THE LUMBER BARON'S WIFE by Lynn Austin, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“The choices we make are very important. Regret can be a very heavy weight to get out from under.”

 
I absolutely loved this book. I identified with modern character Ashley and her love of old houses and their preservation. I grew up in a house on the National Register and my mother was an antique dealer. This story spoke to my heart. It is so much more than the renovation of an historic mansion, it is the story of how God can renovate a hurting heart. It handles tough subjects that are common to every era.

This story was so well-crafted and very emotional. The characters were realistic and had depth. The two timelines were tethered by a 1870s mansion in Michigan owned by a lumber baron and the mysterious disappearance of his wife. The author showed that grief, hardships, and difficult decisions are part of the human condition and transcend time. But so are answers to age old questions. Christ has gone before us so that He is our strength in all types of situations. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

 
This will easily be one of my top reads for the year and not a story I will soon forget.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*Beyond 5 stars and a solid faith thread 

 

BackCover Blurb:
When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy―a friend of her husband, John―offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home―built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife―Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. 

What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth―one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.Standalone historical fiction about marriage, grief, and the power of female friendships from the author of All My Secrets and Long Way Home
-A richly layered Christian women’s fiction novel with elements of mystery, perfect for fans of Martha Hall Kelly, Kristy Cambron, and Susan Meissner
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs 

Tyndale Fiction, April, 2026

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

Buy THE LUMBER BARON'S WIFE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

 

HARBOR POINTE by Irene Hannon, Reviewed by Paula and Winnie #ReleaseDay

(A Hope Harbor Novel Book #12): Small Town Contemporary Opposites Attract Clean Romance with a Ballerina and a Single Dad

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Sometimes you need a feel-good story and that is what you get in a Hope Harbor book. "If you lived in a town with the name Hope Harbor, how could you not wish for a happy ending?" "Nothing is impossible with God. Blessings seem to abound in Hope Harbor."

I love the atmospheric setting on the Oregon coast, and the neighborly inhabitants who show kindness. “Kindness does not cost a thing. We should all give it away generously.”
Ms Hannon writes a superb story where things do not start out so rosy but eventually, through the help of sage wisdom by Charley of the taco truck and advice from two pastors in town, the characters find healing and forgiveness through the Grace of God. 

Ballerina Devyn is a strong, independent woman and has come back home to help tend her sister Lauren after a head injury. Widower Aaron with daughter and grandfather, has a past that haunts him. Diane and Martin have a marriage that is rocky. But with the help of the Holy Spirit nudging, reconciliation has begun, new friendships are forged, a romance blooms, and a community comes together for a common goal. 

This story makes me want to head to Hope Harbor. Until then, I will soak up the ambiance by reading these wonderful stories. I am so glad there will be more.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell 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 solid faith thread

WINNIE'S REVIEW
“But remember, you’re in Hope Harbor. And in a town with a name like that, anything is possible.”

It’s always a delight to return to one of my favorite fictional towns—Hope Harbor, Oregon. Talented author Irene Hannon has created this charming community of eclectic characters who have become almost like family. I enjoy revisiting the characters I’ve met in previous books. Charley with his taco stand is always a favorite of mine with his sage advice and positive outlook on life.

Devyn Lee is a principal ballerina in New York when she learns her estranged sister has been injured in Hope Harbor. When she stays to help her sister recuperate and try to mend their relationship, she meets widowed lumber mill worker Aaron Steele and his nine-year-old daughter Isabel. As she gets involved in a community project, Devyn is faced with some life-changing choices.

Uplifting messages of forgiveness, family, hope, and faith make this an inspirational, as well as an entertaining, tale. Be prepared to fall in love with the inhabitants of this charming town. There are several other books in this delightful series, and I hope there are many more to come. 
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

BackCover Blurb:

When life throws you off pointe, love helps you find your balance.

As a principal dancer with a prestigious New York ballet company, Devyn Lee is far from her hometown of Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast. But when a family emergency compels her to return, her visit turns into an extended stay after complications arise.

