Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Maggie and the Maverick by Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Book: Maggie and the Maverick

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2025

A jaded lady marshal and a stage driver with a past—bound by duty, tested by lies, and drawn to a love that could change everything.

A wary lady marshal and a reformed stage driver—entangled by secrets, shadowed by danger, and tempted by a love neither dared to trust.

U.S. Marshal Maggie Davis has learned the hard way not to trust men with charming smiles and winning ways. Her reticence makes her the perfect undercover investigator for a string of daring stage robberies. When the case leads her to stay with a local family, she finds herself drawn to Cal McConnell, the handsome stage driver who could either be her greatest ally or her prime suspect.

Cal has worked hard to put his wild past behind him and build an honest life as a stage driver. When a mysterious new lady comes to town selling ladies’ garments, he’s instantly captivated by her beauty and fierce independence. But as stage robberies escalate and murder enters the picture, Cal must decide if he can trust this woman who seems determined to keep him at arm’s length—even as his heart tells him she could be the one.

When the line between truth and deception blurs, will they cling to caution—or risk everything for something real?

Click here to get your copy!

"Maggie and the Maverick" by Erica Vetsch is part of the (Brides of the West) series, third of the McConnell Brothers.
A reader could enjoy each book as a standalone, but I really encourage you to read each book in the order in which they were written. This is a love story with a little bit of mystery. The mystery is who is robbing the stagecoaches. This is a quick read that has spiritual truths within the storyline. I love the way the two main characters meet. I of course wouldn't want to meet someone the same way but, in a book, or a movie it is a lol moment! I really like all of the members of this family!

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

Did you ever watch the movie Stagecoach? The movie that launched John Wayne’s career? My father introduced me to the movie when I was young, and that sparked my interest in westward expansion, cowboys, and stagecoaches.

When I was a teen, I read a book called Six Horse Hitch, by author Janice Holt Giles. In the book, she goes into all the details of stagecoach driving, stations across the west, the coaches, the passengers, the US mail delivery, and more. I was enthralled.

Stagecoach drivers (sometimes called Jehus) were a breed apart. Brave, resilient, and bold. Heroic.

Which meant, when I became an author, I wanted to create a hero who was a stagecoach driver. Enter Cal McConnell in Maggie and the Maverick. He’s the third of three sons, with a dry humor, and a bit of a jaded outlook on life.

Truthfully, I patterned him after Heath Barkley, a character on the 1960’s TV show, The Big Valley, played by Lee Majors. Even down to the light brown/dark blond hair and blue eyes.

One thing that is important when writing romance is to ensure that the heroine is worthy of the hero and vice versa. So I imagined what kind of a woman would be a great life partner for Cal. She would have to be spunky, smart, and compassionate.

Maggie Davis, an undercover agent, fit the bill. Her guise was that of a ladies’ unmentionables saleswoman, and that job leads to a memorable encounter upon meeting Cal for the first time.

I’m so thankful that Maggie and the Maverick is getting a new release out into the world through Wild Heart Books. I hope that you enjoy this rollicking western with a stage driving hero and undercover agent heroine.

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, November 11

Pens Pages & Pulses, November 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12

Lyssa Loves Books, November 12

Fiction Book Lover, November 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, November 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 14

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 15

For Him and My Family, November 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Devoted To Hope, November 16

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 17

Artistic Nobody, November 17 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

She Lives To Read, November 18

lakesidelivingsite, November 18

Simple Harvest Reads, November 19 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19

Book Looks by Lisa, November 20

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 21

The Mommies Reviews, November 21

Cover Lover Book Review, November 22

Blossoms and Blessings, November 23

Holly’s Book Corner, November 23

Vicky Sluiter, November 24

Pause for Tales, November 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d59d/maggie-and-the-maverick-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, November 10, 2025

Book: Gazing into Darkness by Heidi Glick

About the Book

Book: Gazing into Darkness

Author: Heidi Glick

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: August 12, 2025

Instead of moving closer to his girlfriend, Chance McPherson gets dumped and relocated to Cincinnati—farther from his dreams and closer to his shameful past. Stacey Sanderson is excited to finally secure a role in law enforcement, like the rest of her family, especially as an EPA CID agent, where she can protect God’s creation.

On the job, Stacey’s perfectionism and faith rub Chance the wrong way, while his antics and wisecracks irritate Stacey. When federal employees who worked an old case with Stacey start dying, Chance becomes concerned, and not just because Stacey is his partner. Stacey senses a closeness between them but has vowed not to get involved with men in law enforcement and especially not someone who doesn’t share her faith.

