BookLoverAmanda

  The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars  Book #4 in the Sheet Cake Texas Series  A Charming Fake-Dating Rom-Com with Heart and Humor Another great read from Emma! Sheet Cake, Texas is one of my favorite fictional places!  Molly is ready for a fresh start and runs to Texas to outrun her problems....only to run right into a bigger one....she needs a fake boyfriend for her job circumstances! Here comes Collin and she ropes him into her scheme, but unfortunately, it's the one guy she didn't realize who he truly was....leading to some family shenanigans.  Honestly, this whole series is a perfectly fun rom-com mishap that keeps you rooting for the characters from page one.  Their “fake” relationship is full of spark, awkward charm, and emotions neither of them is prepared for. The neighborly app was so fun too with all the chats! The town gives such a cozy feel and while the book worked as a standalone, I need to read books 2&3 ASAP to get some of the con...

 The Royal Artisan by Tessa Afshar  4 Stars   Once again, Tessa has a beautiful blend of biblical history, romance and mystery right into the royal courts of ancient Persia.  Tessa really has a gift for biblical fiction. She gives such a view that we normally wouldn't have explored without reading through her stories. We follow Sazana, a very talented Jewish artisan whose pottery is very well known. She has a secret identity that puts her in danger under the rule of Haman. Her parents passed away years ago and for the last 12 years, her parents friend has watched over her and worked with her. In comes Jadon, the man who broke her heart years ago and is now unexpectedly assigned to protect her and uncover threats.  The second chance romance pulls so much emotion with Sazana and Jadon, loved their interactions. Some bits were a bit slow on pacing that I wasn't as connected with, but overall, I still loved the balance of romance, family, mystery and biblical aspect...

  Prowl by Colleen Coble 4 Stars Book 2 in The Sanctuary Series Really enjoyed book 2 after Ambush! This is a Christian Romantic Suspense series and delivers fast paced suspense, emotional depth and a romance you just can't help but root for. We had a CRAZY introduction to this book. A body is found in the tiger enclosure and RIGHT AWAY you just need to know ALL the things! I listened to the audiobook and love the narration. Colleen always has a good narrator for her books that keep you engaged.  We are back with Blake and Paradise from book 1 with their second chance romance continuation as their relationship grows amid alllll the chaos around them. We are following multiple mysteries in a way with Paradise's missing DNA results and the murder of the woman from the beginning of the book. Definitely recommend this series by Colleen, really good! Especially if you like animals, fast paced suspense, faith moments and a sweet romance. Thank you to the publisher for a complimentar...

 Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright 4 Stars Another great autumnal read from Jaime Jo Wright! A very haunting book starting out on the shores of Lake Superior into a dual timeline mystery to present day......a very emotionally charged book. The ending TOOK ME OUT. I did NOT see that coming. We follow Rebecca who is a battered woman in 1874 who wakes up with no idea of her past. Then we follow Shea in modern day who is an author seeking refuge from her crumbling marriage. Both women find themselves drawn to the isolated lighthouse with a lingering presence of Annabel. This had a theme of gothic suspense because you have a tie in with Edgar Allen Poe as it's inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's haunting poem of Annabel Lee. I loved that because I knew nothing of Edgar Allen Poe and it caused me to research a bit about the history of that poem. I can't say a ton because I don't want to spoil anything, but wow, what an ending.  Trigger warning: suicide mentions...

 Playing for Keeps by Mandi Blake 4 Stars  This was another great Christmas read by Mandi! She always brings the faith and sweet romance that I enjoy in books! This is a second chance romance story between Justin McKinnon and Caroline Taylor. Their families have hated each other for decades and when Caroline asks Justin to pretend to be her boyfriend one day many years ago, their spur of the moment kiss turned into a secret romance...just like Romeo and Juliet with their feuding families.  Cut to many years later....they still love each other but as things would have it, they went their separate ways unwillingly. Caroline owns the bakery in town but no guy she has dated since Justin has worked out for her. She has been hung up on her first love (Justin) in the back of her mind for so long. Justin is back in town after escaping his abusive father years ago, and is ready to work things out with Caroline, if it be in the Lord's will for them. Really enjoyed the Christmas ele...

  Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer   Book 4 in The Timeless Series 5 STARS A FAVORITE OF 2025 Watch my dedicated reading vlog here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9oct9SJ7MA YOU GUYS. GABRIELLE DID IT AGAIN. It took me long enough to read book 4 that we have books 5 & 6 out but I GOT IT DONE! :)  This book is a NEW FAV in the series now for me. This is a Christian Historical Romance Time Travel Series and to me, it is my favorite Christian Fiction series of all time. In each book of the series, you have someone or multiple people who time travel. The person wakes up each day in a different time and before a specific birthday, they have to stay awake past midnight in that time and they will remain there forever, forsaking the other life and timeline forever.  This was the first of the series that our main character had no idea how the time travel piece worked.  We follow Caroline, in 1927 and 1727. She is searching for answers about why she has this...