Review: DANGER IN THE WILDERNESS by Darlene L. Turner

About the Book

Park warden Dekker Hoyt’s father-son camping trip turns into a nightmare when a serial killer abducts his father. With just seventy-two hours to find him, Dekker turns to criminal investigative analyst Blaire Tremblay to identify the Park Campfire Killer. As they follow his taunting clues and face increasingly violent threats, Dekker and Blaire know that one wrong step could be fatal. With the ruthless criminal following their every move, can they stop a killer in hiding…waiting to complete his deadly plan?

Product Details

ISBN-13:9781335957238 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:08/26/2025 Series:National Park Protectors , #1 Pages:208

My Thoughts

With crisp writing and a gripping story, this book was a fast and addictive read. The main characters, Park Warden Dekker Hoyt and criminal analyst Blaire Tremblay, are faced with insurmountable obstacles and constant danger as they try to find and capture a serial kidnapper and killer who has been attacking campers. Stymied by the evidence that doesn’t seem to flow together, Dekker and Blaire have to use all of their available resources, including the K-9 hero Hercules and Dekker’s sister Jayla. After all, one of the most recent victims is Dekker’s father and there is limited time to find him before the killer murders him and leaves him dead on one of the many trails in the wilderness. The plot is complex and completely engrossing and it weaves suspense seamlessly with a developing romance between Dekker and Blaire. The details of the dangers they encounter in their quest to find the killer are authentic and filled with action-packed realism. I was immersed in the drama of the story and the desperation of the characters to find the truth before it was too late. There was always a ticking clock sounding in the back of my mind as I was reading. The clues that the author left were fun to follow and the red herrings and fake trails were effective as I was fooled until the big reveal. I enjoyed the entire book and look forward to more adventures in the National Park Protectors series.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I also purchased my own copy. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Love Inspired Suspense, Intense Suspense, PG

About the Author

Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s “suspense beyond borders”.

To purchase your copy, go to this link:

Harlequin and links to other retailers

Vickie Approved and Vickie Recommended

Review: DETECTING CONCEALED EVIDENCE by Dana Mentink

About the Book

A panicked call sends detective Chase Wolfe and his search-and-rescue bloodhound, Tank, racing right into the path of his neighbor—who’s just barely escaped an abduction. But Pilar Alonso has no idea who’s after her or why. Now she must rely on Chase to keep her safe while they work together to track down the unknown assailants targeting her. Only, their investigation reveals layers of a much more sinister agenda, and danger is rapidly closing in. Drawn into a web of deceit, can they untangle the mystery…before they’re permanently silenced?

Product Details

ISBN-13:9781335957221 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:08/26/2025 Series:Security Hounds Investigations , #5 Pages:208

My Thoughts

This book was impossible to put down and an entertaining and easy read. Pilar Alonso is an accomplished, talented cellist with a lot of talent, but she has been forced to go home to take care of her father with dementia and try to earn a living with whatever jobs she can find. One of her jobs is as a delivery driver and I certainly never expected her to be shot at, kidnapped and then stalked for some mysterious reason. The surprises in this book keep coming as Chase Wolfe, her neighbor, comes to the rescue of reluctant and stand-offish Pilar. Most of the characters are bearing the burden of secrets that they want to keep deeply buried, but discovering those secrets might help keep Pilar alive. I loved the riveting suspense in the novel and the characters were all lovable and relatable, even the spunky and forgetful Mr. Alonso. My favorite character was Tank, the canine superhero who is laid back and seems somewhat disengaged until there is danger and then he enthusiastically protects Chase and Pilar. The storyline was creative and absorbing, and the characters made me want to meet them in person. Great story written in an original way and with plenty of surprises along the trail to the happily ever after.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, but I was not required to write a positive review. I also purchased my own copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rated PG for intense suspense, Love Inspired Suspense

About the Author

Dana Mentink lives in California where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Her family includes two daughters (affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo.) Papa Bear is retired from the fire department and he met Dana doing a dinner theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Ironically, their parts were husband and wife.

