Author: Iola Goulton

I can never pay back my debt, but I'm really hoping I can pay it forward.

Book Review | Hearts in Circulation (Checking Out Love #2) by Sarah Monzon

Hearts in Circulation is the second book in Sarah Monzon’s Checking Out Love series, based in a library in the small town of Little Creek in the foothills of southeastern Tennessee. The first story, An Overdue Match, was the romance between Evangelina, who has alopecia, and Tai, the town’s tattoo artist.

This story has Hayley Holt, Evangelina’s fellow librarian and Tai’s cousin, driving a Volkswagon Transporter that has seen better decades, into the tiny towns around Little Creek as the modern-day equivalent of the packhorse librarian in Lynne Austin’s Wonderland Creek.

And this one has all the tropes. All. The. Tropes.

It’s grumpy-sunshine, with Levi as the introverted loner and Hayley as the extrovert with a built-in desire to make life better for everyone around her.

It’s Beauty and the Beast, because Levi is a reader who has an enviable library of his own. He’s also more than a foot taller than Hayley, and in a grizzly bear kind of way.

It’s epistolary, as Hayley and Levi get to know each other through letters (because grumpy Levi is not a big talker).

It’s forced proximity, after Cletus (the bookmobile) breaks down in a town with no accommodation options.

Despite their differences, Hayley and Levi discover they have a lot of similarities, not least that they both love reading. There’s also an almost-instant attraction between them, but one that feels authentic and based on more than the physical. There is also a strong faith element, although that took a while to bubble up. Once it does, it’s a powerful reminder that we can’t earn our salvation. It’s a gift … just like life.

I loved Hearts in Circulation, perhaps even more than An Overdue Match.

I loved the writing. I loved the tropes. I loved the way the mix of first person (for Hayley) and third person (for Levi) gave each character a unique voice. I loved the literary references (especially the hat-tip to Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster).

Most of all, I loved the way Hayley and Levi’s unique issues gave them both eyes to see beyond the other person’s exterior to their true God-given identity underneath, and that was the basis for their attraction and their romance. That, to me, is what convinces me they are meant for each other – and isn’t that the happy ending we all want to read?

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance, especially those who like trope-driven bookish romances.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Sarah Monzon

Sarah MonzonA Carol award finalist and Selah award winner, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.

Find Sarah online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram  | Pinterest | X

About Hearts in Circulation

Can a rundown bookmobile be the vehicle that brings two unlikely hearts together?

Hearts in CirculationLittle Creek’s bookmobile is more of a death trap on wheels than a vehicle of literary delights, and circulation librarian Hayley Holt is afraid it’s going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Yet she sees it as a way to serve her community and be worthy of the liver transplant that saved her life as a child. However, her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove.

Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives in tiny Turkey Grove to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touches from the vibrant librarian leave him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren’t contained within the bindings of a book.

Find Hearts in Circulation online at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub | Goodreads

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #409 | It’s Always Been You by Sara Beth Williams

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from the newest novel in the Trinity Lakes Romance series, It’s Always Been You by Sara Beth Williams.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About It’s Always Been You

She’d always been the still mountain beneath his changing skies. He was a fool for thinking he could stay away.

After suffering severe burns, avid outdoorsman Jesse Hernandez faces a long recovery, and the longer it takes, the more he questions his purpose in life. Seeking solace, he returns to the hills above Trinity Lakes to settle his late grandfather’s property, but soon finds himself torn between family pressure to sell and his longing to hold on to the only place that felt like home.

Renee Somers has spent her life fighting to be seen. As a master’s student and after-school program director living with a growth hormone deficiency, she’s used to being underestimated. But she finds rejection stings most when it comes from those she highly respected.

When a sudden blizzard traps Renee and her friends on a lonely mountain road. She never expects her rescuer to be the childhood friend who once promised he’d always look out for her. As they reconnect and unexpected attraction surfaces, both must confront past wounds and buried secrets that threaten to pull them apart.

