Lynn Austin: The Lumber Baron's Wife

 By Kelly Bridgewater

When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy, a friend of her husband, John, offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate Abernathy, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it’s clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th-century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

 

My Thoughts:

The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin took my breath away. Austin does a wonderful job at crafting a town with two Victorian homes crafted with such craftsmanship that it made me wish I owned one. This story brings images of the older homes in my town that have went into disrepair because they are now college apartments or apartments, so nice old Victorians are now holding 4 – 6 families and the elegance of yesterday days are gone. I wish the modern homes had more character like those homes instead of the boxes everything is made of now. No pride just slap’em as fast as they can. As for Austin’s story, I love the dual timeline with the mystery of what happened to the Lumber Baron’s wife. Similarly, Austin does a wonderful job at crafting characters with a backstory that readers will love to come along them and help them change and grow from. I love the faith element because it is important to show how God will love everyone no matter what they might have done in the past. Overall, The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin was a story that I wasn’t too sure that I would like because of the cover and the synopsis, but I have enjoyed her writing before, so I picked up the story, and I’m glad that I did. It is a wonderful story that I really devoured.

I received a complimentary copy of The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Lumber Baron’s Wife

Connie Mann: The Liar's Treasure

 By Kelly Bridgewater

From the acclaimed author of Beyond Risk and The Crown Conspiracy, hailed as a “wild ride” by Library Journal, comes an action-packed adventure about a mysterious diary and a thrilling, high-stakes treasure hunt.

Camille Abernathy ignored rumors of The Liar’s Treasure and her family’s connection to it . . . until someone put a target on her daughter’s back. Growing up in New Orleans, such tall tales were as common as beignets and gumbo. But when Camille’s teenage daughter, Cass, posts pictures of a centuries-old diary her uncle gave her, she unwittingly attracts dozens of treasure hunting fanatics who are convinced Cass and the diary can lead them to a valuable cache.

To keep her daughter safe, Camille enlists the help of Speranza, a secret society always ready to help women in need. Together, they set out on a globe-trotting journey to find The Liar’s Treasure while also investigating a suspicious death related to Camille’s childhood friend. The deeper they dig, the more they suspect it’s all connected.

Chasing clues from New Orleans to Italy to the Bahamas, Camille and her friends receive unexpected assistance—and unwanted competition—from a handsome treasure hunter from Camille’s past. Then Cass is kidnapped, and finding the treasure truly becomes a matter of life and death.

My Thoughts:

The Liar's Treasure by Connie Mann will take readers for a ride as the Speranza Team hunt for each individual piece to this treasure. I love the non-stop action across Europe, to the Caribbean, and back to America before returning to Florence, Italy. Mann does a good job at keeping the villain's identity a secret, which is a huge plus for me. I love to be taken for surprised when the villain is actually revealed. Mann does include a little bit of romance, but nothing too over the top. A spark of interest that was from the past and moved forward into the current situation that might be explored deeper later. I like the idea of the treasure hunt. I love how the characters were featured in the Crown Conspiracy, and then we get to see another lady tell her story. Mann really does not throw the character's personal faith into the story. There are prayers once in a while when they are in a sticky situation, but nothing over the top. I love the characters and how Mann makes them completely relatable. Overall, The Liar's Treasure is a fascinating team of remarkable women on the hunt to seek justice with treasure. I recommend this book and the first one if readers have not read it yet. 

I received a complimentary copy of The Liar's Treasure by Connie Mann from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Liar's Treasure

Lindsay A. Franklin: The Restitching of Camile DuLaine

 By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: The Restitching of Camille DuLaine (The Rivenlea Book 2)

Author: Lindsay A. Franklin

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: February 10, 2023

A splintered world, a heart gone cold.

Hope reborn in threads of gold.

After accidentally bridging the storyworlds together, Emlyn DuLaine faces an impossible task: sever the connections without destroying the stories themselves. If she fails, the characters will be trapped in twisted versions of their tales, forced to relive their worst moments forever.

