Category: Book Review

4 February 2019

Book Review | A Love Most Worthy by Sandra Ardoin

Hallie Russell has arrived in Nome, Alaska, in the middle of the 1900 gold rush, to replace her cousin as a mail order bride. She’s marrying Rance Preston, who needs a wife to take care of his two orphaned nephews while he manages the family store. Rance doesn’t want a wife, something Hallie finds difficult to accept … especially once she starts developing feelings for Rance.

Its an intriguing premise in a fascinating time and place.

Personally, I love the concept of Alaska but I don’t think I’d cope well with the endless cold, or the long weeks of winter darkness. So I have a lot of admiration for Hallie, who is prepared to give up life in Seattle to travel north to marry a man she’s never met and only knows through his letters to her cousin.

Rance is a honourable man, but he has trust issues. He’s determined this won’t be a proper marriage, and this is frustrating at first, until we (and Hallie) understand the reason behind his trust issues. Then it’s awkward, because we know a secret he doesn’t know …

A Love Most Worthy is a solid romance, recommended for those who enjoy mail order bride stories, and those looking for historical fiction in an Alaskan setting.

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

About Sandra Ardoin

As an author of heartwarming and award-winning historical romance, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith. Rarely out of reach of a book, she’s also an armchair sports enthusiast, country music listener, and seldom says no to eating out.

About A Love Most Worthy

She didn’t know which was colder, an Arctic winter or her new husband’s heart.

Hallie Russell believes life should be lived to the fullest. For that reason, she sails to the gold rush town of Nome, Alaska to take her cousin’s place as the mail-order bride of a respected shopkeeper. But when her aloof husband’s wedding-night announcement rocks her plans for their marriage, Hallie sees her desire for a family to call her own vanish as quickly as the dreams of hopeful miners.

Tragedy led Rance Preston to regret his rowdy ways and open a general store for the miners in Nome. He’s content in his bachelorhood, but his two orphaned nephews deserve a proper and serious-minded mother. Duped once by a vivacious female, he’s determined to never again let his heart overrule his head…until the high spirits of his new bride threaten his resolve.

When a misunderstanding comes to light, will they allow the gale force winds of insecurity to destroy what they each need most?

Find A Love Most Worthy online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Goodreads

31 January 2019

#ThrowbackThursday | Grounded Hearts by Jeanne M Dickson

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m sharing my review of RITA finalist Grounded Hearts, the debut novel from Jeanne M Dickson. This review first appeared at International Christian Fiction Writers.

Nan O’Neil is the midwife in the village of Ballyhaven, County Clare, Ireland, in World War II. She’s a widow, and still hasn’t got over the death of her poet husband, or her regret that they were never able to have children. She’s now being pursued by Shamus Finn, a pig farmer who is now a member of the Local Defence Force … and one who enjoys the power rather too much.

When an injured Canadian flyboy shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night, Nan decides to help him.

She’s a nurse. She can’t turn him away. Even though Ireland is neutral—if caught, he’ll go straight to an internment camp, and she’ll face prison. Personally, I found this aspect fascinating. I’d known Ireland was neutral during World War II, but I’d never stopped to wonder why. Grounded Hearts told me, and showed me a uniquely Irish way of dealing with the problem.

The writing style reminded me of the British and Irish fiction I’ve enjoyed over the years from authors such as Beth Moran. There were a few too many “she thoughts” for my taste, but that small weakness was more than made up for by the understated Irish humour and wordplay.

But if you’re looking for a traditional Christian historical romance set in World War II Ireland, you’re looking in the wrong place.

Grounded Hearts has an irreverent Irish flavour. There are references to the rhythm method, marital relations (and relations outside marriage), and body parts. It’s a long way from obscene, but conservative Christian readers may well find it offensive.

But if you’re the kind of reader who’s looking for fresh well-written fiction with an original plot, a little suspense, a little romance, and a lot of Irish humour, then you’ll enjoy Grounded Hearts.