Dana writes in two genres, cozy mystery and romantic suspense. She’s a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author as well as a two time ACFW Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion recipient. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She is honored to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell, and Poisoned Pen Press. Website: danamentink.com

To Purchase a Copy

Harlequin and links to other retailers

Audible

Vickie Approved, Vickie Recommended

First Line Friday

Since I am on multiple launch teams at this time, you are in for a treat and have six books to choose from. The Love Inspired Suspense is Christian Fiction, the Medical Romance is mostly clean and the Harlequin Intrigue is intense suspense.

Harlequin and other retailers

Harlequin and other retailers

Harlequin and other retailers

Harlequin and other retailers

Harlequin and other retailers

Harlequin and other retailers

As time allows, I hope to do some reviews on my page next week during release week. But I will be with my grandchildren, so we will see how that goes. The links take you to the Harlequin page for that book and there you can find links to other favorite retailers. I do recommend each book, so I hope that you will choose at least one to add to your library.

VANISHED: Read an Excerpt + Enter to Win

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Vanished
Series: The Vanished Series #1
Author: Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 30, 2025
Genre: Christian Fiction

New York Times bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah’s theological insights are already valued by millions of readers. Now he brings that same depth to novels that explore the end of the world…

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John “Haggs” Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture–including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it’s falling apart. He’s still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he’s trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.

Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.

Vanished is Left Behind for a new generation–apocalyptic action and emotion that’s infused with Dr. Jeremiah’s perspective and compassion.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | DavidJeremiah.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Book Excerpt

“I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to hear what we’ve heard today without coming to the conclusion that our world is in trouble. I don’t mean our culture. I don’t mean our way of life. I mean our civilization. We are currently experiencing something unprecedented not only in our lifetimes, but seemingly in human history. An extraordinary rise in seismic activity, catastrophic storms, and flooding. An extraordinary increase in regional epidemics and global pandemics. An extraordinary surge in famines and food insecurity across multiple continents. And an extraordinary flood of refugees seeking shelter and finding none.


“There is no doubt that many of these crises can be seen as the avoidable consequences of our own actions as a civilization.” She glanced over at Singh, then away. “But there is also little doubt in my mind that we are facing calamity at a scale we have never before considered. Ladies and gentlemen . . .” She paused as she scanned the room. “I am not exaggerating when I say the world is in danger. Humanity is in danger. But I am also not exaggerating when I declare that those of us in this room are equipped to meet that calamity head-on—and to steer our world to victory.


“We’re at a tipping point, and I believe the actions taken by our five task forces over the next twelve months will determine whether humanity advances to our destiny—or retreats into oblivion. So, let’s go save the world.”  

Readers can also download the first 4 chapters of the book for free here: https://www.davidjeremiah.org/resources/vanished

About the Author

Dr. David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point, an international ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. He is the author of more than fifty books, including The Book of Signs, The Great Disappearance, Where Do We Go from Here? and The Coming Golden Age.

Dr. Jeremiah serves as the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He and his wife, Donna, have four children and twelve grandchildren.

Connect with Dr. Jeremiah by visiting davidjeremiah.org to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a signed copy of Vanished, an NIV Jeremiah Study Bible, and a Dr. David Jeremiah Daily Devotional “Living in His Light!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 18, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 25, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: THE BITTER END BIRDING SOCIETY by Amanda Cox

About the Book

Hometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt prepare for retirement. A town called Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she’s desperate for respite from the attention and unwarranted admiration of her community. While on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird-watchers takes her under their wing—a little against her will. However, she quickly warms to these genuine souls seeking solace in the great outdoors.

But when Ana’s adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree—one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son—what began as a getaway to help her great-aunt becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780800746612 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:08/19/2025 Pages:336

