Category: Book Review

You don't have to control every moment, plan every step. Maybe you just say yes to the doors God opens.

Book Review | Sundown (Sky Ranch #3) by Susan May Warren

I read this series in the wrong order (I read Sunburst before Sunrise, although I did read #3 last). I actually found Sunrise the hardest book to get into, because there were so many character names being mentioned in the early chapters, and it took me a while to work out who the main characters were, and which names were actually bears or dogs.

Sundown starts pretty much where Sunburst left off.

Ranger and are Noemi at Big Sky Ranch with Colt and their Jane Doe, who they have just discovered is Dr Taylor Price, who is somehow connected with the Russian terrorists Dodge and Echo (that’s the heroine, not one of the dogs) fought in Sunrise.

Sundown starts with the premise that Taylor (Tae) is the only person who can prevent a deadly smallpox outbreak because she is the only person to have successfully created a vaccine from an ancient strain the Russians have located. But it’s not a novel about vaccination. It’s a chase novel, as Colt finally reconciles with his brothers and obtains their help to locate the evildoers before they can infect the population with the virus.

I liked the way Sundown built on the plot and character points introduced and developed in the previous two novels, and the way it did a great job of rounding out the unfinished character arcs.

However, I didn’t like the way the timeline kept jumping around.

Now, this could be the formatting of the electronic review copy, but the story often moved from one scene to another without any kind of scene break, and the scenes were often showing the same actions from different points of view. Yes, that helped ramp up the tension, but it also meant I had to backtrack several times to figure out which characters were in the scene.

I also thought there were too many flashbacks, to the point where they messed with the tension. As a reader, it felt like every time we got to something fast-paced and exciting, the character stopped think about a formative experience from months or years ago, which slowed the story down. Confession: I actually skimmed a lot of the backstory because I wanted to know what was happening now, not what happened months or years or decades ago.

One of the best features of Christian fiction by Susan May Warren is that it absolutely is Christian fiction.

The main characters – in this case, Colt and Tae – have issues with God that need to be sorted out and worked through, and Warren doesn’t leave the reader in any doubt of the fact that God is the answer. That’s always good to read in Christian fiction (because otherwise it’s not Christian fiction. It’s just fiction with no sex or swearing.)

Overall, Sundown was a solid romantic suspense that those who have read the first two novels in the Sky King Ranch series will want to read to find out about Tae and to see Colt get his happy ending.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Susan May Warren

Susan May WarrenSusan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly 90 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold, including the Global Search and Rescue and the Montana Rescue series, as well as Sunrise and Sunburst. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers’ Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota.

Find Susan May Warren online at:

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About Sundown

Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston knows when someone is lying. He may not know the truth, but he sure doesn’t trust Tae, the woman who is caring for his ailing father at Sky King Ranch. Behind those beautiful blue eyes, he can tell there is a troubled–and smart–woman.

A few of her stories prove true–he’s found the crashed plane and the dead body inside. Still, her story of survival seems too incredible to believe . . . until the thugs she claims to be hunting her show up and threaten Sky King Ranch. Now Tae must disappear, along with her secrets.

But Colt’s not about to let her go it alone. And when they discover that her secrets include the antidote to a plague that threatens the world, it’ll take all three Kingston brothers to save the country they’ve vowed to protect.

Susan May Warren brings her Sky King Ranch series to a climactic close with this high-stakes race against the clock.

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God will give us exactly what He wants us to have, exactly the work He had prepared for us.

Book Review | Uncharted Christmas (Uncharted #11) by Keeley Brooke Keith

It’s almost Christmas in the Land (and let’s not talk about how fast this year has gone!).

Dr. Lydia Bradshaw is busy with her medical practice, and also wishing she could fall pregnant again. Meanwhile, she’s having to cope with some strange maladies in the village. At Falls Creek, Philip Roberts is wishing for a wife when three strangers arrive to stay, one of whom catches his attention … and I think this is introducing the next story in the series. If so, I’m already looking forward to it.

