Review of THE CHRISTMAS RING by Karen Kingsbury

On October 19, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781400354764

Publication date:10/21/2025

Pages:208

While searching for her family’s long-lost heirloom ring, military widow Vanessa Mayfield meets handsome antique dealer Ben Miller. The two are drawn to each other and forge a friendship that soon becomes a deep and breathtaking romance. But neither are sure that what they’ve found can last.

As Vanessa organizes her annual Columbus Cares Christmas Military Dance, she looks forward to her daughter’s return from college. But Vanessa hasn’t told Sadie about Ben. After all, Vanessa hadn’t anticipated finding love again after losing her husband. And now she wrestles with feelings that are becoming hard to ignore.

Just as Ben is about to declare his love for Vanessa, he learns more about her missing Christmas ring: her great grandfather found it in France on D-Day, and engraved on the band is a single meaningful word. The details confirm a terrible truth, one that Ben cannot ignore.

Certain he now knows where Vanessa’s ring is, Ben leaves town in a frantic rush. But can he stop a certain sale, or will Vanessa’s ring be lost forever? Days before Christmas, when all seems hopeless, Ben and Vanessa learn an important eternal truth: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Synopsis from Barnes and Noble)

My Thoughts

This book is a mixture of genres and all pure and wholesome entertainment! It mixes historical fiction with romance and a little mystery, too. The historical part is how Vanessa’s great-grandfather found the special ring during the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. The heirloom ring is a special treasure for Vanessa and she is devastated when she accidentally loses it on a Colorado ski trip with her daughter. Having already suffered the loss of her beloved husband, Vanessa sets out on a quest to find her ring again by visiting various antique stores and spreading the word about what it looks like. When her daughter Sadie goes to college, Vanessa is at a loss about how to continue courageously with her life, without her husband or her daughter. I loved how she threw herself into serving other military families and used her organizational talents to raise money for them. The way she meets the antique dealer named Ben was while she was looking for her ring. Their romance develops slowly because both have suffered a loss and neither is really ready for more than friendship. The dynamics between Vanessa and Sadie was perfect, a wonderful combination of respect and realization that independence is a part of life. The story is the perfect pace for the story being told, with poignant scenes between Sadie and Vanessa and between Vanessa and Ben as well as Ben and his dad Howard. There are several sub-plots that are beautifully woven together by a master storyteller into a memorable and lovely story with a theme of moving forward towards a promising future.
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 my own.

About the Author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Karen recently opened her own film company called Karen Kingsbury Productions. The company’s first theatrical movie, Someone Like You, is considered one of the most anticipated movies of the year. For more information visit SomeoneLikeYou.movie. Also, the first three seasons of Karen’s Baxter Family books are now an original series called The Baxters on Prime Video. Karen and her husband, Donald, live in Tennessee near their children and grandchildren. Website: karenkingsbury.com

Social Media

Purchase Links

Karen Kingsbury Bookstore

The movie version of the book, produced by Karen Kingsbury’s production company, releases on November 6th. Follow this link to see the trailer and to get your tickets!

Movie Trailer and Tickets

Review: The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

On October 9, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review4 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781400348695

Publisher:Nelson, Thomas, Inc.

Publication date:10/07/2025

Pages:368

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she’s helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Grandville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago.

Grandville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn’t skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he’d fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he’s back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend’s will. Facing the town’s animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram’s beyond-the-grave scheme is working—Shelby’s old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces—one that threatens Gram’s beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?

My Thoughts

What a wonderful feel-good story with the trope of second chance at romance/enemies to lovers being the center of an engaging and entertaining read! Shelby inherits her grandmother’s bookstore, but what surprises her is that she is expected to share it with her old flame from high school, Gray Briggs. The story is somewhat predictable, but the plot twists that the author included are delightful, romantic and at times humorous as Gray and Shelby work together to make Gram’s bookstore financially solvent. I loved the relatable characters and the sparkling, just under the surface love story that began to bloom as the two are forced to work together. I thought that the characters were realistic and enjoyed getting to know them. Mostly, I was really absorbed in their story and how the author was going to work everything out since they were both so different, with different lives and goals after years of separation. This is a light-hearted story that begins somberly with the death of Shelby’s grandmother and then flows quickly and smoothly into the current predicament of Shelby and Gray and how they both need each other but don’t know it yet. What a heart-warming and wholesomely beautiful story that the author has shared for the enjoyment of her readers! This book offers the themes of hope, forgiveness and moving forward instead of looking back.
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.

