UNDERCOVER WISH by Danielle Grandinetti, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency Series Prequel

 

PAULA REVIEWS:
Inspired by Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, this story takes place in 1890 during the construction of the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. It has a solid faith thread infused in the story.
 

Ali De Stasio is a journalist who works undercover. She is hot on a story but needs evidence in order to expose corruption and proof in order to submit the story for publication.
 

While in disguise, she encounters Griffeth Moorland, the son of the rich businessman who heads the construction company building the venues for the Exhibition. Griff has already sensed something is not quite right in his father’s company. Griff and Ali team up to face danger and intrigue as they search for the truth. Cupid strikes along the way in this informative look back in history.
 

I grew up in a Chicago suburb and relished the history of the Fair. It always amazed me that most of the buildings were torn down after the Exhibition. I visited several of the few that were still standing. It must have been a fascinating time to live in.
 

This was a wonderful start to a new series. It is sure to be a favorite for those interested in Chicago history. 
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Hearth Spot Books. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

 

BackCover Blurb:
Wealth is but an illusion, hers to wield and his to escape.

CHICAGO, Ill., 1892—Stunt reporter Ali Di Stasio will risk anything to expose the truth and protect her fellow orphans, including rummaging through trash bins and putting herself in the crosshairs of the dangerous elite. After living on the streets, she knows every corner of her city, which means she can stay one step ahead of the cops, the powerful men who'd love to silence her before she can reveal their secrets, and the occasional wealthy bachelor wandering through her alleyways, lost and in danger of being mugged.

Griff Moorland, heir-apparent to his father's shipping enterprise, is summoned home to Chicago's wealthiest neighborhood for one purpose: marriage. Worse, his choices are to marry the conniving daughter of his father's business partner or an heiress with a sizable dowry. If he doesn't comply before the contract to bring in steel for the Columbian Exposition ends? His ailing mother will be stranded across an ocean, homeless.

Caught between keeping his mother alive and his father's questionable business practices, Griff needs a way out of the bind his father has put him in. When Ali swoops in like a knight in shining armor, she insists the pen is mightier than a sword. But with the Chicago World's Fair fast approaching, sinister forces conspire against them. Will love prove only a mirage, or will it be strong enough to set them free?
 

La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.
A Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency origin story and a retelling of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.

Fans of Danielle Grandinetti’s 1930s historical romance will enjoy Undercover Wish, the prequel that introduces the founder of the Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency and bridges Harbored in Crow's Nest with this new series.

Hearth Spot Press, February, 2026

Available in digital ebook or paperback at Amazon

 

WHERE STILLNESS SPEAKS by Chelsey Welwood, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

A Historical Christian Romance of Courage and Unexpected Love

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Tomorrow night, will be the last you see of me . . . mark my words."

Audra Bancroft fled quietly and quickly into the night, disguised as a young man, desperate to put miles between herself and the despicable man whom her uncle declared would be her husband. Arriving in a small Indiana town, she fell upon the good graces of the Haystead family matriarch who offered her refuge on their farm, never asking too many questions. The elder Haystead son was not so accommodating, suspicious of Audra's intentions, and skeptical about her past. On the other hand, the younger siblings, befriended Audra immediately and with the passing of time, Audra dropped her guard long enough to begin to feel at home within the tight-knit community. That proved to be a mistake.

When trouble comes calling, in the heat of the moment Audra's false declaration forges Tobias Haystead into unintended territory and creates a series of complicated circumstances that neither of them would have chosen or could have foreseen.

There is a gentle cadence to this story. As sweet and predictable as it was in some places, it was also as courageous and determined as the heroine herself in others. Would that we would all listen to the gentle, quiet voice of the Spirit when we need Him the most; thankfully, Audra learned to tune her heart in that direction.

No one who reads this book will be able to resist reading the next! What an ending to this lovely, romantic debut!
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars

Available in digital or paperback at Amazon, September, 2025

BUY WHERE STILLNESS SPEAKS 

WHITEOUT by Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

An Action Adventure Thriller Romantic Suspense 2-in-1 Novella Collection 

Set at Colorado Ski Resort

PAULA'S REVIEW:
These books were so good it only took me a day to read them. 

Buried in Shadows by Dani Pettrey:
A group of friends go to a resort for snowboarding. After an avalanche, they are stranded in an abandoned ski lodge and people go missing. Sounds like a page out of an Agatha Christie novel with a modern twist. Cassy Joel, Izzy and Talbot team up to ferret out who could be a stalker killing their friends. The danger ramps up in this snowy, suspenseful novella that packs a punch.
 

Snowbound Secrets by Lynette Eason:
A real nail biter when longtime friends Maya and Gideon meet again at a ski resort that is cut off after an avalanche. Someone wants to harm Maya and Gideon is there to protect her. Why someone is after her is tied to her past. With bits of scary, dangerous times in a snowy, unforgiving climate and several possible culprits, Gideon and Maya pray their way through the peril. 