The anniversary of the case is creeping closer. Time is running out. Can Chance and Stacey stop the person who is out to kill her before it’s too late?

"Gazing into Darkness" by Heidi Glick kept me turning the pages. This book focuses on a different aspect of FBI work, environmental issues like chemical spills. This book has lots of suspense and murder and attempts at murdering the main heroine, Stacey. Both the main female and the main character have issues from the past they have to overcome. A message of faith is part of the storyline. I am looking forward to reading the next books in this series. I have to tell you that a line at the very beginning of the story made me laugh out loud because I have had he same though when reading a book! Here's the line, (after Stacy read about the brakes on the heroine's car went out and an officer dashed to her rescue) Meh. For once, she'd like the heroine to handle the situation herself.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

 Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Heidi Glick writes romantic suspense and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. She has an eye for detail and includes law enforcement particulars in her stories, grounding the reader in scenes. She’s attended Writers’ Police Academy and the Hancock County (Ohio) Sheriff Citizen’s Academy to ensure accuracy of story details. Though she grew up in Southern California, Heidi now considers rural Northwest Ohio her home.

More from Heidi

My interest in science probably began at an early age with my love of animals. When I was younger, I rode horses. In high school, I became interested in science and learning more about God’s creation. When I attended college, I majored in biology and became active in Cedarville Christian University’s Earth Stewardship Organization—aimed at promoting stewardship of God’s creation from a Christian perspective. Years later, I worked for a government contractor onsite at the Cincinnati EPA. After a serious conversation with coworkers, I developed an idea for a story involving EPA CID agents. I wanted a story that contained a branch of law enforcement not typically featured in Christian suspense stories. Also, I wanted a series with the same characters throughout, sort of like Castle or Bones. Additionally, I wanted the theme of redemption throughout. While the story involves the environment, the book is not meant to be political. I hope readers enjoy the novel and benefit from the message. Something fun about the book is the artwork. Like the covers for Terri Blackstock’s If I Run series, the covers for Queen City Heroes form one larger image when side by side.

By the way, I still love animals, and my elderly cat Daisy was the inspiration for the heroine’s feline.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 8

Simple Harvest Reads, November 9 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 10

Artistic Nobody, November 11 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

Guild Master, November 13 (Author Interview)

Betti Mace, November 14

Fiction Book Lover, November 15 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 16

Books Less Travelled, November 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 18

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, November 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 20

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, November 21 (Author Interview)

Alyssa Madjeski, November 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Heidi is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d093/gazing-into-darkness-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, November 8, 2025

The Cross at Morioka Castle by Kathleen J. Robison

About the Book

Book: The Cross at Morioka Castle

Author: Kathleen J. Robison

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Within this ancient land of shoji screens and tatami mats, Ariko finds that the stone ruins of Morioka Castle hide a mysterious secret that holds the keys to a Christian faith extending far deeper than she ever imagined.

Ariko returns to Japan, riddled with guild. Engulfed with grief, she must tidy up her deceased father’s affairs, and she faces the shattering of a dream. Her father’s small soba shop, a haven where he shared his faith, stands silent, and his wealthy family has long since turned their back on his legacy of faith. Ariko struggles with whether to return to the United States when her great-grandmother demands that she stay in Japan and join the family business, a legacy her father abandoned years ago.

Seeking escape, Ariko ventures to the enigmatic ruins of Morioka Castle, where the air hums with murmurs of the forgotten past. Amid the crumbling stones and ancient shadows, providence brings a striking stranger, and he captivates her with a tale woven into the very fabric of the castle – a legend that flickers with the promise of hope, just in time for a fateful Christmas Eve.

Click here to get your copy!

I liked the novella" The Cross at Morioka Castle" by Kathleen J. Robison but there were a few times I wish the words were explained as they were Japanese. Yes, the book is written about a castle in Japan, but the words were a little confusing to me, but the story was still interesting and kept me reading. This was a short read 108 pages. I was wanting to read more when the story ended. The Salvation message is clearly shared in the pages of the novella. If this novella was made into a movie, I would definably watch it. If a reader wants a short for the holidays or any time of the year, then I truly recommend "The Cross at Morioka Castle" by Kathleen J. Robison.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Kathleen J. Robison weaves tales that inspire a walk of faith and a reliance on God’s guidance through life’s trials. With endearing characters, her stories are a testament to the resilience of broken lives, revived through hope and renewed through God’s grace. Kathleen and her husband call Southern California home, where they find joy in the company of their twenty-one and counting grandchildren.

More from Kathleen

Who doesn’t love castles, right? I fell in love with the ruins of Morioka Castle Park long before I wrote this novella. Both my sons and their families lived in Morioka when they first became missionaries, so we made trips to see the grandkids and a few trips to the castle ruins as well.

Morioka Castle in Northern Japan is a park of ruins, but what glorious ruins they are. In 1632, after twenty years of construction, the castle was completed by the Nanbu, a well-known Samurai clan. The castle stood from 1598 until 1874. Sadly, after serving feudal lords for two-hundred and fifty years, the age of the Samurai came to a close, and the magnificent structure was demolished. After the Boshin War, the Meiji government consolidated its power by abolishing domains and removing castles in lands that had opposed the government.

Thankfully, in 1906 a park was established around what was left of the granite walls and grounds of Morioka Castle. It’s where my character Ariko meets a handsome stranger and while touring the castle, learns of the legend of the cross.

“He explained the castle kitchen history, but his emphasis was on the cross. “The Castle Kitchen Cross, as I call it on my blog, is where an ex-samurai and his wife practiced their faith and shared it secretly with those who came to the kitchen. The cross carved in the stone, although obscured, was hidden behind pots and pans hanging on the wall.”

Ariko’s ears perked when he mentioned ex-samurai.”

The legend in the story is completely fictional. Although in my research, I discovered that there was a Christian Samurai who … well, if you read the book, perhaps you’ll discover what’s fact and what’s fiction! Just imagine walking the castle grounds with Ariko as she discovers the cross in the kitchen. What conflicts may it have caused in her ancestral, Japanese family? Let The Cross at Morioka Castle whisk you away. Take the journey to Japan, where the ethereal land of the ancient is not so far away.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 8

Guild Master, November 9 (Author Interview)

capturingluminous, November 9

Lily’s Corner, November 10

Texas Book-aholic, November 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 12

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 13 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, November 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 15

For Him and My Family, November 16

Fiction Book Lover, November 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 17

Blogging With Carol, November 18

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, November 19

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d011/the-cross-at-morioka-castle-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, November 7, 2025

A Lesson in Love by Linda Shenton Matchett

About the Book

Book: A Lesson in Love

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 8, 2025

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Click here to get your copy!

a lovely

"A Lesson in Love" by Linda Shenton Matchett is set during the war and covers two different aspects that I don't think I have ever read about before in books with the same time period, boys that are housed in manor homes and women who have to take over some of the farming tasks that men would normally do since they are fighting in the war.

This is a short 161page novel, but it is well written and full of faith as well as characters who really touch the reader's heart.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

The Women’s Land Army was originally formed in 1917, during The Great War to help Britain with its food production. After the men returned home, the group was disbanded. Once again at war in 1939, the WLA was reestablished, and over the course of the conflict, more than 200,000 women served all over the United Kingdom. Many came from cities and towns and knew very little about working on a farm. Most had to be taught how to drive, milk cows, collect eggs, sow, and reap the harvest in addition to the many other tasks associated with farms.

Among the largest crops to be produced were potatoes. They were cheap, and several varieties matured quickly providing food to citizens, troops, and refugees. Rationing was a necessary part of wartime life to ensure everyone had enough to eat. The government issued pamphlets and cookbooks with easy-to-follow recipes made with readily available food (tinned and fresh).

Lord Woolton Pie, a vegetarian potpie named after the Minister of Food, is one of those recipes. By all reports it was not well-received, however, I’ve made it on several occasions and find it quite tasty.

Pie

1lb cauliflower
1lb rutabaga (I use parsnips)
1lb carrots
1lb potatoes
Bunch of spring onions chopped
2 teaspoons of Marmite (yeast extract – or you can use a stock cube)
Tablespoon of rolled oats
Salt and pepper to taste once cooked.
Parsley (fresh or dried)

Pastry

8oz wholemeal/wholewheat flour
4oz mashed potato
3oz margarine or lard
2 tsp of baking powder
couple large pinches of salt
Dash of water if needed.

Procedure

Chop up the vegetables into chunks with those that take longest to cook into smaller pieces.
Place in pot and bring to simmer with just enough water to reach 3/4 of the way up the veg in the pot.
Add in Marmite and rolled oats, salt and pepper and cook until tender and most of the water has been absorbed.
Place mixture in deep pie dish and sprinkle with fresh parsley (or add dry parsley to mixture and mix in)
Make the pastry by mixing the flour with the baking powder and salt and then rubbing in the margarine.
Mix the mashed potato in to form a dough and knead (add a little water to the mixture if too dry)
Roll out to form pie crust and place on top and decorate then brush with milk.
Place in oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or so until top is form and browned.