Uncharted Christmas is a quick read that those who have read the previous Uncharted books will enjoy.

If you haven’t read any of the previous Uncharted books, I recommend starting at the beginning – while Uncharted Christmas is a standalone story, you’ll enjoy it more if you understand the backstory and know some of the characters.

Revisiting those familiar characters is one of the reasons I keep reading and enjoying the Uncharted series. It’s an original and enjoyable twist on a dystopian future – as the characters are living in the future, but with nineteenth-century technology. And it’s a fun and easy evening or weekend read.

The other thing I like is the way the character’s Christian faith is interwoven smoothly into the story. Sure, some of the characters struggle (like we do in real life), but they are always pointed back to God. I found the quote at the top of this review particularly reassuring. It’s good to be reminded that we don’t have to chase God, because He is always beside us and will make His will clear to us … if we’re looking.

Recommended for those who’ve enjoyed previous Uncharted stories, or those who would like to try a historical romance with a unique twist

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Uncharted Christmas

As Dr. Lydia Bradshaw makes her rounds in the village of Good Springs this Christmas season, each family she visits seems to be blessed in ways she is not. All the homes are beautifully decorated for the holiday, and every woman is expecting another baby.

Every woman but her, that is.

While the haze from the volcanic ash cloud outside the Land looms on the horizon, calls for the doctor force Lydia to work around the clock. Torn between fighting for the home life she craves and the career that defines her, Lydia needs a Christmas miracle.

Meanwhile, at Falls Creek…

Philip Roberts spends his lonely nights in the parsonage next to the humble chapel. Pastoring the church across from the Land’s only inn means encouraging many a road-worn traveler to carry on, whatever their journey might be. Philip also watches the ever-changing rotation of guests for the one person he prays will stay at Falls Creek forever.

Only he doesn’t know her name.

When the Vestal siblings break their journey to Good Springs at the inn for a much needed respite over Christmas, Philip is fascinated with the demure Lena Vestal. As he tries to get to know her, she stirs in him more questions than answers.

Can he discover who this intriguing woman truly is in such a short time, and is she the one he’s been waiting for?

You can find Uncharted Christmas online at:

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About Keely Brooke Keith

Keely Keely Brooke KeithBrooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a slight Sci-Fi twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist). Keely also creates resources for writers such as The Writer’s Book Launch Guide and The Writer’s Character Journal.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely grew up in a family that frequently relocated. By graduation, she lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools.  When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys playing bass guitar, preparing homeschool lessons, and collecting antique textbooks. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

Find Keely Brooke Keith online at:

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There is evil in the world, and sometimes what protects pacifists are soldiers willing to meet that violence with equal violence.

Book Review | Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman

Captain Rick Norton is leading his team an unspecified mission in the fictional Katangela, Africa, when two of his team are injured and need immediate medical attention. Doctor Cynthia Myers runs an obstetrics clinic in a remote village in Katangela, and travels to other villages as well. But her life, as well of the lives of those around her, are in danger after she fails to save the life of the son of the local warlord. Rick arrives with his team in time to chase off the warlords.

Rick and Cynthia didn’t hit it off immediately.

In fact, the opposite was almost true, with each seeing the other as closed-minded (perhaps in the same was as Elizabeth and Mr Darcy didn’t immediately hit it off with each other). Rick is gun-happy American Army, while Cynthia is a politician’s daughter who prefers to look for a peaceful solution.

I’d like to be able to say the story ended with them both finding the strengths in each other’s views, but it felt more like Rick rode roughshod over Cynthia until she agreed with him. Okay, so she shouldn’t have given him the “Army or me” ultimatum either, so there were faults on both sides.

I found the writing itself slipped into telling a little too often for my tastes, and it wasn’t always clear (for example, I initially thought the introduction showed Rick’s men attacking the village under gunfire, not local warlords). I also didn’t enjoy the casual racism or sexism, which none of the characters called out. This made me wonder if they didn’t notice, or didn’t care. Either way, I was left wondering if the characters held the same views.

