AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Guarded by the Sheriff

Title:  Guarded by the Sheriff

Author: Monique DeVere

Publisher:  Harlequin Audio

Genre:   Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Format:  ALC

Narrator:  Kate Marcin

Length:  6 hrs 3 mins

No. of Pages:   237

Date of Publication:   June 30, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A child in need of protection...and a lawman keeping watch.

It’s a shock to Sheriff Ethan Callahan to see his ex-fiancée Sienna Blake again — especially with a child in tow...and a gunman on her heels. Witnessing a shooting has make Sienna a criminal’s next target. And when Ethan realises that he’s the father of her son, he is determined to keep them both safe...no matter the cost. With trust hanging in the balance and their enemy closing in, Ethan and Sienna must stand together to survive. Except the hit man knows their every move...and trusting the wrong person could get them killed.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Sienna Blake is on the run, and she isn’t alone. Traveling with her is her young son she is determined to protect. Sheriff Ethan Callahan immediately recognizes the danger Sienna is facing, but guarding her is anything but simple. The two were once engaged before Sienna abruptly ended their relationship, leaving Ethan with unanswered questions and a broken heart. Now, as they work together to stay one step ahead of the person hunting Sienna, the powerful feelings they once shared begin to resurface.

There is one more shocking revelation for Ethan. One look into the little boy’s eyes leaves him with no doubt that the child is his son.

Danger, emotion, and pure sweetness make Guarded by the Sheriff a wonderful read. I especially enjoyed the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Kate Marcin. She brings Sienna and Ethan to life while also capturing the innocence and charm of the young boy with a voice that adds even more heart to the story. Her performance enhances the emotional depth and suspense throughout.

Second-chance romances are one of my favorite tropes, and Monique DeVere blends that theme seamlessly with inspirational elements, family drama, and plenty of suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed watching everything come together and found this to be a touching, satisfying story from beginning to end.

Many thanks to Harlequin Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Monique DeVere writes funny, feel-good romances with heart, hope, and a dash of sass. A true romantic, she believes falling in love should come with belly laughs, awkward moments, and that delicious slow-burn sizzle. Originally from Barbados, Monique lives in the UK with her real-life hero, their four grown children, five grandchildren, and an adorable Yorkie. She loves writing stories about strong, smart heroines and the swoon-worthy men who fall for them—whether in rom-com, contemporary, or inspirational suspense. When she’s not dreaming up emotionally satisfying love stories, she’s collecting new ideas, enjoying family time, or learning something new.

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Review - D is for Daisy

Title:   D is for Daisy

Author:  Shelley Shepard Gray

Publisher:  Kensington

Series:  Amish ABCs #4

Genre:   Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  288

Date of Publication:  June 30, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Newcomers are always welcome in the rural Amish community of Walden, Ohio, but in this heartwarming inspirational romance from beloved New York Timesbestselling and award-winning author Shelley Shepard Gray, a 50-something couple planning for early retirement learn even the simple life can sometimes be complicated. For fans of Beverly Lewis, Amy Clipston, and Charlotte Hubbard—and anyone who enjoys wholesome, uplifting stories about faith, family, and love.

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Early retirement never sounded so good to Mervin and Ruthie Miller. After a lifetime in Millersburg, where Mervin worked at a furniture and shed factory and Ruthie helped out at a fabric store, they have exciting They’re going to become “Amish Gentlemen Farmers.” That means buying a 30-acre, ramshackle farm, and all that comes with it—no matter what their grown children, friends, and aching muscles think . . .

Aaron Miller is worried about his parents, but there’s little he can do now that he lives in Kentucky and has a baby on the way. Then his childhood best friend, Kyle Burkholder, makes a heaven-sent he’ll move in with Aaron’s parents to teach them about raising cows, sheep, and chickens, and even give weekly reports to Aaron.

The arrangement is going well—until Kyle stumbles upon Daisy Lapp who’s just been in a bicycle accident. When he takes her to the hospital, he knows there’s something special between them. So does Daisy. But her something special is the fact that Kyle lives on the farm she’d always dreamed of buying one day. She knows it’s wrong, but she’s jealous. She wants nothing to do with Kyle and politely tells him so.

Still, like the Millers, Kyle’s not one to give up easily. Not on himself, not on the farm, and certainly not on Daisy. With dedication and a leap of faith, the lives they envisioned just might come true . . .

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

Shelley Shepard Gray is writing one of my favorite inspirational series, the Amish ABCs. Planned as a five-book series, the final installment, E Is for Englischer, is scheduled for release in November of this year. Set in the Amish community of Walden, Ohio, this series combines faith, heartwarming romance, and a close-knit community to create stories that are both uplifting and comforting.

This fourth installment, D is for Daisy, focuses on Kyle Burkholder and Daisy Lapp. Kyle is doing a favor for his best friend, Aaron, by moving in with Aaron’s parents, Mervin and Ruthie Miller, to teach them about farming. The Millers have purchased a farm despite knowing very little about farm life, and Aaron hopes Kyle’s help will ease his worries while he lives out of state.

