Monday, June 9, 2025

Arranged with the Earl by Jackie Killelea (Saving the Spinsters Book 2)

Book: Arranged with the Earl

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 13, 2025

A spinster with a tarnished reputation. An earl scarred from war. Can their convenient marriage withstand those aiming to steal everything they have?

Catherine Blynn resigned herself to a life without romantic love after a disastrous broken engagement. Although she’s always hoped to marry for affection, her father arranges for her to wed Loftus Cromwell, the broken Earl of Hardwicke. If she defies her parents, she risks her family’s ruin.

Loftus Cromwell had no intention to marry for love, only for the sake of his estate. But If he fails to win the love of his spirited and unconventional betrothed, he risks his conniving brother claiming everything he holds dear.

As treachery unfolds within the manor’s walls and a foe from Catherine’s past resurfaces, can Loftus and Catherine trust one another enough to unravel the truth before tragedy steals any chance of happiness?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

This is a beautifully written, clean love story. I found it to be bold and gentle, open and engaging. I don’t recall reading this author before. While this book is part of a series, it stood alone beautifully.

Loftus and Catherine have both known suffering. Is it finally time for their happiness? It’s such a thing even possible with an arranged marriage? Can pain from the past be overcome? Loftus has physical and internal scars, while all of Catherine’s wounds are internal. Will this arranged marriage work as a marriage, or will they just be two broken people, alone, under one roof?

This book was rich in detail, and Loftus’s love and study of plants were extremely fascinating to me. His scars made his character deeper to me. I’m familiar with many plants, and so I couldn’t fail to mention that the author's ability to work them into the story and teach so much about them was fantastic. It added so much more depth to this very wonderful romance story. So many verses and faith elements are intermingled, naturally, all through the tale that I could not be disappointed and could reread this book.

5 Big Romantic Stars

About the Author

Jackie Killeleais a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

More from Jackie

In Arranged with the Earl, Loftus’ study of plants and flora is his foremost pastime, aside from his duties managing his estate and those that come along with being an earl. In his conservatory, there are a variety of different species of plants that he cares for but, would he actually have had these plants in his conservatory and would they have been able to feasibly grow there if he did?

Well, according to my research and a bit of wishful thinking…yes.

The thing is, Loftus has a few native plants in his conservatory and those certainly would have been able to grow there, given that they’ve pretty much just been brought inside from other counties in England. Loftus knows his home country and the landscape as well as how to care for those plants, already. The trickier plants to think upon are the exotics.

For instance, when showing Catherine the conservatory for the first time, he mentions Black Hellebore(Helleborus niger). How would he have come to own this? This plant is native to the mountains and woodlands of southern and central Europe, so we must assume that Loftus would’ve had it imported, or grown from seed. Still, would a woodland plant grow well enough to produce flowers in a conservatory setting?

Well, fortunately for Loftus, Black Hellebore actually grows fairly well in containers and does well in partial shade, so where he placed it in the conservatory was a prime location and it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to think that it produces blooms there.

With each plant I chose to be in the conservatory, I had to research if Loftus would reasonably have access to it and if it would grow under conservatory conditions–as well as during the season in which the book takes place. Of course you, as readers, will still need to use your imagination at some points. I’m sure Loftus would agree that ideas, like plants, need lots of water and space to grow.

I do so hope you enjoy Catherine and Loftus’ story in Arranged with the Earl!

Sincerely,

Jackie

Blog Stops

For Him and My Family, May 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28

She Lives To Read, May 29

Holly’s Book Corner, May 29

Betti Mace, May 30

Devoted Steps, May 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Romances of the Cross, June 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 2

Pens Pages & Pulses, June 3

The Important Things in Life: God, books, & chocolate, June 3

Devoted To Hope, June 4

Stories By Gina, June 5 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 6

Cover Lover Book Review, June 7

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 7

Book Looks by Lisa, June 8

Pause for Tales, June 8

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Blogging With Carol, June 9

Simple Harvest Reads, June 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jackie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54230

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Warsafe by Lauren Smyth

About the Book

Book: Warsafe

Author: Lauren Smyth

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Release date: May 6, 2025

Play. Win. Survive.

There’s one building on her island that Halley has never visited: the Mercenary House. Perched atop a mountain, surrounded by unnaturally evergreen foliage, the House is rumored to be a breeding ground for criminals. Mercenaries are liars, cheats, spies . . . and maybe, depending on who you ask, killers.