Thanks to Waterfall Press, Litfuse Publicity, and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Jeanne M Dickson

Jeanne was born into an Irish-American family, the only girl in a family with four brothers. Her Irish grandmother lived with them, and was a constant source of stories about life in Ireland and the saints and ancestors long gone from this earth. She credits her mother, her aunts, and grandmother for her love of storytelling. Today she lives in Coastal San Diego with her fabulous husband, her two wonderful girls, and a dozen disobedient rose bushes.

Jeanne writes romances set in WWII Ireland and also contemporary romances either set in Ireland or there’ll be Irish/Irish American characters.

You can find Jeanne M Dickson online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

About Grounded Hearts

In the midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are fighting for. When midwife Nan O’Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she’s taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she’ll face imprisonment.

Still, something compels Nan to take in “flyboy” Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection—and an unbreakable bond.

But Nan has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband’s death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his escape, can he help restore her faith?

You can find Grounded Hearts online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

You can read the introduction to Grounded Hearts below:

29 January 2019

Bookish Question #93 | Where is your favourite spot to read in the summer?

Where is your favourite spot to read in the summer? And is that different to winter?

I have two favourite spots for reading in summer: the front deck and the back garden, depending on where the sun is. In the morning, the sun hits our front deck. I can sit in a hanging chair, reading my book and admiring the view. In the afternoon I prefer the back garden, as it catches the afternoon sun.

I prefer to be inside in winter.

It doesn’t get as cold in my corner of New Zealand as it does in some countries, but it’s still cold enough that I wouldn’t choose to sit outside when I have a favourite chair by the fire for reading. Although sometimes I do read outside … in the spa pool (hot tub) on our back deck.

What about you? Where is your favourite spot to read in the summer? And the winter?

28 January 2019

Book Review | The Line Between by Tosca Lee

It’s near-future North America. Wynter Roth has just escaped the pseudo-Christian cult she’s lived in for the last sixteen years. Disease is sweeping the land. And Wynter is afraid the cult leader might have been right … maybe the outside world was all heading for hell.

Wynter is a character who is both brave and naive. She knows little of the ways of the modern world, because she was only five when she entered the cult’s compound and has rarely been permitted to leave. Her views of God and the world have been twisted by the cult leader, Marcus. Yet she has a strong sense of right and wrong and is prepared to risk everything she knows for right … which means leaving the cult.

The story is fast-paced and disturbingly believable. That’s the key with dystopian fiction: twist something in our reality (in this case, infectious rapid onset dementia), and use that to destroy everything the characters know and rely on. Then see how they react.

The story flips back and forth between Wynter’s present and the events that led her to leaving the cult, and this weaving provides added layers of complexity, and propel the present plot forward. It’s masterful writing, and I challenge any fan of dystopian fiction such as The Hunger Games or Divergent or Maze Runner to put this one down.

Recommended. And the sequel will be out in September!

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

About Tosca Lee

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the House of Bathory duology (THE PROGENY and FIRSTBORN), ISCARIOT, THE LEGEND OF SHEBA, DEMON: A MEMOIR, HAVAH: THE STORY OF EVE, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker (FORBIDDEN, MORTAL, SOVEREIGN). A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games and football with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband.

Find Tosca Lee online at:

About The Line Between

In this frighteningly believable thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee, an extinct disease re-emerges from the melting Alaskan permafrost to cause madness in its victims. For recent apocalyptic cult escapee Wynter Roth, it’s the end she’d always been told was coming.

When Wynter Roth is turned out of New Earth, a self-contained doomsday cult on the American prairie, she emerges into a world poised on the brink of madness as a mysterious outbreak of rapid early onset dementia spreads across the nation.

As Wynter struggles to start over in a world she’s been taught to regard as evil, she finds herself face-to-face with the apocalypse she’s feared all her life—until the night her sister shows up at her doorstep with a set of medical samples. That night, Wynter learns there’s something far more sinister at play and that these samples are key to understanding the disease.

Now, as the power grid fails and the nation descends into chaos, Wynter must find a way to get the samples to a lab in Colorado. Uncertain who to trust, she takes up with former military man Chase Miller, who has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the samples in her possession, and to Wynter herself.

Filled with action, conspiracy, romance, and questions of whom—and what—to believe, The Line Between is a high-octane story of survival and love in a world on the brink of madness.