My Thoughts

This story was completely engrossing, with a plot that presented an extremely powerful story of estranged family members and individuals with pasts that needed to be overcome before they could move forward to a more promising future. Ana is a kindergarten teacher who had a terrible encounter with evil that has kept her from thinking that she can ever again be an effective teacher. Ana takes the opportunity to escape her current reality to go to a small town where her Aunt Cora lives. Cora has asked Ana to come help her pack up and get ready to move into a new home, and Ana is happy to be able to help someone as well as to hopefully escape her memories of the past. Once in Bitter End, Ana meets up with a rag-tag bunch of people who form the local birding society under the leadership of her Aunt Marilyn. The relationships between the people in this group form the foundation of the story as they explore not only the woods and record the birds that they see, but they also explore their own feelings of inadequacy and support each other in being willing to step out into an unknown future. I think that this book was a delight to read and I got invested in the lives of each character, my favorite one being Sam, the shepherd who is like a lost sheep himself. I loved the multi-generational element of the story, with its dual timeline and backstory about characters who aren’t present physically but who affect the current stories of the characters in imaginative ways. The rich, descriptive details of the setting and the birds that the group discover gave the story a high sense of believability as well as forming a wonderful setting for the intricate plot threads that were so well woven together. Infused with spiritual truth and enriched with authentic details, the entire book was a pleasure to read and I was sad to see it end although the conclusion was more than satisfactory. It was a heart-warming and thought-provoking story that everyone who is questioning a past choice or decision needs to read.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I also purchased my own copy since I collect the books by this author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Contemporary Fiction, Rated PG

Purchase Links

bit.ly/4kVJJtq (Baker Book House)

bit.ly/45Z9gNu (Christian Book)

bit.ly/3FKtEHF (Barnes and Noble)

amzn.to/40PTocT (AMZ)

bit.ly/3JjFZDM (Target)

https://adbl.co/47iQRMd (Audible)

With appreciation to Revell Fiction and Baker Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful book!

Review of Final Approach by Lynette Eason

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780800741228 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:08/05/2025 Series:Lake City Heroes , #4 Pages:320

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is not on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity. 

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there’s more to this story than meets the eye—and more to love and admire about each other. They’ll have to put their skills to the test—and their hearts on the line—to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails.

My Thoughts

I always enjoy a new book by Lynette Eason and this one certainly did not disappoint! Air Marshall Kristine is supposed to be on vacation with her friends from Lake City when the plane is abruptly hijacked. She uses her professional skills to try to defuse the situation, is somewhat successful, but ends up not going on vacation as her FBI friends on board have to investigate the hijacking. Nothing is as it seems in this thrilling why-do-it from this master of the genre. We know who did it, but the motive is elusive and the clues just pile up. Kristine and her friend FBI Agent Andrew seem to be chasing shadows as a clue appears and then points in another direction. The story is compelling as they try to solve the mystery and as Andrew and Kristine both find themselves endangered, but they don’t know from whom. Following the clues was highly entertaining, especially with all of the red herrings that led me on a merry chase down several dead ends. With danger getting closer and the friends unable to find a motive, Kristine uses her powerful deductive reasoning abilities as well as events from her past to take us on a roller coaster ride to the truth, a truth that was surprising but not totally unexpected. I really enjoyed the fast-paced plot with non-stop action and the appearances of all of the Lake City heroes from previous books in the series. This book can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but I would highly recommend reading the entire series so that the backstory for each character can help you understand the intricate connections between each of them.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction with Intense Suspense, Rated PG

About the Author

Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award-winning author of over sixty books. Her books have appeared on the USA TODAY, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and Parable bestseller lists. She has won numerous awares including the Carol, the Selah, the Golden Scroll and more. Her novel, Her Stolen Past was made into a movie for the Lifetime Movie Network. Lynette can be found online at www.lynetteeason.com and www.facebook.com/lynette.eason and @lynetteeason on Twitter.

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Baker Book House

Christian Book

Target

Books-a-Million

Audible

Apple Books

Just Read Publicity Tours: A Family on His Doorstep by Alena Augusta

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Family on His Doorstep by Alena Auguste, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Family On His Doorstep
Author: Alena Auguste
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Sometimes a tough situation

Requires a leap of faith…

Unwed, unemployed and pregnant, Rebecca Young is in desperate need of a job. But finding work seems impossible. So when her late ex-boyfriend’s cousin Walker Greystone offers her room and board, and help getting a part-time job at the library he’s renovating in Eden, Texas, she eagerly accepts. But as they work together on a project that could change both of their lives, their feelings for one another deepen. Can Rebecca and Walker overcome their scars from the past and embrace the possibility of a happily-ever-after together?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

