THE INKLINGS DETECTIVE AGENCY by John R. Kelly, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

PAULA'S REVIEW:
“Throughout history, the minds of literary geniuses and the practical science of detection have walked hand in hand.” -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

An entertaining who-done-it featuring The Inklings of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien fame. Completely fictional but fun story that has The Inklings being asked to investigate a murder. With an underlying faith theme that did spell out the faith of Lewis and Tolkien, this was an interesting look at the British Isles in 1936 that had cameos of the likes of Agatha Christie, C.K. Chesterton, and Dorothy Sayers. I especially enjoyed the quotes by famous authors at the beginning of each chapter.  

The afterward told what real history was used in the novel. I was intrigued by The Detectives Club, a group of writers who had 10 rules of detective fiction. I will look for these when I watch my next Poirot or Ms. Marple. 

This had overtones of the occult but it was explained in light of Christianity and the Bible. 

“I suppose the greatest puzzles and mysteries in our lives are the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”
*A complimentary copy of the book was provided by Waterbrook via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review.All opinions are mine alone.*4.5 stars and an underlying faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
In the shadowy streets of 1936 Oxford, England, members of a secret society keep turning up dead. When J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and their fellow literary masterminds, known as the Inklings, are called upon to catch a killer, they trade their pens for magnifying glasses. With time running out, they get a helping hand from mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to unravel a sinister web of secrets.

Packed with historical details, intrigue, and a thrilling whodunit, this novel is a masterful blend of high-stakes drama. Dive into a world where the creators of fantasy and mystery confront a real-life menace in a race against the clock. Will dark forces prevail, or will these literary giants crack the case before the murderer strikes again? 

Waterbrook Publishing, May, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, or audiobook:

Buy THE INKLINGS DETECTIVE AGENCY at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House  

WITNESS PROTECTION by Robert Whitlow, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Lord, you know every detail about what Kelli is dealing with in this case. I ask you to intervene as only you can so that your will in heaven will be done on earth."

Following her divorce, single mom and attorney Kelli Quinn trades in her stressful job at a large Atlanta law firm for a small law office in Brunswick where she joins a former classmate. Having been offered a place to live with her favorite Aunt Carly, Kelli and her children begin their transition to a new normal. However, Kelli's first case is anything but normal.

Jon Tremaine has taken years to reinvent himself under the Federal Witness Protection program after offering highly valuable testimony against the drug cartel with whom he had been involved. He has a wonderful job, a beautiful wife, and a baby son arriving within weeks. When one of Jon's employees at the commercial tree farm that he manages is arrested under suspicious circumstances, Jon offers immediate assistance, including partial payment for a private defense attorney, Kelli Quinn. As it turns out, getting involved in another drug smuggling case, even on the periphery, has unintended consequences, not only for Jon but for everyone around him.

In addition to offering its readers a superb legal case, this story is anchored on the faithful prayers of a dear woman whose health is precarious but whose faith is firm. The authentic fears and doubts that Jon and Kelli both experience throughout this novel are notably compelling, and while resolutions seem just out of reach, they provide a divine opportunity; "entering into God's rest at any level was better than the alternative of despair".

What a wonderful book! 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:

Jon Tremaine has lived in hiding for years--will coming out of the shadows to help a friend be too great a risk? Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Charles Martin, Witness Protection is a legal drama with a deep undercurrent of faith.

All is finally good. Jon Tremaine has created a new life in Brunswick, Georgia, as part of the Federal Witness Protection program after testifying against the former drug cartel he was involved with. Only his wife, Sarah, and a handler with the US Marshal's office know his true identity, and he is now the manager of a large commercial tree farm with a baby on the way. But when one of Jon's employees is arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the United States, he goes against his better judgment and inserts himself in the middle of the case, believing the man is an unsuspecting mole manipulated by sophisticated drug dealers.

Kelli Quinn, a highly skilled litigator with an Atlanta law firm, has moved to Brunswick to work with her best friend from law school, hoping to rebuild her life after a painful divorce. She and her two children find a temporary home with her aunt Carly, a woman whose great faith is making an impression on her new houseguests. For the first time in a very long while, Kelli sees a future where she can find balance between the job she loves and the family she loves even more.

New to the firm and in need of clients, Kelli agrees to represent Jon's employee. The unfolding investigation reveals layers of criminal activity and possible connections to Jon's past, putting everyone at risk of exposure--and even death.

With its gripping pace, layered legal intrigue, and heartfelt exploration of faith under pressure, Witness Protection has already been praised by early readers as a standout Robert Whitlow novel--one that keeps the pages turning while asking deeper questions about courage, identity, and redemption. As danger closes in and past sins resurface, Whitlow expertly weaves suspense with grace, showing how even the safest hiding place can't protect the heart from truth.

