Review – Cold Case Arson Investigation

A decades-old crime. A secret ready to explode.

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About the Book

Title: Cold Case Arson Investigation
Series: Forest Ranger Rescuers #4
Author: Kerry Johnson
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Audience: Adult

A decades-old crime.
A secret ready to explode.

Trapped in a burning barn, fire ranger Clay Reiger barely escapes with his ex-girlfriend, fire marshal Autumn Jennings, as the inferno rages out of control. Soon a chilling pattern emerges—fires eerily similar to those set by a serial arsonist who disappeared years ago. As the past resurfaces, the danger becomes impossible to ignore. With their lives under attack and a long-buried secret threatening to reignite old wounds, Clay and Autumn must confront their shared history. Can they unravel a deadly mystery and stop a vengeful criminal before more lives are lost?

AMAZON

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My Review

Rating: 5 Stars

Cold Case Arson Investigation by Kerry Johnson is a Christian romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages.

I’m take or leave on suspense, and this was one I really enjoyed. Johnson has the perfect blend of action and real life in the book. I also did not see that plot twist coming. Watching the cases unfold and seeing how the MCs investigated and eventually solved them was interesting. I can’t imagine the amount of research that must have been put into this book. The technical terms and the in-depth explanations were fascinating.

One of the things I most appreciated about Cold Case Arson Investigation was how much faith it included. I usually find LI books to be on the lighter side, but this one is unquestionably Christian fiction.

Sensitive readers should keep in mind that it is insinuated a child was born out of wedlock. Characters are injured, it is mentioned lives have been lost in fires, and there’s general suspense havoc, danger, and fights.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and JustReads for promotional purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and a positive review was not required.

Giveaway + Review: The Marquess’s Masked Archer

Today, Madi’s Musings is participating in the tour for The Marquess’s Masked Archer by Abbey Downey, which is hosted by Celebrate Lit.

Read on to find, in this order, more about:

• the author
• more from the author
• the book
• the giveaway
• the review
• the tour

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About the Author

Abbey Downey started writing inspirational romance stories during naptime when her kids were babies and found she couldn’t stop. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in central Indiana with her husband, two kids, and one rather enthusiastic beagle. She loves watching her middle schoolers in all their activities and fixing up a 125-yar-old farmhouse with her husband.

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More from Abbey

“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be impressed and entertained by the marvelous skill of Lady Robin, our own famed archer. Reminiscent of Robin Hood of old, she performs feats with a bow that are only dreamed of by most masters. Now, please, sit back and enjoy the show.” – The Marquess’s Masked Archer

Why do fictional characters hide? They might keep their entire identity hidden under a costume, their face covered with a mask, or just parts of who they are kept behind a confident act, but secrets are often an element of the conflict in books we love. And it’s for the same kinds of reasons all of us have tried to hide aspects of ourselves at one time or another. Fear. Shame. Protection. Freedom. Survival.

Characters in fiction reflect the truth of our human existence. Most of us probably aren’t dressing up as a female Robin Hood to perform archery trick shots or writing secret admirer letters to win a love interest, like my characters do in The Marquess’s Masked Archer. But the reasons Sylvie and Miles choose secrecy are all too relatable.

Sylvie’s goal in hiding behind a green hood is to give herself a taste of freedom. Her high society world is prescribed and controlled. There are very few opportunities for her to make choices in life. And while she longs to have more freedom, she also worries that if she were to get the independence she so desires, she would fail miserably and be forced to return to her parents in shame. Isn’t it relatable to want something desperately but at the same time be terrified that we can’t actually handle getting it?

In a different way, Miles hides behind a new life for protection. After false accusations in his youth left him disgraced in England, he wrestles with his purpose. His passion for medical entomology has given him hope for a normal life, but he also feels the constant weight of expectations due to his noble title. He’s certain people only see what they want to when they look at him, so he hides away doing his research, hoping no one will look at all. How truly human is that? We hide so much of ourselves out of worry that people won’t understand or will immediately jump to conclusions about who we are based on one glimpse.

But God didn’t create us for secrecy. The tension of hiding makes it difficult for Sylvie and Miles to fall in love, in spite of their interest in each other from the beginning. Every step forward brings new worry that they’ll be found out and their plans will be destroyed. Each romantic moment comes with the discomfort of knowing they aren’t being completely genuine with each other. Even Sylvie and Miles’s first kiss is shrouded in questions about whether the other knows that they meant it.

In the end, Sylvie and Miles’s story is also about what happens when they’re forced to take off the masks. It takes trust in each other and in God for them to finally get to the moment of happily ever after that we all love so much. Just like in fiction, when we trust God with those secret parts of ourselves, we can start to see how living in truth offers more freedom than hiding.

Do you enjoy a hidden identity or secret admirer trope? What’s your favorite book that includes one of those?

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About the Book

Book: The Marquess’s Masked Archer

Author: Abbey Downey

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 15, 2026

A hidden identity. A relentless marquess. And a summer where love could expose everything.

When Cleveland society parades debutante Sylvie Bryce before another string of unsuitable suitors, she secretly claims the one thing no one can arrange for her—a life of her own. Hidden beneath a green velvet hood and emerald mask, she becomes the mysterious Lady Robin, a daring trick-shot archer who captivates the crowds at Cedar Point resort. It’s the one place where Sylvie answers to no one. The last thing she needs is a charming English marquess threatening to unravel everything she has worked so hard to build.

