THE LIGHT OF STARS by Jenelle Hovde, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #NewRelease

An Arranged-Marriage Regency Romance

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Captivating from page one, I was fascinated by the premise of Kitty seemingly kidnapped from her life in India to find herself secluded in the English countryside. With an arranged marriage in the near future, she feels manipulated and wants nothing to do with Sebastian. She has no fond memories of the one time she met him when they were younger. 

Sebastian travels to England from India where he is being groomed to oversee the vast East India Company. He too feel manipulated by his grandfather. After the marriage of convenience takes place, Kitty and Sebastian join forces to uncover mysteries that were long in the making. 

I felt the wariness of the characters and loved the slowly developing romance. The story was very atmospheric from the ballrooms of England to the sultry sumptuousness of India. I was also intrigued by the history revealed about the East India Company as well as facts about William Wilberforce and William Carey. This author has a winning way of incorporating history into an impressive story. I enjoyed the facts about astronomy and several women who were ahead of their time in scientific knowledge. 

Kitty and Sebastian had a strong faith and that played a part in how they perceived the obstacles they came across. This journey back in time was expertly portrayed by a talented author who used careful research to write an exceptional novel.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale and by NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.

When Kitty Grenville's grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she's appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he's a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather's orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he's abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather's control—and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.Sweet historical romance filled with hope, faith, and an arranged marriage dynamic
Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, or Abigail Wilson
Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Tyndale Fiction, July, 2026

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

Buy THE LIGHT OF STARS at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

BRIGHTER THAN BEFORE by Courtney Walsh, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

 A feel-good novel about finding yourself and falling in love again

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Day One of My New Life:  . . . What do I really want?"

Claire (not Wellesley anymore) Karadec has survived the first year after being publicly humiliated by her husband's betrayal, and by "public"  . . . well, is "on stage" public enough? Or should we mention the infamous "fountain event"? Pulling out a journal and beginning to list the things that she would really like to do, Claire moves from Colorado to Chicago, a city where she has always dreamed of living, espousing to do new things (like eat out alone, make new friends, own a dog) and finding a place to truly belong. Never in those wildest dreams did she imagine ever dating again.

Coordinating their efforts, Claire's daughter Minnie and intriguing neighbor (never getting married again) Miles (who happened to be an eye witness to Claire's third most embarrassing moment) set Claire up on a dating app, providing her with a variety pack of first dates, which range from sneezy to slobbery and everything else in between. Meanwhile Claire continues to draft her goals, and realizes that while "bravery can feel a lot like fear . . . it's never too late to begin again".

What a refreshing, inspiring romantic comedy!
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars

 

BackCover Blurb:
Life has a way of changing your path--and Claire Karadec certainly didn't plan on a fork in the road in her forties. From New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh comes a witty, warm, and uplifting novel about second chances, found family, and the courage it takes to become yourself--perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan and Sarah Adams.

After a painfully public discovery shatters her marriage, along with her picture-perfect, country club life, Claire finds herself suddenly single and faced with a blank page for a future. On that page she writes a simple list that reads like equal parts dare and daydream--Move to a new city. Make a real friend. Get a job I love--and she vows to accomplish every single one.

Before she can talk herself out of it, she takes a step of faith, puts her old life in the rearview mirror, and leases an apartment in Chicago, the city that has always had her heart. This one step sends Claire on a journey of self-discovery, giving her the courage to conquer her fears, one checklist item at a time, and showing her that life can be a whole lot brighter than she imagined.

She rediscovers a love for baking, stumbles into new friendships, and even allows her daughter, Minnie, to create a dating profile and choose her dates for her. Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is Miles, the charming, off-limits neighbor whose kindness makes it hard to remember why he's off-limits at all.

Between late-night journaling, disastrous first dates, great big lessons and priceless small victories, Claire learns to quiet the voice telling her she wasn't enough and listens to the one that asks the harder question . . .

What do I really want?

As old expectations loosen their grip, Claire discovers that belonging isn't a place you're invited to--it's a life you build one brave choice at a time. And the sweetest things often show up when you finally get out of your own way.

Lose yourself in a story that's equal parts heartwarming, hopeful, and full of joy. Early readers are loving the witty humor, uplifting journey, and sweet, clean romance that makes Brighter than Before such a life-affirming escape. Grab your copy today and discover a second-chance story about courage, connection, and building a life that feels truly your own.