With family tensions rising and harbored secrets revealed, Jesse must decide whether to cling to the past, or embrace the future God has been preparing all along.

Find It’s Always Been You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #408 | The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer, a new-to-me author with what looks like a fun contemporary romance with Pride and Prejudice vibes.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

I refuse to have a Pride and Prejudice pity party ... again. The 1995 BBC version, of course.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About The Rules of Falling for You

She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.

The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie RushmeyerThe perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles’ retreat–or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the non-negotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe’s podcast producer and best friend’s brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe’s methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd!

But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she’s willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

Find The Rules of Falling for You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

I had tried to play the part of God, and He had showed me that no amount of striving, manipulation, or cajoling could alter His plans.

Book Review | Through Each Tomorrow (Timeless #6) by Gabrielle Meyer

Through Each Tomorrow is the sixth book in Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series, and reading it drove me to do something I haven’t done in years: re-read the entire series as soon as I’d finished reading it.

The Timeless series is a unique kind of time-travel.

The main characters each have a birthmark that means they live two lives at once until they are adults, at which point they have to choose which timeline to follow for the rest of their lives. The stories introduce us to each character shortly before they have to make that choice, giving the reader the ability to make the choice with them.

In Through Each Tomorrow, we meet Charles and Andrew/Drew, who both live in Queen Elizabeth’s England, and who also both live in Gilded Age America. The story doesn’t say the two are related, but I think they must be. It will be interesting to see if future stories in the series prove me right … or not.

Charles is a nobleman in the Queen’s court in 1563 and feels torn between his timelines: he needs to look after his unmarried stepsister in 1563, but also needs to work to support his widowed mother and sister-in-law in 1883.

In 1883, Drew is the rich son of a shipping magnate who wants to be a doctor but is expected to take over the family business. In 1563, he’s half in love with Cecily, Charles’s stepsister, but he’s only a groom so knows a relationship between them would be impossible. And, to make matters more complicated, the 1883 version of Charles meets and falls for Drew’s sister, Esther … another economically unsuitable match.

It’s not difficult to guess who each man will end up with, but as with any good romance, the fun is in the journey. What twists and turns will lead to the characters making the right decisions? What torture with the author put them through on their way to their happy endings?

Those who have read any of the Timeless series will definitely want to read Through Each Tomorrow.

There are several crossovers to other books in the series (and you’ll work out one as soon as you figure out Charles’s last name). These crossovers are like Easter eggs on DVDs, because it’s gratifying to make the connections no matter how long it takes, and it makes reading the stories much more satisfying. I suspect clarifying those connections was why I spent a happy few days re-reading the entire series.

What impresses me most about this series is the depth and authenticity of the research into each of the different timelines, the deep Christian faith shared by the main characters and the realistic way that is portrayed, and the way Gabrielle Meyer introduces a twist or two into each story to keep them fresh – in this one, having a male narrator.

Recommended for Christian historical romance fans, especially those who like something a little out of the ordinary.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Gabrielle Meyer

Gabrielle Meyer

Gabrielle lives on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical and contemporary novels inspired by real people, places, and events. The river is a constant source of inspiration for Gabrielle, and if you look closely, you will find a river in each of her stories.

When Gabrielle is not writing, you might find her homeschooling her children, cheering them on at sporting and theatrical events, or hosting a gathering at her home with family and friends.

Find Gabrielle Meyer online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

About Through Each Tomorrow

In 1883, Charles is a poor farmer desperate to secure financial stability for his mother and sister, as he is unsure which of his time-crossing paths he will choose on his twenty-fifth birthday. Posing as the Earl of Norfolk, he enters the opulent circles of Newport’s elite to assist a fellow time-crossing friend, Drew. But suspicions of his identity arise among the upper crust, and his encounters with Drew’s intriguing sister further complicate decisions that could impact a lifetime.

