A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile by Angela Bell /// Review

My Review: 

A delightful return to the steampunk world from the pen of Ms. Bell. 

Margaret Kingsley is the behind-the-scenes genius creating all sorts of gadgets for the Daughters of Genius (a.k.a. D.O.G.), an elite team of covert investigators. Her area of expertise is needed at the frontlines in regard to a case investigating patent theft. Margaret is clever and independent despite her ability difference, she hates to feel a burden to others and has trouble letting people in beyond her parents. 

Charles Noble is a gifted former musical prodigy who gave up his dreams to take care of his family when they needed him. Now he works as a clerk, but has taken on organizing an event for a prestigious inventor. Charles is a faithful son, never begrudging his family the personal sacrifices he had to make for them. I liked that he is confident about his attraction to Margaret and sees her as the brilliant woman that she is. 

A fast paced and fun read, with humorous acronyms and touches of steam punk magical realism. I liked how supportive of Margaret her parents are, as well as her friends at the D.O.G. Margaret and Charles are strong likable characters anchored by their faith. An entertaining and enjoyable read, full of adventure. Absolutely delightful read. I'm excited to read more in the series. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy // Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Wildflower Bride

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 11, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a thrilling Western romance about finding belonging in unexpected places—a tale of a fierce woman warrior caught between two worlds, a gentle-hearted rancher, and the faith that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and unconventional heroines.

Abby has lived with the Flathead tribe since they rescued her as a child, forgetting her white heritage. But when her village is massacred, and she’s saved by kind-hearted rancher Wade Sawyer, she’s forced to confront her past and future. Though drawn to Wade’s gentle strength, she refuses to be bound to the white world that once abandoned her.

Wade Sawyer has spent his life trying to please his tyrannical father while battling his own demons. When he finds Abby—fierce, independent, and unlike any woman he’s known—he sees a chance at real love. But winning the heart of a woman who trusts no man and bridging the gap between two worlds seems impossible.

As they face deadly rustlers, family conflicts, and their own fears, Wade and Abby must learn to trust in God’s plan for their lives. But can Abby let down her defenses and embrace a future with Wade? And can Wade prove that true strength lies in gentleness and faith?

A moving story of finding home, healing from the past, and discovering that love knows no boundaries in the untamed Montana Territory.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Lucie's Review: 

A heartwarming romance that you can cheer for throughout. 

Wade Sawyer has lived constantly being beat down by his overbearing father, and I admired him for living out his faith even when it was hard. Abby lived her life among the natives for years, but when her people are massacred, she feels incredibly lost and torn between two worlds, longing for the simpler ways of the tribe. Can she trust the gentle rancher who is carving a place into her heart? 

Wade is an admirable man, doing his best to honor his father and live his faith. I liked that Abby stands up for herself and isn't afraid to say things how they are. The bad guys were just so wicked in this story, I didn't really enjoy reading the parts that were in their heads. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with likable characters, great plot, and a sweet romance. I liked the strong themes of family, faith and forgiveness. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of over 80 books and novellas. She has over a 1.8 million books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

 

More from Mary

I try to write books I love, and I re-read my own books. I’m a big re-reader and if I find myself uninterested in a book I wrote, I take that as a bad sign.

I happen to LOVE Wildflower Bride as much as any book I’ve ever written.

I wrote for ten years before I got my first book published. On that fateful day when I earned my first contract, I had twenty finished books on my computer. And I didn’t just write them and move on. I’d go back (re-reading even then) and polish them. I took stand alone books and shortened them, lengthened them. Turned them into series, saved all versions in case an editor wanted a series or did NOT want a series.

Each book well, not ALL twenty of them, but a whole bunch, had about nine versions, all saved separately. Love Inspired length, trade fiction length, series, stand alone. I kept them all. But when I felt like I’d really improved one of them, I went back to the other versions and made those same improvements. I did a LOT of writing within those twenty books.

Wildflower Bride was the first book I wrote from scratch after I signed a contract for it. Maybe for this reason, I especially love it. I took everything I knew, everything I learned and put it into this book. I remember staring at that blank page…I had about six books published by this time…and holding my hand flat on the computer screen and praying, God help me to remember everything I’ve learned.