That didn’t endear me to the characters.

I think my main problem was that the story focused more on the politics and the action than on the relationship to the point where I wasn’t entirely convinced by the relationship between Rick and Cynthia. Yes, I believe they fell for each other, but there’s enough of an element of Stockholm Syndrome that I’m not convinced it will last … and that’s not a good way to end a romance, especially not in the Christian market.

This is the first book in the Love & Honor series. Fans of fast-paced suspense from authors like Ronie Kendig will enjoy Honor Bound.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Hallee Bridgman

Hallee BridgmanHallee Bridgeman is the award winning and USA TODAY bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her.

Find Hallee Bridgman online at:

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About Honor Bound

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord’s mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces “A-Team” on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia’s life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia tries to hold on to her anger–but an unwanted attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he’s beginning to think they just might overcome their differences and be able to make a life together.

Find Honor Bound online at:

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Read the introduction to Honor Bound below:

Isn't it more important to live a hero's life than to die a hero's death?

Book Review | Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd

Heirlooms is a dual timeline novel set on Whidbey Island, Washington.

In the past timeline, Navy widow Helen Devries lives alone in the house she bought with her husband and works as a nurse at the nearby Navy hospital. She befriends Choi Eunhee, a Korean woman who married one of Helen’s husband’s friends.

In the present, timeline Cassidy Quinn has inherited her grandmother’s property on Whidbey Island, but the house and property have fallen into disrepair. Worse, she needs to bring the garden back to life again and earn an income, or she will be forced to sell the property to pay the outstanding property taxes.

I found the past timeline more positive and uplifting than the modern timeline, which means I definitely enjoyed the past story most.  (I know that’s a bit ambiguous, but want to avoid spoilers. If you read Heirlooms, you can tell me whether you agree or not).

The main reason I enjoyed the past story was because of the way it showed two cultures, American and Korean. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Helen and Eunhee, and the way Eunhee was able to introduce Helen to Korean food and culture … and to God. That, to me, was the strength of the novel.

Heirlooms is an excellent example of a dual timeline novel.

Even though I preferred the past timeline, the present and past timelines are both compelling in their different ways.

Recommended for fans of dual timeline Christian fiction, and those who enjoy exploring other cultures through fiction.

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

About Sandra Byrd

Sandra Byrd

Bestselling author Sandra Byrd continues to earn both industry acclaim and high praise from readers everywhere. The author of more than fifty books, her work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice award, two Christy Award nominations, Two Library Journal Best Book selections, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list. Her traditionally published books include titles by Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, Tyndale House Publishers, WaterBrook Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and Bethany House. She’s also an independent author.

Sandra has also published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, and devotionals, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions and The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional, which was named by Called Magazine, the #1 magazine for Christian Women, as among their favorite, must-read books.

As an editor and an in-demand writing coach, Sandra is passionate about helping writers develop their talents and has mentored hundreds of writers at all stages of their writing careers.

Sandra loves walking, the beach, cooking and baking, photography, watching Escape to the Country, Fake or Fortune, and Chef’s Table, as well as spending time with family and friends – real and fictional!

Find Sandra Byrd online at:

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About Heirlooms

Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim―Eunhee’s granddaughter―to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women―grandmothers and granddaughters―intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.

You can find Heirlooms online at:

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Read the introduction to Heirlooms below:

Lisa never fell apart in a crisis. She went to pieces afterward, when everything was sorted out and everyone taken care of.

Book Review | Through the Blaze (Seasons of Faith #2) by Milla Holt

I don’t know if the Norwegians have the saying, “Marry in haste; repent at leisure”, but that certainly fit Lisa. She married young, against her mother’s advice, and it turned out that her marriage wasn’t a good decision: Kai was a compulsive gambler who lied to hide his addiction.

So when Lisa’s twenty-one year old daughter announces she’s engaged to someone Lisa didn’t even know she was dating, Lisa is not well pleased. However, she is relieved when she finds Kai will be able to contribute to the wedding, and supports it. Maybe he has changed …

Through the Blaze is a romance, and we all know what that means.