In 1563, Lady Cecily serves Queen Elizabeth while clinging to the hope that her stepbrother Charles will remain with her in this path. As the true Earl of Norfolk, Charles is deeply entangled in the deadly politics of the court. When he brings Drew, a physician in training, to Windsor Castle to help save the ailing monarch, old feelings for Drew rekindle in Cecily’s heart, but her love faces impossible odds under the strict rules of the crown. As their futures hang by a thread, Charles and Cecily race to prevent their web of secrets from unraveling and ensnaring them in an inescapable destiny.

Find Through Each Tomorrow online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub | Goodreads

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

 

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | November 2025

Another month passed (isn’t 2025 flying by?) so here’s another post of new releases in Christian fiction.

I’ve already read Loss and Loyalty by Christine Dillon, and can recommend that to anyone looking for solid Biblical fiction. This one includes the story of Ruth and Boaz.

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Amish Romance

A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly S. Irvin — Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat’s milk and goat’s soaps. Against her the wishes of her father–who’s also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen’s beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less. (Amish Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Biblical

Loss and Loyalty – Moabites by Christine Dillon — What makes someone family—blood, love, or something more? Arielle believed she was an Israelite—until her brother confessed the truth: she was found as an infant on their doorstep in Moab. After tragedy strikes and the men of her household are snatched away, Arielle must leave the only land she’s ever known and any hope of finding her birth family to follow her adopted family to Bethlehem. (Biblical Fiction, Independently Published)

Contemporary Romance

Clean Sweep by Julie Arduini — Sometimes the messiest moments lead to the most miraculous grace. A tender story of grace, second chances, and the kind of love that only grows when hearts surrender. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Royal Runaway’s Holiday by Mandy Boerma — Can the princess and the reporter overcome the ancient laws and royal protocol standing between them, or is heartbreak the only outcome? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

A Christmas in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch — Set in the heart of small-town Arkansas, A Christmas in Shady Springs is a sweet Christian romance about love that holds fast, plans that fall apart, and grace that shines even brighter when everything else goes wrong. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Clearing the Cowboy’s Name by Elle E. Kay — Accused of stealing her first edition Austen. Guilty of stealing her heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Logan’s Legacy by Susan Anne Mason — He ran from commitment for years – until he met the one woman who made him want to stay. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

A Home for the Ranger by Audrey Wick — Texas park ranger Shane Hutton must choose his future: the opportunity he’s always wanted or the family he’s always needed. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Under the Mistletoe by Penny Zeller — A small-town adventure, unexpected romance, and Christmas cheer. He’s a nerdy tourist needing a vacation. She’s a bed and breakfast employee with a broken heart. Love is the last thing they expect to find this Christmas. (Contemporary Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Crime Mystery

Eight Days Anxious by Luana Ehrlich — When ex-con Jason Brennan takes a senator hostage, Mylas Grey has eight days to find Brennan’s missing wife and daughter. If Mylas fails, the senator will lose his life. But things are much more complicated than that. As the clock ticks down, Mylas must navigate his way through a maze of political ambition, moral corruption, and judicial misconduct, challenging his investigative skills and newfound faith, but ultimately drawing him closer to Whitney. (Crime/Mystery, Independently Published)

General Contemporary

Nearly Beloved by Kendra Broekhuis — Dylan Turner’s quiet life unravels on the day of her dad’s funeral—when she finds out he’s not her biological father. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a cross-country journey, confronting family secrets and her own identity. (General Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Penguin Random House])

Every Captive Freed by B.D. Lawrence, Shannon McNear, and Angela D. Shelton — Three Novellas about human trafficking. This collection is one of three dealing with “brave” topics Christians often face in the world today. (General Contemporary [Novella Collection], Independently Published)

General Historical

Even If I Perish by Terrie Todd — Music teacher Mary Cornish volunteers to escort a group of 15 girls from England to Canada as part of Britain’s World War II child evacuation program. All is well aboard the SS City of Benares until September 17, 1940. With a storm brewing in the North Atlantic, a German U-boat releases its torpedo and breaches the ship’s hull. Do the Nazis know ninety children are on board? Based on a miraculous true story of courage in the face of impossible odds. (Historical from Mountain Brook Ink)

