A CONSTANT LOVE by Tracie Peterson, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

The Hope of Cheyenne Book #1: A Western Christian Historical Romance Series Set in Frontier Cheyenne, Wyoming

PAULA'S REVIEW:

This is one of those stories that teaches you on several levels. The author tells historical facts in an interesting and engaging way, and she reveals spiritual truths unfolding naturally as her characters live and grow in their faith.

The story takes place in Cheyenne, Wyoming during the horrible winter of 1888 that took many lives and livelihood when temperatures plummeted.

Micah has lost his father and on a neighboring ranch Charlotte has lost her father and brother. Charlotte and her mother are left to run their ranch by themselves.

Charlotte has loved Micah for a very long time echoing the constant love that God has for him. She tries to give him hope and something worth living for. “We have two choices. We either give up on God and walk away, or we trust Him no matter what happens to us.”

The themes gleaned were: things change but God stays the same. He is the solid rock. And my favorite verses crop up yet again. Romans 8:38 & 39. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

This was a joy to read with real substance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

SEE TRIXI'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:
Heartache has left them emotionally desolate, but traces of love and healing could forge a future.

In the wake of a harsh winter, Micah Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich are grappling with loss and guilt after the disaster that took the lives of their loved ones. Struggling to cope with his grief, Micah abandons his father's dreams of a prosperous ranch and cuts himself off from the rest of the world.

Charlotte has loved Micah her entire life and is determined not to lose him as well. With her mother's help, she begins coaxing Micah to live again. Despite their enduring heartache, the affection between them deepens, but just as Charlotte thinks her dreams may come true, a scorned suitor threatens everything she holds dear. Micah and Charlotte must embark on a journey of healing and renewal to build a life founded on faith, hope, and love.

A Constant Love is a clean, frontier-era historical romance of heartache, grief, Christian faith, and second chances in the newly developing American West.  

 

Bethany House Publishing, March, 2025

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

Buy A CONSTANT LOVE at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

 

OF SILVER AND SECRETS by Michelle Griep, Reviewed by Rebecca and Paula #ReleaseDay

(Time's Lost Treasures Book #2): A Victorian Romance

 with Mystery and an Archeological Dig in England

PAULA'S REVIEW:
It is no secret that I am fascinated by historical artifacts and Of Silver and Secrets fed my love of history. Ms. Griep really put Eva and Bram in dire circumstances and did not shy away from putting obstacles in their way, whether it was evil people or a snowstorm. But there is hope within the pages and devotion to God is shown with right ultimately winning over machinations.

The characters are well depicted as flawed but striving for good. The descriptions put me right in the story. Along with the obvious draw of finding ancient relics, I was pleased by the love Eva and Bram had for books. And blind sister Penny was a force to be reckoned with despite her visual impairment. The author portrayed Eva as facing poverty but doing all she could to remedy the situation. The romance was a second chance story of meeting years later when Eva and Bram had matured and each has refined their faith, realizing: “God’s love and grace are constant whether we falter or not.”

Another wonderful historical offering by a favorite author.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"I am not to blame for my parents' deaths, my sister's blindness, and the dismal state of Inman Manor."

So why does it feel as if it is . . . her fault? Eva Inman is carrying an already heavy load of responsibility when she is notified that her taxes have gone up substantially. With a practically non-existent income and desperate to make ends meet, Eva begins selling off family furniture along with developing plans to cultivate a long-supposed cursed portion of her property . . . When, like manna from heaven, an opportunity drops into her lap from a most unexpected source . . . Bram Webb.

After appearing before the Faculty Misconduct Review Board and facing possible expulsion, Cambridge history professor Bram Webb is more determined than ever to keep his tenure secure, along with that of his Uncle Pendleton. There's just one little caveat . . . they must prove the existence of a certain ancient Roman settlement. When an artifact is unearthed on Eva Inman's property from that exact time period, Bram seeks to re-connect with his childhood friend and gain permission to conduct an archeological dig. Will what they find be valuable enough to save Inman Manor, Bram's professorship, and perhaps even repair the relationship that was so abruptly severed all those years ago.