The hero is Wildflower Bride is the villain in Montana Rose. He is wretched. But to me, he was a broken man. My editor, when I told her Wade was the hero, said, “I can’t imagine it, but go for it.”

He is saved at the end of Montana Rose. A young Christian trying to do right in the face of enormous pressure from his powerful, abusive father, in The Husband Tree, and a sad, lonely, but strong man, still growing in his faith at the same time he’s very solid in it, in Wildflower Bride.

I just loved him.

I love the wild beginning of Wildflower Bride, the heroine is an adult woman taken in by an Indian tribe at the age of ten when they find her, alone in a cabin, with her family all dead from a fever. She loves the people who saved her.

Then people start trying to save her from the tribe and she is insulted and wants no part of this new world when her small band of native family is killed in a massacre. Again, she survives.

Abby, she only vaguely remembers her birth name, fits nowhere. And she’s so at home in the wilderness she’s planning to live on her own, somewhere.

Wade falls desperately in love with the strength he finds in her.

These two need each other so badly, but Abby is a hard one to convince she should spend her life with Wade.

Then Abby finds that one of her family, an older brother who didn’t come west with her family, is alive and living nearby.

The way they discover each other, well, I just love it. Wade is starting to look pretty good compared to the grouchy, quick to swing a fist, brother. Still, she begins to remember her big brother, and she remembers loving him. Abby is a confused woman.

Can Abby find her place anywhere in the world? Can Wade find enough backbone to stand up to his father…so far he’d just cut him out of his life. But Pa needs him even if he’s too awful to admit it. Wade’s pa needs God, too.

And those evil men who destroyed her village, haven’t gone away and they want more from Wade and Abby than anyone can imagine. They have to be stopped and Abby and Wade have to find a way to work together to stop them.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18

Texas Book-aholic, August 19

Labor Not in Vain, August 20

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

For Him and My Family, August 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 24

Guild Master, August 25 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 26

Simple Harvest Reads, August 27 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 28

Cover Lover Book Review, August 29

Fiction Book Lover, August 30 (Author Interview)

The Vine and The Branch, August 31

Mary Hake, August 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary 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://gleam.io/reBqi/wildflower-bride-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey by Hannah E. Harrison // Review

My Review: 

A beautiful and heartfelt story written and illustrated by the author, about a donkey who has gone from a cruel master to a kind and understanding master and is scared of messing up and it changing how the good farmer sees him. 

A lovely story that both adults and children can enjoy with charmingly classic illustrations. The story references Matthew 11, as well as the parable of the sower, while also showing the attributes of God and how we can trust him when anxiety rises. Such a wonderful message for all readers, this book makes a wonderful read-aloud, as well as a book to start conversations about God. 

A beautifully done from beginning to end that is sure to become a treasured favorite in your child's library. Makes a great gift. Cute, humorous, classic, and full of truth. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon // Review

My Review: 

When budget cuts at the library leave Martha Aldridge out of a job she goes where she said she would never go again to ask for a donation. Instead of publishing mogul Mr. King, she finds his son Julien, and they strike a mutually beneficial bargain, a donation in return for her help finding the next big thing in children's publishing to save the floundering imprint. 

A delightful clean rom-com, with a confident protagonist, I liked how Martha was confident in her own skin and has a lot of insight into books that kids like, and what they need. This was such a fun and funny read, with great situational comedy and undeniable chemistry. I liked that Julien and Martha are in their 30s and 40s and are both mature adults who talk about things and know what they want. 

Julien wants to prove to his ailing father that he is ready to take over the reins at the publishing company, but his father has put an impossible task before him. I liked that Julien is decisive, and sees Martha's talents even when she doesn't see them herself and is endlessly supportive of her. 

Overall, my favorite of the series and a fantastic conclusion. I loved seeing the couples from the previous books and catching up with their lives. I flew through this book, and it was over far too soon. Fantastic plot, characters that you can cheer for, great humor, and chemistry. Not heavy on Christian themes, but it is clear that the characters are Christians. Highly enjoyable rom-com!