Widowed mill worker Aaron Steele pays no attention to the buzz in Hope Harbor about the famous dancer in town. Until his grieving nine-year-old daughter takes a fancy to Devyn after she agrees to help with a fundraising show for a local charity in which the young girl is performing. As the show--and Devyn--begin to lift his daughter's spirits, his own life is brightened by the beautiful ballerina as she slowly but surely captures his heart.

But what are the odds that such an accomplished, polished woman from the city could ever fall for a small-town lumberman with two left feet?

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Revell Publishing, April,2026

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

Buy HARBOR POINTE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House  

 

 

THE LIAR'S TREASURE by Connie Mann, Reviewed by Paula and Rebecca

A Speranza Team Novel Book 2

PAULA'S REVIEW:
In this follow-up to The Crown Conspiracy, the Speranza secret society is at it again with more fast-paced action. Camille Abernathy and her friends are after artifacts that combine mystery and danger with a treasure hunt. Many are after The Liar’s Treasure, but only the worthy can win. And the ones who seek only know that it is something very valuable. 

In this complicated, high-octane plot, the team is jetting across the world to put all the pieces together. Camille, her daughter and grandmother are caught in the middle. Lucien Broussard, best friend of her dead husband, comes on the scene to help the ladies in their quest. Could Lucien become more than an old friend, as he also is looking for the treasure. Is he looking for romance with Camille? Faith and honesty are key in this riveting book. “We have to put feet to our faith. Faith is easy when you are standing on familiar ground.” 

I loved The Crown Conspiracy and this book is a dynamic sequel. I cannot wait for the next installment.
*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.*5+ stars and a solid faith thread

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Time to put the next phase of his plan in place. And show these meddling women who they were dealing with."

Time was of the essence. Camille Abernathy, along with the other members of her elite secret Speranza team are tasked with locating what was known throughout the world of treasure hunters as "the liar's treasure"; items dating back centuries, believed to hold the power of discernment, delivering a death sentence upon those deemed as disingenuous. The stakes become exponentially higher when Camille's daughter innocently exposes one of the items, putting herself squarely in the crosshairs of international villains.

Help arrives in a variety of ways; putting "feet to her faith", learning that there is more to a beloved grandmother than meets the eye, and trusting someone from her past whom Camille desperately wants to believe has her best interests at heart, and there is certainly a tremendous amount of heart beating inside Lucien Broussard.

This impressive story reads like an action film on steroids, a blend of National Treasure meets Raiders of the Lost Ark. The plot is complex but comprehensible, the heroines are strong, courageous and skilled in their areas of expertise, and although the hero may not grab the spotlight very often, when he does . . . it's a sight to behold. An altogether thrilling addition to what every reader will "hope" is an ongoing series. 
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:

From the acclaimed author of Beyond Risk and The Crown Conspiracy, hailed as a "wild ride" by Library Journal, comes an action-packed adventure about a mysterious diary and a thrilling, high-stakes treasure hunt.

Camille Abernathy ignored rumors of The Liar's Treasure and her family's connection to it . . . until someone put a target on her daughter's back. Growing up in New Orleans, such tall tales were as common as beignets and gumbo. But when Camille's teenage daughter, Cass, posts pictures of a centuries-old diary her uncle gave her, she unwittingly attracts dozens of treasure hunting fanatics who are convinced Cass and the diary can lead them to a valuable cache.

To keep her daughter safe, Camille enlists the help of Speranza, a secret society always ready to help women in need. Together, they set out on a globe-trotting journey to find The Liar's Treasure while also investigating a suspicious death related to Camille's childhood friend. The deeper they dig, the more they suspect it's all connected.

Chasing clues from New Orleans to Italy to the Bahamas, Camille and her friends receive unexpected assistance—and unwanted competition—from a handsome treasure hunter from Camille's past. Then Cass is kidnapped, and finding the treasure truly becomes a matter of life and death.

-Romantic suspense perfect for fans of Susan May Warren, Dani Pettrey, and Fern Michaels
-A clean, contemporary adventure with an international treasure hunt plot, a theme of mother-and-daughter relationships, and a dash of romance
-Book 2 in the Speranza Team series
-Includes discussion questions for book groups

Tyndale Fiction, March 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy THE LIAR'S TREASURE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House