Thomas Nelson Publishing, April, 2026

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

Buy WITNESS PROTECTION at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

INTO A GOLDEN ERA by Gabrielle Meyer, Reviewed by Rebecca and Paula

 

An Inspirational Gold Rush and Hollywood Golden Age-Era Time Travel Romance

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Let's decide to hope. To believe that God will make a way where there seems to be none."

Time-crosser Ally Bennett, a notable 1929 Hollywood film star is also Ally Adams, a near destitute newcomer to 1849 San Francisco. As her twenty-fifth birthday draws near, the decision of which pathway to choose as her forever life becomes blurred as her small family owned production company faces bankruptcy and her chances of striking gold in California seems nearly impossible.

Two men also take up room in Ally's dilemma. One, a charming playboy whose reputation has been shattered and needs the respectability that a fake romance with Ally could provide, the other a boardinghouse owner whose past is just as damaged as her Hollywood heartthrob. After Ally finally makes up her mind, history throws a significant obstacle into her plans, and every time-crosser knows how dangerous it is to change the course of history.

With impressive expertise, this author constructs a bridge between two very different but equally interesting time periods, all while reminding her readers that wherever, whenever, God has a plan and is trustworthy even when the end of the story seems impossible to write.

PAULA'S REVIEW
Another compelling time-crossing novel by the talented Gabrielle Meyer. While each story in the series consists of two timelines, each story is unique and mesmerizing. This time Ally Adams is in San Francisco in 1849 and looking to strike it rich in the gold fields. Her other timeline is 1929 in Hollywood as a leading lady for her family’s production company, just as talkies are emerging. 

It was fascinating how the stories connected and showed the dangers of trying to change history, even in the slightest way. Since the times are only 80 years apart, you could possibly meet someone you had known in your other time. You could feel the pull that each time had on Ally as she tries to make a decision of which time she chooses to stay in. 

With stellar research, Ms Meyer deftly crafts another distinctive story that brings home faith lessons and the meaning of true love and sacrifice.
*I purchased a copy of this book from Baker Book House and read an ecopy via NetGalley through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions are mine alone.*5+ stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Two eras. One future. An impossible choice that will determine the course of history.

As a time-crosser, Ally lives in two worlds. In 1849, in an attempt to secure her family's future during the California Gold Rush, she finds herself penniless and stranded in San Francisco. Forced to take shelter in a dangerous boardinghouse owned by an infamous gang member, Ally is desperate to escape. But when she discovers that history has changed around her, and it now claims she will do something unthinkable, she must use her time-crossing knowledge to find answers.

In 1929, Ally is an up-and-coming starlet during the Golden Age of Hollywood, but her family's film studio is on the brink of ruin, and their remaining resources are invested into a production of Little Women. If the endeavor fails, Ally's family will lose everything. To ensure their success, she agrees to stage a fake romance with a notorious Hollywood heartthrob in hopes of using his fame for their movie, but she risks her heart in the process. When history doesn't play by the rules, Ally must decide if she will throw all caution aside and risk everything for the people she loves. But which path will be worth sacrificing to save the other?  

Bethany House Publishing, May, 2026

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

Buy INTO A GOLDEN ERA at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

IF ALL ELSE SALES by Emma St. Clair, Reviewed by Kim

A Sweet Grumpy-Sunshine Rom-Com

KIM'S REVIEW:
I absolutely loved this story—literally everything about it! The grumpy-with-a-heart-of-gold/sunshine trope was perfection. The humor was spot on, and the ending was beautiful. There’s also a bonus story from Emma St. Clair that I absolutely loved!

Wyatt is basically amazing. From his grumpiness to his feverish ramblings to his heart of gold—perfection. Josie is full of sunshine and personality, and I loved how she brought out the best in Wyatt. The humor woven throughout was another highlight for me.

I will say, though, I didn’t really see this as an enemies-to-lovers romance. To me, it felt more like a misunderstanding on Josie’s part mixed with a “he falls first” romance—and I loved that about it.

I highly recommend If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair. 5 stars.
I purchased this book. This is a clean read. 

BackCover Blurb:
USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.

When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.

Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.

Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing--or kissing?--each other.

And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.

If you're a fan of closed-door romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and relatable characters, this romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes is your perfect escape. Dive into the irresistible story of Wyatt and Josie as they navigate the rocky waters of their past, uncover hidden depths, and discover that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places. With the delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic and the swoon-worthy he-falls-first trope, If All Else Sails by USA TODAY bestselling author Emma St. Clair will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Thomas Nelson, August, 2025

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

Buy IF ALL ELSE FAILS at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House