But undoing the bridges is only the beginning. To truly fix what’sbunraveling, Emlyn must uncover the secret flaw buried deep in Rivenlea’sbfoundation, something that’s been wrong since the very start.

And the danger has never been closer to home. The clock is ticking for the injured wyvern who needs Rivenlite air to survive and the story boy Emlyn swore she’d never fall for. Emlyn and her team must rescue Frank and Laramie from chaotic, shifting story spheres before they’re gone for good.

But Frank and Laramie aren’t the only ones lost to the spheres. Camille DuLaine is a prisoner, held as bait by someone who knows exactly how to lure her sister in. After seven years of sleep, Camille wakes to find herself trapped in a storybook and sure of only one thing: Emlyn must stay far, faraway.

Racing to solve one mind-bending puzzle after the next, Emlyn uncovers a plan seventeen years in the making. She stands at the center of a fractured universe—and she might be too late to save it.

 My Thoughts:

The Restitching of Camile DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin is a delightful, unique story about the written word. I love the references to familiar stories. I love the concept of jumping in and out of these spheres to try to save the character. This second story explains more of the background that explains the fracturing of the written worlds. I love seeing the returning characters from the first book. Plenty of action and quest for the truth and how to make it right. I love the story world that Franklin makes and how to keep the story moving along at very nice pace. I read the book in two days while the snowing was piling up outside. Overall, The Restitching of Camile DuLaine is a good combination of the written word and fantasy that I enjoyed. I will be owning a physical copy of this novel someday. I highly recommend this story. 

I received a complimentary copy of The Restitching of Camile DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin from Enclave Publishing through Celebrate Lit. Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating:  5 out of 5 stars 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Lindsay A. Franklin is the Carol Award–winning author of The Story Peddler, the ECPA best-selling author of Adored, and Managing Editor of Enclave Publishing. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. Lindsay lives happily among the rain and evergreens of the Pacific Northwest with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder husband, their three (nearly) grown geeklings, and three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats).

 

 

 

More from Lindsay

The Fiction-Fixer’s Handbook:

A Guest Post by Emlyn DuLaine, the Newest Member of Novem XVII

I haven’t been a Novemite long, and if you want advice from an absolute expert, you’ll have to ask Captain Doyle or maybe Laramie, if you can manage to push your way past the cloud of ego that surrounds him at all times.

But I’ve been diving into upside-down classics, wrangling rogue characters, bridging broken plots, and saving story spheres long enough to give some helpful pointers on how to keep your wits about you when you, too, traverse the fantastical, fictional universes we all know and love.

Read on for my hard-won wisdom.

1. Never accept apples from anyone. Ever. Even if they promise it’s organic and locally sourced. Just don’t.
2. If a book starts whispering, close it immediately. This is not the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Cursed tomes are not to be trifled with.
3. Stay away from unattended spinning wheels and mirrors that look a little too shiny. Exercise caution around wardrobe-shaped furniture. Odds are high you’re about to be enchanted, imprisoned, or transported. Stay vigilant.
4. Beware of overly charming men in masks, hoods, and/or capes. It’s 50/50 on whether he’s a tragic hero or a villain with a vendetta. Proceed with caution.
5. Always check the fine print on magical contracts. If the terms include “firstborn child” or an unspecified “favor” to be later named, run.
6. Characters who break into song at random intervals are either harmless or extremely dangerous. If they’re just narrating their morning routine, you’re fine. If the music gets ominous, assume the worst.
7. If you find yourself in the company of a talking animal sidekick, always ask for its backstory. Talking cats may be friend or foe, sometimes both if it starts telling riddles. Grumpy toads are probably cursed nobles. Overdramatic ravens are almost always bad news.
8. When in doubt, follow the protagonist—but not too closely. The main character has plot armor. You do not.

If you’re hoping for a fairy-tale ending, these tips might get you there. Stay safe, friends. And happy sphere-diving!