Historical Romance

No Plan At All by Denise M. Colby — Two strangers. One journey. A love neither expected. Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned. A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)

To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — When love feels reckless, faith can lead the way. A story of second chances, steadfast love, and the courage to follow where God leads. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense

On the Edge of Trust by Patricia Bradley — Sometimes the closer you get to justice, the deadlier it becomes. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)

Midnight Masquerade by Elle E. Kay — Two federal agents with trust issues must infiltrate a charity masquerade ball to stop a human trafficking operation that funds terrorism. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Mac by Melanie D. Snitker — Fame has its price—and someone’s ready to collect. As danger closes in and secrets come to light, Mac must rely on every skill, instinct, and ounce of resolve he has to protect the woman he’s realizing he can’t live without. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Trail of Mountain Secrets by Darlene L. Turner — Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K-9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human-remains-detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy

First Glow of Illumination by Demi Griffin — Every ending leads to a beginning. All hope seems lost when darkness pushes against the light and the Realms are in danger of being swallowed up by the Shadow Realm. Will the Realm Warriors and Realm Binders wake up from their cultural stupor to defend what has been given them? What will it take for them to recognize their King, trust in his plan, and crown him victorious in the end? (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

Young Adult

The One You See by Melissa Knight — Seventeen-year-old Miranda’s world involves wealth and Paris vacations while Zac comes with a past she will never understand, yet in a single lapse of judgement their worlds collide, leading Miranda to faith in the God who truly sees her. (Young Adult, Independently Published)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month

Christmas Rodeo Killer by Sami A. Abrams — To catch a murderer…he’ll make himself a target. (Romantic Suspense)

Wasted by Jerusha Agen — She always follows the rules. But what are the rules for murder? (Romantic Suspense)

A Riddle in the Lonesome October (A Rae Riley Mystery) by JPC Allen — How do you survive a season of fear? (Cozy Mystery)

Curveball on the Dance Floor by Karin Beery — Chris can handle a curveball at the diamond. Can she handle one on the dance floor? (Contemporary Romance)

The Accident by Kenneth Bliss — A psi EMT responds to an accident which he discovers an “impossible” psi child and the dark agent sent to recover him. (Speculative Fiction)

To Have and to Hold by Deb L. Brown — When life doesn’t go according to plan, perfectionist Amelia must trade control for faith—and find joy in the beautiful mess of becoming a mother. (General Contemporary)

Riches Beyond Measure by Mary Connealy — When they leave the ranch in search of stolen treasure, will the spark between them survive the perils ahead? (Western Romance)

My Heart’s for You by Jan Rae Johnson — Kaitlyn Monroe is driven by two desires—find a job and find a soul mate. (Contemporary Romance)

That Was Me by Rick Tester — When you look back on your life, realize it was God… then suddenly discover why. (Mystery)

Pretzels & Pirouettes: The Baby is the Gift by Lynn U. Watson — Meet Clara’s great-great-great-granddaughter, motorcycle-riding, ballet-dancing Lyydi Jager. She’ll pirouette straight into your heart, and you’ll ride right into this Christmas pageant at Our Savior Church. (Contemporary Romance)

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #407 | Hearts in Circulation (Checking out Love #2) by Sarah Monzon

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. My pick is Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon.

I loved An Overdue Match, the first book in Sarah Monzon’s Hearts in Circulation series, so I’m looking forward to getting into Hearts in Circulation.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

"You cannot be serious," I say, my voice oozing with dubiety as I take in the heap of metal littering the corner of the library's parking lot.

 

 

 

 

(And yes, dubiety is a real word.)

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Hearts in Circulation

Can a rundown bookmobile be the vehicle that brings two unlikely hearts together?

Hearts in CirculationLittle Creek’s bookmobile is more of a death trap on wheels than a vehicle of literary delights, and circulation librarian Hayley Holt is afraid it’s going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Yet she sees it as a way to serve her community and be worthy of the liver transplant that saved her life as a child. However, her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove.

Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives in tiny Turkey Grove to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touches from the vibrant librarian leave him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren’t contained within the bindings of a book.

Find Hearts in Circulation online at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #406 | Don’t Blink: 12 Inspirational Suspense Thrillers

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line.

I have been a Doctor Who fan for as long as I can remember, and one of the episodes that stays in my memory is Blink (the episode with Sally Sparrow and the Weeping Angels). Anyone who watches Doctor Who will know what I’m talking about, and will therefore understand why I knew I had to buy an anthology of Christian thrillers titled “Don’t Blink.”

I’m sharing the first line from the first story in the anthology, Love to Die For by Terry Toler:

"Don't blink, Paige," my handler whispered urgently as she fixed my hair and touched up my makeup.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Don’t Blink

Get ready for twelve intense, edge-of-your-seat suspense thrillers in this collection from bestselling and award-winning Christian authors. From murder in a mansion to deadly chases in remote locations, each tale offers high-stakes action and heart-pounding drama, proving that hope and faith shine through even in the darkest moments.

Love to Die For by Critically Acclaimed Award-Winning Author Terry Toler

Paige Wells joined the hit reality dating show Love Only hoping to find romance. But when a fellow contestant is found dead in the mansion, Paige must uncover the truth before she’s sent home for good — not with a broken heart, but in handcuffs.

Silent Retribution by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Cynthia Hickey

When a former student’s parent begins targeting third-grade teacher Heather Richardson, dark secrets from her past resurface, threatening her safety and the lives of those around her as she confronts a deadly pursuit fueled by blurred perceptions.

Queen Bee by Daphne du Maurier Award-Winning Author Heather Day Gilbert

When a violent windstorm traps Twila and her teen daughter at a remote mountain retreat, they’ll have to outwit an unhinged killer in order to survive.

Abandoned Into Darkness by Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author Jordyn Redwood

Blinded from an attack and abandoned in the Black Canyon by search and rescue, Isla Thorne must still flee a serial killer.

One of Us is Guilty by Illumination Christian Book Awards’ Silver Medalist Author Urcelia Teixeira

In the Florida Keys, a book club’s “perfect” murder plot becomes a deadly reality when one of their mutual enemies is found dead.

Gavin (A Durham Private Security Novella) by USA Today Bestselling Author Melanie D. Snitker

Ivy’s search for her missing brother leads her to Gavin, a former Army comrade, and a sinister plot that puts them both in danger.

Bento and Betrayal by USA Today Bestselling Author Camy Tang

Disgraced bodyguard September Wong is forced to team up with security consultant Isaac Noguchi in pursuit of the same criminals who ruined her career.

Unauthorized by Critically Acclaimed Bestselling Author Sherri Wilson Johnson

A budget analyst and an IT auditor must work together to save their Nashville organization from the clutches of an embezzler before both their lives are ruined.

Murder by Accident (A Miss Finch Prequel) by Critically Acclaimed Award-Winning Author Vikki Kestell

Miss Finch teaches a course at UCLA called The Forensics of a Traffic Accident. As it turns out, not all her case studies are the mishaps they’ve been labeled.

Guarded by Reader’s Favorite Award-Winning Author C.D. Gill

She doesn’t want a babysitter. He’ll do anything to get back to SWAT. Both are puppets in a bigger game.

Going Once, Going Twice by USA Today Bestselling Author Jan Thompson

When her four-year-old son is kidnapped, a stay-at-home mother reactivates her hidden skills to mount a rescue operation.

Deadly Pursuit by Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author Lynn Shannon

When a mysterious note links Texas Ranger Vikki Rodriguez to a young woman’s murder, she’s pulled into a perilous case that may cost her everything–including her life.

Find Don’t Blink online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Not every secret needs to be told. Some just need to be forgotten.

Book Review | Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shockley

The Women of Oak Ridge is a compelling dual-timeline story set in the once-secret town of Oak Ridge. Yes, it’s a real-life place, and that adds to the intrigue and tension.