Lisa and Kai are going to find their way back together. Here’s the problem: there are good reasons why they broke up, and Lisa shouldn’t even be thinking of reconciling until she’s convinced Kai is no longer a gambler.

But Kai is an addict.

He’s done the whole 12-step process, and he’s even a programme sponsor for another gambling addict. But he’s still an addict. He still needs God’s help to get through each day without gambling.

If Lisa married Kai twenty-four years ago and he had a gambling problem then, and he still had that problem two years ago, I feel she is being completely reasonable to still be suspicious. As such, while I was convinced Kai had changed (probably because the reader only sees him at his best, not his worst), I wasn’t convinced Lisa could make that mental shift.

Through the Blaze is the second book in Milla Holt’s Seasons of Faith Christian romance series, following Into the Flood. While Through the Blaze is a standalone romance, the characters are introduced first in Into the Flood and you may prefer to read the series in order.

Through the Blaze by Milla Holt is a Christian contemporary reunion romance set in Norway. Recommended. #ChristianRomance #BookReview Share on X

Recommended for Christian contemporary romance fans who don’t mind reunion romance plots, and those who are looking for romances set outside the USA.

Thanks to the author for providing a free eBook for review.

About Milla Holt

Author Photo - Milla HoltI write inspirational romance with an international twist, with stories that uplift and encourage. Heroes with honor and integrity and strong, can-do heroines are my thing. And the good guys always get their happy ending. My fiction reflects my Christian faith.

I’m not a fan of writing about myself, but here goes. I used to be a lot of things: a journalist, a communications manager for a health activist group, and a freelance copywriter.

Before all that, I was a diplomatic brat, trailing along as my mother’s job took us to various diverse locations around the world.

Now, I’m homeschooling my children in the east of England and devoting every spare moment to writing.

Find Milla Holt online at:

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About Through the Blaze

He has spent his life taking chances, but will she risk it all to love him again?

Gambling addict Kai Meland has spent the last decade fixing the life he wrecked. Still, some things are broken beyond repair. Include his marriage. His daughter’s upcoming wedding might be his last chance to show his estranged wife he’s not the same man who once crushed her heart and chose gambling over her.

Lisa wants nothing to do with the man she once loved. After his addiction destroyed their family, she focused on their daughter, Eline. She wiped her tears, held her close, and met her needs. So now that Eline is about to marry, how can she want both of her parents present?

As preparations begin, Lisa finds an older, wiser Kai saying all the right things, but she’s not about to fall for his charms. She’s been down that road and has the scars to show it.

Will the approaching wedding allow Kai the chance he needs to break through Lisa’s emotional fortress and prove to her their love is worth a final wager?

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There’s a way I can keep you here. But you’d have to trust me. You’d have to marry me.

Book Review | Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

After Liliana Vela’s family is murdered and she is trafficked from Mexico to Texas, she escapes at the first opportunity and is rescued by the mysterious Meric Toledan. Meric then offers a marriage of convenience as a way of keeping her safe, so she doesn’t have to return to Mexico where she fears she’d just be kidnapped and trafficked again.

(I’m fairly sure that it takes more than marriage to a stranger to be allowed to stay in the USA, but we’ll let that minor detail pass. The “billionaire marrying a stranger” did remind me of Streiker’s Bride by Robin Hardy, if you’ve been reading Christian fiction long enough to remember that one.)

I initially hesitated to request Dangerous Beauty for review because the topic was human trafficking. I read for entertainment, and there’s nothing entertaining about forcing women into sexual slavery.

But after reading Melissa Koslin’s debut novel, Never Miss, I decided to give Dangerous Beauty a chance and I’m glad I did. While trafficking provides the main tension in the plot, there is nothing explicit about trafficking (although there are a couple of well-written fight sequences).

Liliana is an excellent character.

She’s strong, intelligent, and determined. She’s also brave – she’s not afraid to trust Meric, to leave the apartment, to learn new things, even when that will potentially put her at risk.