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, February 25

Simple Harvest Reads, February 26 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 27 (Spotlight)

Blogging With Carol, February 27

Artistic Nobody, February 28 (Author Interview)

Inspired by Fiction, March 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 2 (Spotlight)

Where Faith and Books Meet, March 3

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 4

Guild Master, March 5 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, March 6 (Spotlight)

Holly’s Book Corner, March 6

For the Love of Literature, March 7 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 8

Stories By Gina, March 9 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, March 10 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lyndsay is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/iyeVn/the-restitching-of-camille-dulaine-celebration-tour-giveaway

Michelle Griep: The Bird of Bedford Manor

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: The Bird of Bedford Manor

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction / Regency

Release Date: February, 2026

Bedfordshire, England, 1820: Ruined by the sins of her father, Juliet Finch is cast into a life of self-reliance. Survival is a harsh taskmaster, but she is a quick learner and excels at tracking and snaring wild game to feed herself. Juliet embraces her new identity until the day Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land--a crime punishable by death. Henry, however, has other offenses on his mind: namely, the troublesome stalker who's making a misery of his sister's life. To try to put a stop to her torment, Henry charges Juliet with tracking the elusive villain so he can be brought to justice. Using her skills, Juliet hunts down the rogue. . .but may just become the prey herself.

 

My Thoughts:

The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep is a mystery that keeps readers guessing. I love how Griep takes the heroine and makes her strong, independent, yet resilent in being able to survive. The plot takes a different approach when the hero captures her poaching on his land. Majority of the plot focuses on a mystery that draws the heroine and the hero into the throws of romance. The romance is sweet, yet enduring. I adore how Griep makes her heroes realize the worth of a woman, especially in the ages that she puts her characters into. Most woman were not seen as intelligent characters, but Griep allows bright and intelligent woman characters to shine on the pages of the story. I love the setting with the Regency era. Griep does a wonderful job at describing the setting and placing the characters into this world. So well that as a reader we will feel like we are walking the halls of this estate and watching the events unfold. Overall, The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep will delight readers who enjoy mysteries in their Regency stories.

I received a complimentary copy of The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep by Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Bird of Bedford Manor

About the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

 

 

More from Michelle

The Waltz: The Dance That Shocked Regency England

Post by Michelle Griep

I’ll be the first to admit it…I can’t dance a lick. Not a jig, not a reel, and certainly not anything that requires turning in rhythm without stepping on someone’s toes. If you ever spot me on a dancefloor, it’s because someone shoved me there or I lost a bet. Which is probably why the waltz both fascinates and terrifies me. A dance that actually expects you to glide gracefully while holding someone close? Absolutely not. And yet in Regency England, it became the talk of the town.

When the waltz swirled onto the dancefloors of England in the 1790s, it caused more shock than delight. Imported from Austria and southern Germany, it was a turning, closely-held dance—far too close for the comfort of polite society. Many called it indecent, warning that no respectable couple should stand chest-to-chest before a room full of onlookers. Some critics even claimed the dance “ignited dangerous feelings” and threatened to erode proper English restraint.

Shocking, right?

But fashions shift, and all it took was the Prince Regent giving the dance his approval in 1814. Overnight, the waltz transformed from scandal to sensation. By the 1820s, it was everywhere.

Here are a few fun bits of waltz trivia from the era:
• Some etiquette books warned that too much turning could cause “disorientation” or “undue excitement.”
• Early chaperones sometimes counted the number of turns, convinced it reflected a couple’s level of impropriety.
• A lady’s hemline was said to act like a “barometer” of a gentleman’s behavior—if it swayed too wildly, he was holding her too tightly.

In The Bird of Bedford Manor, set in 1820, this same world of rigid rules and whispered scandals forms the backdrop for Juliet Finch—resourceful, determined, and driven into the woods by her father’s downfall. When Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land, everything changes. What begins as a crime punishable by death becomes something far more dangerous as he charges her with tracking the stalker tormenting his sister.

