PART OF YOUR WORLD by Karen Witemeyer, Reviewed by Winnie Thomas

Once Upon A Time in Texas Book Two

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
“We stand together. Faith and family. Forever.”

What an entertaining retelling of The Little Mermaid story! Karen Witemeyer has done a beautiful job of adapting a classic tale into a different setting—Galveston, Texas in 1886. When Muriel Quinn rescues Zane Erickson, a down-to-earth son of wealthy parents, after a boating accident, she vanishes before he can learn her name. As Muriel becomes trapped in a blackmail scheme involving an under-handed matchmaker hired by Zane’s parents, she finds herself in a quandary.

I was immediately drawn to both Muriel and Zane. I liked that Zane wasn’t tied to his family’s wealth and prestige. He wanted to be an architect and earn his own way. I loved Muriel’s affection for her family members and her willingness to do anything to defend them. Themes of family, forgiveness, and faith add elements of inspiration to this story. The growth that Muriel goes through in learning about the consequences of her actions is also noteworthy and a good moral to the tale.  
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

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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 

 

SILENT MENACE by Angela Carlisle, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

THE SECRETS OF KINCAID series

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"I wish things were different."

Accountant Hailey Nieland is struggling to balance single motherhood with a demanding job following on the heels of her husband's death and the public scandal that followed him to the grave. As she begins to acquaint herself with a deceased colleague's client files, it becomes abundantly clear that something isn't adding up, leaving Hailey with a quandary of questions.

Security professional Peter Lewis becomes concerned when a woman working inside the building where he is employed finds her tires slashed and a threatening note on her windshield. His protective instincts signal that this is no ordinary prank, but Peter is barely acquainted with Hailey Nieland and is hesitant to intrude any further than necessary. As disturbing incidents against Hailey not only continue but escalate, Peter is pleased when she accepts his assistance, but neither is ready to acknowledge where the growing relationship may or may not advance. What possible motive could there be to ruin Hailey's life? That's the question.

True to its title, this book exhibits a quiet cadence, not really accelerating until mid-point through the narrative. It's then that the puzzle pieces begin to fall in and out of place and that prayers become a primary source of strength. An enjoyable read with solid characters and silent plot twists. 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

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BackCover Blurb:
A vulnerable target. A mysterious discrepancy. An unforeseen love.

After the exposure of her deceased husband's criminal activity, CPA Hailey Nieland struggles to move on with life as a single mother raising a hearing-impaired toddler in a hostile small town. When she gains a major client, she hopes the extra income will be just what they need . . . until she begins finding anomalies in the accounts. 

No one should trust their life to a bodyguard who can't protect himself, much less his client. At least, that's what Peter Lewis believes after his failed mission. But leaving his former career behind is much harder than he expected--especially when someone begins targeting an accountant who works in the office building he's now responsible for. As threats against her escalate, Peter and Hailey must work together to overcome their fears and expose a complex cover-up before she becomes the next victim. 

Parable bestselling author Angela Carlisle delivers edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense featuring a single mother, a bodyguard seeking redemption, financial intrigue, and a small-town setting for readers who enjoy high stakes and nonstop action.

Bethany House, May, 2026

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

Buy SILENT MENACE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

 

 

THE LOST STORY OF VIA BELLE by Melanie Dobson, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Now all these years later, if Mrs. Belle could tell the story of her life what would she say?"

Aspiring screen writer Harper Rayne is forced to pivot when she loses her job in Los Angeles, inspiring a trip across the country towards the small Pennsylvania town where her mother grew up. House sitting for some family friends gives Harper's imagination an opportunity to percolate, discovering that she would love nothing better than to unravel a local mystery regarding the area's most famous resident, an author who wrote numerous best-selling novels for years only to vacate her beautiful property and disappear completely from the annuls of history. She soon discovers that answers are slow to emerge, the estate is held in a trust, and its guardian, Finn Sterling, is in no mood to cooperate.

Author Via Belle's world titled on its axis following the death of her beloved husband. For the first time in a long time, no words spilled effortlessly onto the page, causing her publisher great angst and her own confidence to waver. When someone new emerges onto the stage of her life, Via proceeds with caution, but apparently she wasn't careful enough, for the story that follows won't be told for decades to come.

What a lovely example of dual timelines in perfect sync with one another, allowing the main characters in the before and after to converge at just the right time and in just the right place. During full story immersion, readers will be severely tempted to plant flashing hazard signs along Via's path, but alas! God is writing His own story and it's far better than Via Belle or Harper Rayne could have inscribed on their own.

Remarkable characters, intriguing plot threads, and a satisfying conclusion that is nearly impossible to fully anticipate! 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

 

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BackCover Blurb:
Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

1940. Via Belle's sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via's reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother's favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she'll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

-Described as a "powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction" (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

-Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue
-Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry

-Includes discussion questions for book groups

Tyndale Fiction, April, 2026

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

Buy THE LOST STORY OF VIA BELLE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

 

 

THE TARGETED by Cara Putman, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

Secrets to Keep Series #3

 

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Of course she knew that evil's presence didn't mean God wasn't God or that he wasn't good. But it sometimes made it hard to find him."

Having survived for so long feeling lost and alone in her fears and regrets, former gymnast Chloe Ainsworth finally works up the courage to solicit the help of a local legal clinic, deciding that she cannot move forward with her life until she resolves deeply traumatic experiences from her past. Law student Dare Shepherd listens carefully to her testimony, and agrees that the intimate personal information that Chloe has entrusted into his oversight needs to litigated, but if, as his supervisor insists, they need corroboration from additional sources in order to file a formal complaint, that poses a significant problem. Years have gone by and the witnesses were all minors at the time.

As if conjured up, the man from Chloe's nightmares arrives back in town after fourteen years of absence, and gains employment at the very gym where multiple young girls had been compromised. With a sense of urgency, Chloe and Dare seek every bit of evidence they can find, and what they uncover is extremely disturbing and inherently more dangerous than they ever imagined.

Navigating these case details combined with absorbing the emotional mine fields buried throughout this story necessitates a reader who not only admires amazing plot twists, but solemnly trusts the author to handle sensitive material in such a way that the end result brings solid assurance that God never means for us to feel alone, or forsaken, or forgotten.

"It didn't matter if people would leave her or let her down. God never would. He promised that, and his promises were true. Always." 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars

 

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BackCover Blurb:
Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up?

When Chloe Ainsworth's older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe's abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won't allow them to suffer the way she did, but she's desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case.

Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can't get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe.

They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It's clear they're onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it's too late?

Kregel Publishing, May, 2026

Available in digital ebook,  or paperback at Amazon