You can find The Line Between online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads

Click here to find The Line Between and other great Christian fiction at my Amazon shop!

24 January 2019

#ThrowbackThursday | Athens Ambuscade by Kristen Joy Wilks

It’s Throwback Thursday, and I’m resharing a review which originally posted at International Christian Fiction Writers.

I requested Athens Ambuscade for review for two reasons:

It obviously featured Athens, Greece, which makes it perfect for a post at International Christian Fiction Writers. Also, I enjoy reading novels in different settings.
I’ve never heard of “ambuscade” before, so I had to find out what it meant (it’s an antiquated term for ‘ambush’ for those who are interested).

But then I read the book description and wasn’t so sure …

What happens when a strapped-for-cash bridal designer needs a stuffed animal…and fast? Up-and-coming bridal designer, Jacqueline Gianakos must fly a Montana taxidermist to Greece in order to stuff her Grandmother’s cat. If Chrysanthemum isn’t preserved within two days’ time, Jacqueline will lose the home that was her childhood sanctuary. But will she survive the next 48 hours when the taxidermist ignores her pointed request and then shows up wearing flannel?

This sounded a little weird. And perhaps it was. But it worked.

Jacqueline is in Athens dealing with the estate of her recently deceased grandmother. Ya-Ya left what could have been a to-do list in the envelope with her will, and the lawyer decrees that Jacqueline must complete all the tasks on the list before she can inherit the house. This would seem ridiculous and unbelievable, but the writing and the setting makes it seem almost logical.

Anyway, Jacqueline (never Jackie and definitely not Jack) is a lady with Plans. She has emptied the attic, cleaned the gutters, built a tasteful orange tree house (if that’s not a contradiction in terms then I don’t know what is), and baked a watermelon pie (I have no idea how you bake a pie from a fruit that is basically water).

Now she has to get that nice taxidermist from Montana to stuff her grandmother’s dead cat.

He’s arrived in Athens, and they’ve got two days to stuff the cat and show the lawyer. Shouldn’t be difficult …

Jacqueline and Shane collect the cat from cold storage (it’s been dead three years, and Ya-Ya wasn’t crazy enough to keep it in her own freezer. Yes, this is a good time for crazy cat lady jokes). Then their troubles begin as thugs in black vans want to steal the cat. Yes, you read that right. It’s the “ambuscade” promised in the title.

What follows is a fast-paced cat chase through the streets and sights of Athens, including a visit to the Parthenon, the Gate of Athena, the Monastiraki Flea Market, and the Cave of Aglauros. It’s also funny, in a laugh-out-loud kind of way, not a how-stupid-is-this-woman kind of way.

Jacqueline is a little strange (I guess she takes after Ya-Ya).

As I said, Jacqueline is a lady with Plans. She has plans and lists and is perhaps a little over the top. For example, when she arranges to meet Shane, the taxidermist, in an Athenian cafe, she doesn’t tell him what she’ll be wearing. She tells him the width of her belt, and the three shades of eyeshadow. I try to be organised, but Jacqueline takes planning and organisation to a whole new level.

Athens Ambuscade is a quick read, both because of the fast pace and because it is relatively short. But it packed a lot of punch: lots of great lines:

And:
It also had a strong Christian theme, with Jacqueline learning a definite lesson about the nature of God (a lesson that had nothing to do with kittens or rainbows or fluffy things). And the location … Wilks did a great job with the location:

So much color. A swipe of robin’s egg blue across the Mediterranean sky, ancient white marble, and the flush of green growth clinging to the mountain. God seemed to create His most glorious splendors in hard to reach places.

Some books are set in exotic locations, but you read them and get the feeling they could have been set anywhere—the setting comes a distant third behind the plot and characters. Athens Ambuscade is different. It almost felt as though the setting were a character, and I loved that—although I am glad my own short visit to Athens wasn’t nearly as exciting as Jacqueline and Shane’s.