Two excellent stories about two couples affected by the same avalanche in Colorado. Different but both were exciting, highlighting the characters faith through challenging circumstances.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided Bethany House on behalf of the authors and 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:
Brace yourself for double the suspense in these snowbound adventures as an avalanche forces two couples to face down their enemies in a ski resort shut off from the outside world.

In Buried in Shadows by Dani Pettrey, Cassandra Parker arrives at her best friend's destination wedding, praying her stalker hasn't tracked her to Colorado. Also part of the wedding party is Sheriff Joel Brunswick, the man she stunned by leaving at the altar to hide a dangerous truth. When an avalanche strands their ski group in an abandoned lodge, it becomes chillingly clear that Cassandra's stalker has followed her . . . and he's willing to kill to make her his.

In Snowbound Secrets by Lynette Eason, Dr. Maya Sullivan fully intends to escape her past and finish planning a retreat for military veterans at the ranch she's inherited. Unfortunately, her plans go sideways when an avalanche traps her in a Colorado ski resort. An unexpected reunion with her high school crush forces her to confront past wounds, but she soon realizes someone is targeting her, and their search for a shadowy enemy becomes a matter of life and death. 

Bethany House Publishing, February 2026

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

Buy WHITEOUT at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

AMBUSH OF THE HEART By Mary Connealy, Reviewed by Winnie and Paula #NewRelease

 

(Rocky Mountain Marshals Book #1): 

A Historical Frontier Western Romance with US Marshals set in the Rocky Mountains

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
“’You’d think of the three of them, the woman would be the easiest to corral,’ Owen muttered. He didn’t say it for anyone’s ears but Morgan’s because they had two feisty women with them, and he’d prefer it if they weren’t mad at him. Especially the one he’d kissed less than an hour ago.”

Filled with Mary Connealy’s signature wit and humor, her well-drawn and engaging characters, and her action-packed plots, Ambush of the Heart is a riveting and fun read. Set in the Colorado Rockies in 1872, this tale is full of suspense as Owen Riley and his fellow Marshals escort a prisoner, along with Delaney and Boone Bridger, to Fort Russell. When they are ambushed, they are faced with a struggle for survival.

One of my favorite things about Connealy’s stories is her strong, competent, smart female characters. There were several of them in this tale, and I enjoyed their spunk and sass. Delaney Bridger is a perfect heroine for this story, and I liked seeing her and Owen as they got to know each other. I always enjoy the predicaments that this author throws her characters into and then somehow manages to get them out again.

There is a thread of the story that continues on to the next book, so be aware that you’ll want to read the whole series. 
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Drama and daring among a stunning surroundings. 

“It was a beautiful night. The stars were glowing all around the sky like they had been blasted up there with a shotgun loaded with diamonds."

Delaney and Boone Bridger are accompanied by five U.S. Marshals to join their father Colonel Lionel Bridger at Ft. Russell, Wyoming. The Marshals are escorting a prisoner to Cheyenne for a trial. They are ambushed by the family of the outlaw. Trouble aplenty for the group as they escape in the rugged mountains. 

A lot of danger from the outlaws not to mention the terrain with a real cliff hanger as Delaney and Owen pursue the outlaw Clive who has slipped their fingers. At the same time the pair has their faith tested in the unforgiving landscape. 

With a full cast of characters and a distinctive plot, there is much fodder for additional books in the series as well as several romantic possibilities with seemingly opposites attract scenarios. You can count on Ms Connealy to provide a strong faith element, a clear gospel message and a lot of fun along the way. The Wild West is always a great treat to read from this outstanding author.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
When bandits strike in the wilderness, can love and faith overcome the shadows of danger?

As Owen Riley and his fellow Marshals escort Delaney Bridger, her brother, and an escaped prisoner to Fort Russell, a gang of outlaws ambushes them, bringing death and devastation to their party. With their lives on the line and the outlaws in pursuit, Owen directs the rest of his battered group to seek hiding at a remote ranch.

After the attack leaves her brother Boone seriously injured, Delaney helps Owen, nursing Boone and a wounded Marshal back to health while danger looms ever closer. Despite the threat at their heels, romance sparks between Owen and Delaney as they fight for survival on their perilous trek to the fort. Can they overcome the obstacles and find a future together?

Mary Connealy presents a riveting historical Frontier series starter of adventure, love, and high jinks in the rugged wilderness of 1870s Colorado. This Western romance features a determined Marshal, a courageous woman, forced proximity romance, and a risky journey of survival. 

Bethany House Publishing, February, 2026

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

Buy AMBUSH OF THE HEART at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House