WOOING THE RIVAL by Melissa Jagears, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #NewRelease

FRONTIER VOWS SERIES #5

PAULA'S REVIEW:

What a delightful story about misfit Raven Owens, daughter of a mercantile owner in Wyoming Territory in 1885. Raven just does not fit in anywhere. She has no cooking skills and tries to help in the store but does not manage the math it takes to be a shopkeeper. She applies to be an interim teacher and lands the job. The girl children challenge her to run for Mayor and she does to win them over enough for them to buckle down and learn. 

But who should be running for the same office but Bo McGill who bested her unfairly in a spelling contest years ago in school. 

Let the fun begin but also shady dealings by some townspeople and a dangerous shootout with some rustlers.
But romance wins the day as Bo and Raven get better acquainted and rely on the faith that undergirds them.
Wonderful descriptions of the setting and the thoughts of the characters. The author has a great grasp of how to depict protagonists and plotted an interesting story with danger and adventure. 

A welcome return from an entertaining author who brings the old west to life.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Utmost Publishing 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:
The mercantile owner’s eccentric daughter is known for being bad at everything, so how could she possibly win enough votes to become mayor?

When Raven Owens volunteers at the school, she makes the mistake of telling the girls they can do anything they put their minds to. When a student challenges that assertion by daring her to run for mayor, what choice does she have? Running for office will likely get her laughed clean out of the territory, but when has ridicule ever stopped her before?

Panicked over Raven running for mayor, the town council nominates Bowen McGill to run against her. Bo has no interest in becoming a politician like his disgraced father, but Raven cares more about the town than the men queuing up to run against her. If Bo stays on the ballot to keep worse men from running, she might have a chance to be heard. However, she’d never forgive him if he won—and for some reason, that thought bothers him far more than the possibility of ending up with a job he doesn’t want.

Long-held grudges, unexpected attraction, and a scheming town council make it difficult for these two to decide if they’d prefer to win the race—or each other’s hearts.

Wooing the Rival is the fifth book in the Frontier Vows Series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like quirky heroines who end up with their prince charming, you’ll love this western, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Utmost Publishing, November, 2026

Available in digital ebook and paperback at Amazon

NOT SO VERY SENSIBLE by Carolyn Miller, Reviewed by Trixi Oberembt

TRIXI'S REVIEW: 

Okay, please don’t hate me but... I’ve never read any of Jane Austen’s books! That being said however, I do so enjoy all things Regency when it comes to fictional stories. Carolyn Miller certainly hit all the checkmarks for me in her latest contemporary novel!

I can completely relate to Ellie and Katie’s relationship as sisters! I am the oldest one in my family with almost eleven years between myself and my younger sister. I guess I was always the responsible, pragmatic, least dramatic sibling. Elinor’s perspective on life, love and family dynamics was spot on… and brought out a few chuckles. She had to be my favorite character! Then you add Ethan to the mix and it was even more fun… love at first sight, but certainly not without a few bumps in the road along the way.

Yep, I found myself lost in the fictional story Carolyn Miller created with her expert pen! There’s lots of drama, complicated family dynamics, small town vibes, wonderful sister relationships, and the hard-won happily-after-ever. The most refreshing part of all is the natural faith element and reminders that God has our best in mind and our future secure if we but place our trust in Him. 
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review

SEE REBECCA'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:
Two Sisters Navigate the Minefield of Modern Dating

Elinor and Katie Bennett are as opposite as sisters can be: Elinor loves structure, planning and design, while Katie’s head is in the clouds as she chases fanciful, romantic dreams. A college graduation trip to the Blue Mountains sees them staying at the Hydro Grand hotel for a murder mystery weekend. There, they end up meeting two men who just might hold the keys to their hearts—taking the sensible Elinor Bennett by surprise while crushing the romantic Katie’s hopes. . .and proving that the path of love doesn’t always follow one's plans or dreams.

The Silver Teapot series
Book 1: Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
Book 2: Not Precisely Mr. Knightley 

Barbour Fiction, October, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook

Buy NOT SO VERY SENSIBLE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

 

ROYALLY PERSUADED by Janelle Leonard, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #NewRelease

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“If love was a melody” “ It’s a sonata in three movements: history, heartbreak and rebirth"

 
What a beautiful story that was fashioned after Persuasion by Jane Austen. But this one had a musical twist full of lyrical prose with the chapters following the movements of a symphony, with profound spiritual lessons. The author writes with such emotional depth and gives her characters faith that sustains and grows in the barren times. The quality of writing glows throughout this story. 
 