With trademark wit and wisdom, this story unearths not only matters of historical significance, but a fortune that is of an everlasting nature; abiding love. Of course, making matters a tad more (a lot more, really!) complicated are those whose intentions are evil . . . will their deeply buried secrets prevent time's lost treasures from making a well deserved debut?!

"Oh God . . . I cannot fix this. I cannot even pretend to . . . We are in your hands . . . Grant us all mercy."

*I voluntarily committed to reading a copy of this book provided to me by the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 3.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:
Buried underneath are truths bent on keeping them apart. . . .

In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is haunted by guilt over her parents' deaths while struggling to care for her blind sister and manage her family's crumbling estate. With the tax deadline looming, Eva's situation looks dire until an ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Despite superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed acres, Eva's need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics.

Cambridge professor Bram Webb must prove a legendary Christian Roman settlement exists, or he'll risk exposing his uncle's deteriorating memory and they'll both lose their positions. Then Eva steps into his office with the prospect of an archaeological dig that might lead to the very evidence Bram requires--provided he and Eva can set aside painful memories of a time they would rather forget. As the dig forces the two to confront their pasts, the work becomes fraught with challenges that threaten Eva's and Bram's hopes, as well as the growing attraction between them. 

Bethany House Publishing, June, 2025

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

Buy OF SILVER AND SECRETS at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

FROM THE VALLEY WE RISE by Elizabeth Musser, Reviewed by Paula #ReleaseDay

A Fictional Historical Novel with Triple POV Amidst WWII in France

 

PAULA'S REVIEW:
It was totally appropriate that I chose to read this novel during the Memorial Day weekend. It is focused on the bravery and resilience of the members of the French Resistance in 1944 and the liberation by American forces and their sacrifices in pushing back the retreating German army.
 

Ms. Musser did a fantastic job of putting me right into the action, whether with Isabelle and Delphine rescuing Jewish children or with Peter and Rene during courageous battle scenes. The characters had such real struggles with their faith and their place in the scheme of things. And how the connections came together was shown not as coincidence but by the hand of God.
I had not heard of this part of WWII in Southern France and was glad that I discovered another eye-opening story of history. A bit of nostalgia came when I read of the Elgin watch that Rene wore. I grew up in Elgin and remember when the Watchtower Building was demolished.
 

As Isabelle and others grappled with the horror of war and the resulting feelings of fear and hatred, Ms. Musser provided the voice of reason and faith in the characters of Peter and his father.
 

Another wonderful story of perseverance from a very talented author.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a strong faith thread 

 

BackCover Blurb:
Loyalty during Peril
In the heart of war-torn France, Isabelle Seauve's resolve is tested after her father sacrifices his life to protect her involvement in the French Resistance. Heartbroken, Isabelle becomes more dedicated to hiding Jewish children in and near the village of Sisteron despite the growing danger when she discovers a traitor within the Resistance ranks.

Truth amid Deception
As the shadow of betrayal looms, Isabelle's world collides with that of US Army Chaplain Peter Christensen, who carries emotional scars from his first position in Kentucky and his service in North Africa. Together, they face the brutal reality of war as the second D-Day--the Allied invasion of Provence--unfolds.

Bravery through Trial
Fifteen-year-old René Amblard narrowly escapes a devastating German attack that claims the lives of his mother and their fellow Maquis fighters. With a Jewish orphan girl at his side, René seeks out his cousin, Isabelle, for refuge while he contemplates revenge.

When the bombs of Operation Dragoon begin to fall, this unlikely group of heroes must find freedom in their souls before they can rebuild what has been destroyed.