One day, Daisy is injured in a bicycle accident, and Kyle rushes her to the hospital. The attraction between them is undeniable, but there is one significant obstacle. Kyle is now living on the very farm Daisy had long dreamed of buying herself. Although she can’t deny her growing feelings for Kyle, her disappointment over losing the farm makes it difficult to spend time with him. Hoping to protect her heart, Daisy is determined to keep her distance.

This is a lovely story about determination, second chances, and trusting God’s plan even when life doesn’t unfold as expected. Kyle is exactly the person the Millers need to help them succeed on the farm, and Mervin and Ruthie are such warm, endearing characters that it’s impossible not to root for them. Faith, hope, and perseverance blend beautifully with the sweet, slow-building romance between Kyle and Daisy, making this another wonderful addition to a series I continue to enjoy.

Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Amish ABCs

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds  on her town’s bike trail.

Photo credit: Dianne Bomar

Review - Fury Over Texas

Title:  Fury Over Texas

Author:  William W. Johnstone 

  and J. A. Johnstone

Publisher:  Pinnacle

Genre:   Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   352

Date of Publication:   June 30, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Sheriff Mack Armstrong became the sheriff of Pine Lick after his father Branch retired. Branch’s early life was quite difficult. For starters, as a Confederate soldier he had been captures, but he managed to escape. However, he killed a cruel guard during his escape.  

Branch was not a bad person. In fact, the care that he had for others was clear to see a

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

This western fiction by Johnstone is set in 1888 Pine Lick, Texas. The chief protagonist is Sheriff Mack Armstrong and he does everything he can to keep his community safe. His father, Branch Armstrong  was the previous sheriff and was a man who had put his violent past behind him. The relative peace in Pine Lick is shattered when a man arrives with the intent of seeking revenge on Mack’s father. 

Mark is determined to stop the man, but he has another battle on his hands. The town of Pine Lick has been hit with a violent hurricane, destroying just about everything in its path. In fact, the town is also hit by torrential rainstorms which create flooding conditions. Mack certainly has his hands full. Chaos abounds in more ways than one.  

I thought this was a well-written story and it captured my attention from start to finish. Will read more by this author in the future. 

Many thanks to Pinnacle and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

BLOG TOUR - Murder at the Cornish Book Club

DESCRIPTION:

Join Maddie Penrose, scone baker, book lover and amateur sleuth, in her new home by the Cornish seaside. A member of her local book club has been murdered, and she’s on the case!

Maddie Penrose is settling into Cornish life with her fun and feisty grandmother, Nor. She throws herself into getting to know the locals, helping out at the village book club and enjoying the occasional G&T in the pub with handsome police officer DI Tom Trevelyan. But one sunny morning, her newfound peace is shattered when she spots Quentin, a member of the book club… dead, with a knife in his back.

To Maddie’s surprise, it transpires that almost all the other members of the book club have a motive to murder Quentin. Quentin’s own wife, a fellow reader, seems to be hiding something. The local romance author isn’t all sweetness and light, and another writer is keeping secrets. But is one of the book lovers in the sleepy seaside village really responsible for Quentin’s untimely death?

No sooner has the ink dried on the page of the first killing, another takes place – and the seconds victim is also a member of the book club! As Maddie frantically scrambles to get her clues down in black and white, she unearths a discovery connected to Nor. Is her gran the next victim on the list?

Can Maddie rescue Nor before her story ends in murder too? Or will the killer have the last word?

BUY LINK:

• Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GN5243TRsocial

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Title:   Murder at the Cornish Book Club

Author:  Fliss Chester

Series:  Maddie Penrose Book 2
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  268

Date of Publication:  June 29, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars  

MY THOUGHTS:

Maddie Penrose has settled nicely into her new life in a charming Cornish seaside village, where she helps her grandmother, Nor, run her cozy teashop. She also seems to have a talent for solving murders, and that skill is put to the test once again in the second installment of Fliss Chester’s delightful cozy mystery series.

While waiting to serve tea to a group of annual midsummer swimmers, Maddie and her friends witness a shocking discovery when a body washes ashore with an ornate knife in its back. The victim, Quentin Roskelly, was a member of the book club that meets at Nor’s teashop, and it quickly becomes clear that he wasn’t well liked. With so many possible suspects, Maddie can’t resist investigating alongside her almost-beau, DI Tom Trevelyan.

When another book club member is murdered, Maddie realizes the killer may not be finished. With the danger growing ever closer to home, she races to uncover the truth before someone else, perhaps even Maddie or Nor, becomes the next victim.

Filled with a charming Cornish setting, lovable characters, humor, and bookish references, Murder at the Cornish Book Club is an engaging cozy mystery. Although Maddie is the central sleuth, Nor often steals the spotlight with her warmth and wit, adding an extra layer of charm to an already delightful story. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

https://www.instagram.com/flisschester/
https://twitter.com/SocialWhirlGirl

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Fliss Chester here: https://www.bookouture.com/fliss-chester

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

https://www.instagram.com/flisschester/
https://twitter.com/SocialWhirlGirl

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Fliss Chester here: https://www.bookouture.com/fliss-chester

BLOG TOUR - The Toxic Friend

DESCRIPTION:

Keep your enemies close… and your best friends closer.