Meric is more of a mystery, one that is uncovered slowly as the novel progresses. It’s obvious he’s hiding something from Liliana, but it’s also clear that she trusts him. It’s a credit to Koslin’s writing that she convinces me that because Liliana trusts Meric, I should as well.

The story is fast-paced to the point where I didn’t stop to ponder the logic or possibility of plot points like the marriage of convenience or even Liliana’s feelings towards Meric. It swept me along to the inevitable yet satisfying conclusion that answered all my questions, including one I hadn’t even realised I had.

Recommended for romantic suspense fans who enjoy authors such as Dee Henderson and Dani Pettrey.

Thanks to Revell Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Melissa Koslin

Melissa KoslinMelissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. The author of Never Miss, Melissa lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Corey.

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About Dangerous Beauty

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She’s not a victim, she’s a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she’s determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can’t stay safely over the border in America–unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

Melissa Koslin throws you right into the middle of the action in this high-stakes thriller that poses the question: What is the price of freedom?

Find Dangerous Beauty online at:

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Congratulate yourselves, Elites, for you have endured until the end.

Book Review | Flight (Collective Underground #3) by Kristen Young

I read an early draft of Flight several years ago. I very much enjoyed the story, but found parts of it confusing, as it felt like I’d been dropped in the middle of something bigger with no idea what the character’s history was. Kristen Young took that feedback on board, and wrote Apprentice and Elite. The characters now feel much more rounded, and the story is stronger for it.

If you haven’t read Apprentice and Elite, I recommend you do.

Otherwise, you’ll probably find Flight as confusing as I did the first time around.

This time, the whole story made a lot more sense because I had the background. Apprentice Kerr Flick (aka Cadence) is only weeks away from graduation when what seemed like a random assignment reveals information that could get her killed. Cadence escapes, but will the Muse protect her and help her find refuge, or will her enemies betray her and get her killed?

Flight picks up where Elite left off, but picks up both the pace and the tension. the story moves quickly (which is why it’s advisable to read the earlier stories first). Cadence is thrown into new situations where she comes face to face with an old enemy and has to figure out who to trust. Her life depends on making the right decision. And I don’t want to say any more because of potential spoilers.

The Collective Underground trilogy has strong underlying Christian themes.

The Muse is clearly the Holy Spirit, and the songs Cadence is tasked with remembering are the scriptures. At least, that’s obvious to me, reading as a Christian. Science fiction and fantasy novels often build their own religion, so a nonChristian reader might think the Muse and the songs are simply the religion created for the story. But I hope they’ll be able to see the underlying allegory.

Kristen Young has created a fascinating and scarily believable dystopian society in which children are raised in government-run dormitories which make the average prison look welcoming and flexible. The children then graduate to participate in a society where citizens are encouraged by their leaders (called “Lovers”) to turn in anyone they suspect of being a “Hater”. It’s a twisted system of doublethink that’s rather Orwellian.

The trilogy is unique in Christian fiction, and recommended for fans of Divergent, The Hunger Games, or similar Young Adult titles with dystopian themes.

Thanks to Enclave Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.

About Kristen Young

Kristen YoungKristen Young was born (and spent a memorable first few months of her life) in the UK, grew up in Sydney, but now lives in the Central West of NSW with her husband, three children, and slightly neurotic dog. She has been involved in church-based ministry for over 20 years, and loves helping people of any age to see how awesome Jesus is.

Kristen has had a number of books published, beginning with The Survival Guide series of devotions for teens. What if? Dealing with Doubt is a book for anyone from high school age onward, and aims to help anyone struggling with doubts about God, Jesus, or faith. In more recent years she has been writing fiction. Apprentice is her first published novel.

Find Kristen Young online at:

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About Flight

The fight for what is right is also a fight to survive

On the cusp of graduation, Cadence is finally feeling in control. She’s about to become one of the prestigious Elites working in the Hall of Love. Plus she can take her place as a full member of the underground Sirens who meet secretly in Love City. She’ll finally be able to use her memory skills for good, instead of reporting people as a Watcher.

