It’s time for the first Christian/inspirational
compilation post of 2026. Hooray (if you read that genre)! For those who read
from this genre, who are your favorite authors? What or who inspires you to
read these books?
<This is
a standalone novel.>
Widowed for almost 18 months, 61-year-old Riva Owen lives
in a historic Victorian house that’s been in her family for three generations,
but she can hardly afford to keep living there. Riva doesn’t want to give up
her impressive personal library. Her daughter, Kenzie, clearly a minimalist,
tells her to have a book-burning bonfire (horrifying) and sell the place. Riva
can’t just leave the decades of memories nor her books. On a prayerful
whim, she opens up her home to renters. Women only. There’s Windy Brewer, who excels
in the kitchen and the garden. There’s Laurel Wright, Riva’s friend who’s got
her eye on Marcus Millican, Windy’s retired-teacher-slash-handyman big brother.
Then comes Fiona Harris, an Irish fiddler who works at her relatives’ bistro.
And finally, upon Laurel’s recommendation comes Kitty Brinson, salon owner and
woman of a certain age who acts and dresses like she’s a 20-something. Going
from one personality in a lonely home to a handful of personalities creates
chaos. It’s mostly manageable, but Kitty is the firecracker, especially when
she’s been drinking. She’s ultra self-absorbed even as her life is a mess, and
she’s especially cruel to Laurel, including honing in on Marcus for herself.
Marcus doesn’t seem romantically interested in Laurel or Kitty. Is he
interested in ... Riva?
The
latest from Carlson is a Christian fiction, contemporary romance that is
expectedly wholesome. There are themes of grief, found family and navigating
different personalities under one roof. It’s a story where a bibliophile widow
continues to work through grief while suddenly taking on the responsibility of
landlord, and it’s also a story of taking second chances on oneself. Fictional
Greenwood, Oregon, hosts unexpected changes under this roof, and there’s
frustration as well as compassion, uplifting compliments and not-so-little
digs. There’s struggle amid enduring faith. Drawn to the book’s title, I didn’t
care for the book as much as I hoped I would. Much of it was Kitty, but it was
also in part because the main characters are closer to my parents’ generation,
so of an age range that I haven’t yet experienced but will, hopefully, one day
(just not too soon, please).
Final Approach (Aug. 5, 2025) by Lynette
Eason.
<This is
the final novel in a series.>
It’s vacation time for Air Marshal Kristine Duncan and
her friends. Kristine is on duty when a hijacker tries to get into the cockpit
of their plane. Also jumping into action is FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, and
together, they thwart the attack and the plane returns safely to Lake City,
North Carolina. Kristine and Andrew both acknowledge to themselves that they’d
like to get to know the other, despite personal baggage, but first there’s an
investigation to sort through. The two – with their colleagues and friends –
are confused from the start. The hijacker only took the “job” out of
desperation, but someone else was on the plane watching him. The connection
between them is unknown. Andrew’s undercover friend resurfaces and is in
danger, but it turns out that the target might not be the undercover agent.
With shots coming from different directions and being run off the road, at
least one someone is out to interfere with Kristine’s and Andrew’s lives
in a big, big way. Then there’s the interference in their personal lives. For
years, Kristine has been the moderator between her siblings and their dad, who’s
become increasingly controlling since their mother died (and she blames herself
for). Andrew is concerned about his parents taking in his wayward cousin with
his drug (and therefore money) issues. Their skills will be necessary and
vigilance is key to finding truth and justice.
The
final Christian romantic suspense novel in the Lake City Heroes series
does not disappoint. It’s an adventure ride right from the launch and doesn’t
slow down until the story concludes. Families are complicated, and this story
demonstrates that, partly in an unexpected way. The leads must traverse guilt
while also sifting truth from trickery. For those who enjoy edge-of-your-seat
storylines and clean romance, this series with its satisfying conclusion is
sure to sate your literary palate, at least until you pick up your next book!
Book
One: Double Take
Book
Two: Target Acquired
Book
Three: Serial Burn
.jpg)
A Lesson in Propriety (May 20, 2025) by Jen
Turano.
<This is
the first novel in a series.>
The family’s fortune has been stolen, her fiancé is now
an ex, and Miss Drusilla Merriweather’s New York Four Hundred life
has been upended. All she can think to do to provide for her mother and younger
sister is to open a finishing school on an allegedly haunted castle estate in
Chicago that the Merriweather sisters have inherited from an eccentric aunt
whom they haven’t seen in two years and is rumored to be dead. There’s a seedy
underworld containing unscrupulous developers coveting the valuable land the
estate sits on, alarm goats in the spooky home and a neighbor by the name of
Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker. He’s a charming architect who considers Aunt Ottilie
his friend but missteps when he proposes that he can solve Drusilla’s problems
by declaring they should marry when they’ve only just met. Drusilla forgives
him his blunder and declares that he should never broach the subject of
marriage again. Trouble is, he’d really like to court this woman whom he finds
most extraordinary (yes, all four of his younger sisters were
surprised when he used that word, too), and Drusilla is surprised to feel
disappointment when he doesn’t. Can this improper proposal be turned proper and
the seedy characters of Chicago dealt with so that the Merriweather
Academy for Young Ladies can open?
I can
already tell this new series from Turano is going to be a fun one. The
Christian fiction, historical romance with its strong female characters,
laugh-out-loud banter and mischievous antics set in the Gilded Age is witty and
fast-paced. The characters are easily distinguishable and human in their
imperfectness. Rhenick stumbles with his spur-of-the-moment proposal, and
Drusilla maybe shouldn’t be allowed a firearm. The story is gallant, heartfelt
and thoroughly charming. The threatening situations never feel particularly
dire, but that’s acceptable in this mostly lighthearted novel. I look forward
to the second installment!
No comments:
Post a Comment
You have a book or post-related comment on your mind? Wonderful! Your comments are welcome, but whether you are a regular or guest Rutabaga, I expect you to keep your comments clean and respectable. :-)