Juliet can track anything. But this time, she may become the hunted.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 24

Devoted Steps, February 24

Bizwings Blog, February 25

Book Looks by Lisa, February 25

Where Faith and Books Meet, February 25

Sylvan Musings, February 26

Sydney Schmied Books, February 26

Lily’s Corner, February 27

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 27

Inspired by Fiction, February 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28

Texas Book-aholic, March 1

Simple Harvest Reads, March 1 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 2

For Him and My Family, March 3

The Bookish Pilgrim, March 3

Betti Mace, March 4

Cover Lover Book Review, March 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5

Blogging With Carol, March 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 6

Blossoms and Blessings, March 6

Stories By Gina, March 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 7

Holly’s Book Corner, March 8

Pause for Tales, March 8

Vicky Sluiter, March 8

Devoted To Hope, March 9

To Everything There Is A Season, March 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/zqeQC/the-bird-of-bedford-manor-celebration-tour-giveaway

Janice Cantore: Edge of Truth

 By Kelly Bridgewater

One case almost destroyed her career. Now the past seems to have caught up with her. And as a high-stakes game of truth and lies unfolds, someone’s out for retribution at any cost.

As a detective in the Long Beach Police Department’s violent crimes division, Lainie Jensen is no stranger to hard-to-crack cases and unusual disappearances, but then her sister Evie vanishes on a trip to Hawaii. After traveling there to look for her, Lainie quickly realizes her brother-in-law Stan is telling law enforcement a story that doesn’t appear to add up.

FBI special agent Ben Isaacs has spent six months collecting evidence to take down a money laundering operation. While his fellow agent Efren Gomez goes undercover to infiltrate the ring, Ben investigates those connected to it, including Stan Moffitt, who Ben believes could help lead to the criminal kingpin. Then Stan’s wife goes missing just days after Ben contacted her seeking information, and he knows there’s more to this case, especially when he loses contact with Efren and law enforcement comes up short in their search for him.

When Ben’s and Lainie’s investigations converge, Lainie’s not eager to work alongside Ben given their complicated history, but she’s willing to do so if it means figuring out what Stan knows and locating Evie. Soon, Lainie can’t deny Ben’s dedication to finding the truth or her growing admiration for him. And the more the two examine the evidence, the more they suspect Evie’s disappearance is tied to a highly publicized criminal case from Lainie’s past . . . and someone is playing a perilous game aimed at personal revenge.

My Thoughts:

Edge of Truth by Janice Cantore is a quick policedural mystery novel with a slight hint of romance. Readers will enjoy meeting the heroine and want her to succeed as she hunts for the missing body of her sister. As for the plot, readers will enjoy the inside look into the world of the police work. Cantore does a wonderful job at showing the emotional tole that all the work and incidents take on the police offers. I really liked that aspect of the plot. She crafted rounded characters that I could empathize with. In majority of stories there is always a romance thread. Technically, there is one, but it is very vague and does not take away from the main plot of the story, which I really liked. Cantore does give her characters the faith to find and come back, which I really like. I'm sure being a Christian cop is not easy especially with all the horrors that Satan makes people do. Overall, Edge of Truth by Janice Cantore delivers what I was expecting from the story, and I enjoyed spending time with the story. I can't wait to see what she crafts next.

I received a complimentary copy of Edge of Truth by Janice Cantore, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Edge of Truth

Sarah E. Ladd: An Unconventional Lady

 By Kelly Bridgewater

 One woman works to expose a scientific fraud while also finding love in the latest sweet Regency romance by Sarah Ladd. Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, An Unconventional Lady delivers what Publishers Weekly calls Ladd's "pitch-perfect blend of suspense and sweetness" (The Cloverton Charade).

She faces the worst ultimatum possible for a woman--marry a man she detests or lose the future she's always imagined.

Charming and headstrong, Ella Wilde always knew she was different than other women. Thanks to her unorthodox upbringing as the daughter of Keatley Hall School for Young Men's headmaster, Ella has long dreamed of opening a school for girls that would meet the needs of inquisitive, brilliant, unconventional young women just like her--girls who longed for the education exclusively reserved for boys. But there's just one catch: Unless she marries before her father dies, Keatley Hall will pass into the hands of a distant cousin. In that case, Ella will be left destitute, and at this point her only option appears to be an undesirable marriage.