 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

High -Caliber Holiday by Susan Sleeman // Review

Lucie's Review: 

Morgan Thorsby has found herself the target of a killer, but in a town where her family name is despised it's hard to nail down a single suspect. As incidents increase, ex-marine sniper Brady Owens comes to her aid to keep her safe and away from the killer's threats. 

An action-packed suspense that keeps you on your toes. Morgan is a likable character wanting to make a new start after the fiasco that was working for her family's company that went under. I liked that she has embraced her faith and really wants to help others. Brady feels compelled to help her, as the danger increases, and he sees her clever and quick-thinking at work. I liked how they get to know each other through working together, and their shared convictions. 

Overall, a fast-paced listen that I didn't want to pause. Great storytelling, original plot, great narration. Compelling characters that you can cheer for throughout. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Logan vs. the Pouty Paw Paw by Allen Brokken // Review

About the Book

Book: Logan vs. the Pouty Paw Paw

Author: Allen Brokken

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Logan has a lip so pouty his Pa is sure a bird is going to poop on it.

Shoveling coal as a furnace feeder at the foundry is hot, sweaty work, but Logan is determined to pay off his debt for a broken spyglass—even if his lower lip sticks out the whole time. But when a “Pouty Paw Paw” tree begins growing in the soot of the foundry’s smokestack, the town of Blooming Glen starts catching a bad case of the “pouts”. When Gran’s legendary joyful jam is stolen and replaced with a “darkness jam” that makes everyone hateful, Logan must trade his gloom for the fruit of joy. With his pet raccoon Rascal by his side, Logan is about to prove that a joyful heart is the best weapon against a stinky, pouting plot!

 

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review: 

While working at the foundry Logan catches a glimpse of a mysterious stranger by the paw paw tree, in order to earn a shiny penny he offers to help Gramps find out who stole his prized paw paw jam. 

Great for early readers gaining confidence with chapter books, this book is full of adventure and life lessons about hard work and joy. I liked how his father deals with difficult situations with wisdom, while teaching young Logan along the way. And there are strong themes of right and wrong, light and dark. 

A great for fans of the Towers of Light Series, or this series can also be read on its own. Easy to read, with short chapters and an exciting plot. Engaging and fun. Well written, with humor and adventure. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media.

 

 

 

More from Allen

“Logan vs. the Pouty Paw Paw” is a special book in the series “Logan’s search for the Fruits of the Spirit” because it was written with the support of my stepdad, John Beghtol.  In the spring of 2025, we were working through the death of my Mom from a long battle with cancer.  He found out my kids were running a Kickstarter for one of my picture books, Meow Meow Milks the Cow, and decided to support it.  As a supporter, he earned the option to share some creative direction on one of my upcoming projects.

 

Over the summer of 2025, I was doing some research for my next Logan book, looking for a native Midwestern fruit that would be good for representing sadness, to contrast with the spiritual fruit of joy.  I learned that Paw Paws were a rare native fruit that would have been used to make jam in the 1860’s.  So, they seemed like a good fit, especially if they were Pouty Paw Paws.  It also kind of fit what was going on with us, both of us were sad at the loss of my mom, and many people use the name Paw Paw as another name for a Grandfather. So, it spawned the idea that Gramps from the Towers of Light series could be a key character in this adventure.

 

I shared an early flight plan for the story with him, and he liked it in principle, but then provided an idea around a mysterious stranger entering the town.  I like the idea, but I felt a little stuck because this story takes place after the Towers of Light series, where all the bad guys had been defeated, so who was this mysterious stranger?  Eventually, I just wrote a mini story about the stranger to place him in the city, and I was off with a solid story to tell.

 

The story ended up being a good cross-section of dealing with sadness of different forms, from being upset over chores that feel to hard, to the loss of a loved one. At the same time, I kept the fun and hijinks that only a boy and his pet raccoon can get into.  I hope your child enjoys it as much as I did while writing it with my Bonus Dad.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 6

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 7 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 8 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 9 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 11

Books, Books, & More Books, August 12 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, August 13 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, August 14 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, August 14

Vicky Sluiter, August 15

Labor Not in Vain , August 16

The Bookish Ledger, August 17 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, August 18 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, August 18

Stories By Gina, August 19 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Allen 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://gleam.io/tMg4L/logan-vs-the-pouty-paw-paw-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson // Review

My Review: 

A dual timeline novel full of mystery, betrayal, faith, and unexpected friendship. 