But a dangerous trap is set, throwing Cadence into unwelcome and unfamiliar territory. Someone in the Collective remembers things that could very well get her killed. The Muse is by her side, after all, but will she be protected when someone powerful wants her dead?

Cadence just wants to be normal, free from politics or squad intimidation. Will she be able to achieve her Elite dreams, or will sinister forces leave her running for her life?

Find Flight online at:

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Maybe he would stop chasing the impossible and trying to live up to standards he was never meant to live up to.

Book Review | To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh

To Win a Prince is the sequel to In Search of a Prince, and is Toni Shiloh’s second romance set in the fictional island nation of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa. To Win a Prince is a standalone romance, and you don’t have to have read In Search of A Prince to read this, although it will introduce the main characters and some of the background.

We met both the main characters in In Search for a Prince.

Fashion designer Iris Blakely is the best friend of Bri, the new Queen of Ọlọrọ Ilé, and is starting her own fashion label to employ local women and help lift them out of poverty.

Prince Ekon Diallo was found guilty of conspiring to undermine the line of succession to the throne. His punishment is to be stripped of his title and to undertake community service.

It’s always a challenge for a writer to take the antagonist from one novel and turn that character into a sympathetic hero in the next in the series, and to make that believable for the reader. Toni Shiloh has done an excellent job of that with Ekon, and it’s a definite strength of the novel.

What I liked most was the fact Iris and Ekon had a relationship of equals.

Iris is an intelligent and independent woman, but one who recognises her limitations. Ekon, despite his arrogance and life of privilege, does have valuable information to contribute to Iris’s business. Equally, Ekon also has limitations, and learns to ask for help. That’s a solid foundation for a lasting relationship, and it’s good to see.

Another strength was the natural way faith and prayer flowed seamlessly from the narrative.

It never felt forced, not even when Iris and Ekon went to church. I liked the way their relationship developed. Iris had found Ekon attractive, which made their developing relationship feel real and not forced. I also liked the fact that she deliberately tried to distance herself from Ekon emotionally once she found out he wasn’t a Christian.

Ekon was a well-written character. He was suitably arrogant and unpleasant at the beginning of the novel but softened as the story progressed. This gave their relationship an additional sense of realism.

To Win a Prince is an excellent contemporary Christian romance which will appeal to fans of royalty romance, or people looking for romances set outside the USA.

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

About Toni Shiloh

tonishiloh_highresToni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace of the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior.

She writes soulfully romantic novels to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

Before pursuing her dream as a writer, Toni served in the United States Air Force. It was there she met her husband. After countless moves, they ended up in Virginia, where they are raising their two boys.

When she’s not typing in imagination land, Toni enjoys reading, playing video games, ​making jewelry, and spending time with ​her family.

About To Win a Prince

Can she stop herself from falling before she’s too far gone?

As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Ọlọrọ Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a sustainable clothing line to help citizens in impoverished areas and honor the country’s resources. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo–the man who betrayed her best friend–will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins.

Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his fellow Ọlọrans. To pay for his actions against Ọlọrọ Ilé, he’s forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely–but he can’t allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.

Though they come from vastly different worlds, Iris and Ekon are both determined to reach their goals, and the only way to do that is to work together–if they can just keep their hearts from getting in the way . . .

You can find Told You So online at

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It was too late now. They both knew when he had first embarked on this road to debauchery.

Book Review | Midnight’s Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller

I almost didn’t request this book to review because the cover didn’t appeal to me. It felt too dark, although I could see it reflected the title (actually, I wasn’t too keen on the title, either). But it’s by Carolyn Miller, and I’ve enjoyed every one of her novels so far … so I decided to give it a go.

Sarah Drayton is single and of “advanced age” (about twenty-eight) in a time when ladies are supposed to be married much younger. She goes to stay with Beatrice Langley, an old school friend, but is tricked into a marriage of convenience with Beatrice’s  badly behaved brother, Captain James Langley.