My Thoughts

Written with a lot of heart and a foundation of faith, this story was absolutely a well-written and delightful romance. Rebecca arrives to the small town of Eden, pregnant and hopeful that she will find the job she needs to take care of herself and her unborn baby. There she is blessed to be taken in by Bell Greystone and her adopted sons. Accepted into their family unit, Rebecca finds a perfect job for her and perhaps even someone she can trust and love in Walker Greystone, a contractor with a lot of heart and plenty of plans to take care of the family business. With a blemished past, Walker has to learn to accept himself and the fact that God created him and loves him while Rebecca has to accept the fact that being rejected repeatedly does not mean that she is unlovable. This story has appealing and believable characters and a charming story with a warmhearted romance that was easy to cheer for. This debut from the author is a slam dunk for me with its emotional depth and refreshing look at what family really means.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

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About the Author

Alena Auguste lives in Texas and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Married to her very own knight for thirty plus years, she and her husband have four amazing grown children and two of the handsomest grandsons ever! When she’s not creating trouble for her characters or working at the family business, you can find her cozying up with a steaming cup of tea and a good book. She would love to hear from you at alenaauguste.com.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 28, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 4, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: TRUSTING THE AMISH FARMER by Laurel Blount

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781335621023 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:07/29/2025 Series:Hickory Springs Amish , #2 Pages:208

After tragedy leaves her widowed, Anna Speicher is determined she and her young son will be done with farming forever. And the Amish community’s matchmaker knows the perfect bachelor to buy her farm. But strong and gentle Jeremiah Weaver is certain that he and Anna can help each other out—if they can work together. When he offers instead to make repairs in exchange for renting the farm for a year, Anna never imagined that he would bring fresh joy into her life. But is she ready to open her heart to another farmer?

My Thoughts

Amish widow Anna Speicher vows to never have anything to do with farming again after her husband Henry was killed while working on the farm. Instead, she decides to rent out her farm to Jeremiah Weaver, an enterprising man who is one of the most kind-hearted souls anyone could ever hope to meet. Anna wants to make a new life for herself and her young son, but farming and a second marriage are not part of her dream. Rather, she wants to open s store and sell Amish goods. Jeremiah is an extremely hard worker who is observant and tries to help Anna fulfill her dream. The spark of romance between the two is not surprising, but is is certainly entertaining as it meanders all over the place before the two realize what is happening to them. With a cute pup names Sunny and a darling little boy who is charming and obedient, this book captured my heart and my imagination. The plot is just the right pace for a budding romance, and I was captivated by the characters and the drama of their lives that led them towards each other. This is a delightful and warmhearted romance with appealing characters and a skillfully woven plot that pulled me right in from the beginning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Book Funnel. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Rated G, Christian Fiction

About the Author

Laurel Blount writes captivating romances full of grit and grace–with characters who’ll walk right off the page and into your heart. She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals.

A chronic multi-tasker, Laurel writes Amish romance for Berkley/Penguin Random House and contemporary Christian romance for Love Inspired. She’s the recipient of the ACFW Carol Award, the New England Reader’s Choice Award and GRW’s Maggie Award for Excellence. She’s represented by the ever-awesome Jessica Alvarez of BookEnds Literary Agency.

Whenever she’s not writing, you can find Laurel on her front porch—with a cup of tea at her elbow, a cat in her lap and a good book in her hand!

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Google Play

Walmart

Target

Christian Book

Harlequin

Review: Perilous Tides by Elizabeth Goddard

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780800746155 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:07/15/2025 Series:Hidden Bay , #2 Pages:352

Three years after her mother’s suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder—and becomes a target. 

More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect her—none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother’s death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together. 

As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide before the truth can be revealed. 