I recommend Athens Ambuscade for those who enjoy romantic comedy from authors such as Kara Isaac, and those looking for a Christian novel equivalent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

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

About Kristen Joy Wilks

Kristen Joy Wilks lives in the beautiful woods of the Cascade mountains with her camp director husband, three fierce sons, and a large and slobbery Newfoundland dog. She spent her misguided youth falling in love with Commander Spock via Star Trek reruns, being suspended upside down over a homemade pit filled with gardener snakes, and stampeding herds of elk while on horseback. Now most of her adventures consist of preventing her hubby from filling another wall of their dining room with board games, thwarting her 3 boys’ efforts to sneak their pet chickens onto their bunk beds whenever she turns her back to fold laundry, and trying not to trip over the random teenagers that swarm her house to play all those board games. Kristen can be found tucked under a tattered quilt in an overstuffed chair at 4:00am writing a wide variety of dramatic tales.

Find Kristen Joy Wilks online at:

Website | Facebook

Read the introduction to Athens Ambuscade below:

21 January 2019

Book Review | More Than Gold (Escape to the West #6) by Nerys Leigh

Gabriel Silversmith is the gold miner we first met in The Truth About Love, where his mail order bride left him for another man. Not that we blamed her—Gabriel is rough around the edges, to put it politely.

Now he’s married to Grace Myers, and married life isn’t exactly going as planned.

Grace has opinions of her own and isn’t afraid to express them. And she’s refined … perhaps too refined for a gold miner living in a one-room shack with no running water. Will Grace stay, or will this be another disaster?

Grace chose to become a mail order bride to get away from her jealous and selfish stepmother.

She’d thought anything would be better than marrying Felicia’s choice for her, the ancient Mr Howard who has hair growing out both ears. Gabriel is younger and probably more attractive … if she can get him to shave off that awful beard and stop chewing the tobacco that makes him smell like an outhouse.

I have to admit that while I wanted Gabriel to get his happy-ever-after after the way Jo treated him, I also see Grace’s point. She’s a lady, and Gabriel is certainly not a gentleman. Or an angel. And is he really a successful gold miner? If so, wouldn’t he live somewhere nicer that a one-room shack?
But Grace and Gabriel are both determined to make the marriage work, and that’s a great starting point for an enjoyable marriage of convenience story with a touch of suspense.

The first five books in Nerys Leigh’s Escape to the West series can be read in any order, because they all take place simultaneously. More than Gold is the exception—it’s best to read The Truth About Love first, because that covers some of Gabriel’s history, and shows why Grace arrives alone, after the other brides.

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

About Nerys Leigh

Nerys Leigh writes thoroughly romantic Christian historical love stories. She loves heroes who are strong but sweet and heroines who are willing to fight for the life they want.

She’s from the UK, which you would think puts her in a unique position to not write about mail order brides in the American west, but the old adage of writing what you know has never appealed to her. She has an actual American read each book before publishing to make sure she hasn’t gone all English on it.

No One’s Bride is the first in the Escape to the West series which tells the stories of a group of women willing to travel across America to find happiness, and the men determined to win their hearts.

You can find Nerys Leigh online relaxing and generally enjoying the view at:

Website | Facebook

About More Than Gold

Does “second time lucky” apply to mail order brides?

Let’s just say that Gabriel’s first attempt at marriage didn’t go well. But his new bride, Grace, she has curves he can’t keep his eyes from, and he’s determined this time will be different. Until he ends up sleeping in the barn.

Why are women so difficult to figure out? All he wants is someone to cook, clean, and warm his bed. But Grace wants more. She wants respect and someone to care about her. She wants love.

So now Gabriel has to learn how to court his wife just so he can sleep in his own bed again. As for falling in love, though, he just isn’t the type.

But he’s been wrong before.

You can find More Than Gold online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Goodreads

You can read the introduction to More Than Gold below:

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

17 January 2019

#Throwback Thursday | A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor #1) by Kristi Ann Hunter

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing my review of A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter, which first appeared at International Christian Fiction Writers. The Christmas Heirloom novella collection started with a Haven Manor story, and the second official book in the series releases next week.

The Honourable Katherine FitzGilbert (I’m sorry, but the title is British, so it should be Honourable not Honorable) is now known as Mama Kit. She shepherds a group of not-quite-orphans in a forgotten house in the country. Her anonymity and remote seclusion are her weapons, the way she protects those in her charge.