I watch Victoria and Reese leaving their favourite coffee shop arm-in-arm. They like to go there to catch up, brag about their perfect husbands and their perfect children.

But I know the truth. Behind those big smiles, Reese and Victoria have kept each other close so they can watch each other. Their friendship is toxic. And their lives are built on one big lie. 

I carefully snap another photograph to add to my collection. Neither of them knows I see everything they do. They’ll find out soon enough, when I bring their lies out into the open. Then it will be just the three of us, together again after all these years.

Because the past is coming back to bite these two women…

It’s me. I’m the past. Here I come.

A totally addictive psychological thriller by million-copy bestseller Nicole Trope that will have you racing through the pages late into the night! Fans of Andrea Mara, Shari Lapena and Freida McFadden won’t be able to put this down.

BUY LINK:

Amazon:  https://geni.us/B0H1RJKNJMsocial

Title:   The Toxic Friend

Author:  Nicole Trope

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  286

Date of Publication:  June 26, 2026

My Rating:  5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Reese and Victoria are stunned when they begin receiving threatening letters that appear to have been sent by their former friend, Camilla. They have no idea why she has suddenly resurfaced after years of silence, but both women know they have secrets from their shared past that they desperately want to keep hidden. If Camilla is reaching out now, she must want something, and whatever it is could unravel everything they have hoped to leave behind.

If you enjoy stories featuring unreliable narrators, you’ll quickly recognize that no one in this novel is entirely trustworthy. Nicole Trope does an excellent job developing her characters, gradually peeling back the layers of their personalities and revealing that no one is as innocent as they first appear.

Like every Nicole Trope novel I’ve read, The Toxic Friend immediately captured my attention. It’s a fast-paced psychological thriller filled with taut suspense, well-placed twists, and clever red herrings that kept me guessing until the very end. The shocking conclusion left me breathless. I can’t wait to see what Trope writes next because I’m sure it will be just as compelling. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because, as her professor pointed out, ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’

She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree. In between raising three children, working for her husband and renovating houses, she has published multiple bestselling novels. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

Author social media:

Facebook: @NicoleTrope

Twitter: @nicoletrope

Author email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/nicole-trope

 

BLOG TOUR - Murder at the Country Fair

DESCRIPTION:

When a body is discovered at their local country fair, amateur detectives Flora and Jack Carrington agree this death smells suspicious – and it’s not just the killer cheese. It’s the scent of murder…

Sussex, 1960: It’s the perfect day for Abbeymead’s autumn fair. The village green has been transformed into a riot of stalls and tents, and Flora and Jack are keen to sample all the local produce. But when local cheesemaker Gilbert Barrow crashes into the fair, he brings the festivities to a dead halt.

Flora rushes to the van and finds Gilbert slumped over the wheel, killed by his prize-winning round of cheese, which has broken free of its bonds. Flora is immediately alert – surely Gilbert would have been more careful with his treasured prize… and with his life?

Certain there’s more to this than just a tragic accident, Flora and Jack begin investigating Gilbert’s close circle – his jealous cousin, Bea, his corporate dairy rival, Reginald, and his estranged wife, Vivienne. When Gilbert’s new girlfriend is attacked, the race to find out who had the biggest motive heats up faster than fondue. But can Flora and Jack sniff out the killer – or will their investigation crumble before the murderer strikes again…?

A completely gripping and page-turning, charming cozy mystery novel packed to the brim with brilliant twists. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis will love Murder at the Country Fair.

BUY LINK:

• Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GPD8RS6Fsocial
• 
  

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Title:  Murder at the Country Fair 

Author:  Merryn Allingham 

Series:   Flora Steele Mystery #14

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  287

Date of Publication:  June 25, 2026

Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Cheesemaker Gilbert Bartow is killed just as the local country fair is about to begin. His death immediately raises suspicions, and, of course, Flora Steele and her husband, Jack Carrington, step in to investigate. At the request of the local police inspector, and not for first time, they  once again put their amateur sleuthing skills to work.

The manner of Gilbert’s death is certainly unusual. He appears to have been crushed by a wheel of prize-winning cheese in his truck. Was it simply a tragic accident, or was it carefully planned sabotage? Flora and Jack are determined to uncover the truth. Although they are amateur detectives, their intelligence, persistence, and keen instincts have helped them solve countless mysteries before.

I love this series. Having read it from the very beginning, I’ve enjoyed watching the continuity of the characters and the warm, loving relationship between Flora and Jack. Flora’s bookshop, The All’s Well, remains one of my favorite settings, serving as a welcoming hub where many of the series’ memorable characters gather. Each mystery is engaging, and spending time in this charming village is always a pleasure. Murder at the Country Fair is another delightful addition to the series, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband and one last cat, Bluebell. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

https://merrynallingham.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites
https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

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