 

THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHING, June, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy BRIGHTER THAN BEFORE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

PART OF YOUR WORLD by Karen Witemeyer, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

ONCE UPON A TIME IN TEXAS Book Two

 REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"I found you."

When Muriel Quinn dove into her beloved ocean to rescue a stranger, she never imagined that her heart would bond so securely with a man whom she had never met. The problem was, she had no idea who he was, even after pulling him ashore, coaxing his lungs into breathing again, and then scrambling out of sight for propriety's sake. My goodness! What proper young woman would be caught wearing such a form fitting bathing costume?

Determined to find the handsome stranger, Muriel soon discovers that Zane Erickson is the son of a powerful, wealthy businessman, prompting her to make a decision that comes back to haunt her. She aligns herself with a scheming matchmaker whose terms entangle both Muriel and Zane into a dangerous web of deceit. Thankfully Zane is just as anxious to become acquainted with the mysterious red haired beauty who sang him out of the sea, but it may not be enough to save them.

This imaginative Texas based fairy tale re-telling was an absolute delight to read!
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 

SEE REVIEWS BY WINNIE and PAULA

BackCover Blurb:
She saved him from the sea. He awakened her heart. Now a villainous scheme threatens to destroy them both.

Seawater runs through Muriel Quinn’s veins—a fact that has long concerned her father, who desires his youngest daughter to abandon the waves and embrace the respectable life expected of a grown woman. Yet even when banished from her beloved sea, Muriel feels its pull upon her soul. Drawn to the shore, she witnesses a boating accident and dives in to save a man from drowning. As she brings him back from the brink of death, a dream stirs to life in her heart.

Despite his family's wealth and social standing, Zane Erickson pursues a career in architecture, having no interest in cementing a match with any of the bridal candidates his mother foists upon him. Until a mysterious beauty saves his life and vanishes before he can learn her name. Determined to find her, he is stunned when the matchmaker his mother hired arrives with the very woman who has haunted his dreams. But he soon learns there are darker forces than romance at work in this meeting.

Entangled in a blackmail scheme that grows more deceitful and dangerous by the day, Zane and Muriel must fight not only for their love, but for the lives of those they hold dear.

 

Hope and Light Publishing, June, 2026

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

Buy PART OF YOUR WORLD at Amazon 

 

 

SECRETS CHASE HER by Rachel Dylan, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

 (Deadly Justice Book 2)

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Quinn Kelly looked at her smart watch again for the third time in five minutes. She couldn't believe that Allie hadn't responded . . ."

There was a valid reason that Quinn Kelly's legal associate had not showed up for their Monday morning meeting. Allie Prince was dead . . . and not just deceased, but violated and brutally murdered. When F. B. I. Agents Samira Haddad and Jalen Smith show up at the scene, Quinn's complicated relationship with Samira is temporarily set aside while law enforcement quickly secures the scene and begins to gather evidence . . . very little about this crime makes any sense.

Allie's death wasn't the only interruption in Quinn's demanding schedule, she had been manipulated into representing a very powerful tech mogul in a criminal case. The infuriating man had backed her into a corner with his undeniably devious innuendos making Quinn determined to maintain the upper hand. As both the trial and murder investigation proceed, the noose tightens when Quinn is made aware that Allie was not the only victim of this vicious killer. What makes it even worse? Quinn knew both women. Was she the common denominator? If so, Samira needs her help.

An absolutely fascinating blend of knowns and unknowns, where unlikely alliances form stronger bonds while secrets work just as hard to destroy them.
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:

A brutal murder. A deadly secret. A lawyer who won't back down.

When high-powered attorney Quinn Kelly finds her protégé brutally murdered, she’s plunged into a nightmare—one that points directly to a ruthless serial killer. FBI Agent Samira Haddad takes over the case, but her complicated past with Quinn threatens to cloud the investigation.

Blackmailed by a powerful tech mogul who holds incriminating evidence against her, Quinn is forced to take on his defense to keep him silent. But she refuses to sit on the sidelines while Samira hunts the killer who took her friend’s life. Quinn’s search for answers uncovers a chilling truth: someone close to her is in the crosshairs—and she may be the reason why.

The killer is watching and lying in wait. With trust in short supply, both women must decide how far they’re willing to go for justice—and survival.

May, 2026 Available in digital ebook or paperback at Amazon