Life of Literature

October 21, 2025November 17, 2025

My Thoughts

What a fun twist on the mail order bride romance trope! I was excited to read more about Thatcher after briefly meeting him in book one. Here, he and Amelia end up married after a miscommunication. I really liked how his relationship with Amelia developed respectfully. I was cheering for them to fall in love the whole book! Thatcher and Amelia both have to overcome inner voices that say they aren’t good enough, and I liked that they were able to support each other as they grew. The romance is clean, but carries some of Jody Hedland‘s signature sizzle. This book stands well on its own although I have enjoyed the whole series and cannot wait for Beckett to get his story next. Recommended for those who enjoy romantic historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

About the Book

In 1890, orphan Waverly Pembrooke hears the tolling of the bell at Traeger Hall, signaling imminent danger, and suddenly discovers the murders of her wards, her aunt and uncle. Her uncle’s odd will requires her to keep an unwilling vigil over her relatives’ bodies for a week after their deaths and leaves her destitute, forced from her home at Traeger Hall after the funeral. Waverly is puzzled by the mystery of their murders and is determined to find out the secrets of her uncle’s eccentric self-imposed rule over the town of Newton Creek. In present day, Jennie Phillips is also facing the death of her family, only she suddenly becomes the unwilling recipient of the odd Traeger Hall property, a home that is whispered about in town as being cursed. She is intrigued by the cold case of murders long ago and equally curious about the rumors of a rare collection of priceless paintings inside. The only problem is the Hall has been sealed up since the early nineteenth century—and there are townspeople who would prefer to keep it that way. As both Waverly and Jennie, separated by more than two centuries, investigate Traeger Hall, the secrets they unbury may bring danger to them both.

About the Author

Jaime Jo Wright is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over fifteen novels and three novellas, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, Christy Award-winner Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines. Learn more at JaimeWrightBooks.com.

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Baker Book House (my personal favorite!)

October 14, 2025November 17, 2025

Christian Book

My Thoughts

Jaime Jo Wright is such a masterful author! I am just amazed at the depth and complexity that she is able to give fictional characters and I found myself wrapped in Waverly and Jennie’s story from the first pages of the novel. It amazes me how these dual timelines intertwine and come together so beautifully by the end. It’s almost like putting together a puzzle piece by piece and then stepping back and seeing a magnificent image. There are definitely suspenseful twists in this novel that kept me on the edge of my seat and caused me to stay up late to read and find out what happens. This author does not shy away from tough topics, and this novel is no exception. Her stories always stick with me long after I have finished reading. I really, really enjoyed this novel and highly recommended it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham

About the Book

Emmeline Lockhart does not see her single status as a failure, but her family certainly does—and they wish to marry her off to an eligible gentleman as soon as possible. Emmeline is content to secretly write fiction behind the cover of a pseudonym, especially after her heart was broken by Simon Reeves months ago. After a family situation leaves his estate in shambles, Simon is desperately looking for a wealthy wife. He seeks out Emmeline after all this time, hoping to receive some help with his search for a bride. Despite her best efforts to only see Simon as a friend, Emmeline’s heart is betraying her and as she assists Simon, she is reminded why she fell in love with him in the first place.

About the Author

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. She loves connecting with readers and other authors at www.pepperdbasham.com.

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My Thoughts

What an absolutely adorable regency novel! This author is wonderful at writing cute romances and I love that she set this one in the Regency time period. Witty banter mixed with a charming historical setting create the perfect backdrop to a fun plot full of clean romance. I was cheering for Simon and Emme and really enjoyed their interactions. I hope this author continues to write more regency novels. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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October 7, 2025November 10, 2025

The Forever Cowboy by Jody Hedlund

About the Book

After running away from her wedding and fleeing to her mother’s family on the east coast, Violet has returned to Colorado with her sister. However, when she overhears the seriousness of her father’s debt one night, she and her sister flee home once again, this time to an isolated cabin belonging to none other than her ex-fiancée Sterling Noble. Sterling is upset with how Violet has hurt him, but also not one to turn away a woman in need, he agrees to help her, not counting on his heart falling in love with her once again. With danger on their doorstep, Sterling and Violet must face their feelings and depend on each other once again.

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September 23, 2025September 30, 2025

My Thoughts

I was excited to read this novel since we first met Violet in the first book in the High Country Ranch series and I had suspected there was more to her character. I was right! This book starts with danger in the first chapter and has a few suspenseful twists throughout the novel. I liked how protective Sterling was of Violet and her sister which spoke strongly of his good character. Sterling and Violet have a past, but their relationship grows to new levels in this novel, which was fun to read. There is sizzle to their developing romance, but it all remains closed door and appropriate for Christian fiction. I also really liked the introduction of the tension between Violet’s sister and Beckett and can’t wait to read about his story in book 3. It was great to return to Colorado and read some cameos of past characters from past series, but I think this book stands well on its own. I cannot wait to read more in the series. Recommended for those who love historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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A Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

About the Book

After a terrible childhood accident blinds Chaisely Frappier, she throws herself into her love for music, rising to a successful career as a virtuoso pianist in young adulthood. However, as World War II looms on the horizon, Chaisley also finds herself passionately immersed in a dangerous mission to advocate for and save other disabled people that suddenly have become the enemy of the Führer. Rick Zimmerman is assigned as Chaisley’s driver during her piano tour through Europe, but he is hiding secrets of his own, hoping to gathering information to pass along to the British Secret Intelligence and aid the Allies in the war. As danger closes in on Chaisely and Rick, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive.

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them. You can connect with Kimberley on her website, KimberleyWoodhouse.com.

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My Thoughts

I was drawn to Chaisely from the very first chapter and found her tragic story engaging. I love her passion to protect the vulnerable and her compassion for them made her very likable. The author did a fantastic job with her historical research, and there are certainly sobering parts of this novel as she accurately shows the horrors done by Hitler during this dark time in history, yet there is a distinct thread of hope in the novel that I also found inspiring. The courage of those who stood up to evil amazes me and even though this novel is fictional, there are very real parts of the history portrayed that sat with me long after I finished the book. I liked the romance and the growth of the characters and I also enjoyed that this novel kept my attention with a bit of suspense. This is one of those stories that has some sobering moments, but the writing skill of the author still creates a novel that has depth and substance that I overall enjoyed. I recommend this book to those who love historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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September 2, 2025September 3, 2025

Meet Me In Virginia by Elizabeth Camden

About the Book

When kind, genteel Alice Chadwick feels like her career is dissolving around her, she dedicates herself to saving a historic building on a stretch of Virginia property. To do so, however, she must come head-to-head with bold, brash Jack Latimer, who is equally determined to build a beautiful new golf course on that same stretch of land. When Alice and Jack unexpectedly discover something on the property, however, they must join forces and come together to save them both.

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