The Guardian of Avlina by A.J. AvilaSeries: a standalonePublisher: self published (June 27, 2025) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS The Guardian of Avlina is a science fiction fantasy story that takes place on an island on an Earth-like, faraway planet called Avlina. Davin is the island’s king. His baby sister, Princess Carranda, is born under bizarre... Continue Reading →
Intersecting Dreams by Linda Edmister
Intersecting Dreams by Linda EdmisterSeries: Book 2 in Edmister’s Intersections seriesPublisher: Mister Ed Books (November 7, 2025) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS When I first heard of this book, contemporary issues like progressive sex ed in the classroom and a growing Muslim population in the Western world piqued my interest. Add a young woman, Rose, looking... Continue Reading →
The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman
The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess LedermanSeries: StandalonePublisher: Azure Star, LLC (July 24, 2025) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS This is going to be a divisive review for a divisive book because The Ballad of Midnight and McRae is a Christian Western with a gay protagonist. Matt is a contemporary man who tells the... Continue Reading →
This Promised Land by Cathy Gohlke
This Promised Land by Cathy GohlkeSeries: Stand Alone NovelPublisher: Tyndale Fiction (April 8, 2025) REVIEW BY KELLY J. GOSHORN In This Promised Land, award-winning author Cathy Gohlke delivers a deeply moving, multi-generational story of family, forgiveness, and the restorative power of grace. This heartfelt family saga centers around Ginny Pickering Boyden. At age 60, Ginny... Continue Reading →
Cowboy Walking Away by Jessie Gussman
Cowboy Walking Away by Jessie Gussman Series: Book 1 of 12, Coming Home to North Dakota SeriesPublisher: Jessie Gussman (March 1, 2022) REVIEW BY GWEN M. PLANO In this Christian romance story, Rose’s husband leaves her for another woman. She is devastated and questions herself, life, and even God. Soon thereafter, she meets Derek, who... Continue Reading →
Leah’s Faith by Joanne Lehman
Leah’s Faith by Joanne LehmanSeries: Book 1 of the Benville Community SeriesPublisher: Masthof Press (February 24, 2024) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS Leah is an Amish teenager with severe scoliosis. Surgery would help her, but she and her family accept her disability as God’s will. The story takes place in Ohio. Even though Leah is young,... Continue Reading →
What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey BostromSeries: StandalonePublisher: Tyndale Fiction (August 12, 2025) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS In this contemporary women’s fiction novel, thirty-four-year-old Hildy is a wildlife biologist in the state of Washington. She knows a lot about rivers and trees and fish, especially fish. When Hildy was little, she told her dad... Continue Reading →
Masters of the Cavern Romance Trilogy by Z. Peabody
His to Honor, His to Adore, His to Love by Z. PeabodySeries: Masters of the Cavern romance novella trilogyPublisher: Z. Peabody Publishing (July 1, 2023 – January 4, 2025) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS Masters of the Cavern is Z. Peabody’s Christian romance novella trilogy. What’s the deal with the cavern? you may ask. In this... Continue Reading →
Virginia by Shannon McNear
Virginia by Shannon McNearSeries: book four in the Daughters of the Lost Colony seriesPublisher: Barbour Fiction (September 1, 2024) REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS Even though Virginia is book four in McNear’s Daughters of the Lost Colony series, it works perfectly well as a standalone. Virginia is a coming-of-age novel about Virginia Dare, the real-life first... Continue Reading →