At the Warsafe headquarters in Seattle, Roscoe is beta testing the company’s new video game. It’s her job to track down glitches—but something is different about this one. Lurking behind the lines of malfunctioning code is a secret that threatens to drag her deeper into the game, forcing her to put her life on the line if she ever wants to come home.

Worlds collide as Roscoe teams up with Halley to uncover the island’s secret and expose Warsafe’s designs. But some mysteries are better left unsolved. As traitor after so-called traitor is revealed to be on their side, they begin to wonder: Could Warsafe’s mission be critical enough to justify its cruelty?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

What a fascinating debut novel. I loved this premise. In a dystopian world, video games are alive and well. Halley finds herself in the middle of a lot more than anyone expected. I loved the action and suspense, and the video game background that went into this story was superb. This book goes deep, like The Matrix. Because of the game, people are put together in this book that might not be in daily life. That's a reality for me, because I have friends I've met from games. It just added even more to the layers coded into the script of this story. This book has a lot of POV's, which I tend to love. There are so many, many topics as well as action, suspense, faith, loss, love, the list could go on and on! I found it to be a multi-layered plot, with a bit of a Sci-Fi feel, but more so, a book that's relevant to YA and adults as well.

5 Stars

About the Author

Lauren Smyth is an economics and journalism student at Hillsdale College. Since signing her first publishing contract at age 13, she has written three young adult action/adventure novels, coded two story-based video games, and started a blog enjoyed by readers and writers around the world. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her flying right seat in a Piper PA-30 aircraft, recording episodes of her Grammar Minute writing podcast, or heading upriver on her paddleboard.

More from Lauren

The Mercenary House, where much of Warsafe takes place, quite literally appeared to me in a dream.

By age 12, I’d already watched way too many action-adventure movies. (Did anyone else grow up on Tom Clancy—The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games?) Most nights, I was hyped on fictional adrenaline, and I was able to lucid dream. So I got to star in highly imaginative and unrealistic versions of my favorite spy stories when I fell asleep.

That night, I found myself trapped in the basement of an eight-story house. Guards patrolled the rooms outside, and somehow I knew I had to sneak past them to reach the top floor. I also knew I was dreaming and in no real danger, which made me brave. So I crawled through air ducts, hid in shadowy corners, and darted behind turned backs. And I escaped.

The dream was so logical compared to others I’d had that it stuck in my mind. Why was I trying to get to the roof? Why did I agree to play this “game?” What was the secret behind that dilapidated, shadowy building where I’d been imprisoned?

A few years later, I started coding video games. My first full-length game featured more than 100,000 lines of code and is probably part of the reason why I’m so near-sighted. I loved the results, but not the process. More than coding, I realized I loved storytelling—weaving together sentences and images and movements that became a world on the reader’s screen.

I hadn’t forgotten my dream, but I didn’t have the Python know-how to turn it into a game. And I’d gotten sick of naming variables. (Somewhere in the source code for that first game, there’s an if-then statement oh-so-creatively named “againagainagainagainagainagainagain.” See also the classic: “help.”) What if, instead of crawling back to my code editing software, I wrote a book?

And what if that book wasn’t just about a fictional video game, but was also an exploration of morality, economics, and politics in a parallel world?

I believe that good books don’t answer questions; they make you ask new ones. They draw you into a situation you’ve never experienced and force you to take sides, rooting for or against characters, judging or supporting their choices. If you could stop a catastrophe by sacrificing a few people, would you do it? If you were offered control over someone’s life, would you take it?

That’s the central dilemma of Warsafe. What you choose, who you agree with is up to you. Like a real video game, Warsafe lets you confront the same choices as the characters and work your way out of the puzzle—if you can do it without compromising your morality.

Remember Warsafe’s motto: Safety requires the many to sacrifice the one.

Disagree?

Enter the Warsafe universe and prove it.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 27

Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)

CeCe Reads and Sings, May 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 29

The Lofty Pages, May 30

Guild Master, May 31 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, June 1

Texas Book-aholic, June 2

Fiction Book Lover, June 3 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5

Simple Harvest Reads, June 6 (Guest Review from Mindy)

For the Love of Literature, June 7 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, June 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 9 (Spotlight)

Inklings and Notions, June 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauren is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon card and a signed, hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54229

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Capture the Moment by Suzane Fisher Woods (National Parks Summers Book #1)

About the Book

Book: Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 6, 2025

Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she’s spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It’s the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she’s eager to prove herself in the wild.

