Tag: bethany house

ARC Book Review: The Voice We Find (Fog Harbor #3) by Nicole Deese

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Christian Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Nicole Deese
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sophie Wilder returns home to California with nothing more than a failed Broadway career and a geriatric cat. Stuck working at the family winery with her egotistical brother and desperate for a way to revive her acting dreams, she takes a side gig as an audiobook narrator with Fog Harbor Books. But getting mixed up in the life of her reluctant sound engineer was never a part of her plans.

August Tate is still reeling from taking guardianship of his teen sister. Determined to find a solution to her degenerative hearing loss and to prevent his private recording studio from going under, he agrees to produce audiobooks part-time. When Sophie breathes new life into his creativity and forms an unexpected bond with his sister, rooted in their common faith, he must confront the reasons he turned away from his own.

Bestselling and award-winning author Nicole Deese weaves an emotionally charged romance rich in the complexities of love and family.

Thank you to the author and Bethany House for the gifted copy.

A STRONG STORY.

First and foremost I loved the deaf/hard of hearing rep so much. I felt like I learned a lot and appreciated seeing this heavily present in the book. It’s a theme throughout and there was a copious amount of knowledge gained.

The relationship between Sophie and August was sweet. They went from strangers to lovers well and I liked the times the spent together and the little nudges of getting to know each other and feel seen within their own personal trials. I was highly frustrated by the third act because it involved one of my least favorite third act tropes, but I digress. These two had a tender and beautiful romance I loved seeing blossom.

The side plot with Sophie’s brother Jasper never felt complete or fully woven in. I don’t know how to put my finger on it that something was missing from this nefarious side quest and I needed something different from him.

All of the audiobook and ASL learning content was amazing though. I loved those aspects and they really carried the journey in this story. A bit preachy here and there for my usual preferences in reading a Christian romance but I think this will still resonate with a lot of people and hopefully bring some peace while reading this beautiful book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted), mentions of spousal abuse (brief), grief depictions, panic attack on page

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Book Review: An Honorable Deception (The Imposters #3) by Roseanna M. White

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As the leader of elite private investigative firm the Imposters, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon dangerous secrets.

Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects there’s more to her oldest friends than they’re willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they’re the Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. Happy as she is for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia’s own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing to bring laughter back into her life–her friendship with Yates–lands her squarely on the bad side of her best friend, his sister.

Tormented by a past that she doesn’t dare to voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the darkest of society’s secrets, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia soon learn anew that the gentry isn’t always noble . . . and truth isn’t always honorable.

Thank you Bethany House for my gifted copy.

A GOOD CONCLUSION.

I have been waiting for Yates story and I found it really beautiful. It’s a soft love triangle with a lot of hard topics and loving humans who help each other move forward when the hard things hit.

The audiobook was great and I loved that format. I enjoyed the mystery of this plot and not quite knowing where it was going to lead. There’s just the right level of theatrics and drama that led to heated tension and memorable kissing scenes.

Seeing all of the old cast was a delight too. I have loved reading about all of these characters and I loved their inclusion into the plot. This was my first series my White and I would love to see what stories she writes next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content: murder, attempted murder, sexual abuse, child abuse, gun violence

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ARC Book Review: The Seaside Homecoming (On Devonshire Shores #3) by Julie Klassen

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Julie Klassen
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. About to become homeless and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire answers an advertisement from someone looking for a “respectable female partner” in a Sidmouth boarding house. Is it a sign or another reckless mistake? When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he’s hiding and if he’s any more trustworthy than the nobleman who betrayed her years ago. Even as she is drawn to him, she fears he will reject her when he discovers her genteel façade hides a less-than-respectable past. Meanwhile, the Summers family learn their great-aunt has died and Claire has disappeared without a word. The sisters rally together to find their lost sibling, but will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or widen the divide? Return to the picturesque Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity.

Thank you to Bethany House for the gifted copy.

LOVED MEETING CLAIRE.

I have been waiting for Claire’s story since I started this series and I enjoyed so many aspects of it. I loved how strong she was in the face of a lot of tough circumstances for this time period. So many things weren’t fair and she persevered through it all.

I loved the slow burn romance and the building of a friendship to more. It was very sweet and I adored Mr. Hammond. They were both in the right place at the right time to connect and realize the family they were building. I loved the single dad trope for his historical too. And some of the side characters were endearing and I was charmed by them too.

For a few of the other more antagonist based characters, I didn’t love. I just thought some of the plot points weren’t necessary nor did I love how Claire’s Mom behaved. It was like I understood where she was coming from initially, but the hold out only frustrated me.

A good read with hints towards book four that I’m really looking forward to as well. I adore this series as a whole. I love the themes and enduring sense of hope that is woven in.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: mentions of abuse

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ARC Book Review: Across the Ages (Timeless #4) by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction + Romance
Length: TBD pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: November 5th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Caroline holds a deep secret. Existing in 1727 and 1927 simultaneously, each night she goes to sleep in one life and wakes up in the other. Searching for answers to her unique existence, Caroline stumbles upon a letter from her mother that hints at her own experiences as a time-crosser, sending Caroline on a quest to uncover the truth. In 1727, chasing the mysteries of her mother’s past, Caroline disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins a ship sailing for the Bahamas, her mother’s last known location. Amid treacherous waters, she crosses paths with Marcus Zale, a ruthless but handsome pirate, and finds herself caught in a web of secrets, deception, and unexpected alliances. Meanwhile, in 1927 St. Paul, Minnesota, Caroline grapples with her other life as the daughter of a renowned preacher. Her two older brothers have strayed from their upbringing into the corruption rampant during Prohibition, and Caroline struggles to protect her parents from the truth that could shatter her father’s career. As her search for answers about her time-crossing leads her to the dangerous speakeasies of St. Paul, Caroline enlists the help of police officer Lewis Cager, a childhood friend. But when her family’s future is put at risk and loyalties are tested, Caroline is faced with a life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

Thank you to the author and Bethany House for the gifted copy.

BEAUTIFUL.

This book found me at a great time (and low point) in my year when I needed reminded of some very key facts about life. I loved the faith themes woven throughout about forgiveness and making positive choices and the right ones for your own life. It came together in this powerful way that resonating across the plot in those final chapters. I was surprised by some of those moments (in a good way) that they took a direction I wasn’t expecting.

I thought the romance plot for this book was awesome. I appreciate that every book has a different feel with the romance and that it’s not repetitive. This allowed space for a nice platonic friendship and a romantic swoony one too. I loved the side characters and all of the well researched historical aspects too. I loved seeing Caroline’s growth and self discovery and her resilient nature to figure out key elements of her past.

Another fabulous book for this series you won’t want to miss.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: miscarriage (side character), infidelity (side characters)

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