About the Author

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on The 700 Club and been featured in Woman’s Day and Southern Living.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are currently enjoying an empty nest.

You can learn more about Denise by visiting her FaceBook page.

Purchase Links

Review: DOUBLE PROTECTION DUTY by Sharon Dunn

On October 1, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review1 Comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781335957276

Publisher:Harlequin

Publication date:09/30/2025

Series:Dakota K-9 Unit , #7

Pages:208

A family trip to the Wind Caves National Park quickly turns into a nightmare when K-9 officer Kenyon Graves discovers one of his twin boys has been abducted. Now Kenyon needs the help of his team and his longtime friend Raina McCord to save his toddler son. But the kidnappers are elusive—and intent on killing anyone who stands in the way of their sinister scheme. With threats closing in, time is of the essence to catch these criminals…before Kenyon and Raina pay the ultimate price.

My Thoughts

Kenyon is a widowed single father of twin boys and Raina is one of his best friends. She was also the caregiver for the twins when Kenyon was injured during an undercover operation. Kenyon has a sweet canine named Peanut who constantly supports and protects Kenyon. A fun trip to the Wind Caves National Park quickly turns harrowing when one of the twins is kidnapped. Kenyon has to depend on Raina and his team to find Beacon and to safeguard both boys from another possible attempt since they have not yet discovered a motive behind the bizarre event. The twists in the story keep coming even after the suspects are revealed because the motive is elusive and the red herrings are plentiful. When Raina is also targeted, Kenyon is forced to confront his feelings for her and either declare that he loves her or release her to find her own way in life. There is a secondary story that is also filled with non-stop action because Kenyon and his team are tracking down a group of gun runners who seem to be operating in their little corner of the world. These bad guys are intelligent and clever enough to constantly avoid capture and to also endanger Kenyon and his team. This is a fast-moving and brilliantly written story that is a page turner with captivating characters and a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to the next book in the series already.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Sharon Dunn started writing when she was pregnant with her oldest child. He is now 33 years old. She has written cozy and humorous mysteries along with over thirty romantic suspense novels. Her books have won awards and frequently appear on the USA and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. She is a widow who lives next to a park with her cat Sparky. She has three adult children. When she isn’t writing, she loves going for walks, doing puzzles, reading and meeting up with friends. Website: Sharon Dunn

Purchase Links

Review of GIRL LOST by Kate Angelo

On September 27, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780800746636

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication date:09/23/2025

Series:The King Legacy , #1

Pages:336

A LOST BABY
Luna Rosati found acceptance and comfort with her childhood foster family, but when she became pregnant at sixteen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has—the teenage daughter she’s never met. As Luna closes in on learning the girl’s identity with the help of her mentor, Stryker, she prepares to meet him in her old neighborhood—the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.   

AN INESCAPABLE PAST
Special Agent Corbin King changed his last name to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together to expose a secret that someone’s willing to kill for.

A DEADLY THREAT
But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake.

My Thoughts

This is a haunting story of a group of young adults who share a mentor and a common past and who are trying to find out what happened to Stryker when he is suddenly kidnapped from a local street. The pasts of each of them is connected to Stryker and his MMA gym where he takes troubled and discarded youth and trains them to be independent and law-abiding. Luna has returned to town to find out information about the daughter that she gave up for adoption, but before she can contact Stryker, he is taken. Luna then joins forces with Corbin, a member of the Federal Law Enforcement agency who is looking for a missing teen for his boss. The story is complex, with a lot of surprises and unexpected twists that were head-spinning at times. There are multiple layers to the story, too, including relationships that failed and promises that were broken. The most important parts of the story are in the secrets that are revealed as the story progresses. In searching for Stryker, Luna, Corbin and other former students of the gym find an evil that they were not prepared for and some really strange uses of medical technology. This story was fascinating, realistic and well researched. I was quickly drawn into the plot and the intersecting lives of the characters. I felt so much sympathy for Luna and her desperation to find out information about her daughter. The fast-paced plot was compelling and made the book hard to put down. The book was cleverly written, edgy and a satisfying page-turner. I certainly hope to read more about the King family in the future and look forward to more intense intrigue and a tightly written plot with gritty and believable drama.
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.