Miles Wentworth didn’t come to Ohio looking for love. He came to study insects, escape the shadow of a devastating scandal, and prove that a man can build a life on his own terms. But a chance encounter with a boldly independent woman—first in a glittering ballroom, and then behind the mask of a legendary archer—upends every carefully laid plan. Determined to protect her, even from himself, Miles steps into a dangerous game of secrets and deception—one that draws them closer with every anonymous letter and stolen moment…even as the truth has the power to ruin them both.

A richly atmospheric Gilded Age romance brimming with wit, hidden identities, and the tender courage it takes to love without pretense—a tale of a sharp-shooting socialite, a science-minded lord, and the summer of secrets that will change them both forever. Perfect for fans of Jen Turano and Roseanna M. White.

Click here to get your copy!

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The Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Abbey 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.

https://gleam.io/GCnUr/the-marquesss-masked-archer-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Review

The Marquess’s Masked Archer by Abbey Downey is a Christian historical romance featuring two main characters, each with a secret.

A big part of this book revolves around archery, which piqued my curiosity. It was interesting to learn more about how certain tricks are created and how much sheer concentration it can take to successfully pull off a shot. Downey also did well creating a setting that immerses the reader, especially when we are reading the scenes taking place in the resort.

Sensitive readers should keep in mind that a death is mentioned, a character is all but harassed by a peer, and another character’s lies cause some issues.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in conjunction with CelebrateLit for promotional purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and a positive review was not required.

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Tour Schedule

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 26

Texas Book-aholic, September 27

Pause for Tales, September 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 28

Madi’s Musings, September 29

For Him and My Family, September 30

Book looks by lisa, October 1

The Vine and The Branch, October 1

Devoted Steps, October 2

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 2

Lyssa Loves Books, October 3

Devoted To Hope, October 4

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 5

Blossoms and Blessings, October 6

Holly’s Book Corner, October 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 8

Lily’s Corner, October 9

Five Fall Favorites: Favorite Books (So Far)

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the final day of the Five Fall Favorites event, hosted by Katja Labonte. This is an absolutely massive event, so you don’t want to miss all of the goings-on. Visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to find the full list of participating bloggers, and don’t miss the other bloggers in Team Hedgehog, of whom are listed at the end of this post.

There is also a giveaway and a daily opportunity to grab some free books provided by some of the bloggers. Learn more about the giveaway here and visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to learn which books are free today.

Today’s category is books featuring favorite reads of 2026 (so far, because there’s still time to find more). Read on to see my recommendations. Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

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UNDER THE MISTLETOE BY PENNY ZELLER

Review Snippet: Welcome to Cloverdale Falls, home of a 50ft chicken statue, geriatric private investigators, and sweet romance.

Blurb:

**Great American Family Book Club Pick

He’s a nerdy tourist needing a vacation.
She’s a bed and breakfast employee with a broken heart.
Love is the last thing they expect to find this Christmas.

Introvert Braxton Wertz needs a vacation, but his trip to the small town of Cloverdale Falls is anything but restful when he finds himself not only falling for the sweet and bubbly Gracely, but also in the crosshairs of geriatric private investigators…and their numerous shenanigans.

Recovering from a painful breakup, extrovert Gracely Eklund needs a vacation. Where better to spend her Christmas than her aunt and uncle’s charming bed and breakfast? Her time managing the business comes with a few surprises, one of those being the nerdy and lovable Braxton.

He’s from Florida. She’s from the Rocky Mountain West. Can Christmastime, an incomplete photo album, and a quirky town with its equally quirky residents bring two unsuspecting hearts together?

Take a trip to Cloverdale Falls in this hilarious Christian rom-com, the second in the Small Town Shenanigans Series. Under the Mistletoe can be read as a standalone or enjoyed in conjunction with Recipe for Love.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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IN HONOR’S DEFENSE BY KAREN WITEMEYER

Review Snippet: The faith element in this story was beautiful.

Blurb:

He’s Faced Countless Perils on the Battlefield, but Nothing so Dangerous as Falling in Love.

Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life–for respect, for country, and for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he’s left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, tracking down a group of rustlers, he jumps at the chance.

Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she’d have and to give him the family he desperately needs.

When Nate finds himself knee-deep in trouble, Luke’s attempt to protect him leaves Damaris feeling indebted to the Horseman. But suspicions grow regarding the mysterious death of Damaris’s brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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MAIL-ORDER DUCHESS by MISTY M. BELLER

Review Snippet: Sometimes, you can’t escape heartbreak.

Blurb:

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…
A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.

Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.

Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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FALLING FOR THE WINGED WITCH BY SARAH BERAN

Review Snippet: I didn’t know I needed a Jack and the Beanstalk x The Wild Swans mashup – villain style – but apparently I did.

Blurb:

A widowed queen trapped by her past.

A giant who just wants to be left alone.

A fowl curse that could cost them both everything.

Lindy never wanted to get married or have children—especially not seven stepsons old enough to be her brothers and a doddering royal husband. Just when it seems like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the king suddenly dies, and her sinister reputation for casting curses means that all eyes and fingers are pointed at her. Rather than support their new mother, her stepsons seem determined to do everything they can to make her life miserable. When the youngest fills her room with water fowl as a prank, Lindy finally decides to take things into her own hands—and everything goes wrong.

