CASCADE by Linda K. Rodante, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

 Book 3 of The Waterfall Mysteries, 

Christian romantic mystery and suspense series, small town, Tennessee mountains

PAULA'S REVIEW:

This third book in the Waterfall Mysteries is an exciting story that brings old friends back together and new friends along for the ride.

 
Witnesses to a shooting, Crista and Sid meet near a remote waterfall while hiking. Things get intriguing and mystifying when they learn who is shot and his connections to the local hospital. They are targeted for what they know and for what they don’t know they know.

 
Dramatic and well plotted, there are several suspects but it was hard to pin down who the actual shooter was. I liked the setting of the waterfall hike and even the hospital scenes were interesting. 

A key element was the faith of Sid and Crista. Crista was growing in her walk with God and prayed for the victim, David, even though it got her in trouble with the hospital staff. Sid was trying to forgive himself for an incident in the past, but he knew that Christ died for him. He only wanted to reflect the love of Jesus to others. 

A fine conclusion to the series, it gives your brain a workout.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author through JustRead tours. 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 fresh start in the Tennessee mountains was supposed to bring peace. Instead, it brought a killer.

Crista Henson fled to a quiet Tennessee town to rebuild her shattered life, trading her past for a fresh start as a vacation planner and a deeper reliance on God. She wants peace. Instead, she finds herself tangled in a deadly web of secrets with enough suspects to challenge Hercule Poirot himself. She never planned on playing amateur sleuth—and she certainly didn't plan on Sid Martin.

Sid is running from his own devastating past, swearing off the wilderness forever.
But when a friend lures him back, a desperate cry for help and a brutal attempted murder force him to confront his guilt and his fears.

As their investigation expands and danger closes in, can Crista and Sid narrow the suspects in time to prevent their own demise?

Clean Romance
Brainy Mystery
Multiple suspects
Twists and turns
Suspense
Small town
Tennessee mountains
Rock climbing
Beautiful waterfalls
Swoony hero
Strong, relatable heroine
Faith and forgiveness 

September, 2026

Available at Amazon in digital ebook, and paperback 

WEIGHT OF GUILT by Christy Barritt, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

FOG LAKE: HOMECOMING (Book One)

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Faith usually involves taking the next step before you feel ready."

When Wren Loveless' long lost younger brother literally walks out of the woods behind their family property; she and her two sisters can scarcely believe their eyes. In fact, should they believe their eyes? Christian was seven years old the night he vanished without a trace. Now he is a seventeen year old young man with absolutely no explanation for where he has been for the past ten years.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Nash Hendricks is on medical leave and hoping to rinse his mind of the incident that left him with a gunshot wound and bitter memories. Fog Lake seemed like the perfect place to do just that . . . until a dark haired beauty with an energetic canine asks for his help.

An absolutely fascinating blend of casework and confusing details! 

*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars. 

 

BackCover Blurb:
Ten years ago, seven-year-old Christian Loveless vanished without a trace. On the anniversary of that nightmare, a teenage boy walks back into his family’s life claiming to be Christian.

Hairstylist and single mother Wren Loveless wants desperately to believe her brother has come home. But small things don’t add up, and she can’t afford to watch her family fall apart again. When a man who might have ties to Christian’s disappearance turns up dead less than a mile from her house, Wren starts to wonder whether the truth is something far more dangerous than mistaken identity.

TBI Agent Nash Hendricks came to Fog Lake to escape his own past, not to get tangled in someone else’s. But he can’t ignore his next-door neighbors—a family clinging to a fragile reunion while someone in the woods watches and waits. The closer he gets to Wren, the clearer it becomes that protecting her may mean uncovering a truth she isn’t ready to hear.
Wren will do anything to keep her family safe. But before she can uncover what happened to Christian ten years ago, she has to answer an even more dangerous question: Who exactly has come home?

Weight of Guilt is Book 1 of the Fog Lake: Homecoming trilogy—three sisters, one missing brother, and a decade of secrets. 

River Heights Publishing, August, 2026

Buy WEIGHT OF GUILT in digital ebook or paperback at Amazon 

BELLE'S CHRISTMAS CAROL by Michelle Griep, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #CelebrateLit

About the Book

Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.

