THE LAWYER AND THE LAUNDRESS by Christine Hill Suntz, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:

This story takes place in 1837 in Canada during a time of political unrest. It reminded me of our own Revolution.
 

Sara and James have both lost their spouses and James has a 10 year old daughter Evie.
 

Sara has a troubled past, is estranged from her family and has fallen on hard times. Circumstances bring James and Sara together through Evie, a sweet, precocious and mischievous girl.
 

I liked watching the romance blossom between James and Sara. They were both strong personalities and had a solid faith among other great qualities.
 

This was a polished debut novel which showed that the author researched her subjects well.
 

I enjoyed learning more about Canadian history and look forward to another book by this author.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a strong faith thread

 

BackCover Blurb:
Lawyer James Kinney isn’t looking for love, and laundress Sara O’Connor doesn’t want to be found. When their paths cross in a British colony on the brink of rebellion, a marriage of convenience may be their best hope of survival.

Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.

If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.

-Clean and wholesome, marriage-of-convenience historical romance
-Filled with love, faith, and adventure
-Inspirational historical fiction that’s perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Laura Frantz, and Tamera Alexander
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs 

Tyndale Fiction, June, 2025

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook

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TO LOVE A BEAST BY Karen Witemeyer, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

 

(A Christian Western Historical Romance Fairy Tale Retelling of Beauty & the Beast) 

Once Upon a Time in Texas Series #1

PAULA'S REVIEW:

I love these fairytale-retellings with a Texas flair and this one is my favorite. It had me picturing the Disney version in my head with all the favorite characters. I liked the twist on the names like Mrs. Potter and Mr. Lightfoot. Mr. Griffen as the beast was just perfect! 

 

The descriptions put me right in the story. The information about bookbinding was very interesting and the paintings by Everett Griffen were so mesmerizing. They showed Calista what was in his soul. Ms. Witemeyer wove the story into a tale of beauty and gave a clear spiritual lesson. We should be looking at the heart and not outward appearances. She also touched on being a friend and seeking forgiveness.

 

This is a sure winner and I hope more Texas-themed fairytales are in the works.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

BackCover Blurb:
Beauty and the Beast in 1800's Texas.

Once known among New York's elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. The treachery of a former admirer left his face and his spirit riddled with scars, so he hides himself away, his only companions a trio of trusted servants and an oversized dog. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses.

When an injury to her father jeopardizes the family's book binding business, Callista Rosenfeld determines to fulfill the contract herself, and no insufferable client or woman-eating dog will deter her. Finding unlikely allies among Mr. Griffin's staff, Callista secures her position and sets to work transforming the manor's remarkable library. Her employer transforms as well, his ill-tempered growls subsiding to reveal a considerate, intellectual nature. Affection blooms as Callista and Everett discover hidden depths in each other, but the evil schemes of a vengeful hunter threaten to leave their love and their lives in tatters.

 

Hope and Light Publishing, June, 2025

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

BUY TO LOVE A BEAST at Amazon

 

 

 

THE RULES OF MATRIMONY by Anneka R. Walker, Reviewed by Winnie Thomas

The Matchmaking Mamas book #4

WINNIE'S REVIEW:

Anneka R. Walker’s Matchmaking Mamas series has been such fun, and the last book, The Rules of Matrimony is charming and delightful. I’ve been waiting for Lord Ian Reynolds to meet his match, and it was certainly worth waiting for. Ian made a vow never to marry, but when circumstances force him into a marriage of convenience, he insists on some rules for their marriage. Amie Tyler agrees to the marriage and the rules, but she wants to be independent. Neither Ian nor Amie intends to develop feelings for each other, but Ian’s Rebels group and the Matchmaking Mamas have other plans.

I loved these entertaining characters and their endeavors to keep to the rules of their marriage. Their banter and interactions are amusing. I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from previous books in the series show up in this one, although it is easily read as a stand-alone tale.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. 

 

BackCover Blurb:
Forced into an unexpected marriage, Ian and Amie defy Society’s rules to ensure their independence but instead find themselves surrendering their hearts.

London, England, 1823

Ian has vowed never to marry, steadfast in his resolve to shield himself from the heartache his father’s infidelity brought upon his mother. Instead, he dedicates his heart and soul to reforming criminal law with his Rebel group. A chance encounter in a country graveyard with the infuriatingly bold Miss Amie Tyler only solidifies his resolve to remain single. That is, until his life descends into chaos when rumors of his engagement—an engagement he had no part in or prior knowledge of—force him and the vexing Miss Tyler into a calculated marriage, a mutual scheme to protect Miss Tyler from her lecherous cousin and to save Ian from a political marriage he dreads.

Amie never imagined her unsophisticated life would lead to an entanglement with Lord Ian Reynolds. Living on her relatives’ charity, she is resigned to remaining a wallflower. But when her mother concocts a wild lie of her engagement to Lord Reynolds, she chooses to trust a gentleman she hardly knows with her future. Amie is thrust into a whirlwind marriage and is overwhelmed to find herself falling for Ian despite their agreement to maintain their own separate lives and goals.

As they navigate their charade, Ian’s political ambitions clash with his growing affection for Amie, and Amie’s courageous attempt to help Ian’s family heal threatens to unravel their bond. However, a forbidden kiss and unexpected acts of kindness kindle the spark between them that neither can ignore. In a desperate race against societal expectations, the two must decide whether a future together is worth breaking their earlier vows of independence. 

Shadow Mountain Publishing, May, 2025

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy THE RULES OF MATRIMONY at Amazon

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:

"She gaped at his face as he exited the frame. It couldn't be."

Looking forward to a summer in Seabrook, Maggie Reynolds is finally ready to let go of her grief after five years of widowhood. The lovely North Carolina beach town holds so many precious memories, and is where her husband's family members still reside, providing her young daughter Zoey with a way to spend quality time with the people who love her most, especially Ethan's brother, her Uncle Josh. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to see someone who was a dead ringer for her late husband walk directly across her path. Was it possible that Ethan was still alive?

Josh Reynolds didn't know what to think about the man that Maggie had seen; the person in her photo looked just like his brother . . . his very dead brother. Just when he thought that Maggie was poised to let go of her painful past, an unbelievable coincidence at a carnival had managed to rattle her to the core. Of course, Josh would help her look into what was going on. Josh would do anything for Maggie . . . the woman he had secretly loved for years.

A really sweet romance with subtle layers and a couple of jaw dropping surprises!  

*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars

 SEE KIM'S REVIEW

 

BackCover Blurb:
Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again—until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she'd lost.

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man's true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn't sure she wants those answers after all.

 

Thomas Nelson Publishing, April, 2025

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook

BUY THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House