4 stars
Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0c0RpES9
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Hi, I’m Amanda 🤍 A southern girl from Tennessee, Christian BookTuber, wife, and autism mama. Welcome to my cozy corner online. I share honest reviews of Christian fiction, clean romance, historical fiction, cozy mysteries, Christian non-fiction, and faith-filled reads that uplift and point hearts back to Christ. I share the content details in the books I read, so you can make an informed decision. If you enjoy cozy, meaningful books and encouraging community, you’re in the right place.
Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0c0RpES9
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780310182412
Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514395-not-what-we-pictured
Beautiful Storm by Mandi Blake
3 Stars
Book #4 in The Unfailing Love Series
Tori's seemingly perfect life falls apart when her doctor husband leaves her for another woman. As she tries to rebuild her future, she receives an unexpected surprise in her divorce settlement.....a cabin in Georgia. When she travels there to sort out her new circumstances, she meets Marcus. Marcus is raising his younger sister and three brothers while dealing with the challenges of a mother who continues to make destructive choices. The connection between Marcus and Tori is immediate, and their relationship develops with a strong love-at-first-sight feel.
I enjoyed the story overall, but it didn't stand out to me as much as some of Mandi's more recent releases. That's a difficult comparison to make since this was part of her first series and she has grown so much as an author over the years. Her new books are almost always 5 star favorites for me. She's really perfected her timelines and being able to make it a very natural progression of what happens in the stories. This was still a charming Christian romance with likable characters and a heartwarming message. I'm not usually a fan of insta-love romances like this with the more cheesy bits, but this one ended up being a solid read rather than a standout favorite for me.
Looking forward to book 5!
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781662284601-beautiful-storm
Amazon series link: https://amzn.to/4w5jxBC
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Conspiracy by Colleen Coble
4 Stars
Book #3 in the Sanctuary Series
A good ending to this series! I love these audiobooks. We pick back up with Blake and Paradise in book #3 of this series and you're pulled right back into the wildlife sanctuary and traumas of the past with our characters. Paradise is a wildlife veterinarian and just when she thinks she can move on with her partner Blake in a romantic relationship, all of the past threats re-emerge that have been following them throughout the series. Everyone is searching for who killed Paradise's parents and Drew's father. As you usually see in romantic suspense, lots of secrets, fast paced action and not knowing who to trust.
The narrator does such a great job with the emotions as you listen, I always love Karen Peakes' narrations with Colleen's books. Very bingeable series. I also liked the tie in with the Tupelo grove series with Hez and Savannah, I finished that series this year too!
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mention of past sexual assault, past parental death, past trauma processing as a child, intense situations with wild animals, death mentioned, not extremely detailed by any means for me, loss of loved ones mentioned
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary gifted copy of the ebook and audiobook to read and listen to for review. All thoughts are my own.
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780840714695-conspiracy
Sign up for Libro.fm here: https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402
Amazon Series Link: https://amzn.to/49W5p5c
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780840714671_conspiracy
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
4.5 Stars rounding up to 5 on Goodreads
“You are loved, you are cherished, and you are chosen by our Savior, and your identity is far greater than any label someone is trying to place on you. Don’t ever forget that.”
I'd heard so many wonderful things about T.I. Lowe's books, and South of Somewhere was my first experience with her writing. Readers typically praise her ability to tell powerful, redemptive stories centered on real-life struggles and now I completely understand why. All I can say is....wow y'all! She delivered an emotional, heartfelt story that exceeded my expectations and showcased exactly why so many readers love her books.
Juniper "Junie" Wilder is a woman whose battle with grief after the loss of her husband and alcoholism cost her custody of her young daughter, Fern. She is determined to rebuild her life after rehab and she goes on a very difficult journey to healing, forgiveness and proving she deserves a second chance at motherhood.
This book is REAL. I love that T.I. Lowe didn't shy away from the powerful realities of addiction and recovery. We saw the setbacks, the guilt, the temptation...and you really had empathy for Junie in what she was trying to do. You root for her to come out of this ahead and to make her way back to a healthy place for her daughter.
As a southern girlie in Tennessee, I also love the South Carolina beach setting. It gives a comforting feel in the midst of the heavy. The encouragement of everyone around Junie was so beautiful to see as well. It had that found family element as the people around her become like family as they share their struggles, stories of addiction and accountability for each other to make it.
The romance between Junie and Henry is an underlying thread that added heart to the story without overtaking the main plot. It was a slow build and their relationship developed naturally as friends first rather than instant attraction and I loved that. Henry believed in Junie.
I was so connected to this book, especially from an audiobook listen - the narrator had a great southern narration for all the different characters and you really felt so connected like it was movie you were watching.
While I wanted a smidge more of Junie's faith explored, she still realized just how much the Lord was on her side regardless and I loved the emphasis of that.
Highly recommend for anyone who loves southern fiction with real life stories that make you think, empathize and learn. Excited to read more by T.I. in the future.
Content/Trigger Warnings: alcohol and drug use mentioned, child custody battle, addiction recovery, mentions of loss of loved ones, grief from losing spouse, brief violent moment from a character, no language, no spice
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514371-south-of-somewhere
Sign up for Libro.fm here:
https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402
Amazon: https://amzn.to/449IDTQ
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9798400507816_south-of-somewhere
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Fav Quotes:
"June told me once that forgiveness never stars with can. It starts with can't. You tell God you can't do it, and He doesn't argue. He helps."
"You learned that rest isn't failure and love isn't a performance and God's quiet is not His absence."
