Warren (One Last Chance) launches the Call of the Wild series with an exhilarating tale of survival and second chances. Facing a major life decision, pop star Keely Williams leaves New York City for Alaska, where she hopes meeting her estranged birth mom will give her some clarity. But she can’t connect with her mother, and her flight home is hijacked and crashes in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. The downed plane is found by Dawson Mulligan, a former cop who’s determined to redeem himself for failing to rescue an ex by getting Keely home safely. As a snowstorm approaches, the two trek to a small community whose faith and tight-knit bonds inspire them to open up about their pasts. The danger’s far from over, however, and when Keely and Dawson find themselves entangled in an elaborate drug-trafficking plot linked to the hijacking, they must learn to trust themselves and one another to survive. In Warren’s hands, the Alaskan bush becomes a visceral force that pushes the characters to grapple with their faith, while the central romance serves as a strong emotional anchor for the fast-moving plot. Warren’s fans and newcomers alike will enjoy this high-stakes romantic thrill ride. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 10/24/2025 | Details & Permalink

Bradley’s rushed latest in the Logan Point series (after Silence in the Dark) stars a true crime podcaster whose current investigation hits a little too close to home. Tori Mitchell, host of Dark Deeds Unraveled, has maintained a careful distance from her hometown of Logan Point, Miss., ever since her mother died in a tragic accident there seven years earlier. But when her 17-year-old nephew, Drew, is accused of murdering Tori’s sister-in-law’s best friend, Jenny Tremont, Tori reluctantly heeds her relatives’ pleas to return home and use her investigative skills to clear his name. There’s barely time to start sleuthing, though, before an attempt is made on Tori’s life, forcing her to seek help from former FBI agent Scott Sinclair, who’s in town recovering from an injury. Even Scott can’t seem to protect Tori from the “accidents” that keep befalling her, however, and as their escapes grow narrower—and it becomes clear Drew knows more about the murder than he should—both Tori and Scott wrestle with their faith as they race to unmask the killer. While the murder mystery adds intrigue, it’s blunted by clumsy prose and a second half that incorporates several hasty reveals on its way to the abrupt conclusion. Thrill seekers would be better served elsewhere. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 10/17/2025 | Details & Permalink

The sweet latest in Blackburne’s the Heart of the Amish series (after Hunting for a Husband) stars an unassuming young baker with an unfortunate nickname. Jane Bontrager has been pining over Samuel Mast for years, unaware he’s behind her hated childhood nickname “Plain Jane,” a byproduct of his effort to hide his childhood crush on her. When Jane starts receiving letters and gifts from a secret admirer, the last person she suspects is Sam. His best friend encourages him to stop sending anonymous gifts, own up to his past behavior, and declare his feelings, but Sam’s reluctant, especially when he and Jane forge a tenuous bond after spending time together at her bakery. But when a second secret admirer starts pursuing Jane, the stakes rise and Sam worries he’s missed his chance to set the record straight. Blackburne’s central romance is enriched with plenty of small-town charm and comic relief, including a few mischievous cats (one of which is named Little Mouse). Series fans and newcomers alike will be charmed by this cheerful trip back to Ohio Amish country. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 10/10/2025 | Details & Permalink

Meyer (For a Lifetime) romps through parallel timelines in the irresistible latest in her Timeless series. Charles spends half his days as a farmer in 1883 Virginia and the other half as an earl and adviser to Queen Elizabeth in 1563 Britain. At age 25 he’ll have to permanently choose a timeline and needs to iron out his problems in each life first. He starts by commissioning fellow time traveler Andrew, a medical student in the 19th century, to treat the ill Queen Elizabeth. It seems like a fail-safe plan until Charles’s stepsister Cecily points out all three could be accused of sabotage if the court learns Charles hired a fake physician. Meanwhile, in the 19th century, Charles agrees to show up in his earl persona at Andrew’s family’s vacation home, in an effort to boost Andrew’s mother’s social standing. As it becomes increasingly difficult to carry out their duties without being found out (or irrevocably changing history), Cecily, Charles, and Andrew must put their trust in God to lead them to the right path, wherever—and whenever—it leads. Meyer uses questions of time and fate to develop her characters’ identities and moral crises, and vividly reanimates bygone eras with rich historical detail. Readers will be hooked. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Twenty-seven-year-old Anne Loveday, the heroine of this mixed-bag Regency-era romantic suspense novel from Klassen (A Sea View Christmas), would rather follow in her surgeon father’s footsteps than marry, much to her pushy stepmother’s chagrin. When Anne’s invited to stay with a family friend in the town of Painswick, she jumps at the chance and is soon tasked by local physicians Dr. Marsland and Dr. Finch task with caring for Celia Fitzjohn, a woman with dropsy who lives at the grand estate of Painswick Court. As Anne settles into her nursing duties, she can’t help but notice the shady dealings and hushed conversations taking place in the estate’s dark corners, especially when Celia’s nephews, Jasper Paine and Jude Dalby, come to stay. Even handsome Dr. Finch, of whom Anne is quickly growing fond, seems to have something to hide. As more and more “accidents” occur and endanger Celia’s life, Anne draws on her faith to protect herself and her patient—which becomes increasingly difficult as the culprit works to frame her for the mishaps. While readers might struggle with the novel’s somewhat sluggish first half, the tension mounts as the story progresses, setting the stage for a satisfying conclusion. Slow start aside, Klassen’s fans will find this worth their while. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Irvin (To Love and to Cherish) pairs two young Amish animal lovers in this spirited romance. Henrietta Miller has never dreamed of a life spent cleaning and cooking indoors; she’d prefer to care for the animals outside, especially her goats. When Nicholas Byler moves to town and starts working as the vet’s assistant, Hen wants nothing to do with the man who took the job she applied for. Nicholas isn’t sure what to make of the outspoken Henrietta either, especially after they clash about the proper treatment of a geriatric horse. He’s also struggling with doubts about his faith and is torn between remaining in the Amish community or leaving to attend vet school. The two eventually bond over their devotion to animals, but Hen’s committed to Amish life and can’t imagine a future with a man who feels differently. Irvin’s characters are multifaceted, and the gratifying love story gains depth from the pair’s resonant struggles to navigate between passion and faith. Fans of Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter will be hooked. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 09/19/2025 | Details & Permalink

Miller (A Valentine for a Vet) kicks off the Silver Teapot Series with a fun if somewhat flimsy 21st-century spin on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. After losing her job as a high school history teacher, Liv Bennet is tasked by her family with caring for her ailing grandmother, Veronica, in the small English village of Hartbury. A lifelong Austen fan, Liv is itching to visit historic Hartbury Hall, which doubled as Pemberly Hall in the film Pride and Prejudice, but upon arriving discovers the building has fallen in disrepair and learns from surly, handsome gardener Liam Brown, who chastises her for trespassing, that it is closed to the public. But there’s more to Liam than meets the eye, her grandmother hints as she and Liv marshal a group of volunteers to refurbish the hall and open it to the public. Liam begrudgingly joins the efforts to revive Hartbury Hall and begins to open up about a long-ago tragedy and his struggles with his faith in its wake. While the narrative frame and Regency-inflected trappings are cute, it feels unlikely that it would take Liz almost to the end of the book to discover Liam’s secret. Still, Austenites who can suspend their disbelief will find enough to enjoy. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 09/19/2025 | Details & Permalink

Landsem (Code Name Edelweiss) unspools a thrilling tale of family turmoil set against the backdrop of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake in Montana. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly’s mother walked out on the family when they were kids, leaving all three with deep emotional scars. Seventeen years later, Bridget, a nurse, and Frannie, a rebellious teen, still live with their dad in Minnesota, but Claire has moved to West Yellowstone, Mont., with her husband, Red, and baby daughter, Jenny. When Bridget gets a summer position at a hospital in Yellowstone, their father asks her to take Frannie along and bring Claire, her husband, and their baby back home at the end of the season. Upon arriving in Montana, Bridget and Frannie find that Red and Claire are barely speaking to each other. Meanwhile, relations among the three sisters aren’t much better—especially after Red leaves to take a job three hundred miles away, kicking Claire’s fears of abandonment into high gear. When an earthquake hits, triggering severe flooding, the three sisters must put their faith in God and one another to survive. In the process, they uncover buried secrets about themselves and their mother’s long-ago departure. Landsem keeps the tension high throughout with a perfect balance of zippy action and detailed character work. It’s a must-read for fans of clean historical fiction. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 09/12/2025 | Details & Permalink

Afshar (The Queen’s Cook) transports readers to ancient Persia with this high-octane spin on the Purim story. Sazana is a prodigious potter who keeps her Jewish heritage a secret from her employer Haman, the instigator behind a royal edict to annihilate all of Persia’s Jews. After Queen Esther persuades her husband, King Xerxes, to execute Haman and grant Jewish people the right to defend themselves, Sazana is cautiously optimistic there may be hope for her people yet. But when it becomes clear that sympathizers to Haman’s cause remain—including his 10 vengeful sons—Sazana must summon her faith and join forces with her ex, Jadon, an agent of Queen Esther, to ensure peace in Persia. That involves investigating the death of Sazana’s mentor and guardian Arta, who left behind clues that embroil the pair in a generations-spanning mystery. Despite a few hiccups near the end (including a quickly resolved and somewhat out-of-place plot twist), the textured narrative is effectively propelled forward by its endearing characters, including resilient Sazana and complex Queen Esther. Fans of biblical fiction should take note. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 09/12/2025 | Details & Permalink

Snelling’s textured latest Home to Green Creek romance (after Land of Dreams) follows a widow as she starts a new life in the Midwest. In 1890, Maya Bredesen is set to leave Norway for America with her husband, Einer, when he dies in a storm. A devastated Maya decides to make the trip nonetheless, but arrives at her cousin Amalia’s Iowa boardinghouse severely ill and angry at God for her misfortune. Upon realizing she’s pregnant, Maya’s buoyed by the renewed sense of connection to her late husband and regains hope. Things get complicated, though, when she bonds with her tall, selfless neighbor Eben Miller, with whom she discusses faith, his family struggles, and her heartbreak. Unsure what to do with such feelings only months after losing her husband, Maya wrestles with what it means to start over and rediscover happiness. Snelling paints a richly detailed historical backdrop and perceptively renders the tension between Maya’s competing senses of loss and hope. Bolstered by plot threads carried over from previous installments, this immersive outing will satisfy series fans and new readers alike. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 08/29/2025 | Details & Permalink