Ella's family had long been proponents of phrenology, the belief that an individual's personality and dispositions were predetermined by the shape of their head. Shortly before her death, however, Ella's mother's views on phrenology changed, and she endeavored to expose phrenology as nothing more than a fraudulent parlor trick. Consequently, she earned the wrath of phrenologist community, who called her "unstable," "bizarre," even "dangerous"--and branded her daughter the same.

Now, renowned phrenologist Thomas Bauer is about to arrive at Keatley Hall to speak at the Natural Philosophers' Society gathering, and Ella embraces the opportunity to clear her mother's name--and her own--once and for all. And her partner in crime? None other than her childhood friend Gabriel Rowe, who's grown into an ambitious, handsome London solicitor.

Gabriel has his own scores to settle, and when he learns that Thomas Bauer is visiting Keatley Hall, he jumps at the chance to prove himself and right past wrongs. As he is drawn deeper into the unusual happenings, it's clear that he and Ella must work together if they want to unmask the truth. Over time, Gabriel's attraction to Ella's beauty and wit becomes impossible to ignore, and as the lines between professionalism and passion blur, they both must decide what they're willing to risk for happiness.

My Thoughts:

An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd was a feel-good read. Readers will enjoy spending time with Ella and Gabriel. The slow-moving romance was built on a slow trust that developed as they tried to solve the case of Mr. Bauer. Ladd does a wonderful job at creating a romance that didn’t just happen, but developed over time, which I really enjoyed. As for the plot, I loved the mystery element of trying to figure out what was really going on. Ella and Gabriel knew something was off, but they just couldn’t put their finger on it. I loved how they worked together and defended each other throughout the entire story. As for the character of Ella, Ladd did a wonderful job at crafting a character who was strong and stayed true to her values even when others around her frown at her and what her mother was supposedly was. As for the setting, readers will fall in love with the boy’s school, but the possibly of a girls’ school that Ella wanted to create in memory of her mother. Overall, An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd was a interesting, yet mysterious novel with sweet characters that readers will enjoy getting to know.

I received a complimentary copy of An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd from Harper Collins Christian Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase An Unconventional Lady

Elizabeth Camden: Beyond the Clouds

 By Kelly Bridgewater

 They lost each other once before; now the clouds of war may give them a second chance.

As teenagers, Delia Byrne and Finn Delaney fell in love while flying kites and dreaming of a future together--until betrayal tore them apart. Now, as America enters World War I, Delia works for peace as a paralegal and pacifist. Her values forbid her from supporting the war effort, but she volunteers for a relief organization trying to save millions of lives in famine-stricken Belgium.

Returning to America as a decorated war hero, Finn is eager to get back to the front but is assigned to use his fame to raise funds instead. To his surprise, this mission will bring him face-to-face with Delia, the only woman he ever loved and once hoped to marry. As their shared mission draws them together, old sparks of romance begin to stir--until duty sends them behind enemy lines in occupied Belgium. Will the greatest danger be the conflict raging around them--or the possibility of falling in love again?

 

My Thoughts:

Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Camden was a heartwarming story set against the horrors of World War I. Camden invites readers into a world of resistance that I was not familiar with. Camden has a gift for taking little known facts and weaving them seamless into a story so that readers are being educated, but in a fun and delightful way. It was interesting to read, and Camden does a wonderful job at creating a story that captures the imagination and does not let go. I love the setting of New York, then Long Island, then into the German territory. Even though it was a war situation, Camden still tugs at the heartstrings with Delia and Finn. Finn, the hero, was a brave man who really came from nothing but made something of himself that gave Delia something to see the change and fall for. Delia, also became a better person during the War. She realized her strengths and worth and used them for the good of American soldiers in captivity. Overall, Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Camden is a wonderful story with brave characters, horrible situations, and a romance that is delightful to watch unfold. I will own a paperback copy of this story for my personal library.

I received a complimentary copy of Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Camden, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Beyond the Clouds