 

Bethany House Publishing, June, 2025

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook

BUY FROM THE VALLEY WE RISE at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

THE PUZZLE WITHIN by Gina Holder, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

The Game Masters Book 1

PAULA'S REVIEW:
This story certainly has the action and keeps you guessing until the end. With clever puzzles to solve because their lives, and the life of the one they are asked to protect are at stake, Ari and Nick pull out all the stops to solve those puzzles.

Ari has a past that haunts her and wonders if her nightmares could mean something more. But she is determined to see justice served. Nick has not stopped looking for the one who murdered his wife and seeks to do his job by the book. These two characters balance each other, and eventually come to be more than colleagues, with Nick adding to Ari growing spiritually by his godly examples.

The escape room was a great setting, and was a very tense situation. Likewise, the puzzles were- well puzzling and made you think about the implications. I like that there were several interpretations of those puzzles, and that they led to significant local places. And the way all of it fit together was quite something!

I am anxious to read the subsequent novels to see how the author uses puzzles and escape rooms in them.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Scrivenings Press on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*4 stars and a solid faith thread 

BackCover Blurb:
FBI agent Arizona Powers, recovering from a nervous breakdown, isn’t ready to call it quits. Hoping to prove herself, she takes on a protection assignment for Bridgette Van Sloan, the spoiled teenage daughter of an ambassador.

Nick Trueheart, a former escape artist, joined DSS as a risk analyst after the tragic death of his wife. Consumed by his obsession to learn the identity of his wife’s killer, Nick lacks the time and patience to handle the unstable field agent.

When Bridgette disappears from an escape room, Nick and Arizona become entangled in a dangerous game and a race against time. The risks are high as they confront their own failures and unravel secrets hidden within to save Bridgette—and themselves—from a sinister plot.

Scrivenings Press, June, 2025

Available in digital ebook and paperback

BUY THE PUZZLE WITHIN at Amazon 

THIS PROMISED LAND by Cathy Gohlke, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

Ms. Gohlke is a master storyteller who pulled the emotions from me with her tale of an estranged family brought together by unexpected circumstances.
 

Comparing their situation to the story of the Prodigal Son, widow Aunt Ginny Dee sees herself and her relatives in many of the roles in the parable. She takes scripture to heart and begins to heal from past hurts. This story was told so beautifully and had me connecting with the characters and their spiritual journey.
 

This could absolutely be made into a movie or a series and could touch a multitude of souls. I appreciate the clear Gospel message and the way the characters lived out their faith naturally. Ms. Gohlke crafted the story with flawed people and the situations were dire at times. But the way she portrayed the caring community spoke volumes.
 

I am so grateful I chose to read this book.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*Beyond 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

 

SEE REBECCA'S REVIEW

 

BackCover Blurb:

When she ran away as a young war bride, she was cut off from her family forever . . . or so she believed. Decades later, maybe the only way to move on is to go home.

Ginny Pickering Boyden can’t wait for her last day of work, when she’ll be free to pursue a lifelong ambition through a master gardener apprenticeship. But an unexpected letter brings shocking news: Ginny has inherited her family’s Christmas tree farm, a dream she’d long ago given up.

Facing a past laced with memories and lies she’s tried hard to bury, a furious nephew who thought the land would be his, and a failing farm with a mountain of debt, Ginny returns to New Scrivelsby, Virginia, determined to sell. But when her younger nephew, a Vietnam vet, appears with demons of his own and three young children in tow, Ginny isn’t sure what to do. Too much of their story reminds Ginny of her own. She has little hope, however, that three generations of warring Pickerings can set aside their differences to restore all that’s broken, both on the land and in their hearts.

Set against the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains, This Promised Land is the story of a daughter’s longing to make sense of the past and of the unbreakable bonds that bring prodigals home.

-A modern take on the prodigal son story, written by a four-time Christy award–winning author
-Contains discussion questions ideal for book clubs 

Tyndale Fiction, April, 2025

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

Buy THIS PROMISED LAND at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House