Atlas lives with his head in the clouds, and he likes it that way. His ancestral home is hidden away so high in the mountains that it’s practically inaccessible. But somehow the secret has slipped, and he keeps chasing away unwanted visitors. After the latest break-in ends with his prized goose missing, Atlas is forced to do the one thing never climb down the beanstalk.

Unfortunately, the scoundrel who took his goose is now a swan, and the only way to get him to tell Atlas where she is is to help the witch who cast the curse in the first place. The nettlesome woman won’t give him the time of day, refusing to speak until the sun goes down. When she does, it’s to instruct him in the most ridiculous task he’s ever heard of.

But Atlas really wants to get his goose and go home, and if knitting is the way to achieve that, so be it. If only the task didn’t threaten to knit his heart to hers in the process…

Falling for the Winged Witch is a combined retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wild Swans, featuring tropes such as Unlikely Allies, Found Family, and Opposites Attract.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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DRAGONSPELL by DONITA K. PAUL

Review Snippet: DragonSpell was one of the first fantasy books I ever read.

Blurb:

One Dragon Egg Holds the Key to the Future.

Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.

A Desperate Search Begins…

A small band of Paladin’s servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fenworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect…

Weaving together memorable characters, daring adventure, and a core of eternal truth, Dragonspell is a finely crafted and welcome addition to the corpus of fantasy fiction.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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Team Hedgehog

Myself at Madi’s Musings

Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice

Phoebe @ Black Otter Books

Savannah @ Blue Flower Story Company

Ryana Lynn @ Life of Heritage Corner

Five Fall Favorites: Family

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Day One of the Five Fall Favorites event, hosted by Katja Labonte. This is an absolutely massive event, so you don’t want to miss all of the goings-on. Visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to find the full list of participating bloggers, and don’t miss the other bloggers in Team Hedgehog, of whom are listed at the end of this post.

There is also a giveaway and a daily opportunity to grab some free books provided by some of the bloggers. Learn more about the giveaway here and visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to learn which books are free today.

Today’s category is books featuring family. Read on to see my recommendations. Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

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A TOUCH OF TIARAS AND TREACHERY by ASHLEY EVERCOTT

Review Snippet: I am officially declaring that Nin and Cedric must be protected at all costs.

Blurb:

A teaspoon of borrowed identities
A cup of courtly deception
And a serving of peril hidden in plain sight

For Nin, the dream was never a tiara—only survival. But when a desperate bargain promises her brother’s safety in exchange for taking a princess’s place, she can’t refuse. Thrust into a world of luxury and suspicion, Nin must master courtly etiquette to keep the true princess hidden. One mistake could cost more than her secret, it could cost lives.

Captain Cedric Duval lives by a strict code of order, discipline, and restraint. Training a street-smart pauper to impersonate a princess, however, proves far more difficult than any security drill. As he teaches Nin curtsies and royal customs, he begins to question the wisdom of his plan… and his growing feelings for the girl beneath the disguise.

With a royal wedding drawing near, Nin and Cedric must survive a court where danger lurks in the shadows and every dance could reveal hidden truths. Each step closer to uncovering the plot puts their deception—and their hearts—at risk. If they fail, it won’t be a princess the assassin strikes, it will be the girl wearing her tiara.

A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery, a gender-swapped retelling of The Prince and the Pauper, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as “swapped identities”, “slow-burn”, “princess training”, and “bodyguard romance”. It is a part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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TWO TICKETS TO THE CHRISTMAS BALL by DONITA K PAUL

Review Snippet: Only Paul could pull off a tale of this nature.

Blurb:

Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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MAIL-ORDER DUCHESS by MISTY M. BELLER

Review Snippet: Sometimes, you can’t escape heartbreak.

Blurb:

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…
A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.

Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.

Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

FIND ON AMAZON

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DOCTOR’S SNOWFLAKE BRIDE by LACY WILLIAMS

Review Snippet: “It doesn’t matter where you come from. It matters that you’re His.”

Blurb:

Minnie Bannister’s mail-order bride journey takes an unexpected twist when she encounters a charming stranger instead of her intended husband.

Bound by his doctor’s oath to help those in need, Jed Dawson cannot ignore the plight of the beautiful Minnie stranded during a raging blizzard. Minnie is the missing link that will help him bond with his preteen son, who is still mourning his late mother.

With Christmas just around the corner, Minnie and Jed discover that sometimes the greatest gifts come in the most unexpected packages, and that love can be found even when it seems like everything is working against them. Will they have the courage to embrace the love that has blossomed between them, or will they let their chance at happiness slip away?

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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KATE LANDRY HAS A PLAN by REBEKAH MILLET

Review Snippet: From pooping parrots to a sniveling ex, Kate Landry has a lot going on.

Blurb:

I turned to him, and he winked at me. Winked! We needed clear lines in place between us. We would not be flirty friends. We’d be friends, period. The sooner I made that distinction, the better.

Forty-year-old Kate Landry’s carefully planned life has become as messy as the powdered sugar on her famous beignets. Juggling the responsibilities of running her café, raising her teenage niece, and the emotional baggage from her breakup, Kate finds her world once again turned upside down when her first-ever crush, Micah Guidry, returns to town as the hunky local librarian.

As Kate struggles to implement her plans to expand her café amid the New Orleans Mardi Gras madness and the meddling of her conniving ex-fiancé, Micah becomes the unwitting hero of her misadventures, stirring up feelings she thought she’d long buried. How can falling in love in the Big Easy be this hard?