"Grief teaches us that life is fragile. But love - real love - reminds us that life is not pointless. Eternal life doesn't just mean heaven someday. It means hope now. A reason to breathe today. A God who stays."
"Forgiveness isn't weakness; it's muscle. It's choosing - every time the old pain knocks - to stop the echo and start the healing. It's hard, it costs you, and it's always worth it because it gives you back your future."
"Tell the truth to God out loud. He can carry it. He has been carrying you."
"God's love isn't disproved by what he takes away - it's proven by how He stays. She showed me that life's purpose isn't in building something impressive here, but in loving so deeply that eternity feels like going home."
"You don't have to figure God out before you let Him love you."
"But listen to me: sometimes the healing we need looks nothing like we planned. Even when it feels broken, God is still working. Especially then."
Content/Trigger Warnings: grief from loss of loved one, strained mother/daughter relationship, healing, no language, clean romance
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eGaHV0
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
5 Stars
Clean, funny and full of charm! No surprise for Pepper's books :) A British pub owner + small-town cafe girl = a grumpy-sunshine romance with emotional depth! I loved this one!
What I loved:
✨So many funny southern references - set in North Carolina
✨The BANTER
✨Coffee, Tea and Sweets
✨Disability Rep
✨Single Dad Trope
✨No Third Act Breakup
✨Rivals to Lovers
✨ALL THE FOOD
✨Found Family
✨Community Helping Each Other
✨Sweet & Funny Granny D
✨ALL THE LAUGHS
As always, a fun time with Pepper's rom-com books. Lots of laughs, yet emotional depth all included in one. I love the single Dad trope and Finn and his daughter Lucy were the sweetest. Finn was just a great guy too, once he opened up. I loved their rivals dynamic. Also really enjoyed Daphne's personality and love for Jane Austen, tea, books, etc.
Lucy's speech disability represented was done beautifully, especially from my own son's speech issues, I appreciate this being included.
What can I say? I just felt like this was exactly the book I needed during a hard season!
The small town, community coming together in the unexpected hardship in the end was also beautiful. Pepper's inspiration from real life events that happened in her town came across and you could feel the emotion from those scenes. She reminded people that even in the hardest seasons, there is hope in God, in community, in family, in life.
About the Book:
Daphne is the owner of an English tearoom in the North Carolina mountains, whose carefully ordered life is disrupted when Finn, a messy and unconventional English restaurant owner, moves in next door. They are forced to work together to cater a British-themed wedding, leading to plenty of sparks, humor, and growing attraction. As Daphne helps Finn and his young daughter settle into the community, both begin to heal from past losses and disappointments.
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted e-book and audiobook to review. I purchased a copy of the physical book. All thoughts are my own.
Content Details: Natural disaster and loss from the disaster, Mentions of divorce and loss of parent/grandparent, grief explained, romance was clean, kisses only, no language
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4xwPu7B
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9781400351381_a-brewed-awakening
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Content/Trigger Warnings: violence within gladiator arenas, violence, death, murder, themes of sexual assault captivity, war themes, mentions of past trauma, Christian persecution, drugs, clean romance, slavery
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514432-daughter-of-the-rebellion
Sign up for Libro.fm here:
https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PCdLbc
Tyndale: https://www.tyndale.com/p/daughter-of-the-rebellion/9798400506611
Baker: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9798400506611_daughter-of-the-rebellion
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781488238659-act-of-valor
Sign up for Libro.fm here:
https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402
This is a solid Christian romantic suspense read with plenty of action and danger throughout the story. The premise immediately grabbed my attention, and I liked how quickly the plot got moving. Dr. Katherine Gilroy is out horseback riding and stumbles into a deadly shoot-out and she helps US marshal Dominic O'Ryan. She is determined to find her brother who they think murdered his partner. Is all that it seems?
The suspense side of the story was definitely the strongest aspect for me. There were several twists, plenty of tense moments, and enough mystery to keep me interested in finding out what was really going on with Katherine's brother and the shooting that set everything in motion. If you like fast-paced Love Inspired Suspense books, you will likely enjoy the nonstop action as you usually see.
While I liked both Katherine and Dominic as characters, I never fully connected with them on a deeper level. Their relationship developed well enough for the story, but I found myself more invested in the suspense plot than in the romance.
That said, this was still an enjoyable read. The pacing was strong, the mystery kept me engaged and there were enough to hold my interest. I also appreciated the clean romance and the faith elements, which felt natural to the story.
Overall, this is a good read that I think many Christian Love Inspired romantic suspense fans will enjoy, even if it wasn't a standout favorite for me personally.
Thank you to the Harlequin Audio for a copy of the audiobook to listen to for review. The narrator was good. All thoughts are my own.
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781488238642-mountain-fugitive
Sign up for Libro.fm here:
https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ecXrqz
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798891539853-anchoring-you
Sign up for Libro.fm here, I love it:
https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402
If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense with protective heroes, small-town settings, faith themes, and edge-of-your-seat action, this series is one I would recommend. Books 1 & 2 are my favorites of the series as I connected to those characters a bit more and liked the storylines more, but glad to have finished the series. I think I wanted more romance and connection with Hailey and Peter personally, but enjoyed it.
I did pre-order a copy but had a e-book copy from NetGalley. Thank you to the publisher for the NetGalley copy. All thoughts are my own.
Trigger/Content Warnings: No spice or language. Past death of spouse, PTSD, some violence and injuries.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4v8W0PO
Baker: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764242526_silent-menace
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.
Most Anticipated Clean and Christian Fiction for 2026 Hey y'all! Since I don't have enough room on my description in the YouTube vid...