My Thoughts

Forensic artist Jo Catrell has been in hiding since her mother’s sudden death. Now her biological father whom she calls “Pops” has warned her that she needs to disappear again, leaving Hidden Bay behind and finding a new place to hide. In her quest to find her dad and talk to him about her situation and why she is in danger, she immerses herself into even more danger when she witnesses a murder. Targeted and running from an unknown assailant, Jo is surprised that the man who teams up with her is her former boyfriend, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. When Cole disappeared from her life before, she never expected to see him again, but there he is, just in the nick of time and rescuing her from certain death. The danger is real, the secrets are buried deep, and together Jo and Cole set out to discover who wants her dead and why. The plot is complex, a web of lies and deceit that carried me along on the waves of total entertainment as I got wrapped up in riding that wave to the truth. I enjoyed the interactions between Cole and Jo as they discover a second chance at love, if she can just survive. The plot held me completely captivated as one layer after another about the past that killed Jo’s mom is exposed, with some surprising and tantalizing twists. This book kept me engaged in the story, cheering for the characters and really wanting to know who the villains were and what in the world they could want with a forensic artist who was totally ignorant of her past roots and the troubles that her parents unknowingly led to her safe place in Hidden Bay. The scene is perfect for the encroaching threats, with a wild and stormy sea along with a threatening storm all around Jo. The tone was one of intense danger and the need to know before her ignorance gets her killed. I especially enjoyed the characters from Storm Warning appearing in this book to offer assistance to Jo and Cole. It was good to read more about Remi and Hawk and the progression of their relationship. This book is compelling suspense, taut and unpredictable, but also enticing as the clues were laid out methodically by the hand of a master storyteller. With crisp writing, escalating tension and high drama, this book hooked me with the believable characters and the creeping dread that seemed to follow Jo everywhere. Perilous Tides can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the series in order and really enjoying the rich, descriptive details of Hidden Bay.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction with Intense Suspense, Rated PG

About the Author

Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and two-time Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website at https://elizabethgoddard.com/

Purchase Links

bit.ly/3HUt5M2 (Baker Book House)

bit.ly/40NSayD (Christian Book)

bit.ly/4nHA0Z8 (Amazon)

bit.ly/44mPdr7 (Barnes and Noble)

bit.ly/4eHPZm8 (Target)

bit.ly/4li9Fzl (Books-a-Million)

bit.ly/4kGkTNe (Audible)

Review: The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781956098464 Publisher:Hearth Spot Press Publication date: 07/15/2025 Pages:166

Wisconsin, 1930-When Manitowish Waters librarian Olivia “Ollie” Larson finds a package on the library steps, she expects the children’s books she ordered, not a taxidermied partridge. By the fourth gift from her unknown and unwelcome True Love, disappearing to her grandfather’s isolated cabin in the Northwoods is the only way she can escape him.

Deputy Titus Wilburn is happy to escort the lovely librarian to her grandfather’s house on his way to the neighboring Yarwood cabin. After all, he’s been smitten with her since they attended school together, and she needs his protection. However, the plan fails when Ollie’s uninvited suitor discovers her new location.

As the man’s actions become more desperate and his gifts more dangerous, an unexpectedly bedridden Titus decides to free Ollie from this menace, which puts the enemy’s sights directly on him. Ollie refuses to let her injured hero sacrifice himself, but with the days ticking closer to Christmas, she may have no choice but to accept whatever fate her suitor has in store for her if she wants to save Titus’ life.

My Thoughts

This book is a quick read that combines romance, danger, faith, and a mystery all in one super package of delight. Ollie is a quiet and reclusive librarian, preferring the companionship of books rather than the discomfort of being around a lot of people. When she finds a package outside the library, her reaction to the contents is to scream, bringing Deputy Titus Wilburn running to her side. This begins the gifts from the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” unwanted gifts from an unknown sender who claims to love Ollie and is determined to claim her for his wife. Titus, who has had a crush on Ollie since elementary school, is equally determined to keep her safe no matter the cost. The story focuses on the developing relationship of trust and mutual respect between these two while they deal with the danger that is stalking Ollie. I really enjoyed the romance, the characters that stepped into my heart and the history that Ollie provides about the Twelve Days poem. This story is one that is perfect for Christmas in July or anytime anyone wants to read a tale with an uplifting message of courage, sacrifice and family devotion. I loved every minute I spent with this story, especially getting to know how a shy young woman can blossom in the right hands and for the right reasons.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, Rated G

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of the 1930s to tell the tale of finding home and hope in hard times. With a master’s in communication and culture and a passion for intercultural communication, storytelling has been her heartbeat for as long as she can remember. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline. For more information: https://daniellegrandinetti.com/

Purchase Links

Barnes and Noble

Author’s website

Amazon