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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Team Hedgehog

Myself at Madi’s Musings

Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice

Phoebe @ Black Otter Books

Savannah @ Blue Flower Story Company

Ryana Lynn @ Life of Heritage Corner

Five Fall Favorites: Animals

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Day Four of the Five Fall Favorites event, hosted by Katja Labonte. This is an absolutely massive event, so you don’t want to miss all of the goings-on. Visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to find the full list of participating bloggers, and don’t miss the other bloggers in Team Hedgehog, of whom are listed at the end of this post.

There is also a giveaway and a daily opportunity to grab some free books provided by some of the bloggers. Learn more about the giveaway here and visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to learn which books are free today.

Today’s category is books featuring animals. Read on to see my recommendations. Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

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A NOBLE PURPOSE by LAURIE LUCKING

Review Snippet: A Noble Purpose is a wonderful start to the Cornerstone Series.

Blurb:

To help her miserable sister, Princess Liesel must survive the elements, danger…and her grumpy guard.

Princess Liesel’s older sister, Verena, hasn’t smiled in years. Desperate to improve her low spirits, the king declares that the man who can make Verena laugh will earn her hand in marriage.

But his plan seems doomed to failure from the start. Each unsuccessful attempt only makes Verena more despondent, and a set of mysterious masked suitors raises suspicions about a plot by an enemy prince. When Liesel discovers her sister still harbors feelings for a guard who was sent away years before, she embarks on a desperate quest to find him, both for the sake of Verena’s future happiness and their kingdom’s safety.

As increasingly dangerous challenges hinder Liesel’s journey, she begins to wonder if they’re more than coincidence. Will she and her travel companions even make it to Verena’s former guard, let alone convince him to return with them?

With each impediment drawing her closer to her own surly knight, more than just her sister’s happily-ever-after may be hanging in the balance.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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LEAVES OF GOLD AND SILVER by MADISYN CARLIN

Nota Bene: I don’t know if we’re technically allowed to include one of our own books, but I couldn’t resist including Leaves. One character has an owl for a pet, another has a raven, and I’m considering giving a third a rescued puppy.

Blurb:

A thief-turned-spy who should be dead. A noblewoman with a secret. A second chance at love.

Mae Zavien lost her betrothed six months ago to the war that almost destroyed her land. Determined to avenge his death and ensure no one else suffers such a loss, she works under the cover of night to gather secrets, spy on the enemies trying to infiltrate her home, and foil their schemes. What she doesn’t anticipate is how those enemies always seem one step ahead.

Bren Tallich should be dead in the dungeon of an enemy stronghold. Unfortunately, being alive doesn’t grant him the chance to tell the love of his life that he survived. The fighting may have ended, but the war still rages, and the thief-turned-reformed spy is needed to uncover secrets and discover who is behind the attempt to take over all six lands. If Mae learns he survived, her life could be in even greater danger.

The shadows around Zavien Estate don’t just hide secrets–they hide enemies who seek to destroy everyone who opposes them, Mae and Bren included. Only a former thief, a quiet noblewoman, and a menagerie of chaotic siblings and pets stand between their land and those who wish to destroy it.

Leaves of Gold and Silver is a nonmagical Christian romantasy retelling The Twelve Dancing Princesses and includes the tropes second chance romance, found family, arranged marriage, protective hero, nobility x commoner, and concealed identity.

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EMBERGOLD by RACHELLE NELSON

Review Snippet: I am not YA’s biggest fan, but when I read the blurb for Embergold, I knew I needed to read this book, and I’m happy I did.

Blurb:

Fire dreamed of water, but the first sip would be its last.

Gilde has spent her life isolated in the wild marshlands, a place too wet for the dragon to go. She’s safe there, according to her father. So why is he asking her to leave with him now that she has come of age? There is more to Gilde’s family than she knows, and debts need to be paid.

Betrayed and shattered, she wakes in a crumbling mountain castle with the beast of her nightmares. Except this dragon speaks like a man and reads books. His kindness confuses her and opens a forgotten longing in her heart, all while Gilde plans her escape from a mountain full of secrets.

This place can unveil her past and why she was sacrificed to the beast—truths that may put both their lives in danger if they can’t learn to trust each other. But how can Gilde ever trust again? Especially after she discovers what dragons truly are.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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THE DRAGONS OF CHIRIL by DONITA K PAUL

Review Snippet: Wizard Fenworth and Librettowit are, undoubtedly, my favorite characters.

Blurb:

Tipper has been caring for her family’s estate for years now, ever since her father disappeared, making a living by selling off his famous artwork. Then she learns that three statues she sold were carved from an ancient foundation stone, and the fabric of her reality is crumbling.

She must free her father and save the world.
But she can’t do it alone.

Her ragtag band of adventurers includes Beccaroon, a giant parrot; Bealomondore, an aristocratic young artist; a handsome dragonkeeper prince; the Wizard Fenworth; and the tumanhofer librarian, Librettowit. Together they travel through valleys and kingdoms and consort with purveyors of good and agents of evil to find and reunite the missing statues. Will they learn to rely on Wulder’s grace and guidance along the way?

