Simba's book review

  "Home is Where your heart is" Home,  has many definitions and meanings for us all.  For some of us it is the place that we grew up, for others it is where we live.  Once we can truly realize that home is not just about the four walls or the physical place we live, and open our hearts to those we love, we really find our true home and a inner joy and happiness that truly allows us to reach for all our dreams.   In The Lighthouse at the Cove freelance travel writer Kaiah Ross is looking for that place.  Growing up in the middle of her sisters, Kaiah has felt lost and alone since her mom died and her dad abruptly remarried a woman with a houseful of boys.  Kaiah his closest to her sister Kam, but finds herself running around writing travel articles.   We meet up with Kaiah on her journey from Maryland to Florida hitting small coastal towns for an article she is writing.  When her beloved range Rover, Daisy, over heats in the charming...

  "There is real beauty in the flaws and normalcy of family that maybe other people take for granted."  Sophia to Mason in 'A Little Paris Christmas' Want a holiday rom-com sprinkled with a some Christmas magic?  Look no farther than Jennifer Shirk's newest release A Little Paris Christmas A Delightfully Festive Holiday Escape .   Set in the charming small town of Paris, Pennsylvania (a town that richly embraces it's French history and all things Christmas), this delightful story will invite readers in.  The characters will become like friends, and you will feel wrapped in a warm holiday hug.  From ice skating,  hot chocolate with whipped cream, and Festive holiday decor, readers will feel like they are in their own Winter wonderland (the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie). Sophie Dubois, Chamber of Commerce Director, is all things Christmas.  From her life-sized Rudolph yard display to her two amazingly decorated trees cheerful, and extrovert...

  "When one door closes another opens.  Expect that new door to reveal even greater wonders and glories and surprises.  Feel yourself grow with every experience.  And look for the reason for it."  Eileen Caddy The Christmas Coin  is that book will stay with me long after I have finished reading it.  Readers will come to love the quaint, pictersque New England town of White Bridge, Connecticut.   Not just the town, but the characters will touch your heart in such a way that you will consider them friends.  Gibson writes this book with such emotional depth and poignancy that you will want to stay up all night finishing it.   It is so much more than just the love story of Amelia and Ben: it is the story of family, small town living, and opening one's heart to new season of life.  It is giving us permission to take the time to grieve when we move to a different season of life, but then to embrace that new season and all the ho...

  "If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you  do not forgive others their trespasses, neighter will your Father forgive you your trespasses."  Matthew 6:14-15 Fans of Kathleen Fuller, Suzanne Woods Fischer, and Shelley Shephards Gray do not want to miss this cozy Amish romance/mystery by Amy Clipston.  I fell in love with Amy Clipston years ago, with her famous Kauffman Amish bakery series.  Clipston writes with depth, compassion, and brings her characters to life in the peaceful Amish country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.   Learn a bit more about the Amish faith, and living the more simple life where faith, family, and community are central to life.  A place, where life looks a bit like the early church from Acts.   In A Heart Set Free, Renee Mast is surprised when she receives a registered letter from her late mammi's (Amish for grandma) lawyer.   Now, Renee must convince her...

  "Leave your gift there before the altar and go . First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."  Matthew 5:24 Fans of Mindy Steele, Leslie Gould and Jenny Beckstrand will not want to miss out on Anne Blackburn's newest book Plain Jane's Secret Admirer  which will be released January 1, 2026.  The eleventh book in the Heart of the Amish, Blackburne teams up with other great authors of Amish fiction, to give readers cozy, heartfelt, faith filled books with characters they will love.  Simba loves Blackburne's animal and kitty characters and is happy to say that a special feline companion (in his humble opinion) steals the show in her novels. In Plain Jane's Secret Admirer  readers are taken back to Lizzie's New Orleans-style french Bakery from Lizzie's Little Mouse.  We finally get to see what happens to Jane Bongrager who has been helping Lizzie with her bakery.  When Lizzie goes on her wedding trip, all sorts of things h...

"While one child may receive more praise another may be held to unfair expectations , criticized more , or 'expected to be the strong one.' "  Unknown Fans of Debbie Macomber, Jenny Hale, and Denise Hunter do not want to miss Lindsay Gibson's newest Christmas romance.  Christmas in Focus  will take readers on a journey from Charleston, South Carolina to the quaint ski resort town of Alpine Ridge, Vermont with aspiring young photographer Millie Rowan.  Millie is facing struggles in her home state of South Carolina.  The youngest daughter of a pediatric surgeon and nurse she is expected to follow her dad and older sister, Lyla's, footsteps into the medical field.  She is made to feel unvaluable and unloved as she is pursuing her passion of photography.  Even worse, in her family of academics, she hasn't even completed college.  When she is rejected by another potential employee due to lack of experience, Millie reluctantly goes home with her older s...

  “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light."  Luke 8:17                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ...

  "Things spoken can be forgotten and forgiven, but the written word has the power to change the course of history, to alter our lives."  — Teresa Mummert   As a young girl, historical fiction became a passion of mine.  I remember falling in love with authors such as Eugenia Price and Al Lacy.  Their civil war books written before, during, and after the Civil War fed my imagination and cultivated a love of history and reading that I carry to this day.  My tastes have changed and at this season of life, I have been fascinated by WWII novels with Kate Thompson and her book The Little Wartime Library  jumpstarting this new passion of mine.  If you love Kate Thompson, Sarah Sundin, and Lynn Austin you will not want to miss Roseanna White's newest book Collector of Burned Books.   Nazi Germany was able to to spread and have their ideas embraced not only because of their military accomplishments but more importantly through their propoganda an...