Graham, Viscount Wharton, is bored … at least, until he notices a beautiful lady in green at a ball, a lady he then rescues before she disappears. He has no idea how to find her again, as he doesn’t even know her name. So he’s more than a little surprised to come across her in an out-of-the-way almost-abandoned manor house near the small market town of Marlborough.

As first meetings go, Kit and Graham’s first meeting is definitely memorable. So is their second.

But it’s when they meet in Marlborough that things get interesting. Graham is trying to locate his best friend’s missing sister, and he realises Kit must know where she is. But Kit has spent the last twelve years protecting women and hiding their illegitimate children, and she’s not about to stop for some random Lord who finds her secret home. No matter how attractive he is.

And the end … I’m not going to give spoilers, but I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

A Defense of Honor is the first full-length novel in Kristi Ann Hunter’s new Haven Manor series, but it’s not the first book. There is a prequel novella, A Search for Refuge, which is available as a free ebook. It’s not necessary to read A Search for Refuge first, although I did, and I can assure you it will provide needed backstory to A Defense of Honor. It’s also an excellent story on its own.

Recommended for all Regency romance fans, because it’s close to perfect. And Kristi Ann Hunter is a wonderful witty writer.

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

About Kristi Ann Hunter

Kristi is the RITA® award winning author of Regency romance novels from a Christian worldview. Her titles include A Noble Masquerade, An Elegant Façade, and An Uncommon Courtship. Beyond writing, she is also speaker, teaching classes in writing as well as Biblical and spiritual topics. She has spoken to writers’ groups, schools, and young women’s groups at churches.

When she is not writing or interacting with her readers, Kristi spends time with her family and her church. A graduate of Georgia Tech with a computer science degree, she can also be found fiddling with her computer in her free time. A born lover of stories she is also an avid reader. From very young she dreamed of sharing her own stories with others and praises God daily that she gets to live that dream today.

You can find Kristi Ann Hunter online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About A Defense of Honor

When Katherine “Kit” FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she’s forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend’s missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she’s telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can’t matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. And as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn’t worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.

You can find A Defense of Honor online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

You can read the introduction to A Defense of Honor below:

Click here to find A Defense of Honor and other great Christian fiction at my Amazon shop!

14 January 2019

Book Review | Enchanting Nicholette

Nicholette Everstone was widowed on her wedding day, two years ago. Now she’s back in Boston, and has been introduced to Mr Cal Hawthorne. They have something in common—Cal has also lost a spouse, and now he’s interested in Nicholette.

This was not my favourite of the Everstone Chronicles. I think that’s because neither Nicholette nor Cal are Everstones, and while I know Nicholette has been mentioned in earlier books (and Cal probably has as well), I don’t remember either of them.

It’s a perfectly nice romance. The writing is solid, the sense of time and place is excellent, and I’m always a fan of novels written in the third person. But I didn’t engage with Nicholette the way I’ve engaged with some of the other Everstone brides.

This could be because she didn’t seem to have any major obstacles to overcome. She is well out of mourning for her husband, and there is nothing stopping her developing relationship with Cal Hawthorne—especially as her parents are in favour of her marrying again, as long as it is for love.

Overall, fans of the Everstone Chronicles will enjoy Enchanting Nicholette. It is a standalone romance, but there are a lot of characters from the previous novels, and the relationships can easily become confusing. I’d recommend anyone who hasn’t read the earlier books start the series at the beginning, with The Hesitant Heiress.

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

10 January 2019

#ThrowbackThursday | Death at Thornburn Hall by Julianna Deering

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing my review of Death at Thornburn Hall, which originally appeared at International Christian Fiction Writers.

Drew and Madeline Fathering are back. They are visiting Drew’s distant relatives, Lord and Lady Rainsby of Thornburn Hall, and planning to watch the Open at Muirfield, Edinburgh. They are not the only guests—there is also a married couple, and a Russian artiste seeking his muse.

Death at Thornburn Hall is the sixth book in the Drew Fathering series. Each book is a standalone murder mystery, which means you don’t have to read the earlier books first (although there are some plot threads that trail though the series). It follows the pattern established in the first book, Rules of Murder.