It’s 1979, and Laurel Willett has just arrived in the small Tennessee town of Oak Ridge to stay with her Aunt Mae and conduct research for her PhD in psychology. Her plan is to spend the summer interviewing local residents about their work during World War II, when they were working on what they later discovered was the Manhattan Project–the USA’s atomic weapons programme that led to the end of the war.

Many of the townspeople are happy to talk to her, but her aunt is not.

In 1944, Maebelle Willett has left her coal mining hometown to earn seventy-five dollars month at the Clinton Engineering Works in Oak Ridge. She is assigned to deliver parts and messages at K-25 under conditions of utmost secrecy. Not only are employees not to tell their friends and families where the lie or what they do, but they’re not even allowed to tell each other.

The Women of Oak Ridge makes for compelling reading in both timelines – in the past, as we learn about the conditions of work for the various classes of workers – the women, the Army men, and the Black workers. The present timeline is equally compelling as we’re gradually drawn into the mystery of what Mae did in K-25 and why she’s still unwilling to share her secrets.

I really enjoyed the historical component, and appreciated the way Michelle Shocklee didn’t allow her excellent research to overtake the story. Instead, it is well integrated into the story and doesn’t get more complex than it needs to be (we don’t all need to understand nuclear physics).

The characters are strong, and I particularly enjoyed the subtle faith thread that brought the story together. It’s an excellent novel, with plenty of tension. Recommended for historical fiction readers.

Thanks to Tyndale Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Michelle Shocklee

Michelle ShockleyMichelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, a 2025 Christy Award Finalist; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist.

As a woman of mixed heritage–her father’s family is Hispanic and her mother’s roots go back to Germany–she has always celebrated diversity and feels it’s important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction. With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.

Find Michelle Shocklee online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

About Women of Oak Ridge

1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her impoverished family. She knows little about the work she will be doing, but she’s told it will help America win the war. Not all is what it seems, however. Though Oak Ridge employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing disturbing information, then disappears without a trace. Mae desperately attempts to find her but instead comes face-to-face with a life-altering revelation―one that comes at significant cost.

1979. Laurel Willett is a graduate student in Boston when she learns about the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Intrigued because she knows her Aunt Mae was employed there, Laurel decides to spend the summer with her aunt, hoping to add a family connection to her thesis research. But Mae adamantly refuses to talk about her time in the Secret City. Mae’s friends, however, offer to share their experiences, propelling Laurel on her path to uncovering the truth about a missing woman. As Laurel works to put the pieces together, the hidden pain and guilt Mae has tried so hard to bury comes to light . . . with potentially disastrous consequences.

 

Find Women of Oak Ridge at:

Amazon | BookBub | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

 

 

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #405 | When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line.

Today I’m sharing (again) from When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer, the first novel in her Timeless series which is on sale for 99c on Kindle right now … so check it out if you haven’t read it!

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

For as long as I could remember, my mama had told me that my life was a gift.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About When the Day Comes

How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she’s the same person at her core in both times, she’s leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives–and any hope of love–are put in jeopardy.

Libby’s life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about–women’s suffrage–is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she’s not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

Find When the Day Comes online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Do you request Christian books at your library?

Book Chat #400 | Do you request Christian books at your library?

I’m a member of two libraries, a result of having a home in one city while living in another.

I tend to use the library to read books from new-to-me authors, or books from authors I’m happy to read once. If I think I’ll want to re-read a book, I’m more likely to buy it on Kindle than borrow it from my library … and that includes most Christian books.

My home library has a lot of adult Christian fiction, including new releases, so I’ve never needed to request any.

I did request a few Christian children’s books once – books in a series my daughter had borrowed and read – but the library said the books she had already read weren’t borrowed often, so they weren’t going to buy the rest of the series.

My local library has some Christian fiction on the branch shelves and more available for request from the offsite storage. It’s mostly new releases, and I haven’t yet worked my way through the titles they have so haven’t requested they buy any.

What about you? Do you request Christian books at your library?