 This captivating novel follows inspirational author Via Belle in the 1940's who after a successful career disappears. In 2006 it follows aspiring screenwriter Harper Rayne, as she learns more about the life of the mysterious author and her life. 

 A well written novel that draws you in with likable characters and a compelling storyline, that slowly reveals something more sinister underneath, culminating into an explosive conclusion. Engaging and full of twists and turns, I wasn't sure how all the pieces were going to fit together in the end. Olivia, Izzy, and Harper are all intelligent and strong women. I liked how Olivia wove her faith into her novels, and how they inspired and encouraged the other women and many others. It was fun looking back at the links in the modern day after some of the reveals. 

 Overall, a beautifully written book, perfect for fans of Christian fiction. The beginning is slower paced, but no less well done as it lays the scene. I loved the explosive ending and the strong themes of faith that bound them together. Mysterious and compelling, a novel you won't soon forget. Highly recommend.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Daughters of the Wreckage by Stephanie Koens // Review

My Review: 

A dual timeline novel that digs into the history of the 1628 tragedy of the Batavia mutiny and wreck. 

 A slow-moving novel, that started to pick up at the halfway point. The story follows Saskia, Aris, and then Tess in the present day. Tess is an English teacher who takes time off after the death of her father to finish his last work. She spends time on the dig site and draws close to one of her guides, Drew. Saskia is travelling with her aunt and cousin for Batavia to meet up with her uncle, while Aris is the talent young under surgeon aboard the ship. 

 This was a slow and difficult read for me, there wasn't much character interaction between Saskia and Aris until quite a ways into the book. The modern-day thread following Tess didn't really catch my attention, as it was pretty slow moving and I wasn't sold on the romance between Tess and Drew. It was nice getting to know the characters, and I liked the gritty realistic nature of the recounting of the event and faith journey. The second half of the book was quite gruesome, and sad, while things were not happening explicitly on page, it was talked about and we had an idea of what was happening and the horrors being faced.

 In the end, it was interesting to learn about a historical even that I had known very little about prior to reading this book, and it inspired me to look into it more on my own. I appreciated Saskia's faith and her friendship with Lucretia. But it was a hard read. Sad. Tragic. Horrible. Slow in the first half of the book and in Tess's parts of the story. This was just not a book that fit my personal tastes, and that happens sometimes. 

 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rodeo Witness Protector by Sami A. Abrams // Review

Lucie's Review: 

Second chances and suspense!

 Bullfighter and part-time deputy Daniel Sinclair does a double take when he sees his former high school flame trying to save the life of a stab victim at the rodeo. He is surprised to find that she has moved back to area with a young daughter in tow. Can he overcome his fears and doubts to be the protector they need?

It had bit of a slow start, but after that it picked up quickly, and had a lot going on. Daniel has a lot in his past that he must overcome, but I liked that he stepped up to help Annie and her daughter. Annie and Daniel must outsmart the sinister plot at play. 

Overall, an engaging read with a lot going on. Great rodeo setting and likable characters, with strong themes of faith. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Twilight Tactics by Lynette Eason // Review

Lucie's Review: 

FBI Agent Collin "Sully" Sullivan brings the young murder witness in his care, Ollie Callahan, to Broken Chains Ranch, a refuge for recovering veterans. But the bad guys seem to know their every move and are closing in fast. 

Sully and survival expert Elena must work together to keep Ollie safe. A fast-paced suspense, full of action, faith, relationship building and survival against the elements. I loved the team at the ranch, and how they work together to help others. Elena is great at what she does, but has a troubled past that may be why the ranch is under attack. I admired her quick thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as taking the time to teach Ollie useful skills. 

A high suspense read, full of action and great dialogue. I liked the plot, and how it kept me on my toes guessing who was out to get them and why. Sully is a great guy, who has amazing friends. I liked that he trusted and was supportive of Ollie and Elena throughout. This is a wonderful book, with a lot going, plenty of action, strong relationship building, faith, and themes of healing. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.