When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.

Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?

With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.

Click here to get your copy!

PAULA'S REVIEW

Lovely story that imagines what happened to Belle after she sent Ebenezer Scrooge packing. Told in a period perfect voice of Victorian England, Ms. Griep crafts a cozy Christmas tale that is full of boisterous orphans, unmanageable caretakers, and the unexpected inheritance of Haven House by Belle Beaumont. At first overwhelmed by the daunting task of taking charge of the orphanage, Belle forges ahead, wanting to give a memorable Christmas to her wards, hopefully a White Christmas.

Barrister Rafe Munro comes to Haven House in search of a relative but records cannot be found. Together Belle and Rafe try to make order out of the chaos left by the last administrator. In the process, Rafe loses his heart to not only Belle but to the children, especially a certain little boy. 

There is much to love in this winsome tale. I was fond of seeing quotes at the head of each chapter from the original Christmas Carol. And the internal to do list that Belle kept adding to was fun. The characters’ faith shone through: “ I am coming to believe that maybe the Almighty didn’t place us here solely to set the world aright. Rather to love amidst the ruin. Even when it grieves us- or perhaps most when it does. For love may accomplish what justice, in all its forms, cannot.”
 

Fear not, Scrooge is not left out of the story; he has a part to play. Why not read the story and find out?

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House via NetGalley through Celebrate Lit tours.I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

About the Author

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Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos. 

More from Michelle

Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol

Guest post by Michelle Griep

I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.

Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.

What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.

In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.

Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.

Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.

Blog Stops

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7

The Avid Reader, October 7

She Lives To Read, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

Devoted To Hope, October 8

Betti Mace, October 9

Inkwell Inspirations , October 9

The Lofty Pages, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Romances of the Cross, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12

The Vine and The Branch, October 12

Maureen’s Musings, October 13

Fruitfully Planted, October 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, October 16

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Devoted Steps, October 17

Lily’s Corner, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 18

Mary Hake, October 18

Blossoms and Blessings, October 19

Pause for Tales, October 19

Giveaway

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

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! 

Click the link here to enter

SECRETS OF THE DESERT ROSE by Marilyn Turk, reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

PAULA'S REVIEW:

Exceptional story of adventure during WWII in a setting that I have not read a lot about, Algiers, French Africa.

Based the journals of real women who experienced a war-torn era, this story opened my eyes to a time long past. 

Monique and Audrey were friends as teens when their families met in Algiers. This story chronicles how they stayed in touch even though each helped the Allies in very different ways. Written in an engaging way, this story schooled me on history as I rapidly turned pages. It is interspersed with a great-granddaughter going to Algiers as part of an archeological dig and trying to discover what the desert rose means to her 100 year-old Mimi. 

Fascinating facts about the culture and history were riveting. Woven throughout is the solid faith of the Claremont family and themes of bravery in trying situations were shown. 

Recommended for fans of WWII stories in unusual settings.
*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.*4.5 stars and a solid faith thread

 

BackCover Blurb:
A Dual Time Novel

Three Women. Two generations. Their friendship survived the war. Their secret survived even longer.

Monique and Audrey, one French and one British, grow up in French Algiers on the coast of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Best friends, they keep each other’s secrets into adulthood when World War II changes their world and Algiers sides with the Hitler-based Vichy government. Audrey joins Charles DeGaulle’s resistance army, the French Foreign Legion, while Monique stays to work in the underground resistance aiding the Allied invasion of North Africa.

In present day, American born great-granddaughter Nicole, a graduate student in archaeology, goes to North Africa for an internship. The now centenarian Monique (Mimi), debilitated by a stroke, urges her to find the Desert Rose. Nicole finds different types of desert roses, but none are the right one until she stumbles onto information that hints the desert rose might not be a flower after all. While Sami, her instructor in Algiers, helps her find the desert rose, he also has to protect her from people who want the heirloom ring Nicole wears which has its own secret.

Will Nicole find the secret before it’s too late? 

Winged Publications, February, 2026 

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook 

Buy SECRETS OF THE DESERT ROSE at Amazon