Prowl by Colleen Coble

 

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 complimentary copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7884556230
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hN2xtS
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780840714374_prowl

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Tempest at Annnabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright

 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, harassment, semi-detailed violence, abuse and death.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7160984537
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4qX9a0T
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764243790_tempest-at-annabels-lighthouse

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Playing for Keeps by Mandi Blake

 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 elements, family and faith thread in this one. I also loved seeing characters from previous Mandi books from this series. This can be read as a standalone but it's nice knowing characters like Alicia from another book in the series.

We had some great themes of forgiveness and grace and Mandi always points the reader and characters back to Jesus. 

Recommended for anyone who loves Christmas Christian Romance books. The romance is clean with no language. Thank you to Mandi for sending me a copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7836925016
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/45GXdTm

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

 

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 ability to exist in both times. She stumbles upon a letter from her mother that hints at her own past....so she goes on the quest to figure out where her mother is. She disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins a ship sailing for the Bahamas, her mother's last known location. There she crosses path with Marcus Zale, a handsome pirate and finds herself caught in lots of secrets. In 1927, she has a lot of family drama as the daughter of a preacher and is trying to keep her family from scandal with all these secrets with her brother and whatnot. She has help from police officer, Lewis Cager, who was her childhood friend. Things go on from here as Lewis also helps in Caroline's quest...

I love how Gabrielle told this story! We were so intertwined in the timelines, you could really feel what was happening with each page. As someone who loves a good Scotsman in the 1700s....this book was for me! Marcus was the best guy. He was a protector and took care of Caroline no matter what. Their romance was CHEF'S KISS!

And Lewis was such a good friend to Caroline to help her. Without him, things would not have progressed as they did. 

Caroline's family in 1927 - I wasn't too sure about them but by the end, my heart, I was crying. I loved so much of what her father said in the end of this book. The faith in that timeline was perfection to me. No matter what, we are not broken. We are in need of a savior. And this book reminds you of that and God's will and plan for your life.

What else can I say? Go watch my spoiler free reading vlog on YouTube and see all the emotions, reactions and thoughts! :) 

Excited for book 5!

Baker Book House:
https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764244209_across-the-ages
Amazon: https://amzn.to/431zzjH

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Beatitudes by Charles Spurgeon

The Beatitudes by Charles Spurgeon 
5 Stars 

Once again, a great Spurgeon read! This short but deeply rich work is a gem. Spurgeon takes Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Blessed are the poor in spirit....) and unpacks each verse with depth and conviction. What I love most about his works is how timeless his teaching always is. Even though he spoke/wrote in the Victorian Era, his reflections on humility, mercy, righteousness, and peace speak directly to us today. So much is relatable in our time now. 

Every page reminds you that the Beatitudes are not just poetic lines but calls to live with Christlike character in our world today. 

His words are easy to understand and reading two chapters per week was perfect for the weekly discussions with Tiffany, Chrissie and Deea for our readalong. 

If you are looking for a devotional or bible study companion that goes beyond the surface and gives you deep reflections....read this!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7975876197

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hBei6z 

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost

A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost
4 Stars 

Book 6 in the Christmas Tree Farm 

 Another cute Christmas cozy mystery in this series! :) We follow Holly White and her husband Sheriff Evan Gray as she is expecting! Holly agrees to take it easy because she has elevated blood pressure. There is an attempted robbery of an antique ornament. The thief manages to escape....but they find their body later.....someone was in town to kill them and now they have another mystery to solve.

I really liked the romance with Holly and Evan continued in this book. It's natural, sweet and clean. The small town and side characters in this book are SO cozy and you just love seeing them try to figure out what happened.

Only a couple of small swear words, no explicit content, making this an overall clean series to get into.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7949483450
Amazon: https://amzn.to/47f2K5z

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earn by items purchased from these links.

A Weather Girl's Guide to Love by Cassandra Joelle

 

A Weather Girl's Guide to Love by Cassandra Joelle
3 Stars

Another buddy read with my friend Melissa! :) 

This book is a Christian romance following Hailey Sinclair. She had her life all planned out. She goes to rural Wyoming after graduation instead of a bigger city to be an on-air meteorologist as she planned. Her mother passed away when she was young and her boyfriend of 3 year's, Jett Dawson, reveals his mother is dying from cancer. So, she changes her plans and goes to follow Jett home because his mother has always felt like her own.

While she is there, things with Jett and her don't feel like they are working out for whatever reason and they take a dating break. He is devastated by his mother's diagnosis and needs space to process. While on the dating break, she meets Colt Wilder, a cameraman at her new job who she connects with more than she did with Jett. She starts to wonder why her and Jett lost their spark in the relationship and if she was just with him because of the close relationship she had with his mother. 

This was a cute premise but I ultimately wanted more from the story. While the premise had potential,   I loved the idea of a Christian rom-com centered around a meteorologist finding her way back to God’s plan, the execution fell short a bit. The writing felt a bit like we were missing some of the details (which I understand, it's meant to be a novella), but there were some details I would have liked to see fleshed out a bit more into a longer story. 

Also, something important to note: the cover and title make this book look like a light, cutesy romantic comedy, but it has a lot of details surrounding on-page parental death from cancer, grief from that loss and mentions of another parent dying from the same illness. There are no trigger warnings for these themes that I noticed, so I want to mention I think readers should be aware of this before going in.

I did appreciate the faith thread and the Wyoming small-town setting and overall it was cute, but wish it was a bit longer. 

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy to read for review. All thoughts are my own. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7701880634
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nkaQhV

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.