The settings were fabulous and diverse, depicting Vienna in the snow and fictional Merren Rannalla in the more temperate months.

 
From the bloom of first love 13 summers ago, to the present, this story was atmospheric and unforgettable as Nadalie and Andreas reconnect and navigate the world they inhabit presently. The biblical principles are echoed in references such as Romans 8: 38 & 39--my favorite verses, and are played out in the things of interest to the characters: Nadalie in music “Above all, trust God, the ultimate Composer of your story. He knows the perfect tempo, the right key, and when to bring in the crescendo.” And Andreas in woodworking “Trust His hands, the Master knows what he is building.”

 
Another stunning story from an up and coming author. Be sure and catch her debut novel Northargyle Abbie.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by White Crown Publishing. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a strong faith thread

BackCover Blurb
Princess Nadalie Seymorr has always measured her life in music: the strict rhythms of being the perfect princess, the symphonies she escapes into, and the haunting tunes of a love she left behind. As a teenager, Nadalie spent her winters on the sunlit Grecian island of Meren Rannalla where Andreas Jarvela, a spirited American boy with calloused hands and boundless confidence, taught her what music felt like beyond the page. For three years they shared letters, freedom, and a friendship crescendoing into dreams of a future together. Until, the same day she accepted his engagement ring, duty convinced her to return it and walk away.

A decade later, Nadalie has perfected the role of the ideal princess, but the girl she once was has grown faint. When Andreas returns to the island, memories resurface, stirring unfinished songs and unspoken truths. Now a world-renowned artist, Andreas guards his heart with practiced distance, unsure whether he can trust the woman who once shattered it, especially as a bright, confident newcomer vies for his attention and tempts him toward a safer future.

As past and present collide, Nadalie and Andreas must decide whether the music they began as teenagers still has a composition left to write or if some songs are meant to remain unfinished.

In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, unfinished melodies and lingering love converge, revealing that some songs are meant to be completed together. 

White Crown Publishing, October 6, 2026

Available in digital ebook and paperback at Amazon 

THE SISTERHOOD OF UNLIKELY FRIENDS by Sara Brunsvold, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"My Chevy truck rested in the pool of shade on the lawn that Thursday, all of my slowly replenished possessions arranged like a jigsaw puzzle in the bed."

Jess Becker is starting over; a new place, a new job, and determined to enjoy her independence away from the plethora of painful memories that stubbornly peek over her shoulder at the most inopportune times. Her cozy little rental has just enough space for her minimal assortment of belongings and working remotely is a perfect match for her introverted tendencies.

It's not long before Jess's privacy is compromised by the appearance of a young teen living next door with her grandfather. One thing leads to another and she finds herself providing Kyla with transportation to a local church where Jess meets two other women who also unexpectedly insert themselves into her life; a seasoned believer Reva and a woman flailing in her circumstances, Austie. When their unlikely pairings test the limits of Jess's newfound faith, her understanding of the many references to "one another" throughout the Bible provide both a comfort and a challenge. Jess is learning to give, but can she open herself up to receiving? Ultimately the answer to that question is practically forced upon her.

There is so much to love about this story. Inter-generational characters from totally different walks of life merge into the kind of community that only the Holy Spirit could orchestrate. With strengths and weaknesses that balance out each other, all four are tested and tried, but they come out stronger together than apart.

"Mighty God . . . whatever we can do for each other, please show us. Stir us to unity and good works. May we never grow weary in pursuing either." Amen and amen!
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.4.75 stars

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW 

BackCover Blurb:
She's spent a lifetime keeping her heart under lock and key. Now others are reaching out. But is she ready to receive them?

At forty-two, fiercely independent Jess Becker is starting over in Kansas City with minimal furniture, two houseplants, and a newfound faith. After a lifetime of poor choices, she's determined to finally get it right.

When she befriends her fourteen-year-old neighbor and agrees to drive her to church, she's swept into a caring community where she meets Reva, a wise mentor figure, and Austie, a troubled young woman. Jess reluctantly opens her home to pizza nights with her new friends, unwittingly opening her heart to a sisterhood of faith.

Just as these relationships begin reshaping her carefully controlled life, Jess receives news that changes everything. Now she must decide whether to accept the very help she's been trying to give others or risk losing everything she's worked so hard to build. 

Revell Publishing, October, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook

Buy at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House