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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A CAST OF STONES by PATRICK W. CARR

Blurb:

The Fate of the Kingdom Awaits the Cast of Stones

In the backwater village of Callowford, roustabout Errol Stone is enlisted by a church messenger arriving with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Eager for coin, Errol agrees to what he thinks will be an easy task, but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he’s joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom’s dynasty nears its end and the selection of the new king begins–but in secret and shadow. As danger mounts, Errol must leave behind the stains and griefs of the past, learn to fight, and discover who is hunting him and his companions and how far they will go to stop the reading of the stones.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW

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Team Hedgehog

Myself at Madi’s Musings

Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice

Phoebe @ Black Otter Books

Savannah @ Blue Flower Story Company

Ryana Lynn @ Life of Heritage Corner

Five Fall Favorites: Nature

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Day Three of the Five Fall Favorites event, hosted by Katja Labonte. This is an absolutely massive event, so you don’t want to miss all of the goings-on. Visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to find the full list of participating bloggers, and don’t miss the other bloggers in Team Hedgehog, of whom are listed at the end of this post.

There is also a giveaway and a daily opportunity to grab some free books provided by some of the bloggers. Learn more about the giveaway here and visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to learn which books are free today.

Today’s category is books featuring nature. Read on to see my recommendations. Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

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WATCH OF WAND’RING LOVE by KENDALL HOXSEY

Review Snippet: Watch of Wand’ring Love is a Christian historical romance novella.

Blurb:

In the quiet hills of 1848 California, love is both a refuge—and a reckoning.

Constance Everston doesn’t know if her husband, a soldier fighting in the Mexican-American War, is dead or missing. Star Ranch—her home—is surrounded by opportunists, and she can’t run it alone. Haunted by grief, she’s nearly forgotten what it means to hope—until a wounded stranger collapses in her barn.

Adam McCleary carries more than scars from the battlefield. He holds a final message from Constance’s husband… and a dangerous secret that could cost them both everything.

As Christmas nears and old ghosts stir, Constance must decide whether to bury the past—or let love find her again. But when powerful enemies threaten to steal the ranch and lies twist loyalty into betrayal, she and Adam must stand together to protect the land, the truth, and a second chance neither expected.

A story of resilience, romance, and redemption set against the rugged beauty of Alta California, Watch of Wand’ring Love is a heart-stirring novella about loving after loss—and the courage it takes to begin again

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HORSEMEN AND HOT CHOCOLATE by ASHLEY EVERCOTT

Review Snippet: Horsemen and Hot Chocolate retells a legend I never imagined could be retold.

Blurb:

The Cursed Rider’s Hoofbeats…

Katrina Van Tassel still mourns her brother, lost in the Revolutionary War, and seeks closure—not a husband. But as the last heir to her ancestral estate in Sleepy Hollow, marriage is the only way for her to keep her home. When a proposal from Ichabod Crane ends in disaster, Katrina finds herself in perilous danger, only to be rescued by a legendary specter.

The Headless Horseman has no memory of who he is or why he became a faceless ghost. But the woman he saves awakens something deep within. Surprisingly, Katrina seeks him out to offer hot chocolate and a if he escorts her to the battlefield where her brother fell, she’ll help him piece together his forgotten life. He agrees, even as something ominous lurks in his lost memories.

While sharing sweets, quiet laughter, and vulnerable conversation, an unexpected connection grows between the pair. But with a persistent suitor and treacherous secrets drawing closer, Katrina and the Horseman must confront a haunting past that’s determined to pull them apart.

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MAIL-ORDER BARONESS by MISTY M. BELLER

Review Snippet: Rose Prescott is on the run.

Blurb:

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

James Balfour, the charming middle son of an English duke, is determined to prove he’s capable of taking leadership of his family’s Montana ranch as the next deadly winter approaches. With the household stretched to its limits, James crafts a clever plan to hire Rose Prescott—his childhood best friend—and to right an old wrong.

Rose’s remarkable singing voice was meant to be her gift, but in Virginia City, it’s become her curse. Forced by her stepfather to perform nightly shows, she dreams of escape and a life free from his control. When a newspaper ad for a housekeeper offers her a way out, she risks everything and flees, hoping her stepfather can’t find her. She never expected to return to the Balfour ranch, nor to see James again, whose charm now reminds her too much of the men who’ve betrayed her before.

James’s desire to protect Rose is shaken when his old friend treats him like an enemy. Winning her trust becomes his greatest challenge yet. As tensions rise on the ranch, old secrets and new dangers threaten everything James and his family have built.

With enemies closing in, Rose must decide whom she can trust—and whether she’s willing to fight for the freedom and love she’s always longed for.

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THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE by ROBIN LEE HATCHER

Review Snippet: The Shepherd’s Voice is now my favorite Robin Lee Hatcher book.

Blurb:

Gabe Talmadge languished in prison for ten years, convicted of a horrible crime. Now free, he’s unable to find work in the midst of the Great Depression. In desperation, he returns home to Ransom, Idaho, hoping his uncaring father will give him food and shelter, if not love. But the prodigal isn’t welcomed home. Hudson Talmadge, who virtually owns the town, despises his son as much as ever, and Gabe is as powerless as an adult as he was as a child to win his father’s approval.

Hungry and hopeless, Gabe is rescued by the owner of a sheep ranch south of Ransom. Incredibly, Akira Macauley gives him a place to live and work to do. More than that, she gives him hope that he can receive forgiveness of his past – and perhaps even love. But when tragedy strikes Ransom once again and Gabe’s life begins to unravel, he must either sink into an abyss of hopelessness or cling to a faith, hope, and love stronger than any he has ever known.

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THE SONG OF SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN by ANN H. GABHART

Blurb:

The doors she thought were closed forever are starting to open up . . . just a crack

Though the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean’s hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher–until Gordon Covington shows up.
 
No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in Eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school. Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that.
 
With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who just might end up becoming the family she always yearned for.

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Team Hedgehog

Myself at Madi’s Musings

Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice

Phoebe @ Black Otter Books

Savannah @ Blue Flower Story Company

Ryana Lynn @ Life of Heritage Corner

Five Fall Favorites: Friendship

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Day Two of the Five Fall Favorites event, hosted by Katja Labonte. This is an absolutely massive event, so you don’t want to miss all of the goings-on. Visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to find the full list of participating bloggers, and don’t miss the other bloggers in Team Hedgehog, of whom are listed at the end of this post.

There is also a giveaway and a daily opportunity to grab some free books provided by some of the bloggers. Learn more about the giveaway here and visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to learn which books are free today.

Today’s category is books featuring friendship. Read on to see my recommendations. Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

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DRAGONSPELL by DONITA K. PAUL

Friendship Element: There are many friendships in the book, both of which bring their own humorous moments.

Review Snippet: DragonSpell was one of the first fantasy books I ever read.

Blurb:

One Dragon Egg Holds the Key to the Future.

Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.

A Desperate Search Begins…

A small band of Paladin’s servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fenworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect…

Weaving together memorable characters, daring adventure, and a core of eternal truth, Dragonspell is a finely crafted and welcome addition to the corpus of fantasy fiction.

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CALLIE AND THE PUMPKIN SEED by SARAH BERAN

Friendship Element: Callie is close friends with Faye, who is a fairy godmother of sorts in this story.

Review Snippet: If you are a fan of clever fairy tale retellings, this is the book for you.

Blurb:

She’s a baker struggling to support her stepfamily. He’s a prince running from the biggest decision of his life. Can their friendship result in something sweet, or is it a recipe for disaster?

Calliope Cendrillon wants nothing more than for her bakery, “Sweet Pea’s Pumpkin Perfections,” to start turning a profit. After her father’s sudden death left her family in dire financial straits, Callie’s infamous pumpkin treats are the only thing standing between protecting her father’s legacy and losing it all.

When Ever, one of Callie’s new regulars, presents her the chance to cater treats for the prince’s Choosing Ball, it’s an offer she can’t refuse. But Ever has secrets he’s been hiding, and when her attendance and premature exit catches the eye of the prince, Callie finds herself participating in a series of unconventional tests. Trying to find a girl using her slipper was unbelievable enough, but finding a worthy princess using a pumpkin seed? That takes the cake.

When a single pumpkin seed has the power to change Callie’s future, will she be able to cater to her heart? Or will her dreams of true love burn to a crisp?

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THE HEART’S CHARGE by KAREN WITEMEYER

Friendship Element: Jonah and Mark are good friends.

Review Snippet: What a doozy of a read.

Blurb:

For years they’ve been nomads for justice, but a final mission may just lead their hearts home.

Members of the legendary Hanger’s Horsemen, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks arrive in Llano County, Texas, to deliver a steed, never expecting they’d help deliver a baby as well. Left with an infant to care for, they head to a nearby foundling home, where Mark encounters the woman he nearly married a decade ago.

After failing at love, Katherine Palmer has dedicated her life to caring for children, teaming up with Eliza Southerland to start Harmony House. Eliza understands the pain of not fitting society’s mold, being illegitimate and of mixed ancestry. Yet those are the very attributes that lead her to minister to outcast children. The taciturn Jonah intrigues her by defying all her stereotypes of men, but there are secrets behind his eyes—ghosts from wars past and others still being waged.

When the Horsemen hear rumors of missing children, they stay to investigate, sticking close to Harmony House and its beautiful owners. As they work together to uncover the truth, love and danger grow hand in hand until a final sinister scheme threatens to destroy them all.

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A MOTHER’S PRAYER by CHRIS MADAY SCHMIDT

Friendship Element: New friends for the FMC and life-long friends for the MMC.

Review Snippet: A Mother’s Prayer is a touching story of faith, healing, love, and family.

Blurb:

Can an unexpected turn lead her right where she belongs?

Pregnant, single and stranded in a storm with her two young kids, Olive Hart is out of options—until gruff mechanic Hank Valentine comes to their rescue. When her housing falls through, he reluctantly offers them shelter at his ranch in exchange for help at his garage. It’s just a temporary arrangement…but Olive’s chaotic, lovable crew begins to warm his guarded heart. They’ve both been burned by the past, but can they find the courage to build something lasting…together?

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RHYME OR TREASON by SARAH BERAN

Friendship Element: Wyn is close friends with her roomates.

Review Snippet: I’ve read both the paperback and listened to the audiobook.

Blurb:

Hey diddle, diddle, let me give you a riddle:

How do a chronically ill secretary and a straight-as-an-arrow bodyguard plan a heist?

Without rhyme or treason.

No one applies for secretarial jobs for the thrills and excitement. And while I love an organized, color-coded schedule as much as (okay, probably more than) the next person, I knew that serving as the mayor’s administrative assistant would mean long days of answering phone calls, scheduling meetings, and dealing with cantankerous constituents. Still, for a supernatural with my…condition…the desk job is ideal.

Until someone decides they want to get to the mayor—who also happens to be the Fae King—and they’re going to do it through me. But, hey, now instead of diddling away time behind a desk, I’m finding ways to entertain Dish, the very handsome, very stoic, very human bodyguard that the mayor assigned me, and convincing him that the best way to get to the bottom of things is to let me play bait.

Why? Because these people have gotten their hands on information that could have disastrous consequences for the supernatural community, and I want it back—if for no other reason than I’m not exactly over the moon at the idea of the flood of concerned phone calls and emails I’ll have to answer. The plan is simple:

In the game of cat and mouse, I’ll be the cat…and I’m going to play them like a fiddle.

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Team Hedgehog

Myself at Madi’s Musings

Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice

Phoebe @ Black Otter Books

Savannah @ Blue Flower Story Company

Ryana Lynn @ Life of Heritage Corner

Five Fall Favorites: Community

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Day One of the Five Fall Favorites event, hosted by Katja Labonte. This is an absolutely massive event, so you don’t want to miss all of the goings-on. Visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to find the full list of participating bloggers, and don’t miss the other bloggers in Team Hedgehog, of whom are listed at the end of this post.

There is also a giveaway and a daily opportunity to grab some free books provided by some of the bloggers. Learn more about the giveaway here and visit Katja’s blog, linked above, to learn which books are free today.

Today’s category is books featuring community. Read on to see my recommendations. Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

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A HEART’S HOPE by PENNY ZELLER

Community Element: A welcoming community filled with good-hearted people, some of whom can be chaotic in a well-meaning way (looking at you, Lucille).

Review Snippet: The romance is heartfelt and sweet, the characters are a mix of amusing and endearing, and the plot will hook you from the first page.

Blurb:

She’s from high society. He’s a humble rancher. Can an unorthodox marriage lead to love?

To what lengths will one woman go to rescue her sister? Desperate to save her sister from a deadly situation, McKenzie Chesterton takes matters into her own hands. If saving her sister means becoming a mail-order bride, then that is exactly what she would do. Even if it means traveling to the Montana Territory from the safety and comfort of her family’s Boston home. What McKenzie doesn’t count on is the risk of falling in love with her new husband.

Noah Sawyer just wants two things: to raise his son well and run his ranch. That’s why he allows a well-meaning busybody to talk him into placing a mail-order bride ad. While this is an unusual way of meeting one’s future spouse, Noah has faith that the Lord will bring just the right woman into his life. What he doesn’t count on is McKenzie Chesterton and the secret she brings with her.

What happens when truths are disclosed, and McKenzie’s real reason for answering Noah’s advertisement comes to light? Will the fragile love that has begun to grow between McKenzie and Noah survive the truth? Can God take an unconventional situation and bring two lonely hearts together?

A Heart’s Hope is a heartwarming, faith-filled, marriage-of-convenience love story.

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HEALING HEARTS by SARAH M. EDEN

Community Element: The town, a mix of matchmaking matrons and nosy friends, is hilarious.

Review Snippet: Right from the get go the reader knows our heroine, Miriam Bricks, is running from something.

Blurb:

Wyoming Territory, 1876

As the only doctor in the frontier town of Savage Wells, Gideon MacNamara knows his prospects for a bride are limited. The womenfolk in town are either too young, too old, or already spoken for. So, being a practical man, he decides to take advantage of the matchmaking service of the day—mail-order brides—and sends away for a woman with nursing experience.

When Miriam steps off the stagecoach in Savage Wells, she sees a bright future in front of her. But when the town—and Gideon—meets her, ready for a wedding, her excitement quickly turns to horror. Somehow Dr. MacNamara’s message had gotten turned around. He didn’t want a nurse, he wanted a wife. When she refuses to marry him, she finds herself stranded in Savage Wells with some very unhappy townspeople.

But Gideon is not like the other men Miriam has met. Embarrassed by the misunderstanding, he offers her a job, and the two begin an awkward—and often humorous—dance of getting to know each other as they work to care for the people of their town. Romance blossoms between the two, but when a former medical associate of Miriam’s arrives in town, Gideon and the other townsfolk must rally around Miriam to protect her from a dangerous fate. Gideon and Miriam must decide if they are willing to risk their hearts for each other even as buried secrets are brought to light.

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A TRAIL SO LONESOME by LACY WILLIAMS

Community Element: The community build during the travels of a wagon train is displayed, illustrating both the good and bad.

Review Snippet: A Trail So Lonesome is a solid beginning to a new historical series.

Blurb:

He hired on as her fake fiancé to protect her reputation. She needs him to keep her secret safe. But their business arrangement is becoming dangerously real.

Evangeline Murphy is desperate to escape her ruined reputation, seeking a fresh start in Oregon Territory with the young girl the world believes is her sister. But the trail is unforgiving, and the weight of the scandalous secret she carries—that the child is actually her illegitimate daughter—could destroy everything. When the harsh realities of the frontier put Evangeline and her family in danger, she finds an unlikely ally in a rugged trail captain who agrees to a unconventional bargain.

Leo Spencer has his hands full keeping his siblings alive on the treacherous journey west. Haunted by a tragedy from the life he left behind, he needs funds to start fresh in Oregon—and Evangeline’s proposal of a pretend courtship offers exactly that. The arrangement keeps meddling matchmakers at bay while giving Evangeline the protection of his name. It’s strictly business. Until it isn’t.

As the dangers of the journey force them to rely on one another, the line between their pretend romance and true affection begins to blur. But Leo dreams of adventure once his family is settled, not another burden to carry. And Evangeline’s past is closing in. Can a love built on a fabrication survive the perilous journey west, or will their secrets tear apart the fragile bond neither expected?

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A RANCHER FOR EASTER by SUSANNE DIETZE

Community Element: A community that rallies around those who need help.

Review Snippet: A Christian contemporary romance that I very much liked reading. And I don’t usually care for most Love Inspired books.

Blurb:

An inheritance with strings attached…forces him to tie the knot.

Rancher Thatcher Dalton accidentally triggers a marriage requirement to his inheritance and now must find a wife in six months…or lose his farm. When widowed bookkeeper Bliss Anderson suddenly finds herself without a job, she knows that the adoption of her epileptic foster daughter will be in jeopardy — unless she accepts Thatcher’s proposal of a marriage of convenience. As the platonic couple settle into married life and parenthood, they soon find that remaining just friends is harder than expected. But when a long-held family secret threatens their growing happiness, it’ll take a little girl’s Easter wish to turn them into a real family…

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MISTLETOE AND MAYHEM by JANICE THOMPSON

Community Element: Nosy Southern gossips and a hilariously chaotic town.

Review Snippet: While not verbatim, that quote from Aunt Bessie Mae had me cackling.

Blurb:

A Wildfire Races toward the Hadley Ranch

Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book three of a new cozy mystery series.

It’s less than a week until Christmas in Mabank, Texas, and just a few days away from RaeLyn and Mason’s wedding on Hadley ranch. Unfortunately, a wildfire with mysterious origin is rapidly traveling across several counties and headed right for the Hadley acreage. Fire fighters rush to put it out before the family homestead goes up in flames, taking the business and the old red truck with it. Their perfect wedding may be ruined, and RaeLyn and Mason are determined to find the source of the fire.

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Team Hedgehog

Myself at Madi’s Musings

Abigail @ Read Review Rejoice

Phoebe @ Black Otter Books

Savannah @ Blue Flower Story Company

Ryana Lynn @ Life of Heritage Corner

Review – Deadly Schemes

What happens when Kennedy is caught in the crosshairs of a madman’s schemes?

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About the Book

Title: Deadly Schemes
Series: Close Proximity #2
Author: Penny Zeller
Release Date: 9/15/26
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Audience: Adult

What happens when Kennedy is caught in the crosshairs of a madman’s schemes?

Kennedy Olohan loves her new job at the local senior center, where she not only plans activities but also does her best to advocate and protect the participants she sees each week. When someone begins targeting her for her concern over murmurings of shady real estate dealings aimed at seniors, Kennedy finds herself the victim of someone who doesn’t want their deceit revealed.

Detective Trace Ridgely is finally healing from injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident while volunteering with the local mountain rescue team. He never anticipated that one of the first cases upon his return is a suspicious death at the local park…and that the case might be connected to two seemingly random occurrences. As he delves deeper into each case, he begins to suspect that Kennedy is the common denominator.

Danger mounts against Kennedy as more deception is uncovered. Can Trace determine who is behind the schemes and protect Kennedy before it’s too late?

An elaborate plan.
A get-rich scheme.
A deadly outcome.

AMAZON

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My Review

Rating: 5 Stars

Deadly Schemes by Penny Zeller addresses the increasing danger that faces our senior citizens by focusing on scams aimed at this vulnerable population.

Not only does that element of the plot make this book unique, but the twists, turns, and not knowing who the evil mastermind is until the last minute kept me turning the pages. I liked how Zeller reminded us that evil can blend in anywhere. Reading the criminal’s point of view gives readers the full experience as we see things not only from his chilling and heartless perspective as he lurks in the shadows, but that of our heroine’s and hero’s, as well.

Kennedy is a strong heroine. Zeller made her an average woman just trying to live her life, which makes this story feel all the more real. Trace, the hero, has a dry sense of humor, which adds a funny element when he’s interviewing suspects. We also see more of the past book’s main characters, which is nice.

As always, Zeller delivers not only a story with a strong plot, but one with faith and clean romance. This is truly a Christian Romantic Suspense, where the characters live out their faith and their faith is present in their lives, unlike some books that claim to be Christian but have no faith whatsoever. The romance is cute and I liked how Zeller has it grow organically.

Sensitive readers should note that there are a few deaths (nothing overly described or gory); the manipulation of seniors; stalking, harassment; and the ultimate showdown between good and evil, which does result in some injuries.

While this book highlights just some of the dangers targeting seniors, I believe it is a book everyone should read so they are aware of some of the ways you can be targeted.

With it’s twisty and edge-of-your-seat plot, strong faith element, and sweet romance, Deadly Schemes is a perfect book for readers who enjoy clean Christian Romantic Suspense.

*I received a promotional copy from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.

Remembering 9/11

Today is the 25th anniversary of the attack on the twin towers. I was just a toddler when it happened, so I don’t remember watching it occur in real time. But I have seen the pictures and videos. I’ve read the recollections. I’ve heard accounts from those who watched in horror as a vicious attack on the U.S. was carried out.

We say we will never forget, yet we see a generation that has, and the result of that is an elected socialist in NYC who is attempting to rewrite history.

Just remember: a history forgotten is a history repeated.

Today we remember 9/11/01 and honor the heroes and victims of this brutal, demonic attack.

Never forget.