MISS BETH BETTENCOURT by Eva Marie Everson, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:

“Miss Beth Bettencourt was not some flighty female, and she did not appear to be one to back down either.” 

“Beth Bettencourt was a puzzle of a thousand pieces.”

Miss Beth Bettencourt is shown respect around her small town and a bit of sympathy considering what happened several years ago. 

Newcomer Marty makes the mistake of entering the wrong house and finds himself at the mercy of the court and beholden to Beth who offers him employment and a place to lay his head. 

This was a southern comfort story with some angst in the backstories. The theme seemed to be how Beth worked through forgiveness and went beyond the hurt that had crippled her. Marty also had something lurking in his past that needed resolution. Marty’s faith journey was well depicted and showed how he changed his outlook and wanted the best for Beth. Together, they find love and reconciliation in order to move forward. 

I loved the relationship that Beth had with Molly, her friend and housekeeper. The setting of a small town and the connection with the people evoked a time of community closeness in a bygone era.

A solidly written story and a welcome addition to those who love southern fiction.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Kregel . I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
Will an unlikely romance tear down Beth’s walls of indifference?

It's 1962 in Bynum, Georgia, and Beth Bettencourt's world is turned upside down when she wakes to a man snoring in the guest bedroom.

She's home alone; her parents are traveling abroad, grieving her twin sister's unexpected death. Instead of accompanying them, Beth stayed in Bynum to tend to her kindergarten and closely guard her own heart.

A beautiful and beloved member of the community, Beth is an unusual specimen for her time as she nears thirty and remains unmarried. She holds deep-seated unforgiveness toward her twin, Elise, who ran off with Beth's beau. To make matters worse, Elise took their grandmother's ring, which had been promised to Beth.

But now a stranger enters her home and her world. David Patrick Martin seems ready to break down her walls of indifference and find the core of Miss Beth Bettencourt. But can he be trusted with Beth's past, her present, and more importantly, her future?

Kregel Publications, May, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy MISS BETH BETTENCOURT at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

THE MANHATTAN CONFESSIONS By Jocelyn Green, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

(On Central Park Book #3): Christian Historical Fiction About a 

New York Historical Society Librarian Set in the Roaring Twenties

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"The story would be filed away in the New York Historical Society library, where only the most avid local history buffs would ever learn of its existence."

Fortunately or unfortunately, that is not what happened. When New York Historical Society librarian Ivy Malone recorded notable socialite Adeline King's life story, anonymously of course, the opening excerpt that the library published prompted public interest to skyrocket, precipitating society patrons to line up for a chance to read the full story while surreptitiously looking for clues as to the identity of its subject matter. To make matters worse, two men determined that their lives had been forever impacted by the life of the notorious Molly Kelly, pushed and pleaded with Ivy, as an employee of the historical society library, to reveal their sources.

Simultaneous to her growing anxiety over keeping her dear friend Adeline King's identity a secret, Ivy was preparing for the arrival of her cousin to Ellis Island. Upon landing in New York, Gina was informed that her documentation was incomplete, making deportation back to Italy an unwelcome reality unless Ivy could find a way to help Gina meet the precise requirements. It seemed providential to be given the name of a local law firm specializing in immigration cases, only to discover that her friend Tom urged extreme caution.

This remarkable story layers together several prominent plot lines, skillfully engaging readers to peer deep within New York society during the early 1920's, seaming together immigration issues with nefarious underground activities, exposing the fragile tiers of New York society with the value of sincere friendships, allowing hearts to make the necessary twists and turns in order to produce something of lasting value. Also, perhaps even more valuable is the reminder that none of us are ever alone in this world, for there is One who can be depended upon to never leave or forsake, "even there", wherever that happens to be.
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars

 
BackCover Blurb:
The streets of New York are brimming with secrets, and discovering the truth means navigating danger, deception, and an unexpected romance.

Ivy Malone, a New-York Historical Society librarian, is dedicated to preserving Manhattan's rich history, but when society grand dame Adeline King anonymously reveals her shocking life story, Ivy finds herself holding a highly coveted secret. Burdened with the responsibility of keeping Adeline's identity hidden, the matter grows increasingly complicated when two men claim ties to the elderly woman--one of them accusing Adeline of involvement in a crime.

