyond the hurt that had crippled her. Marty also had something lurking in his past that needed resolution. Marty’s faith journey was well depicted and showed how he changed his outlook and wanted the best for Beth. Together, they find love and reconciliation in order to move forward. 

I loved the relationship that Beth had with Molly, her friend and housekeeper. The setting of a small town and the connection with the people evoked a time of community closeness in a bygone era.

A solidly written story and a welcome addition to those who love southern fiction.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Kregel . I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Will an unlikely romance tear down Beth’s walls of indifference?

It's 1962 in Bynum, Georgia, and Beth Bettencourt's world is turned upside down when she wakes to a man snoring in the guest bedroom.

She's home alone; her parents are traveling abroad, grieving her twin sister's unexpected death. Instead of accompanying them, Beth stayed in Bynum to tend to her kindergarten and closely guard her own heart.

A beautiful and beloved member of the community, Beth is an unusual specimen for her time as she nears thirty and remains unmarried. She holds deep-seated unforgiveness toward her twin, Elise, who ran off with Beth's beau. To make matters worse, Elise took their grandmother's ring, which had been promised to Beth.

But now a stranger enters her home and her world. David Patrick Martin seems ready to break down her walls of indifference and find the core of Miss Beth Bettencourt. But can he be trusted with Beth's past, her present, and more importantly, her future?

Kregel Publications, May, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy MISS BETH BETTENCOURT at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House