MISTLETOE SEASON by Pepper Basham, Kathleen Fuller, and Sheila Roberts, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

Cute, cute, and more cute! This trio is perfect for a fun Christmas read. They all have an underlying faith thread.
 

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller
Heartwarming story of second chances set in the quaint town of Mistletoe decorated for Christmas. Relatives conspire to match Kiernan and Emmy when Kiernan returns from many years away. Family values are clearly shown and the atmosphere is cozy and nostalgic.
 

A Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham
Hilarious and a decidedly uncute meet! Snarky comments between Luke and Charlotte steal the show. And the names Charlotte has for Arran are so funny: Royal Rascal, Snoring Sovereign, Mouthy Monarch and Prince Nosebreaker. It was wonderful to connect with the Edgewood family again.
 

Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts
A romance writer who has bad luck under the mistletoe. This is a very funny rom-com with a favorite trope of heroine comes back to the hometown and meets her highschool crush. So many cute quips. I laughed a lot and the final mistletoe kiss was perfect.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and an underlying faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts

Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild’s kryptonite. Every time she’s kissed someone under the mistletoe it’s led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams), kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn’t a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she’s never forgotten, and now she’s about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller

Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O’Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister’s close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he’ll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham

Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month “punishment” in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn’t recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.

-Three stand-alone romantic holiday novellas
-Book length: 84,000 words
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Thomas Nelson Publishing, October, 2024
Available in digital ebook, paperback, library binding, and audiobook:

BUY MISTLETOE SEASON at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW by Michelle Shocklee, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #NewRelease

This book held so many memories for me. 

Like the author, my father was a WWII veteran and like her, I wish I had asked more questions and gleaned more details when he talked about his experiences. I was very proud of him.
Unlike the author, I remember the Vietnam era well. My husband was in the Navy at that time.

This story brought me to tears many times. It was so authentically written. I connected with Ava more than Mattie. Mattie was very opinionated and to my mind would not consider other views. But she did portray the attitudes of the generation of my teens and early twenties.

I liked the steadiness of Kurt and Nash. They overcame the overwhelming conditions of war. The faith element permeated the story. The characters lived out their beliefs naturally. The theme of family and reconciliation was deftly written.

This is a must read for those wanting a glimpse of the home front during WWII and the connection of that generation to the Vietnam era.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
She was so sure she knew her family’s story . . . Now she wonders if she was wrong about all of it.

1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold the answers Mattie is looking for.

1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works to process legal documents for the military, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows . . . as do her feelings for him. Faced with the possibility of losing Gunther, Ava must choose whether loving someone deemed the enemy is a risk worth taking, even if it means being ostracized by all those around her.

In the midst of pain and loss two women must come face-to-face with their own assumptions about what they thought they knew about themselves and others. What they discover will lead to a far greater appreciation of their own legacies and the love of those dearest to them.

-Includes discussion guide for book groups
-Standalone Southern, historical family drama about enduring hope amid personal tragedy
-Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner or Lisa Wingate
-Dual timeline set during the Vietnam War and WWII. 

Tyndale Fiction, October, 2024

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

Buy ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

OVER THE EDGE by Irene Hannon, Reviewed by Paula and Rebecca #ReleaseDay

(Undaunted Courage Book #2): (Psychological Suspense Thriller Romance with a Police Detective and Trauma Survivor )

REBECCA'S REVIEW:

" . . . the murderer was between her and the back door."

Professional chef Lindsey Barnes' random trip back to her client's home to retrieve a forgotten knife roll unexpectedly positioned her in the middle of a murder investigation. Yes, she had seen the perpetrator, but the person had been fully covered in dark clothing and from Lindsay's vantage point on the floor she had not been able to immediately recall any identifying factors.

Detective Jack Tucker is a bit skeptical of Lindsey's account, simply because she knew the victim and was on scene when the man died, but his follow-up interviews centered around some completely different scenarios. Was she even a credible witness? The woman was seriously spooked. Add to the fact that she didn't warm up to him personally, which was curious . . . they had never met (he would have definitely remembered her!), motivating Jack to dig a little deeper into the life of the lovely chef.

So well written that the pages turned themselves . . . or at least it seemed that way. Impressive character depth, romantic brush strokes, carefully concealed indicators, and a climax that was virtually impossible to predict. Romantic suspense fans will be heralding this book as a fan favorite!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Interviews and Reviews! 4.5 stars

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“Sometimes there was a fine line between perseverance and stubbornness.” But stubbornness is a trait that gets Lindsay out of a tough situation. She is recovering from trauma months ago and finds herself the sole witness to a murder scene as the culprit exits the house. Ms Hannon once again puts her heroine through the ringer. Lindsay starts questioning what she has seen when someone targets her psychologically. With the help of Jack Turner, a St. Louis County cop, they try to piece together clues to find a murderer.

Full of mind games and thrilling scenes, I read this book in record time. With many suspects to choose from, I was kept guessing until the reveal. The characters were relatable and had depth. The plot was mesmerizing. I always enjoy books set in St. Louis where I lived for 20 years.

As always, Ms. Hannon writes excellent romantic suspense with a solid faith thread to encourage readers.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread.

BackCover Blurb:
Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn't fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she's in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but it also appears someone is trying to cast doubts on her mental stability.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body in his or her wake.

With her signature spellbinding style, the bestselling and award-winning "queen of inspirational romantic suspense" (Library Journal) delivers another riveting tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Revell Publishing, October, 2024

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

Buy OVER THE EDGE at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

 

 

SPECTERS IN THE GLASS HOUSE by Jaime Jo Wright, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

(A Haunting Dual-Time Inspirational Gothic Suspense Book)

“The story is like a road that vanishes into the fog. No one knows where it leads, or where it ends.”
Spooky vibes and not knowing what is real. I love how this author taunts us with the unexplainable and by the end of the story things have a reason. But the fun is in the journey of following the mysterious events and how they connect the past with the present.

The characters are complex and relatable. The faith thread is present with lessons to take away. 

“You are wanted.” 

“You have to choose to believe that when your world is shuttered and dark with unknown danger, life is still worth fighting through. That God sees into it, even when you do not. That you will come out the other side with purpose.”

A favorite character was Felix, a survivor of World War I, and even though he lost a leg, was strong, resilient, and wise.

This was a fascinating look at the aftermath of prohibition, and how the past joined with the present to unveil a bit of the struggles of a broken mind. I was captivated by the plot and the sheer poetry of the descriptions. “The tentacles of danger slithered along the edge of the room, invisible, black, vines, creeping up the walls, like a vineyard of omens around her. Omens of something unpredictable, dark and invasive.”

Another outstanding book by a talented author.
*A complementary copy of this book was provided by Bethany house through Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

 
BackCover Blurb:
An ominous butterfly house. A sinister legacy. An untraceable killer.

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron's empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family's Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian's sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer's ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer's quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold's mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian's great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

Bethany House Publishing, October, 2024

Available in digital ebook, paperback, library binding, and audiobook:

BUY SPECTERS IN THE GLASS HOUSE at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House