Rated PG-16, Trigger Warnings: Human Trafficking and Violence

About the Author

Kate Angelo is an award-winning, bestselling Romantic Suspense author, minister, and public speaker from Southwest Missouri who serves alongside her husband championing stronger marriages and families through their nonprofit.

Her career began in IT as a web developer, programmer, and usability expert, but she left the corporate world to pursue full-time ministry work. Following her passion for story, Kate began writing fiction in 2019. Her 2022 debut novel, Driving Force, is an Amazon Top 100 bestseller written in the storyworld of Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians series and published by Sunrise Publishing. In 2022, Harlequin selected Kate in the Great Love Inspired Author Search for her novel, Hunting the Witness, a 2023 Publishers Weekly Bestseller. In 2024, Kate received a Selah Award for her novella, Deadly Holiday Hijack.

As Mom to 5 adult children, she’s fluent in both sarcasm and eye rolls. Kate is a coffee aficionado, tech enthusiast, productivity guru, prayer warrior, dog lover, and known klutz—just ask her doctor. Having aged out of foster care, Kate brings a unique perspective to her writing, breathing life into flawed characters who find hope and healing amidst danger. Subscribe to her newsletter learn about her and that pet lion thing at kateangelo.com.

Purchase Links

Review of HOLLY AND NICK HATE CHRISTMAS by Betsy St. Amant

On September 16, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About This Book

ISBN-13:9780593602560

Publisher:PRH Christian Publishing

Publication date:09/16/2025

Pages:352

Holly Sinclair has hated Christmas for as long as she can remember. Who names their Christmas baby Holly in the first place? She was teased mercilessly growing up. Holly Berry, Holli-days, Holly Jolly . . . not to mention the fact that her birthday is often totally overlooked amidst the season.

To make matters worse, instead of getting the promotion she was expecting, Holly’s been downsized—which is just fancy holiday talk for fired. Now Holly has to go home single, unemployed, turning thirty, and only a tinsel strand of faith. Bah, humbug.

Holly’s big brother, Ryan, has dragged his best friend, known holiday-hater Nick Kinsley, home with him. But when Holly discovers that Nick’s here to be her pity date, she decides the best revenge is to play along . . . and Christmas like she’s never Christmas’d before. Commence Operation: Naughty List. The fact that she’s attracted to Nick is totally not the point. She’ll teach him a lesson, one ho ho ho at a time.

The holiday grows more complicated when Holly and Ryan find out their parents asked all the siblings to come home for Christmas this year, but refuse to say why. The rest of the Sinclair siblings descend, each with their own sleigh full of secrets. Rumors spread as everyone tries to guess the reason for their parents’ demand—and Nick turns out to have a secret of his own. Will this be a Christmas to forget? Or will Holly and Nick discover there is so much more? (Synopsis from Barnes and Noble)

My Thoughts

Run, don’t walk to get this hilarious romp with the Sinclair family as they celebrate Christmas, or at least try to. Holly Sinclair is a Christmas baby but not a fan of the holiday, especially since it always overshadowed her Christmas birthday. Her brother Ryan has a friend named Nick who is not a fan of Christmas either. Ryan invites Nick to spend Christmas with his family and act as kind of a pseudo-boyfriend for Holly. Once they get together at the farm, the merry antics begin and the non-stop laughs, too. Holly and Nick concoct plans that they call “operations” to fool the rest of the family members. First, Holly pretends to adore the holiday, then she enlists Nick to help her pretend they are really falling in love with each other. Each plan is more outrageous than the previous one and even more entertaining. I loved the way the characters had me cheering for their outlandish plans to work and for everyone to be fooled. I thoroughly enjoyed the brilliant dialogue between Holly and Nick as their warm-hearted and flirty romance was not just entertaining but also an engaging story that made me laugh aloud at their antics. I especially enjoyed the ugly Christmas sweaters they created together and the Frosty hijinks. This book was pure fun from beginning to end, with multiple layers of drama within the family and everyone having a secret that is eventually and humorously revealed. The characters are appealing and relatable, the plot was skillfully woven with charm and a refreshingly light tone to all of the shenanigans going on. I enjoyed meeting the Sinclair family and at the end of the book, I was sad to see the last page turn. This feel-good story is cleverly written and is perfect to read at any time, not to mention a great gift for the Christmas grinch in your life.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, Rated G and note that I would give more than five stars if I could. This book is hilarious!