Another dilemma brews when Ivy's Italian cousin, Gina, is detained at Ellis Island for lack of proper documentation. Hoping an immigration service can resolve the misunderstanding, Ivy employs their help but is instead thrust into a dangerous world. With time running out, she must unravel the tangle of secrets that bind Adeline's past, Gina's freedom, and her own safety. Who can she trust, and how far is she willing to go to protect those she loves?

This sweeping historical romance set against the backdrop of 1920s Manhattan, New York, and Ellis Island features family secrets, immigration, and a librarian's quest for justice. Fans of Elizabeth Camden and Roseanna M. White will savor this story that's perfect for book club discussions. 

Bethany House, April, 2026

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

Buy THE MANHATTAN CONFESSIONS at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House  

BIRDS ON A WIRE by Katie Powner, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Why did a bird seem at home wherever it landed?"

Laura Gambler had no idea how monumental her family's decision to become foster parents would become. It changed everything. And the timing? Unbelievably complicated; Laura had just pulled her first grade son out of public school in order to homeschool Peter, her teen daughters were acting like . . . well, teenagers, and her fortieth birthday was looming on the horizon. Upon receiving the call, the Gamblers were immediately handed the responsibility of caring for a tiny baby boy whose parents had been drug users. Now, there would be even more schedules to keep up with and plenty of sleep deprivation.

Bri Marshall wanted her baby back. At first glance, the hurdles appeared insurmountable, but she and her boyfriend were taking life one tottery step at a time in order to establish residency, a steady income, and a safe home for their son. Would it be easy? Absolutely not! Would there be setbacks? Guaranteed. In the end, would it be possible? That remained to be seen.

What a remarkable story, providing readers with an authentic journey through the many unknowns of fostercare, heralding the courage that it requires to provide vulnerable little humans with shelter, unconditional love, patience and most importantly, family. Scripture encourages us to observe the birds as an example of faith not failure, may we take notice of how effortlessly they perch on a wire, totally contentment among community, even if it's not forever.

"The more you love him, the harder it will be for you. But the more you love him, the better it will be for him."
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 

SEE REVIEWS BY PAULA AND WINNIE 

BackCover Blurb:
Sometimes the people in our lives who come and go make all the difference

Eighteen-year-old Bri Marshall is determined to do whatever it takes to get her newborn son back after he's taken by CPS. But the chances of reunification with Providence are slim. Her drug-addicted boyfriend is the only reason she has a roof over her head. With no job, no car, and no family support, she's at rock bottom, hanging on to hope by a thread.

Laura Gambler, on the brink of turning forty, is managing new challenges with her own children when she's asked to take in Providence. She never could have imagined the chain of events her agreement to foster the baby would set in motion—or the carefully buried pain from her past it would drag back to the surface.

Both women wrestle with doubts about the future and their ability to parent Providence, even as their love for him grows stronger every day. As their lives become irrevocably intertwined, they face an impossible question: Who is the best mother for Providence?

Kregel Publishing, April, 2026

Available in digital ebook or paperback

Buy BIRDS ON  A WIRE at Amazon, or Baker Book House 

THE BOOKSHOP OF 99 DOORS by Jaime Jo Wright, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

A Dual Timeline Christian Gothic Mystery and Suspense Novel Set in a Small Town

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Life is a legacy you leave behind for the generations to come. Live it well. Live it fully. Live it honorably. Live your life in such a way that whatever is revealed later will offer hope and a future to those who discover it."

A property with a complicated legacy. A lovely home that served its community well, until murder and mayhem left it stained with rumors that its victims still roamed freely among its halls, traveling in and out of ninety-nine doors, excepting the others who firmly believed it was the hundredth door that served as their entrance. The door that no one could find.

Two women, living decades apart, graced the halls of Ambrose Fields. One was closer to the history than the other, but both were equally curious and determined to prevent the secrets of the residence from winning the war of superstition. This book is a story to that end.

After finishing this incredible narrative, readers may surmise that Minnie and Triss were searching for the living among the dead, while in reality others might suppose that the two women were searching for the dead among the living. In all reality they were both searching for the truth, who is not a pathway or a portal but a person, who most emphatically declares that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, a search that every soul must take and that this author so beautifully encases into a page-turner of a story.
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:
The manor's rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate's bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls.

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father's rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home's fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie's own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss's dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother's team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door--a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion--results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion's bookshop with a troubled past.

Bethany House Publishing, April, 2026

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

Buy THE BOOKSHOP OF 99 DOORS at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House