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn’t as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain–and the bears–better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes. But they’re not the only ones with an interest in the park’s most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

This book was stunning. I have a background in photography, and this story made me feel like I was there, taking photos with Kate. I can't fathom trying to get close to bears, though I know people whose life goal was to land a feature in National Geographic. Additionally, I'm from the South, so this book hit home very deeply for me. Imagine being suddenly in a landscape that you have never experienced before, trying to do something risky and next to impossible.

Thankfully, there's a fantastic guide and park ranger, Grant, aka Coop. He's everything you wanted for this story, and possibly more. Bear 399 is the Queen of the area, and photographing her would make Kate's career launch beyond being a zoo photographer. Doing it without getting killed, that's another issue. From a cute teen to the bears, and the issues coming at Kate and Coop, this book was amazing. It didn't leave faith out, it didn't disappoint with the plot or the dialogue. I loved the photography and descriptions. It was simply fantastic, and I can't wait to read more.

5 Huge Stars

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

A Spark that Lit a Story

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Capture the Moment (Revell—May 6, 2025)

Inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places—like a gift shop in Grand Teton National Park. While browsing, I struck up a conversation with a college student who had never set foot outside Alabama until her mom dropped her off for a summer job in the park. One minute, she was home in the Deep South; the next, she was surrounded by towering peaks and moose crossings. Talk about a culture shock.

That conversation lit a spark that eventually became my National Parks Summers series. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fascinating mix of people who work seasonally in national parks. You’ve got fresh-faced college kids on their first big adventure, retirees finally living their bucket-list dreams, and everyone in between. These parks aren’t just natural wonders—they’re crossroads for people from all walks of life, all chasing something unique.

In Capture the Moment, I wanted to explore what happens when people and landscapes collide. Kate Cunningham, a determined zoo photographer, swaps enclosures for the wilds of Grand Teton, chasing an elusive bear and her own sense of purpose. Along the way, Kate meets Grant Cooper, a rugged park ranger with a knack for tracking and a talent for keeping her on her toes.

National parks are more than just beautiful backdrops—they’re places where people find themselves, lose themselves, and sometimes stumble into something extraordinary.

Maybe even love.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 22

By the Book, May 23

Carla’s Book Crush, May 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

Devoted To Hope, May 24

Book Looks by Lisa, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 27

The Avid Reader, May 28

Blossoms and Blessings, May 28

Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 28

Stories By Gina, May 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 29

Blogging With Carol, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Karen Baney Reviews, May 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1

Holly’s Book Corner, June 1

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 2

Books Less Travelled, June 2

She Lives To Read, June 3

Pause for Tales, June 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 3

Lily’s Corner, June 4

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54226

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Unexpected Hope by Pam Green (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book 1)

About the Book

Book: Unexpected Hope (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book One)

Author: Pam Green

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: October 15, 2024

When Jack Shelton hightails it out of Lexington, Virginia, for the suburbs of Washington, DC, he just wants out. Now. First on the agenda: put mountains and miles between him and his hometown memories. Second: find a job as a reporter. Fast.

Those two things—no other expectations. If he gets that far, maybe he’ll make room for God in his life again.

Then Jack wanders into the Church on the Parkway, and a case of mistaken identity entangles him in ministry with a team of broken people and a golden retriever puppy.

Can Jack get back on track with his new career plans, or will he find something unexpected as he travels Sully Parkway with Team Hope?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

Jack is the human main character in this story, and he's dealing with a lot. Boy, do I relate! Due to some twists in his life, he's in an area I would hate to be in, but he's making the best of it. Then he winds up as a photographer, something I am and love! Suddenly, he's photographing a dog. Not just any dog, a dog named Hope. She's in a line of work that's well-known to me: a comfort dog. It's like a therapy dog, but for multiple people. You may have seen this on social media, in hospitals, or care homes, where a horse, dog, or another animal helps people experience love and comfort. Throughout my life, I have witnessed God using animals in ways that touch people. Paired with humans and the gospel, this is a life-changing thing. I really enjoyed this book, a lot more than I'd even expected.

5 Stars

PS - I do apologize that this was a day late. We have had some medical issues and a mysteriously missing beloved pet.

About the Author

Pam Green made her writing début in fifth grade when drafted to write the class play, Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! At twelve, she fell in love with the French language. After a satisfying teaching career, she still peeks in the windows of empty schools while traveling and lingers in school supply aisles in August. Her stories show that God is always working in the lives of His children and seeking new members of His family.