THE RANCHER'S UNLIKELY MATCH by Jill Kemerer, Reviewed by Winnie Thomas

 An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Tumbleweed, Texas Book 4)

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
Jill Kemerer’s charming addition to the Tumbleweed Texas collaborative series stars grumpy, overextended, widowed rancher and father Ben Wright and his new neighbor, Jessica Howard, who has inherited a goat farm from her aunt. Jessica is hoping for a new start with the farm but finds she’s also inherited a big debt. As she tries to find ways to pay the debt so she can keep the farm, while also keeping her goats from escaping and eating the neighbor’s garden, she ends up watching Ben’s three adorable children and involving them in her activities. I enjoyed seeing Jessica’s interaction with the children and the developing relationship between her and Ben.

With themes of found family, community support, faith, and hope, this tale is delightful and entertaining. I loved the small-town camaraderie and support for one another. The other books in this series are written by other authors but revolve around the same Tumbleweed town. 
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

BackCover Blurb:
Could her fresh start…
…be the answer to his prayers?

Widowed rancher Ben Wright doesn’t need more complications, especially not runaway goats from the pretty new farmer next door, Jessica Howard. With three kids, a farm and a baseball team to coach, he’s earned his gruff reputation. Jessica left a draining social work career in Houston, hoping for a fresh start and to save her inherited farm from debt—the last thing she needs is a grumpy neighbor. But despite their rocky start, Jessica begins to see past his tough exterior as she spends time with his kids. When old hurts arise, Ben and Jessica must decide…is a future together worth fighting for?

From Love Inspired Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Tumbleweed, Texas
Book 1: The Coach's Secret Child by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 2: The Pastor's Easter Prayer by Tina Radcliffe
Book 3: The Police Chief's Instant Family by Mindy Obenhaus
Book 4: The Rancher's Unlikely Match by Jill Kemerer

Love Inspired, April, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback

Buy THE RANCHER'S UNLIKELY MATCH at Amazon , or Christianbook

A GIFT IN TIME by Shaen Layle, Reviewed by Paula #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:
A charming cozy mystery about a music box with historical significance. Could it have been owned by Thomas Edison?
Sarah has acquired the music box for her new shop Heavenly Presents. The quest for answers took many detours but Sarah needs to prove the journey the box has traveled to get to her shop. Several people want the box and will not take no or wait for an answer. 

I liked the way the author crafts her characters and writes twists and turns into an intriguing story. She gives Sarah good friends, neighbors and family but throws in an obstacle or two to keep it interesting. Another nice touch is the addition of a story told in 1862 by the original owner of the music box. It was thought provoking to see how the clues came together and the suspects were ruled out. 

An overall theme was that God was working in the character’s lives and wanted what was best for them. No matter what the present circumstances, the eventual outcome was preferable. 

Another great cozy when you want something light to read.
* A complimentary print copy of this book was provided by Guideposts and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*4.5 stars and a solid faith thread 

BackCover Blurb:
A Gift in Time is book 1 in Guideposts’ Gift Shop Mysteries fiction series.

It’s opening day of Sarah Morgan’s gifts and curiosities shop, Heavenly Presents. Not only are her family and friends there to support her new business, but a local television crew is on-site to interview her. Sarah decides her latest acquisition, an antique music box that supposedly belonged to Thomas Edison, is the perfect item to show off on television. They’ve only heard a few notes in the strange melody when an onlooker claims her great-grandmother used to play that same tune on the piano but was secretive about its origins.

When Sarah discovers a hidden drawer on the box that requires a key to open, she is determined to unlock the box’s secrets.

Meanwhile, someone in the Port Huron community is also determined…to see Sarah’s business fail.

Can Sarah find out who is behind the troublemaking, or will she be forced to close the doors on her dream forever?

About the Gift Shop Mysteries Series

Every gift tells a story…and some bring mysteries!

Get ready for a faith-filled mystery like no other! The excitement begins when Sarah Morgan returns to her picturesque hometown along the shore of Lake Huron to open a gift and curiosities shop, which she calls Heavenly Presents. As she reconnects with family and friends and grows in her faith, Sarah feels her shop becoming more than just a place to browse or buy. It’s turning into a cozy haven, where tucked among the handmade keepsakes and one-of-a-kind wonders are clues to long-buried secrets and surprising truths. Sarah soon discovers that solving small-town mysteries might just be the most meaningful gift she can offer.

Why You’ll Love the Gift Shop Mysteries Series

If you’re looking for a mystery series that’s equal parts heartwarming and intriguing, Gift Shop Mysteries is your perfect next read. Set in a charming lakeside town with a faith-filled shop owner as your guide, each book offers:Captivating mysteries that keep you guessing—but never keep you up at night
A cast of relatable, endearing characters who feel like old friends
A cozy, small-town atmosphere you’ll want to escape to again and again
Faith-filled encouragement and hope, gently woven through every story
Themes of redemption, reconnection, and second chances—with God, family, and community

Plus, each book includes delightful extras:A recipe inspired by the story
A personal letter from the author
“Behind the Counter” insights into the real-life history or inspiration
Book club-ready discussion questions

Whether you’re drawn to uplifting mysteries, enjoy uncovering meaningful secrets, or simply want a soul-soothing read with depth, heart, and a touch of suspense—this series was made for you.

GUIDEPOSTS Publishing, April, 2026

Available in digital ebook and paperback. Buy A GIFT IN TIME at Amazon, or Christianbook

THE LIFE SHE FORGOT by Joanna Davidson Politano, Reviewed by Winnie and Paula #ReleaseDay

An Edwardian Dual-Timeline Historical Mystery set on the Cornish Coast 

 (The House on the Edge of the Cliff Book 1)

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
“Some stories are lost to time. Some are rewritten. And some—broken, imperfect, and true—continue to echo, even in minds that have forgotten the details.”

I never miss a chance to read a new Joanna Davidson Politano book. Her stories are always extremely creative with multi-layered, complex characters and brilliantly composed plots. The twists and turns always keep me guessing and turning pages to the end.

The Life She Forgot is a perfect example of Politano’s writing genius. In 1913 Cornwall, Merryn has forgotten everything about her former life. When she impulsively marries AJ Winthrop, a man she has only known a very short time, they travel the Cornish shore trying to resurrect her memories. As she begins to remember another man, their relationship is threatened.

Another timeline in the story features William in 1947, broken by the war and estranged from his wife, as he tries to solve the mystery of a portrait of a beautiful woman. I was amazed at the way the author wove these two timelines together to complete this exquisite and captivating tale.

“Love is. . . two broken people who find one another and somehow embrace the broken pieces.” 

Filled with mystery, intrigue, and threads of forgiveness, love, faith, and hope, this story kept me entertained and guessing through all the plot twists. I’m anxiously waiting to see what tale Politano has dreamed up next. 
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

 
PAULA'S REVIEW:
In 1913 Merryn has lost her memory but not her tenacity. She is slowly regaining snippets of events but they haunt her because they promise something that is just out of her reach.
 

This is a superb, emotional journey as Merryn searches the coast of Cornwall with her new husband Ansel. But is he her only husband? Her memories hint at another wedding. A.J. (Ansel) is a complex character who seems clearly in love with his wife. So much mystery and a present threat when Merryn is given custody of Cecil and his inheritance when Lady St. Laurent dies. Her daughter has other ideas.
 

I highlighted so many relevant, haunting passages: “We think of memories as a log book, but they are more than that. They give us a framework through which to view our present.”
 

In the 1947 era of this dual time story, William Thatcher has returned from war a broken man who feels unworthy. A painting he finds puts him on a quest to find the artist and subject of the artwork. This connects the two timelines in a unique way,
It was enchanting to discover the connections between the characters and mesmerizing to read about their journeys.
 

There were several great allusions to Biblical passages, the foremost being:  

“Love is invaluable because of what it has cost someone.”
“Never build your house on sand when rock is available to you. Never build it on anything that can move. Because eventually, it will.”
This author never ceases to amaze me with her heartfelt voice, beautiful words and meaningful messages.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*Beyond 5 stars and a solid faith thread

 
BackCover Blurb:
He promised to help her reclaim the memories she lost—no matter what they found.

Until she remembered another man.

Cornwall, 1913
For three years, Merryn has lived without a past—no family, no history, no home that's truly hers.

When the threat of being locked away for her own “protection” looms, she takes a desperate chance on AJ Winthrop—a warmhearted, whimsical stranger who offers a hasty marriage of convenience and a promise: he will take her back to Cornwall and help her uncover the truth about who she once was.

But along the wild Cornish coast, the memories that begin to surface are not the ones she expects.

Another man.

Another wedding.

A life that may already be hers.

When a hidden painting reveals Merryn’s own face staring back from another life, the fragile life she’s begun to build with AJ begins to unravel. Because the truth waiting in her past could destroy the love she’s only just found.

Cornwall, 1947
Haunted by the war and estranged from the wife he still loves, William Crawford is determined to save their family home for her—even if it means selling the mysterious portrait of Merryn Dunn tucked away in his cottage. But the secrets hidden within the painting threaten to overturn everything he believes…or lead him toward a redemption he never expected.

Decades apart, two lives are bound by a single portrait—and the truth it refuses to keep hidden. This sweeping dual-timeline historical mystery weaves together lost memories, buried truths, and a love story that refuses to fade.

Perfect for fans of Mimi Matthews, Susanna Kearsley, and Kate Morton.

Grafted Page Press, April, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy THE LIFE SHE FORGOT at Amazon

HIDING FROM DANGER by Addie Ellis, Reviewed by Kim

KIM'S REVIEW:
Hunted in the Mountains by Addie Ellis was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so when I saw Hiding from Danger, I knew I had to pick it up.

This story kicks off with a bang and doesn’t let up until the exciting finale. Rick, Natalie, and her niece are on the run, hiding from a killer. The tension really never eases in this story! Just when you think you can catch your breath, another unexpected event occurs. I found myself suspecting so many different characters along the way. Ms. Ellis does a great job of dropping breadcrumbs throughout the story.

I really liked Rick and the selfless way he helped Natalie and Shelly. I also enjoyed how their relationship developed; it felt natural and believable. The addition of the epilogue was a great touch and wrapped things up perfectly.

I can’t wait for Addie Ellis’s next story!
*I purchased this copy. The faith thread is light. 4.5 stars!

BackCover Blurb:
Keeping out of sight
is the only way to survive.

When her young niece witnesses an attempted murder in the dead of night, Natalie Owens knows the killer will do anything to silence her for good. Fleeing through the woods leads them into the path of former Special Forces Officer Rick Barrett, who is determined to protect the frightened woman and child. When the attempts on their lives escalate and the body count rises, it soon becomes clear that the threat is closer than they imagined. With a relentless killer on their heels, can Rick and Natalie outsmart their pursuer before he achieves his sinister goal? 

Love Inspired Suspense, December, 2025

Available in digital ebook or paperback 

Buy HIDING FROM DANGER at Amazon, or Christianbook