We see James from Sarah’s point of view at first, and he doesn’t come across as a likeable person. But we get to know him better as the story progresses, and have more sympathy for him as we understand him better.

For his part, James has no desire to marry Sarah—but has even less desire to see his estate go to a distant cousin. But if he wants an heir, he’s going to have to spend time with his bride and court her properly.

Midnight’s Budding Morrow is darker than many of Carolyn Miller’s previous books.

The combination of the decaying old house, unhelpful servants, and overbearing patriarch give the story a gothic feel, like old Victoria Holt or Mary Stewart stories. The age-old rumours of a hidden treasure in the house only reinforce that feeling.

While the start is somewhat dark and a little contrived (aren’t all marriage of convenience stories? Isn’t that why we love them?), the novel progresses well. It is yet another strong novel from Carolyn Miller, with excellent characters, a unique setting, and a strong Christian faith arc.

Thanks to Kregel Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Carolyn Miller

Carolyn MillerCarolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She is married, with four gorgeous children, who all love to read (and write!).

A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn’s novels have won a number of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. Her favourite authors are classics like Jane Austen (of course!), Georgette Heyer, and Agatha Christie, but she also enjoys contemporary authors like Susan May Warren and Becky Wade.

Her stories are fun and witty, yet also deal with real issues, such as dealing with forgiveness, the nature of really loving versus ‘true love’, and other challenges we all face at different times.

Find Carolyn Miller online at:

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About Midnight’s Budding Morrow

Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue?

Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend’s rakish brother.

When James Langley returns to his family’s estate, he can’t be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father’s stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love.

Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn’t until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed?

When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope?

Find Midnight’s Budding Morrow online:

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Read the introduction to Midnight’s Budding Morrow:

Book Review | Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard

Mackenzie Hanson is on a date when she sees a face from her secret past—Julian Abel.

Julian is then hit by a car and she finds a business card in her pocket … a message from Julian which sends her home to Montana in time to find her brother dead in his home. There she meets her sister, now the CEO of the family IT business, and Alex Knight, who she met three years ago when she was approached then rejected for a role in a secret three-letter agency.

Yes, it’s a fast-paced start with a lot of characters introduced and a lot of complex information shared very quickly. This did make it difficult to follow the plot at first … although perhaps that’s to be expected with a romantic suspense story about cybercrime.

Critical Alliance was an odd mix of too much information and not enough.

There were scenes that seemed to speed past and I was left feeling as though valuable information was missing. There were other scenes where things were spelled out that didn’t need to be (e.g. I think most suspense readers know what Interpol is).

Once I got into the cybercrime element of the plot (and had worked out who all the characters were), the plot did start to make sense. The suspense element was fast-paced and compelling, with enough real-world relevance to make it just a little scary.

The faith element was good—not so much as to be preachy, but written so it felt integrated into the characters (sometimes the Christian elements can feel tacked on, and sometimes they’re so subtle as to feel almost invisible). Critical Alliance struck this balance well.

The romance aspect was also well done. The novel takes place over a very short timeframe (days), and I’ve never been a fan of instalust in Christian fiction, so I appreciated the fact Mackenzie and Alex had previously met, even it they hadn’t spent much time together. It made their attraction feel a little more reasonable.

Critical Alliance is the third and final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series.

That explains why I thought it introduced too many characters too quickly – they were probably characters from the previous books in the series, which I would have known if I’d read one or both of Present Danger or Deadly Target.

Critical Alliance by @BethGoddard is a solid Christian romantic suspense, but I do recommend reading the rest of the series first. #BookReview Share on X

Overall, Critical Alliance is a solid Christian romantic suspense, but is probably best read as part of the series.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Elizabeth Goddard

With over a million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES–a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

Find Elizabeth Goddard online at:

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About Critical Alliance

Mackenzie Hanson’s special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father’s tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he’s trying to relax, he’s drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common–a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

When the situation turns deadly, Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need–before someone silences Mackenzie for good.

You can find Told You So online at:

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Read the introduction to Critical Alliance below: