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Reader’s Log 074: Amazon Prime Ebook Deals

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Amazon Prime Day is running for four days this year, starting June 23 to 26. This special deal is for Amazon Prime members. Already there are many deals that have started and this post is about the ebooks I have already downloaded. I was able to acquire five ebooks that are on my wish-list. Next week, I will be purchasing a few physical copies of novels, and perhaps more ebooks. My Birthday is this weekend. I can’t wait!

The List of ebooks:

  1. The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson
  2. Where the Sea Lavendar Grows by Kitty Johnson
  3. To Love a Lady by Gabrielle Meyer
  4. To Dance with a Duke by Gabrielle Meyer
  5. Pre-ordered: To Educate an Earl Gabrielle Meyer

I was auto approved to read and review “Where the Sea Lavendar Grows” by Kitty Johnson, published by Lake Union Publishing, but my review stack was full for May. I am delighted to get an ebook copy at such a great price. That said, not all my books come from publishers to review. What books I choose to review from publishers depend on several factors.

The Gabrielle Meyer books are part of her Dollar Princess Sereis. I’ve read two of her books from another series so far, and her story telling is so good. I recommend checking out her books.

“The Mountains We Call Home” by Kim Michele Richardson is the third installment in her series “The Book Women of Troublesome Creek.” This series has been on my to-read list for some time and I’m starting with the third book? I’m not sure yet. It depends on if I can get the first two at a good price.

I love the books covers of all these books!

Stephanie

The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson

Published April 21, 2026 by Sourcebooks Landmark

When Cussy Lovett, a Packhorse Librarian famed for bringing books to the people of Appalachia, is unjustly incarcerated, she finds a new calling as a prison librarian, bringing hope to downtrodden women and voiceless city residents alike, finding a home even while separated from those she loves. A vivid portrait of mid-century Kentucky, from the hills and hollers of Appalachia to a vibrant city neighborhood on the cusp of urban renewal, The Mountains We Call Home explores the effects of criminalization and incarceration on the poor and powerless, while tracing the societal consequences of fractured family bonds.

Where the Sea Lavendar Grows by Kitty Johnson

Published May 1, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

Elise, an artist grieving the loss of her son and a fracturing marriage, is in North Norfolk to restore Marsh House to its former glory, its walls adorned with the fading murals and paintings of its long-ago owner, Lilias Carter-Brown. Elise makes an immediate connection to the house, to Sam—a carpenter and a comfort—and to history itself when an old photograph draws Elise into Lilias’s heartbreaking past.

In 1939, with war threatening, Lilias and her sister turn Marsh House into a sanctuary for London evacuees—a young boy and his mother. But it’s the boy’s father, Harry, an enlistee soon to report for duty, with whom Lilias forms an unexpected and intimate bond. When Harry suddenly vanishes without a trace, it changes the course of Lilias’s life forever.

Now, as Elise and Sam work to solve the mystery of the disappearance, the restoration of Marsh House is bringing Elise back to life as well—to love again, to put her and Lilias’s past to rest, and to finally move on.

To Love a Lady by Gabrielle Meyer

Dollar Princess #1

Published  January 6, 2026

For fans of My Fair Lady and The Gilded Age

New York City, 1883. Keira O’Day has spent her life scraping by in the tenements, haunted by the mystery of her parents’ abandonment. When wealthy widow and social climber, Maude Hill, offers her a daring proposition—to be adopted, polished, and presented as a society bride for an English lord—Keira sees an opportunity she can’t pass up.

Maude’s nephew, Alexander Paxton-Hill, is skeptical from the start. Tasked with teaching Keira the art of charm and flirtation, he soon finds himself captivated by her honesty and warmth as she challenges everything he thought he knew about love—and about himself.

After navigating the glittering, treacherous world of New York society, Keira arrives in England and catches the eye of the elusive Duke of Severton. She’s poised to win everything until a lavish ball, a long-buried secret, and one reckless act of love threaten to unravel it all. Now Keira must the role she’s been prepared to play—or the woman she’s become.

To Dance with a Duke by Gabrielle Meyer

Dollar Princess #2

Published  June 9, 2026

For those who love The Gilded Age and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

In 1884, Ames Welby, the Duke of Severton, is desperate. His ancestral home is falling apart, his tenant farmers are starving, and his family name is tainted by a mysterious scandal that keeps people away. With no fortune and no time, he does the unthinkable—marries for money. But Lily Parker, the American heiress he weds in haste, is no pampered socialite. She’s practical, passionate, and has a plan to restore Pickering Castle—and the reputation of the five reclusive Welby brothers.

Inspired by her love of matchmaking and her longing for connection, Lily invites four eligible young women to a summer house party, hoping to spark romance and rebuild the family’s future. What follows is a whirlwind of mischief, mismatched couples, and unexpected love. But when Lily’s belief in true love clashes with Ames’s fear of family curses and social ruin, their fragile marriage is put to the ultimate test.

To Educate an Earl by Gabrielle Meyer

Dollar Princess #3

Expected Publication  October 6, 2026 by

For those swept away by The Gilded Age and The Sound of Music.

In 1886, when a scheming suitor threatens her family’s fragile reputation, Adeline Ranier is sent to England under a false name to pose as a governess for the Earl of Torrington’s five motherless children. Stripped of her title and fortune, she steps into a world of quiet sorrow and stubborn resistance—and discovers a household aching for joy.

George Stafford, the Earl of Torrington, has buried his heart along with his late wife. His children have driven away every governess, and he has no hope that Miss Ranier will be any different. But Addie’s unconventional charm, fierce loyalty, and refusal to give up begin to awaken something long forgotten in all of them, including George.

As laughter returns to the halls of Torrington Manor, Addie finds herself falling for the children—and for their father. But secrets from her past threaten to unravel everything, especially when George chooses a wealthy heiress to be his bride. Torn between duty and desire, Addie must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for the family she’s come to love.

Book Review: Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk

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Storied Sisters Society #1

Published May 19, 2026 by Sea Crow Press

Three hearts. Countless letters. One impossible choice.

Through letters exchanged across oceans and Manhattan streets, Irish immigrant Catherine McGuirk navigates love, ambition, and heartbreak. Torn between her seafaring husband, the suitor she once refused, and her own dreams, Catherine’s fate unfolds in an intimate, epistolary saga of passion, resilience, and nineteenth-century life.

My Thoughts:

I know this might sound strange to some, but after I finished reading “Dear Missing Friend,” written in the form of corresponding letters, I thought, how would I respond if I were to write a letter in the form of a review? You see, a letter would be more fitting, and more worthy because Susan McGuirk has given readers an incredibly personable and thought-provoking experience and as I navigated through the lives of a family and their friends, I have never felt such a deep connection this way before with characters in this format.

19th Century: Catherine McGuirk and her brothers are Irish immigrants who came to America to start new lives in a world full of uncertainties. Through the years, their thoughts, joy, friendships, heartbreak, domestic troubles, loss of children, abandonment, sorrow, loneliness, are shared through letters in such an open way that it’s as if you were part of their family experiencing everything they were going through.

As Catherine’s decisions in life unfolded, years later she was faced with examining the result of her decisions in life, and as a Christian, I felt such a deep conviction of my own choices in life regarding my relationships past and present. Which brought me to Catherine’s dear friend Jane, and a particular letter she wrote to Catherine about “putting things to right.” That letter really moved me. There is much to reflect on with this story about relationships. There were beautiful lessons of mercy, grace, faith and forgiveness.

There were also so many historical threads interwoven with the characters’ lives and one will experience that with these letters. Such as, the whaling industry, the great famine, civil war, the gold rush, immigration of the Irish, the Panic of 1857 and so forth. I also enjoyed reading the poems the author included in the beginning of each chapter by Walt Whitman from his book “Leaves of Grass.” I am going to buy a physical copy of “Dear Missing Friend,” and place it next to my copy of Whitman’s book. This is a story I won’t ever forget. This is a story I will always go back to. Even as I wrote this, I wanted to read the story all over again and I will.

I have rated this book five stars and so far, this book is among my five top favorite stories of this year. 

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 073: Book Highlights

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There are two fiction stories I wanted to highlight today, and I thought I would share how it is going.

The two books are “A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery” by Kate Khavari and “Dear Missing Friend” by Susan McGuirk. I am enjoying the corresponding format of “Dear Missing Friend” a lot more than I thought I would. That is not to say I haven’t enjoyed the letter written style of telling a story before, it’s just that sometimes, I feel I’m not getting the whole picture-if you will, and the bouncing back and forth can feel a bit disjointed at times. That said, I’m glad I chose this story to read and review. I like Susan McGuirk’s writing style.

Yesterday, I started “A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery” and previously I read and reviewed the first book “A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons,” and I was a bit critical of some of the elements in the story, but I did enjoy it nonetheless. Skipping a few books in the series, I’m hoping I will enjoy this story I’m currently reading. I will probably state in my review that I’ve only read two books in the series to be fair with my critic.

Below are the two books I will be starting next and I can’t wait to read and review them!

Be sure to read my latest review “The Last Fatal Hour” by Jan Matthews!

What are the books you are currently reading and expecting to get to next?

Stephanie

The Museum of Lost Dreams by Christine Nolfi

Expected Publication June 23, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

When Bess Rollins’s parents die in a tragic accident, she is forced to abandon her dream job overseas. After three years away, she returns to her family’s estate in the Finger Lakes, a veritable monument to her brilliant late grandmother, and a reminder of the wreckage Bess left behind.

There’s the guilt over leaving her younger twin siblings, Casey and Caleb, and she struggles to rebuild a bond that may be irrevocably broken. Amid the grief, resentment still looms toward her reckless and self-indulgent mother and father. And then there’s Luke Monticelli, the devoted man Bess walked out on but never stopped loving.

Haunted by her regrets at every turn, Bess soon realizes that the past is far more complicated than she ever knew. With each secret that she uncovers about her family, Bess comes closer to healing their wounds, seizing a second chance at love, and fulfilling dreams that can lift them all—right here at home, where she belongs.

The Museum of Second Chances by Jo Leevers

Expected Publication July 1, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

Every morning, Evelyn Silver walks the shoreline before the rest of Portheast wakes, gathering what the tide leaves behind. Broken cups. Lost trinkets. Objects others have discarded. In her small Museum of Maritime Curiosities, each one earns its place—because to Evelyn, every forgotten thing deserves to have its story told.

At the heart of the museum lies her most precious a fragment of Cornish lace, found pinned to her blanket when she was abandoned as a newborn. For over sixty years, she has kept it close, hoping someone might one day recognize it and tell her who she really is.

So, when the local council threatens to close the museum, Evelyn stands to lose far more than her livelihood. Forced out of her solitude, she rallies the community around the museum’s curious collection—and as the objects begin to give up their secrets, lives start to intertwine in ways nobody expected.

Because sometimes, the most precious things aren’t lost at all. They’re simply waiting to be claimed.

Book Review: The Last Fatal Hour by Jan Matthews

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Published April 7, 2026 by Coffee&ink Press

For Leona Gladney, former woman soldier of the Union Army, life goes on despite the echoes of the battlefield in her heart. Now a suffragist and budding socialite in Brooklyn Heights, she yearns for a literary life and family. But her husband’s business partner embezzles their money and disappears.

The society matrons of Brooklyn Heights turn a gimlet eye on Leona after the suspicious death of a wealthy friend. Leona will do anything to find justice for her friend and clear her own name, but she finds only secrets, seances and murder.

My Thoughts:

Leona Gladney discovered her dear friend Daphne Van Wyn has died under suspicious circumstances and Leona became a suspect. Despite the lead detective and her husband warning to stay out of the investigation, she was determined to find out who murdered her dear friend. Furthermore, Leona was quickly shunned by Brooklyn society, which made it all the more difficult for her to solve her friend’s death and she found herself in serious danger.

There is so much more to this story, including her husband’s claim that his business partner has stolen their money, which added to the plot. There was also great character development and each character added so much depth and intrigue. Including Leona’s grandfather who was a renowned poet. Leona was also a writer and she preferred to write anonymously, which was usually common in those days.

What first captured by attention about this story was that Leona was a former union soldier in the American Civil War. Historically, women were known to have fought in the civil war and they disguised themselves with the uniforms and used male aliases. There were many reasons for them to do so including staying close to their love ones, escaping from whatever life they were running from and so on… I was intrigued to see how Jan Matthews would explore the aftermath of a female soldier’s life post war. Did Leona experience post-traumatic stress? What were the battles like for her? I wanted to know and Matthews portrayed Leona’s experience with vivid realities of war and the struggle of overcoming such a traumatic time.

A wonderfully written historical mystery with many elements weaved in that takes you to time and place. A truly atmospheric mystery.

Stephanie

I received a review copy from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.  

Reader’s Log 072: New to My Book Stack

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Today I’m sharing a few books I’ve added to my book stack this week and one I’ve added to my wish-list. The stack of books I got that are thrifted or were deeply discounted and “Dear Missing Friend” is an ebook I acquired on NetGalley. I’ve added “Murder on 34th Street” by Mariah Fredericks to my wish-list. The story sounds intriguing! The Lisa Scottoline’s book is titled “Come Home” and I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever read a story written by her.

I was curious about Sager’s book because the premise touches on a subject that is talked about a lot today and though his book is a fictional story, I wanted to see where he went with it. I read this book in less than a day. The book is a slow burn but it does build on tension and the clues that lead up to the big reveal. I do have to admit, the characters were not well developed but I kept on reading regardless because I needed to know if justice would be served!

So many books…

What are some titles you’ve recently acquired?

Stephanie

Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk

Book 1 of A Storied Sisters Society Novel

Pub Date May 19 2026 by Sea Crow Pass

Description

Three hearts. Countless letters. One impossible choice.

Through letters exchanged across oceans and Manhattan streets, Irish immigrant Catherine McGuirk navigates love, ambition, and heartbreak. Torn between her seafaring husband, the suitor she once refused, and her own dreams, Catherine’s fate unfolds in an intimate, epistolary saga of passion, resilience, and 19th-century life.

Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks

Pub Date Oct 06 2026 by St. Martin’s Press

Description

From the author of The Girl in the Green Dress comes a delightful and captivating novel about a fictional murder mystery at the iconic Macy’s parade leading up to the holidays in historic New York City.

New York, 1932. Grace Verlander is the secret beating heart of Macy’s. She’s the “assistant to the assistant to the someone who’s in charge”, the go-to person for keeping everything running smoothly behind-the-scenes at the famous, bustling store.

It’s not every day you get a letter from Santa Claus, but three days before the Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, Grace arrives at work to find a note from the store Santa Claus in her locker: someone has sent him a death threat. Shocked, Grace promises to look into it and speaks to the store detective about the parade’s security, confident that they’ve found a solution that will keep everyone safe. But on the day of the parade, despite all their precautions, a dead body is found on one of the floats.

Using her wits and deep knowledge of the ways of the place, Grace is determined to find the killer and seek justice—not just for the dead man, but to save the reputation of this iconic store from ruin.

Book Review: The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell

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Book Club Murders #1

Published May 22, 2026 by @Bookouture

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

*************

This is not your garden variety cozy mystery story where citizens work alongside police, or a detective, in helping catch a murder. I really had to sit on this review for a few days because I wasn’t sure how I could discuss this without giving too much away.

In this story we see a group of people taking matters in their own hands in the most extreme way. We also see another side of seeking justice, or the lack of the right sort of justice-in this case. Lines are so blurred between justice and retribution that the reader is taken to a dark place that leaves you wondering if the justice will be served. That said, this is the first book in the series and it shall be interesting how the author continues this premise in the next.

I must caution readers about the swear words in this story, and though there are not a lot, there are a few.

Overall, this was a fascinating and yet, crazy story that will have you keep turning the pages.

Stephanie

I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley

Author Spotlight: Connilyn Cossette

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Christian Fiction/Biblical Fiction/Historical Fiction/Romance

I’ve had my eye on Connilyn Cossette’s work for sometime now and I’ve decided I want to start with her “Cities of Refuge” series. That said, It was a toss-up between this series and her “Out from Egypt” series. Perhaps, I could go back and forth with them. Hmm…

I love reading stories that take place in the Old Testament period, and of course, the New Testament period as well. I may have mentioned Cossette’s before and if I have, it deserves another mention. Also, I like the covers of these books! The second book cover is my favorite! I am hoping to acquire these books soon!

Have you read this author’s work before? Do you read Biblical Historical Fiction novels? Which are your favorites?

Stephanie

A Light on the Hill

Published : February 6, 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

Setting in Israel

Though Israel has found relative peace, Moriyah has yet to find her own. Attempting to avoid the scorn of her community, she’s spent the last seven years hiding behind the veil she wears. Underneath her covering, her face is branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods, a shameful reminder of her past captivity in Jericho and an assurance that no man will ever want to marry her.

When her father finds a widower, who needs a mother for his two sons, her hopes rise. But when their introduction goes horribly wrong, Moriyah is forced to flee for her life. Seeking safety at one of the newly established Levitical cities of refuge, she is wildly unprepared for the dangers she will face and the enemies—and unexpected allies—she will encounter on her way.

Shelter of the Most High

Cities of Refuge #2

Published October 2, 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a city of refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood, yet chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Can they uncover the betrayal in time to save their lives and the lives of those they love?

Until the Mountains Fall

Cities of Refuge #3

Recently widowed, Rivkah refuses to submit to the Torah law compelling her to marry her husband’s brother and instead flees Kedesh, hoping to use her talents as a scribe to support herself. Without the protections of her father, Kedesh’s head priest, and the safety of the city of refuge, Rivkah soon discovers that the cost of recklessness is her own freedom.

Malakhi has secretly loved Rivkah for years, but he never imagined his older brother’s death would mean wedding her himself. After her disappearance, he throws himself into the ongoing fight against the Canaanites instead of dwelling on all he has lost. But with impending war looming over Israel, Rivkah’s father comes to Malakhi with an impossible request.

As the enemies that Rivkah and Malakhi face from without and within Israel grow more threatening each day, is it too late for the restoration their wounded souls seek?

Like Flames in the Night

Cities of Refuge #4

Published May 1, 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

Strong-willed Tirzah wants to join her people in driving the enemy from the land of Israel and undergoes training for a secret mission inside the stronghold of Shechem. But soon after she has infiltrated the ruthless Aramean commander’s kitchen, she makes a reckless decision that puts her and her allies in grave danger.

Fresh off the battlefield, Liyam returns home to discover his beloved daughter is dead. After his vow to hunt down her killer leads to months of fruitless pursuit, his last hope is in a family connection that comes with strings attached. Strings that force him to pose as a mercenary and rescue an infuriating woman who refuses to leave her mission uncompleted.

When an opportunity to pave a path to a Hebrew victory arises, can Tirzah convince Liyam to fight alongside her in the refuge city of her birth? Or will Liyam’s thirst for vengeance outweigh his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he’s come to love?

About the Author:

Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award-winning, bestselling author who loves digging into the ancient world of the Bible and crafting immersive stories that encourage readers to encounter the Great Storyteller himself. As the grateful adoptive mom of two homeschool graduates and a recent breast cancer survivor, she knows firsthand how Yahweh’s steadfast love redeems every unexpected plot twist. She and her husband of nearly thirty years are based just north of Charlotte, North Carolina, with suitcases always half-packed for their next adventure together.

Book Review: A New Home for the Irish Daughter by Kate Hewitt

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Maggie O’Halloran Book 2

Publication Date: May 22, 2026 by @ Bookouture

Chicago, 1892: Maggie O’Halloran knows she is lucky to have escaped New York City with her life, after a notorious gang threatened her and her brother. Now, twisting the wedding ring on her finger, she knows her friend Brendan O’Donoghue’s plan to pretend to be married is sensible. But can she really pretend to be his wife when she doesn’t love him with her whole heart?

Walking Chicago’s cobbled streets, Maggie is more resolved than ever to rebuild her life and when she secures a job at the famous department store, Marshall Field & Company, she is delighted. But when ghosts of her past appear in the millinery department, she knows her true identity could be revealed at any moment, and her dreams once more reduced to ash.

When a chance encounter leads to Maggie making hats for Chicago’s World’s Fair, her desire to become fully independent feels closer than ever. But as gossip swirls about her relationship with her benefactor, can Maggie keep her head held high in this city she now calls home?

When Brendan finds himself in a perilous situation, Maggie’s courage is tested more than ever before. With danger looming, can she and Brendan survive it together? Or will they once more need to flee their home to find safety, and a chance to begin again?

My Thoughts:

Maggie and her brother Danny are Irish immigrants that made their way to New York for a better life, and to meet their father, and it quickly became a life of hardships, and trouble to say the least. In this story “A New Home for the Irish Daughter,” Maggie, and her brother fled New York at the help of their loyal friend, Brendan O’Donoghue. They traveled by train to Chicago to start afresh and it is not too long after they stepped off the train, they realize it is not going to be easy to start over. My goodness, they couldn’t seem to catch a break! My heart broke for them.

About half way in the book, I felt a deep sense of dread come upon me and my chest tighten. I knew something dark was about to happen and I was right. There was an assault and attempted rape of Maggie by the boarder’s husband, and I need to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish reading this story. I took a deep breath and carried on, and thankfully, the scene was cut short. That is all I can say about the scene without giving too much away, but I feel readers must know. That said, the author’s telling of the assault and characterization of the attacker, leading up to the moment it happened, was so effective in building tension without the shock value I find too often in stories. Great writing!

There are a few intriguing historical elements to this story and rightfully so considering the timeline for this story. I really enjoyed how the details were weaved in and how it put the characters right in the center of it all. There is also the infamous serial killer Dr. Holmes who plays a role in this story and wow, you get the creep vibe from him the moment he is introduced in the story! Again, great writing by the author.

The story did abruptly end, so I was taken a little back by that, however, there is another book in this series coming up, I believe. Now, I need to go back and read the first book in this series for more context, and background on the characters.

A deeply emotional, hope filled and gripping historical fiction read!

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 071: New Books on My Shelf  

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Book Highlights

Today, I thought I would share four books I’ve added to my shelf this week. I’ve added several others, but these really stand out to me. I just finished “The Island Bakeshop” by Roseanna M. White and I realize this book is the second book. I decided to go back to NetGalley and see if the first book was still available and sure enough, it was and I downloaded it to my Kindle.  Most likely, it will be a quick read because I flew through the second book.

“The Daughters of Rosebud” by Sonny Buttar sounds so good and I love reading about families, healing broken bonds, forgiveness, second chances.

Everything about “The Restoration Garden” by Sara Blaydes sounds intriguing, and the cover is beautiful!

Discovering, “The Sabbath We Need” by John Starke; Jena Starke is timely because the Sabbath has been on my mind a lot lately. I look forward to going more into that at another time. Perhaps, with my review of this book.

What are some books you’ve added to your shelf recently?

Stephanie

Fiction:

The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White

Book 1 of The Island Bookshop

Publish Date: May 13, 2025 by Guideposts

When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.

For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.

As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?

The Daughters of Rosebud by Sonny Buttar

Expected Publish Date: October 13, 2026 by Lake Union Publishing

Teacher Salma Chaudhry lives a quiet life, avoiding all attachments. But after a call from her estranged father, the protective shell she lives within starts to crack and the trauma she’s buried for eighteen years emerges.

Salma and her older sister Asma were inseparable growing up in small-town Rosebud. While Asma was bold and fearless, Salma tried to keep the peace in their fractured family. But amid their mother’s decline and their parents’ rigid expectations, Asma makes a choice that tears the family apart. The fallout changes everything—and forces Salma to choose between her sister and her parents.

Salma has spent years trying to forget. But as she recollects her past and considers reconciliation with her father, a young student opens a surprising connection to Asma’s past. In finally facing her history, Salma finds the bravery to love and hope again.

The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes

Published November 1, 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

A landscape architect unearths the tangled history of a once-celebrated English garden—and all its mysteries—in a captivating novel by the author of The Last Secret of Lily Adams.

Julia Esdaile is hired to restore the historic gardens at Havenworth Manor—the grounds of which are now an abandoned snarl of bramble and weeds—to their original splendor. For the enigmatic lady of the manor, ninety-two-year-old Margaret Clarke, the reason for the restoration is the deeply private story of a promise made a lifetime ago, and a vow to keep it before she dies.

It’s 1940, and Margaret’s older half sister, Irene, an aspiring artist, dreams of an exciting world beyond Havenworth. Her only escapes are James Atherton, a handsome officer in the RAF, and her sketchbook of flower drawings. Bonding over their disdain for war, Irene follows James to London, where, irrevocably in love, she is forced to make a choice she never imagined. With that, Irene vanishes from Margaret’s life forever.

Now, with the help of Margaret’s godson, Andrew, Julia is determined to uncover both the long-buried secrets of the past and the truth behind a heartbreaking mystery that only restoring the gardens of Havenworth can solve.

Nonfiction:

The Sabbath We Need by John Starke; Jena Starke

Finding True Rest in a World of Counterfeits

Expected Publish Date: October 13, 2026 by InterVarsity Press – IVP

Detach from Chaos, attach to Christ, and Break Free from the World’s Demands

Our world offers endless prescriptions for wholeness—a sense of fullness through achievement, a perfect work-life balance, the ideal Instagram feed, or the pursuit of well-being and leisure. Yet these cultural visions of fulfillment often leave us more restless than before.

There is a more satisfying path. God invites us not simply to take a day off, but to be transformed to be like him through the joy, delight, and holiness of sabbath all seven days of the week.

In “The Sabbath We Need”, John and Jena Starke guide you away from the world’s anxious systems and into participation with God in his rest. This is not another book about relaxation or self-care. The biblical emphasis on sabbath rest isn’t necessarily about recovering from the week but to be set apart like the God who rested on the seventh day.

Based on their own practices as a family of six living in Manhattan, the Starkes offer a path for detachment from the world for a deeper attachment to Christ, providing hope for a culture exhausted in its search for rest. True sabbath is formation toward divine holiness and counter formation away from worldliness.

With “The Sabbath We Need”, you will discover the difference between counterfeit fulfillment and the true divine fullness of sabbath keeping;

Practical ways to make the sabbath the center of gravity for your week, reshaping your rhythms of life;

How to practice sabbath in different stages of life and in seasons of pain, success, struggle, and loss; and how to receive the gift of sabbath as God intended and practice it in a way that leads to joy, delight, and interior rest.

Choose the way of holy rest. The Sabbath We Need leads you out of worldliness and into holiness, out of anxious systems and into the heart of rest.

Wish-list 5: Beautifully Written Literature

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I haven’t posted a wish-list of books in a while, and when I explored the books I’ve added to read, and to group together to read back to back, I knew this would make a marvelous Wish-list 5 post.

All Creatures Great and Small is a classic and I feel I know it well but haven’t read it-I believe. At least, not that I can remember, but who would forget a story like this one? Anyhow, I can’t wait to pick up a copy and get started on the “unforgettable world of James Herriot.”

I love reading stories that take place in Ireland and certainly “Foster” by Claire Keegan is the perfect story to read during the summer months.

The artist and creative side of me finds “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi an intriguing premise and Theo who visits a coffeehouse and purchases the portraits on the wall to give them back to their “rightful owners” sounds fascinating!

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather sounds like an intriguing read, particularly because I love stories about vicars or vicars that are included in stories. This story centers around Father Jean Marie Latour 1851 comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico…

When I came across Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry and read the first few lines of the description, “This is a book about Heaven,” says Jayber Crow, “but I must say too that . . . I have wondered sometimes if it would not finally turn out to be a book about Hell,” I knew I had to read this story to find out more about this statement the author wrote.  

Be sure to read the book descriptions below! Have you read any of these stories before? Or are they any that grabs your attention? Do share!

Stephanie

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

First published January 1, 1972 / Then Published      April 15, 1998 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world’s most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic animal patients.

For over forty years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot’s marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye.

In All Creatures Great and Small, we meet the young Herriot as he takes up his calling and discovers that the realities of veterinary practice in rural Yorkshire are very different from the sterile setting of veterinary school. Some visits are heart-wrenchingly difficult, such as one to an old man in the village whose very ill dog is his only friend and companion, some are lighthearted and fun, such as Herriot’s periodic visits to the overfed and pampered Pekinese Tricki Woo who throws parties and has his own stationery, and yet others are inspirational and enlightening, such as Herriot’s recollections of poor farmers who will scrape their meager earnings together to be able to get proper care for their working animals. From seeing to his patients in the depths of winter on the remotest homesteads to dealing with uncooperative owners and critically ill animals, Herriot discovers the wondrous variety and never-ending challenges of veterinary practice as his humor, compassion, and love of the animal world shine forth.Foster

Foster by Claire Keegan

Published August 18, 2022 by Faber & Faber

It is a hot summer in rural Ireland. A child is taken by her father to live with relatives on a farm, not knowing when or if she will be brought home again. In the Kinsellas’ house, she finds an affection and warmth she has not known and slowly, in their care, begins to blossom. But there is something unspoken in this new household – where everything is so well tended to – and the summer must come to an end.

Adapted into the Oscar-nominated film adaptation, An Cailín Ciúin / The Quiet Girl

From the author of the Booker-shortlisted Small Things Like These, a heartbreaking, haunting story of childhood, loss and love by one of Ireland’s most acclaimed writers.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Published October 3, 2025 by Simon & Schuster

One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why…

His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers.

Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Published June 16, 1990 by Vintage

Willa Cather’s best-known novel is an epic–almost mythic–story of a single human life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert. In 1851 Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief. In the almost forty years that follow, Latour spreads his faith in the only way he knows–gently, all the while contending with an unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. Out of these events, Cather gives us an indelible vision of life unfolding in a place where time itself seems suspended.

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

Published August 30, 2001 by Counterpoint

“This is a book about Heaven,” says Jayber Crow, “but I must say too that . . . I have wondered sometimes if it would not finally turn out to be a book about Hell.” It is 1932 and he has returned to his native Port William to become the town’s barber. Orphaned at age ten, Jayber Crow’s acquaintance with loneliness and want have made him a patient observer of the human animal, in both its goodness and frailty. He began his search as a “pre-ministerial student” at Pigeonville College. There, freedom met with new burdens and a young man needed more than a mirror to find himself. But the beginning of that finding was a short conversation with “Old Grit,” his profound professor of New Testament Greek.

“You have been given questions to which you cannot be given answers. You will have to live them out―perhaps a little at a time.”

“And how long is that going to take?”

“I don’t know. As long as you live, perhaps.”

“That could be a long time.”

“I will tell you a further mystery,” he said. “It may take longer.” Wendell Berry’s clear-sighted depiction of humanity’s gifts―love and loss, joy and despair―is seen though his intimate knowledge of the Port William Membership.