A mysterious Michigan mansion and an unexplained disappearance link two women separated by more than a century in the enthralling latest from Austin (Waiting for Christmas). The first timeline unfolds in 1873, when Hannah Wagner and her doctor husband, John, arrive in a remote Michigan lumber town, recruited by John’s lumber baron friend, Henry Abernathy, to provide desperately needed medical care. Hannah quickly befriends Kate, Henry’s young, outspoken wife whose checkered past and taste for whiskey have made her something of a town pariah. As Hannah tries to teach Kate about God, she can’t help but worry about Kate’s rocky marriage, and her fears are confirmed when Kate vanishes under suspicious circumstances. The second timeline is set in the present day and stars Ashley Gilbert, an aspiring curator who’s moved to Michigan for her husband’s job, and volunteers to help turn the dilapidated Henry Abernathy mansion into a museum. When Ashley unearths Kate’s diary, she becomes determined to solve the mystery of her disappearance once and for all. Austin patiently stretches the story’s central mystery across the two timelines to keep readers invested, and Kate’s interspersed diary entries add immediacy and intrigue. The result is a captivating small-town mystery. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 01/30/2026 | Details & Permalink

The legends of a Civil War–era ghost and an elusive secret door in a Pennsylvania mansion animate this spine-tingling dual-timeline mystery from Wright (The Bell Tolls at Trager Hall). In 1888, Minnie Tipton and her ailing father move into Ambrose Fields, an estate said to be haunted by the ghost of a deranged Union Army captain who murdered a group of wounded soldiers after the Battle of Gettysburg. When her father begins having hallucinations of the captain, Minnie becomes increasingly motivated to locate the mansion’s 100th door, rumored to be a portal for the souls of the dead. In the present, Triss Bellamy believes she’s left her family’s ghost-hunting business behind by becoming the bookshop manager of Ambrose Fields, which is now a museum. But after the museum director hires her family to investigate paranormal activity at the mansion as a publicity stunt, her brother has vivid delusions similar to the ones that plagued Minnie’s father, and Triss must put her faith in God and work to unlock the house’s mysteries before it can claim another victim. Wright interweaves the two timelines seamlessly, gradually ratcheting up the suspense as both protagonists inch their way closer to the truth. The result is a page-turning historical perfect for fans of Darcy Coates and Gabrielle Meyer. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 01/23/2026 | Details & Permalink

This affecting historical from Kirkpatrick (Across the Crying Sands) follows a strong-willed postal worker as she navigates the rugged terrain of Oregon’s northern coast at the turn of the 20th century. Mary Gerritse is busy enough delivering mail for the postal service to support her husband and kids when she gets word from her father that her mother, Amanda, is sick. Upon traveling to their remote town with her headstrong 11-year-old Belle, Mary finds that her father has hired a helper, Virginia, to care for her dementia-stricken mother. Initially perturbed by the stranger in their midst, Mary slowly gets to know Virginia and starts to feel at ease leaving Belle in her care so she can resume her work. Then a sudden death reveals a shocking secret about her own past, forcing Mary to see her family, and faith, in a new light. While Kirkpatrick’s extensive cast of characters (many of whom Mary encounters on her postal route) and myriad plotlines can become unwieldy, the atmospheric depiction of the forbidding Oregon coast and the nuanced rendering of family bonds are vivid and gripping. It’s a captivating if sometimes crowded portrait of a trailblazing woman. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 01/23/2026 | Details & Permalink

Steele brings the fake-dating trope to Amish country for this fun sequel to Hunting for a Husband. After failing to make her first crush fall for her, Salina Stolzfus is 22, single, and subject to her meddling mother’s attempts to marry her off by inviting each of Havenlee, Ind.’s eligible men to dinner. Seth Weaver has recently arrived in Salina’s hometown from Kentucky to nurse his broken heart after being dumped three days before his wedding. He can’t help noticing cheery, upbeat Salina, who is determined to help Seth smile again. The two become friends while establishing a consignment shop to help a nearby community recover from a tornado, and Seth soon agrees to fake a relationship with Salina to curtail her mother’s matchmaking efforts. Just as they begin to wish their pretend courtship were real, an emergency draws Seth back home, leaving Salina feeling rejected and wondering if her happily ever after will forever remain beyond her grasp. Readers will have no trouble rooting for Steele’s leads—especially boisterous, good-natured Salina—as they overcome past rejections in hopes of starting over. The result is a clean, feel-good romance sure to satisfy Steele’s fans. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 01/23/2026 | Details & Permalink

A true crime podcaster and a wilderness guide try to outmaneuver a criminal empire and a disastrous storm in Mentink’s high-octane follow-up to Fire Mountain. After building a career analyzing unsolved mysteries, Mackenzie Bardine returns to the cold case that started it all: the murder of her older brother, Aaron, who she believes ran afoul of Bullseye, an elusive and powerful drug dealer. A lead on Bullseye’s identity brings Mackenzie to the remote Washington State town of Oakleaf, where she encounters Gideon Landry, a wilderness guide and her late brother’s former best friend. Despite being convinced that he could have done more to prevent Aaron’s death, Mackenzie recruits Gideon to help with her unfolding investigation. The pair wind up stranded in the wilderness during a raging rainstorm, but Mackenzie’s determined to connect with a new informant back in town, forcing them on a harrowing quest through a landscape rife with Bullseye’s minions and threatened by rapidly rising waters. Before long her growing closeness with Gideon has her wondering if vengeance is truly what her heart needs to heal—and if faith might be enough to help her forgive him and, ultimately, herself for the tragedy. The action starts on the first page and never lets up, with a tightly plotted series of twists and turns building to an explosive finale. It’s a plunge worth taking. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/23/2026 | Details & Permalink