About the Author

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an impressive stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored to truth. When she’s not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can be found somewhere in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She writes frequently for www.ibelieve.com, a devotional site for women. Author’s website for more information about her books: https://betsystamant.com

Purchase Links

With much gratitude to Penguin Random House and the author for providing the ARC for me to read and review. I cannot adequately express how this book lifted my sagging spirits and provided pure and wonderful laugh-aloud moments. So, thank you!

Review: The Recluse’s Vindication by Danielle Grandinetti

On September 15, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review1 Comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781956098549

Publisher:Hearth Spot Press

Publication date:09/12/2025

Pages:254

Synopsis from Amazon:

Bieldfell. Scotland, 1933—Falsely accused of murder sixteen years ago, American cowboy Benjamin Ford has chosen to hide out in the Scottish Highlands. Reclusive and not afraid to die, he rescues children out of an increasingly dangerous Germany. When his childhood best friend appears at his door, he’s not the boy she remembers.

Eleanor Finch’s life ended sixteen years ago. In one horrible day, she lost her dreams, her reputation, and her heart. However, she never gives up the hope of finding her friend, so when she learns of Ben’s whereabouts, she leaves all that is familiar to convince him to return home.

But Eleanor isn’t the only person searching for Ben. Hunters follow her trail. The thin veil of gossip and rumor may be their only chance of a future … unless the Loch Ness Monster is real after all.

My Thoughts

Eleanor Finch has had a difficult life, and the only bright spot in it was her best friend Ben Ford, the man who defended her and then disappeared from her life. When the story begins, Eleanor is on a quest to find Ben and to have a chance to reestablish their friendship. Traveling with an elderly man named Hiram who had also known Ben, Eleanor is surprised by what she finds when she gets to Scotland. This book of historical fiction is combined with romantic suspense and all woven together seamlessly into the tapestry of an engaging and compelling story. With a theme of sacrifice and forgiveness, this story is one that held me enthralled with the past insults suffered by Eleanor and the way that Ben has created a new life for himself, rescuing others. The characters are relatable and realistic and the plot rolls along at a fast pace. I enjoyed the entire story, especially the surprise at the end.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

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. (Biography from Amazon). For more information about the author and her books, please visit the author’s website: https://daniellegrandinetti.com/

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Author’s Website

Review: Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson

On September 4, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:9780800744731 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:09/02/2025 Pages:176

Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, she would rather avoid the holiday season. And working in the design industry where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn’t helped!   

So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas—by herself—bah humbug! But bad weather and God’s radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt’s farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas—one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.

My Thoughts

This novella offers a sweet Christmas story with family drama and a developing romance. Carol is planning a Christmas vacation from Washington state to the Bahamas but gets stranded in Michigan when a big winter storm grounds her plane there. Fortunately, she has an aunt she doesn’t know well living close enough to get to, so she ends up at her Aunt Maria’s house to wait out the storm. She makes a new friend named Victor, once a restauranteur but now just caring for his elderly parents. He is a good cook and an all-around kind man who chauffeurs Carol wherever she wants to go, so they get to know each other. I really enjoyed how the story was woven around Carol’s disdain for Christmas and the way she gradually comes to accept the holiday and then actually enjoy it. I liked most of the townspeople and thought that all of the characters were well-developed, even the secondary ones. There is one character who was perfect for her part, but she wasn’t particularly likable and that was purposeful. The pace was moderate, a perfect way for a developing romance to be showcased as I got to know each character’s strengths and backstories. There were multiple themes to the story, all based on faith and including self-discovery, forgiveness and kindness to strangers and estranged family members. This is a perfect story for the Christmas season as it embodies giving, sacrifice and love in one beautifully written story.
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.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest.

To purchase your copy:

Review: DETECTING CONCEALED EVIDENCE by Dana Mentink

On August 26, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review1 Comment

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

Review: THE BITTER END BIRDING SOCIETY by Amanda Cox

On August 19, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review3 Comments

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

On August 8, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review8 Comments

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.