Drew arrives somewhere (Thornburn Hall, in this instance).
There is a death (sometimes there is more than one).
Drew investigates.
The local police force don’t appreciate Drew’s efforts.
Drew solves the crime with help from Nick and Madeline.

It has almost has a Scooby-Doo feel, albeit in a different time and place, and without the inevitable, “and I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn’t for you meddling kids.” Yes, there is humour in here:

There is plenty of witty banter between Drew, a member of the British aristocracy, Madeline, his American wife, and Nick Dennison, Drew’s best friend and the son of the Fathering Hall butler (a friendship that continues to raise eyebrows).

And Carrie is back: Madeline’s American best friend, who Nick would like to persuade to stay forever … However, Carrie is not stupid. She’s realised the same thing the rest of us have realised:

Drew Fathering attracts murder. Murder attracts risk and danger.

But that’s the fun! Well, that’s the fun for me, as a reader. Carrie doesn’t see it quite the same way …

The writing is excellent, as usual. There is a cast of characters ranging from mysterious to suspicious. Some things are not what they seem, and there are plenty of genuine clues scattered among the red herrings. The ending is satisfying on several levels (well, satisfying to the core characters. The murderer, as usual, is less than satisfied with being caught by Drew).

I love this series because it is so British. It reminds me of driving through the English countryside, of camping in Scotland under the shadow of Ben Nevis, of taking the train to Edinburgh and disembarking at Waverley Station.

The Drew Fathering mysteries are an echo of England in days gone by.

They remind me of childhood favourites such as The Famous Five, and Swallows and Amazons, and of Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Georgette Heyer, and other 1930’s murder mystery writers.

But it’s also an echo of the England I lived in … because I’ve visited many of the places Drew and Madeline visit—Winchester, Beaulieu, Edinburgh. The beauty of England is that it is old, and a modern visitor can see many of the same sights as Drew and Madeline see.

Death at Thornburn Hall by Julianna Deering is an enjoyable murder mystery that's a reminder of England in days gone by #ChristianFiction #MustRead Share on X

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. You can find out more about Julianna Deering at her website, and

About Julianna Deering

Julianna Deering (also writing as DeAnna Julie Dodson) has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness, and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013).

Find Julianna Deering online at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Death at Thornburn Hall

The Fartherings’ Scottish Holiday Takes a Dark Turn

Drew Farthering arrives in idyllic Scotland for the 1935 British Open at Muirfield hoping for a relaxing holiday, but he soon finds a mystery on his hands. Lord Rainsby, his host at Thorburn Hall, fears his business partner may be embezzling and asks Drew to quietly investigate. Before Drew can uncover anything, Rainsby is killed in a suspicious riding accident.

Thorburn Hall is filled with guests, and as Drew continues to dig, he realizes that each might have had a motive to put Raisnby out of the way. Together with Madeline and Nick, he must sort through shady business dealings, international intrigue, and family tensions to find a killer who always seems to be one step ahead.

Find Death at Thornburn Hall online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Read the introduction to Death at Thornburn Hall below:

7 January 2019

Mind Games (Kaely Quinn Profiler #1) by Nancy Mehl

Jessica Oliphant is the daughter of a convicted serial killer. Now thirty-four, she’s FBI profiler Kaely Quinn, dedicated to solving murder cases, especially serial killer cases. Her unorthodox methods have earned her supporters, opponents, and the attention of the wrong kind of people—like a persistent journalist. And a serial killer.

Kaely becomes part of the next investigation when the journalist receives an anonymous poem signalling a series of murders, and ending in Kaely’s apparent suicide. The first body is discovered soon after the note is delivered. Now the race is on to identify the killer before Kaely—or anyone close to her—dies.

Mind Games is an apt title for a great thriller.

We know from the get-go that the killer is playing games with Kaely. The challenge is to work out who … I identified several possible suspects (one of whom was later murdered, so I was 100% wrong on that one!).

Kaely is an intriguing heroine. She’s intelligent and likeable, and with a strong Christian faith. But she’s also a damaged woman who suffers nightmares and finds it impossible to allow anyone to get close to her. She’s estranged from her family, both respected and reviled at work as an object of curious fascination.