Gould’s sweet second entry in the Letters from Lancaster County series (after The Shop Down the Lane) sees polar opposites slowly find their way to each other. Adam Slaybaugh and Joanna Grebel meet in Lancaster County, where they’re both staying with their grandparents. The chemistry is instant, but outgoing Adam comes on too strong and reticent Joanna rebuffs him, worried she’s not ready to start courting. She begins seeing Jacob Byer instead, and Adam moves to Pinecraft, Fla. After several years—and a trip to Pinecraft during which their chemistry reignites—Adam returns to Pennsylvania to take over his grandparents’ construction company. When Jacob breaks up with Joanna, Adam sends her anonymous letters of encouragement but later lies about it, potentially risking his future with her. Though the buildup drags on a bit, readers will have no trouble rooting for the charming leads as they tackle plenty of humorous hurdles and miscommunications on their way to a happy ending. This small-town Amish romance delights. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/16/2026 | Details & Permalink

Addiction, loss, and recovery animate this affecting contemporary from Lowe (Lowcountry Lost). After serving time in jail for a DUI, Juniper “Junie” Wilder is determined to rebuild her life and regain custody of her daughter, Fern, who’s now living with Junie’s older brother, Cy. She retreats to her late grandmother’s South Carolina seaside estate, which she’s just inherited, and sets about trying to get back on her feet. Thankfully, the road to sobriety isn’t a solitary one, and she leans on the tough love of her 73-year-old sponsor Gilbert; the Magnolia Nephalist Society, an eclectic addiction recovery group; and handsome neighbor Henry, who offers a glimpse of a future beyond her mistakes. As Junie tackles recovery, a custody battle, and the process of starting a dog-walking company, she grapples with deep fears about whether her daughter might be better off without her and whether she’s worthy of God’s forgiveness. Lowe’s character work is nuanced, and she excels at depicting the unglamorous, day-to-day grind of recovery. It adds up to a resonant testament to the power of community to help one make a fresh start. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Peterson (A Moment to Love) pairs two do-gooders divided by a thorny family history in this solid series starter. After meeting at a charity event in Philadelphia in 1866, Judith Ashton Stanford and Dr. Roman Turner bond over their shared desire to help the needy, especially orphans and widows of the Civil War. Four years later, the pair cross paths again in Minnesota, where Judith has traveled to meet her wealthy estranged grandfather, who is dying. Roman’s shocked to discover that Judith’s the granddaughter of James Ashton, a corrupt businessman who once swindled his father, and is unaware she plans to use the inheritance for charitable purposes. As James tries to reconcile with a skeptical Judith, she and Roman discuss their faith and consider what it means to forgive others. Just when it starts to look like a happy ending might be on the horizon, a greedy lawyer determined to steal Judith’s inheritance threatens to wreck the relationship and their plans to finance a new hospital and orphanage. Readers will have no problem rooting for plucky, idealistic Judith as she works to do good in a society ravaged by war and class divides. This satisfies. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

A grieving widow opens up her heart and home in this cozy contemporary from Carlson (Welcome to the Honey B&B). Riva Owens, 61, has been struggling to pay off medical bills and keep up on her mortgage payments since her husband Paul died of cancer more than a year ago. Over the protestations of her daughter Kenzie, who wants her to move to a senior center across town, Riva decides to stay put in her Victorian home and rent out several rooms. As a result, she ushers plenty of drama into her quiet life. Her new boarders Laurel, Windy, Fiona, and Kitty—all independent, opinionated seniors—clash over the space, their secrets, and eventually their romantic interests. As Riva grapples with the challenges of sharing her home—including an incriminating secret one of the women is hiding, and the possibility of a new romance—she turns to God to help her make the most of her new beginning. Carlson’s cute, cheery premise gains depth from resonant descriptions of how grief strikes at unexpected moments and the conflicting excitement and guilt that can accompany a fresh start. This is sure to tug on readers’ heartstrings. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/02/2026 | Details & Permalink

Hannon (Over the Edge) wraps up the Undaunted Courage series with this pulse-pounding contemporary. Anthropologist Cara Tucker is taking a sabbatical in rural Missouri, where she’s helping Natalie Boyer, a local woman, translate family journals written in Paw Paw French, a nearly extinct dialect once spoken by French settlers in the region. Natalie hopes the journals will shed light on her thorny family history, including the suspicious circumstances surrounding a relative’s death in the 1930s. But a series of too-coincidental disasters—a fire set on Natalie’s property, her handyman’s mysterious death—soon has both women wondering if someone might be determined to keep the journals’ secrets buried. After local sheriff Brad Adams gets involved in the case and seeks Cara’s help extracting clues from the diaries, he begins to suspect the real culprit might be closer to home, even if he can’t yet discern their motive. Hannon keeps the tension high as Brad and Cara harness their faith to unravel a mystery that’s rooted in an intricate web of long-ago affairs, contested inheritances, and buried jealousies. Readers will be on the edge of their seats until the very end. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 01/02/2026 | Details & Permalink