THESE EMPTY PLACES by SARAH LOUDIN THOMAS

 THESE EMPTY PLACES by SARAH LOUDIN THOMAS is a beautifully written novel that takes place at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, starting in 1916 and ending with the epilogue in 1961. The characters are great and their emotions and relationships are very well portrayed. There is also a strong Christian message, about love, forgiveness and what is important in life, running through the book. ….

Claire, who has had two great loves in her life and is experiencing romantic love for the third time, is a great help to Lena in her marital problems. The following is a quotation between them at the end of the novel,“Thank you”, Lena whispered (to Claire). “For what?” “For teaching me what real treasure looks like.” The relationship between these two women is inspirational……

I loved every part of These Empty Places and literally could not put the book down. I am not going to tell you amy more for fear of spoiling things for you. It is a lovely story and I cannot recommend the book highly enough. 

I was given a free copy of the book from NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

THE MANHATTAN CONFESSIONS by JOCELYN GREEN

Publication date 7/7/26

 THE MANHATTAN CONFESSIONS is the third novel in the On Central Park series by JOCELYN GREEN but it can easily stand alone. The novel kept me rivetted with the descriptions of the dangers faced by Ivy Malone after her story of the wealthy socialite Adeline King nee Molly Kelly attracts people from Adeline’s former life of crime……..

Added to this is the problem of her cousin Gina’s immigration from Italy. Here we see how some women immigrants are treated unscrupulously by so-called immigration specialists……

Ivy’s friend,Tom Lightfoot, is a caring young man who becomes her protecter. He suffers from shellshock from the war. Ivy, who has no family left, draws strength from her friends, and Tom in particular, until she realises that true strength comes from the Lord…..

The history of the time is well documented, the characters and their emotions are well portrayed and there is a strong Christian message. I cannot recommend this exciting Christian historical romance strongly enough.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

IN THESE HILLS by TAMERA ALEXANDER

Publication date 8/9/26

 IN THESE HILLS by TAMERA ALEXANDER is a beautifully written historical romance novel with unforgettable characters, nail-biting suspense, and tragedy, as we follow suffragist Josephine Dunham as she runs away from Atlanta Georgia, where a suffrage meeting has turned dangerous, to the small town of Lynchburg……

Dodge Coburn has lived in Lynchburg all his life. He runs Jack Daniel’s cattle farm. He is passionate about animals and his deceased sister’s daughter, the feisty nine year old Bethie. He has an aversion to suffragsists because of what happened to his sister Kathleen. …..

The only employment for Josephine is as bookkeeper to the famous Jack Daniel. Working in a distillery goes agasst her convictions but she gradually learns that men are not all villains, and in her friendship with Dodge she learns that showing grace is more important than followng hard held convictions. She s shown so much grace by him, Uncle Jack and her friends at Miss Mary’s boarding house that she feels guilty about the lie she is living…….

Josephine is terrified of being arrested for killing the mayor of Atlanta’s son, even though it was in self defense, and makes up a story about an abusive husband, which no one really believes……

There is a strong Christian message of God’s faithfulness, largely based on psalm 56:8 “You number my wanderings;; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?” which helps Josephine in her suffering………

I cannot recommend this truly inspirational novel highly enough.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opnions in this review are completely my own.