The other characters are also strong—they have to be, because Kaley is such a strong character. Noah and Kaley had some interesting conversations about faith. Yes, Mind Games is definitely Christian fiction, as there is a strong faith thread and some insightful lines about the nature of faith, and the nature of evil.

This is the first of the Kaely Quinn Profiler series.

I’ve read several of Nancy Mehl’s earlier novels, but this is her best yet. I’ll be looking forward to reading more about Kaely, Noah, and their colleagues. Recommended for fans of Christian thrillers from authors like Terri Blackstock and Carrie Stuart Parks.

Mind Games by @NancyMehl is an excellent Christian thriller. Recommended! #ChristianFiction #MustRead Share on X

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

About Nancy Mehl

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored thirty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find Nancy Mehl online at:

Website | Suspense Sisters | Facebook

About Mind Games

Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.

You can find Mind Games online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Its an intriguing premise in a fascinating time and place.

About Sandra Ardoin

About A Love Most Worthy

She didn’t know which was colder, an Arctic winter or her new husband’s heart.

When a misunderstanding comes to light, will they allow the gale force winds of insecurity to destroy what they each need most?

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m sharing my review of RITA finalist Grounded Hearts, the debut novel from Jeanne M Dickson. This review first appeared at International Christian Fiction Writers.

When an injured Canadian flyboy shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night, Nan decides to help him.

But if you’re looking for a traditional Christian historical romance set in World War II Ireland, you’re looking in the wrong place.

About Jeanne M Dickson

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About Grounded Hearts

You can find Grounded Hearts online at:

You can read the introduction to Grounded Hearts below:

Where is your favourite spot to read in the summer? And is that different to winter?

I prefer to be inside in winter.

What about you? Where is your favourite spot to read in the summer? And the winter?

Recommended. And the sequel will be out in September!

About Tosca Lee

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About The Line Between

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It’s Throwback Thursday, and I’m resharing a review which originally posted at International Christian Fiction Writers.

I requested Athens Ambuscade for review for two reasons:

But then I read the book description and wasn’t so sure …

This sounded a little weird. And perhaps it was. But it worked.

Now she has to get that nice taxidermist from Montana to stuff her grandmother’s dead cat.

Jacqueline is a little strange (I guess she takes after Ya-Ya).

So much color. A swipe of robin’s egg blue across the Mediterranean sky, ancient white marble, and the flush of green growth clinging to the mountain. God seemed to create His most glorious splendors in hard to reach places.

I recommend Athens Ambuscade for those who enjoy romantic comedy from authors such as Kara Isaac, and those looking for a Christian novel equivalent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

About Kristen Joy Wilks

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Read the introduction to Athens Ambuscade below:

Now he’s married to Grace Myers, and married life isn’t exactly going as planned.

Grace chose to become a mail order bride to get away from her jealous and selfish stepmother.

About Nerys Leigh

You can find Nerys Leigh online relaxing and generally enjoying the view at:

About More Than Gold

Does “second time lucky” apply to mail order brides?

You can find More Than Gold online at:

You can read the introduction to More Than Gold below:

As first meetings go, Kit and Graham’s first meeting is definitely memorable. So is their second.

Recommended for all Regency romance fans, because it’s close to perfect. And Kristi Ann Hunter is a wonderful witty writer.

About Kristi Ann Hunter

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About A Defense of Honor

You can find A Defense of Honor online at:

You can read the introduction to A Defense of Honor below:

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing my review of Death at Thornburn Hall, which originally appeared at International Christian Fiction Writers.

Drew Fathering attracts murder. Murder attracts risk and danger.

The Drew Fathering mysteries are an echo of England in days gone by.

About Julianna Deering

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About Death at Thornburn Hall

The Fartherings’ Scottish Holiday Takes a Dark Turn

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Read the introduction to Death at Thornburn Hall below:

Mind Games is an apt title for a great thriller.

This is the first of the Kaely Quinn Profiler series.

About Nancy Mehl

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About Mind Games

You can find Mind Games online at:

You can read the introduction to Mind Games below: