PLAIN JANE'S SECRET ADMIRER by Anne Blackburne, Reviewed by Trixi

Heart of the Amish Book 11

TRIXI'S REVIEW:
Jane and Samuel both have secrets that could keep them from discovering a love that is right in front of them. They’ve both admired each other from childhood, but a cruel nickname has kept them apart. Until they find the courage within themselves, they could miss out on their dreams coming true for family and love.

Anne Blackburne has woven a gentle love story full of faith and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. I love the strong friendships both Jane and Samuel have with all the secondary characters in this story, and enjoyed everything about this tender love story that made me root for love to prevail in the end. There were times of mishaps, laughter, tender feelings, witty banter between the characters and maybe a bit of matchmaking too! And Jane’s cat Secret and her friend Little Mouse are the cutest additions to this already wonderful story.

I enjoyed everything about this gentle love story that touches on the bond of lifelong friendships, discovering our own voice in the world, and a strong reliance on God through faith in Him. Amish fiction is one of my favorite genres because I get a glimpse of a simpler lifestyle and a refreshing faith thread. Anne Blackburne is new-to-me and I’ll be looking forward to more stories by this talented writer! 
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed here are my own. *

BackCover Blurb:

Secrets Surround Shy Jane Bontrager
 
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
 
Sweet, shy, and devoted Amish woman, Jane Bontrager secretly hates her childhood nickname of Plain Jane. She doesn’t know who started the ugly name back in her school days, but she can never forget how it has long made her feel.
 
Jane has a huge crush on Amish buggy maker Samuel Mast, but they are both so shy they are more likely to turn old and gray alone than to ever get together—especially since Samuel holds a secret or two of his own.
 
What can bridge the gap between two young people who both deserve love and happiness?

The Heart of the Amish Series Includes:
The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele
Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne
The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
Courting an Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele
Mary’s Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne
Serenity’s Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele
Lizzie’s Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne
Hunting for a Husband by Mindy Steele
A Daughter's Choice by Kelly Irvin 

Barbour Fiction, January, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, or audiobook:

Buy PLAIN JANE'S SECRET ADMIRER at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

SCARS OF THE REVOLUTION by Megan Soja, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

Harbor of Spies Book 3

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“We never grieve without hope, for we know that nothing is hidden from God. We can trust His sovereignty in all things.”

What an unlikely romance between patriot Libby and Lieutenant Isaac Harrison of the occupying British army in Boston 1775.
I love learning about the history of our country and Ms. Soja brings the past to life in this wonderful story full of danger, intrigue and personal struggles. 

Libby is twenty and lives with her twice-widowed mother. They are housing a British officer during a volatile time in the formation of our nation. Isaac knew and respected her father and they would discuss the Bible. Libby’s mother lives out her faith and is often the voice of reason, sharing scripture and wisdom.

There is much to ponder in this story. We need to remember our roots and appreciate those who sacrificed to give us our freedoms and this wonderful country. 

Ms. Soja brings the challenges of an emerging nation to a personal level as the characters learn to navigate their faith in troubling times. I look forward to the next book in this excellent series.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread

 

BackCover Blurb:
Some scars are born from duty, others from rebellion—theirs were carved by both.

Libby Caldwell has been in love with Isaac Harrison for years, ever since her late father befriended him. While her head knows there is no hope of sharing her life with a British soldier, her heart is much more difficult to convince, especially now that he is quartering in her home. With Boston under siege and battle looming, each day together forces her to recognize how deep her feelings truly are…and how forbidden.

Bound by duty to both his family and country, Isaac is determined to serve honorably in the King’s army, despite never wishing to be a soldier. But quartering with the widow and daughter of his old friend places another obligation on his shoulders—that of their well-being. The more time he spends with Miss Caldwell, the more that duty begins to feel like something personal, something he cannot allow.

As the siege of Boston tightens, Libby finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of espionage that could save the Patriot cause—and destroy any chance of a future with the man she’s growing to love.

Will betrayal and war keep their two worlds forever apart? Or will they look to the One whose love knows no bounds to bring them healing and a future? 

Wild Hearts Books, January, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, or audiobook:

Buy SCARS OF THE REVOLUTION at Amazon 

TRACK OF COURAGE by Susan May Warren, Reviewed by Rebecca #ReleaseDay

Call of the Wild Book #1: 

A Clean Romantic Suspense K-9 Thriller with Action and Adventure in Alaska

 

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"I'm convinced that nothing can happen to me in this life that isn't used or designed by God to know him better."

It began as a simple plane ride, just a quick way to get from one place to another. Unfortunately, in this case Keely Williams is caught up in a set of circumstances that were doomed to fail, her flight was going to crash in the Alaskan wilderness. Second guessing her decision to leave New York City in order to locate her birth mother, the famous pop singer makes a run for her life after surviving the crash, only to be chased by an unknown assailant.

Former law enforcement officer Dawson Mulligan is slowly adapting to life after a horrific knee injury, his peculiar adopted rescue dog sticking close by his side during the entire rehabilitation process. Too close on most days, if the truth were known. When man and dog happen upon a distressed woman at the bottom of a ravine, everything changes. Every single thing.

As you might imagine, Keely and Dawson's trek to safety takes multiple twists and turns. The danger stalking Keely is bigger and broader than they could have ever imagined, making them completely vulnerable and totally unprepared for what will be required of them; virtual strangers standing together against continual mental, physical, and spiritual onslaughts. Thankfully, a team forms around them, but little do they realize that returning to their real lives might prove to be the biggest challenge of all.

There are so many spiritual blessings in the form of wise words of advice sprinkled throughout this story. Readers will admire both the rushes of adrenaline and respites of quiet conversations that this adventurous narrative ushers onto the page. However, it may be the whispers of music that will resonate the loudest.
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. 3.5 stars

 

BackCover Blurb:
A hijacked plane. A pursuing killer. And a K9's instinct to help them make it out alive.

Pop singer Keely Williams's search for her biological mother in Alaska has been painfully unsuccessful. Now she just wants to escape this wild frontier and never look back. But when her plane is hijacked, she's suddenly plunged into a race against not only an Alaskan blizzard but also a killer who's on her tail.

After a career-ending injury, ex-cop Dawson Mulligan has only one friend--Caspian, the stray dog he adopted. Dawson just wants to figure out how to get his life on track, but during a flight home to Copper Mountain, he spots a downed plane and stops to help. Except, when his not-a-rescue dog runs off into the woods and discovers the trail of a missing survivor, it's up to the former cop to stage a rescue.

But Dawson has no idea he's being pulled into a deadly pursuit, or that Caspian is more than he seems. There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future.

Join master storyteller Susan May Warren for a propulsive ride through the Alaskan wilderness, where love might be the riskiest--and most rewarding--adventure of all.

Prepare to experience edge-of-your-seat action combined with heart-stirring romance and heroic K9 companions in this exhilarating romantic suspense that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard. 

 

Revell Publishing, January, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:

Buy TRACK OF COURAGE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

THE ROAD UNVEILED by Tim Bishop, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

Bicyle Adventures Book #2

PAULA'S REVIEW:
This book is a raw and honest look at a bicycle road trip by Lauren, a forty-two year old woman who served in a foreign orphanage for years, and Doug, a retired widower. They are both Christians and encourage each other along the way as bike buddies. The book is also an inside look at the struggles that Lauren has with her fiancé Jeffery and what each really wants out of their relationship. 

The trip was full of beautiful scenery but also dangers from the elements, the wildlife and some scary biker dudes.
*Trigger Warning- the scenes at the Golden Prairie Indian Reservation are traumatic. But Laura and Doug meet some wonderful people there and at other stops along the way. 

The characters and situations were realistic, although Lauren made some unwise choices, and the outcome was anything but predictable.  I enjoyed this road trip story and the lessons that the characters learned about their faith and their lives.
*I won a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Library Thing. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread 

BackCover Blurb:

Two wounded hearts. Long, winding roads. And second chances neither saw coming.

Lauren Baumgartner pedals toward Yellowstone National Park, anticipating a grand celebration when she reaches the Atlantic Ocean. But when her wedding plans collapse, old wounds resurface—and a haunting secret still holds her heart hostage.
Traveling alone with bear spray and a one-woman tent, she shares the highway with motorcyclists bound for a massive rally, including gang members who eye her as theirs for the taking.

Doug Zimmer, another lone cyclist, is grappling with loss and wondering if anyone will be alongside him when he figures out what’s next. He isn’t the only one drawn to Lauren’s vitality and spirit.

But Lauren may already be in too deep. What she faces on the Golden Prairie Indian Reservation tests her courage—and her faith—more than anything she encountered as a missionary in Uganda.

A woman with a secret and a man healing from loss pedal the rugged roads of the American West on a quest for love and purpose that leads to unexpected horizons.

Fiction that matters.

Open Road Press, November, 2025

Available in digital ebook and paperback at Amazon