Review: "Christmas in Idaho" by Ray Downing

Looking for a different kind of reading experience for your family this Christmas? Check out Christmas in Idaho!

Review: "The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery" by Amanda Cox

Last year, I read Amanda Cox's debut novel, The Edge of Belonging, and was completely enchanted. So when her new novel came up for review, I didn't even have to think about requesting it!

Review: "The Nature of Small Birds" by Susie Finkbeiner

Most of the books I read are romances, and sometimes it's hard for me to break out of my comfort zone. But taking a chance on something different can be rewarding, and that's certainly the case with The Nature of Small Birds.

Review: "Whose Waves These Are" by Amanda Dykes

You know how some books aren't meant to be read quickly; they're meant to be savored? That's Whose Waves These Are. It took me more than a week to read, in bits and pieces, thinking about it during the in between times. And it was beautiful.

Review: "How the Light Gets In" by Jolina Petersheim

In How the Light Gets In, author Jolina Petersheim takes the biblical story of Ruth and Boaz and transplants it into a modern-day Mennonite community.

Review: "Silent Days, Holy Night" by Phyllis Clark Nichols

Can you believe Christmas is less than two weeks away? Amidst the craziness of the season, sometimes it's nice to sit down with a good book, and Silent Days, Holy Night is the perfect option. At just over 200 pages, it's a quick read, and it's oh so satisfying.

Review: "Lies We Tell Ourselves" by Amy Matayo

I've been on the Amy Matayo train for a while now—Lies We Tell Ourselves is her tenth book, and I've read roughly half of them. One thing I love about her books is that you never know what you're going to get! Maybe the book will be dark and serious (The Whys Have It), maybe it will be light and funny (The Thirteenth Chance), or maybe it will fall somewhere in between (Christmas at Gate 18). What's a given, though, is that the book will be totally engaging!

Lies We Tell Ourselves is no different—it's a book that captures you from the beginning and doesn't let go until long after you've turned the final page.

"High Treason" by DiAnn Mills

Middle Eastern and American cultures collide when an assassination attempt is made on a Saudi prince. An FBI agent and a CIA operative are tasked with keeping the prince safe and uncovering the plot. But the assassin may be closer than they expect ...

2017 Mini Reviews

I write a lot of book reviews. (Many of you are saying, "duh," right now.) But did you know that I read more books than I review? Over the past year, I've read a handful of books that, for whatever reason, I didn't review. But I do have thoughts about them (of course I do!), so I thought I'd do a mini review wrap up of the ones I remember reading.

"The Wanderers" by Meg Howrey

I began The Wanderers with high hopes—it was being compared to The Martian, which I loved. But this is nothing like The Martian ... the characters don't even actually go to Mars! (I did recognize a few sciencey/spacey terms from The Martian, but that was were the similarities ended.)

"A Time to Stand" by Robert Whitlow

In a story that feels ripped from the headlines, Robert Whitlow takes readers to a small town divided by racial tensions.

"Can't Help Falling" by Kara Isaac

Can't Help Falling was one of the books shortlisted for the Inspy Award in the Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense category, which I had the honor of helping judge. I'd never read anything by author Kara Isaac before, but by the time I was about 25% into the book, I'd gone back and purchased Close to You, Isaac's debut novel about two of the minor characters from Can't Help Falling.

I'm pretty careful about spending book money, so that shows you just how much I was loving Can't Help Falling!

"On Love's Gentle Shore" by Liz Johnson

The best kind of reads are the ones you can't bear to put down, the ones you find yourself thinking about when you're not reading them. That's exactly what I experienced while reading On Love's Gentle Shore.

"Finding Love" by Toni Shiloh

Earlier this year, during my whirlwind tour of Kindle Unlimited, I read Toni Shiloh's Buying Love. I enjoyed the book, and I was happy to learn that Shiloh was planning to continue the Maple Run series. So when Finding Love released, I knew I wanted to read it.

"Sweetbriar Cottage" by Denise Hunter

Every time Denise Hunter releases a new book, I'm itching to get my hands on it! I was especially excited to read Sweetbriar Cottage, as it features a (very) minor character from Just a Kiss, the final novel in her Summer Harbor series. (Also—Just a Kiss just won the 2017 INSPY Award for contemporary romance/romantic suspense! Check out all the winners here.)

"Jane of Austin" by Hillary Manton Lodge

Simply delightful: Those are the words that spring to mind when I think of Hillary Manton Lodge's modern day twist on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.

"The Whys Have It" by Amy Matayo

When I hear that Amy Matayo has a new book coming out, I have just one reaction: How soon can I read it? 

"Looking Glass Lies" by Varina Denman

Last year, I read Varina Denman's Mended Hearts series. I really enjoyed the three books, which revolved around a church in a small Texas town. Looking Glass Lies is also set in a small Texas town, but where the Mended Hearts series mainly dealt with hurts inflicted and/or perpetuated by the church, Looking Glass Lies deals with self-image.

"What Hope Remembers" by Johnnie Alexander

The Sullivan/Somers Misty Willow saga continues in What Hope Remembers, this time telling Amy Somers' story.

"True to You" by Becky Wade

Once again, Becky Wade is responsible for an insanely late night...