  "Think of your Bible, the cover worn and tattered in places.  Yet, I'd wager you value that Bible more than any of the other books in our collection.  It's not the cover that inspires love, Everett.  It's what's inside.."  Karen Witemeyer in To Love a Beast Every young girl grows up loving a good fairy tale, where the princess finds her Prince Charming and happily ever after.  Karen Witemeyer has masterfully created a series of historical fiction fairy tales, that readers such as myself will fall in love with as they not only re-live their childhood, but are able to see the true author of the greatest love story ever.  Karen masterfully with humor and grace takes readers back to a time in American history where chilvary was still practiced, and family and faith were important.   I started on my fairy tale journey with Karen Witemeyer in her Texas Ever After  series and was so excited that she decided to continue her fairy tales with To...

  "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.  The best is yet to come."  Zig Ziglar Fans of Debbie Macomber, RaeAnne Thayne,  Annie Rains, and Jenny Halem make room for debut author Caroline Stowe.  Scrolling through social media the other day, I saw a post about this debut author, and of course I could not resist another Christmas romance.  I am so thankful I was able to get my paws on this delightful, tender, uplifting, cozy Christmas story.   Caroline Stowe takes readers on a magical Christmas journey in the New England town of Cranberry Pines.   There is romance (with cookie baking and sledding thrown in) along with friendships and family.  Readers will not be the same after reading Wishing For Christmas .   How many times have we wished that we could skip through the hard times of life and be on the other side of a difficult time or situation?  I know I have.  Clara Jenkins certainly does when sh...

 "As Iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."  Proverbs 27:17 As a young girl growing up, my parents did not always monitor the books I read.  I read through the children's section (or so I thought fairly quickly) and being an only child with older parents I was forced to grow up sooner than most.  So sadly, I read a lot of harlequin romance novels (especially the ones with babies).   As an adult, it thrilled me to see that harlequin has a series of love inspired books, and I have read many of them over the years.  These short little romance novels (great for having in the car as waiting to pick up kids, or at a time you just want a quick read) have impacted me and my faith journey so much.  Many of them have so many biblical truths sprinkled throughout, making them well worth your read.  Isabella Bruno does not disappoint in Her Second Chance Christmas.  Her cozy little Christmas romances shows that it is never too late to co...

  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11) ESV I love the book of Jeremiah, and this verse, and I felt it fit very well in Heidi McCahan's newest winter novel.  Fans of harlequin love suspense books will enjoy this charming cozy winter book, that takes you to the remote town of Evergreen, Alaska.    The story begins as Jovi Wright is called home by her older sister calls Jovi home to help with the Evergreen Candy Company, a family legacy started by their grandparents.  With their grandfather no longer with them, their beloved Grammie has just been moved to a memory care facility.  Jovi is recovering from a break-up with her fiance and her sister and husband are struggling in their marriage.  Compounded on top of all of this Jovi's parents want to sell their beloved family company.  Jovi, who has been away for years as a traveling nurse swoop...

  "The relationship between parents and children, but especially between mothers and daughters, is tremendously powerful, scarcely to be comprehended in any rational way." — Joyce Carol Oates  If you are a Susan Mallery fan, you will not want to miss out on her newst novel, Otherwise Engaged available November 4, 2025. With her standard flair for developing complex female characters with past hurts or traumas, Susan brings us two mother-daughter relationships that have a powerful connection from before Shannon and Victoria (two talented young ladies trying to discover their talents and path for a future).were born. When they meet by chance at a wedding venue for Shannon's mom Cindy, the two young ladies discover that Victoria's mom had hopes of adopting young Shannon at birth until Cindy changed her mind. As the story unfolds, readers are given great insight and depth about how our past as mothers shape how we raise our own daughters. Both Cindy and Victoria'...

                          "When you are honest you have a great deal of power.  You have the power to choose, the power to change, and the power to grow."  Gary Zukav      Fans of Susan Mallery and Jill Shalvis will adore Sarah Morgan, if you have not already had the delight of reading one of her books.  I fell in love with her a few Christmases ago when I read her novel The Christmas Escape . In   A Merry Little Lie  Becky has lived the last year hidden away from her beloved twin sister Rosie, who married her co-worker and Declan.  At their wedding a little less than a year ago, Becky faced with the thought of losing her beloved twin to marriage, fantasizes her self in love with Declan.  To protect herself, and allow Rosie the happy ever after she deserves, Becky quit her job, moved out on her own, and has faced a lonely and unfilling year.  Rosie, baffled at the...

  “Bookshops are dreams built of wood and paper. They are time travel and escape and knowledge and power. They are, simply put, the best of places.”   –  Jen Campbell Another beautiful, and heartfelt cozy romance by beloved author Denise Hunter.  Set in the picturesque town of Grandville, North Carloina; The Second Story Bookshop  reminds readers that all things are possible with the help of a beloved bookstore and family.  Shelby Thatcher is devastated by the loss of her beloved Gram, and is left in shock when she discovers that the bookstore she devoted her life to with her grandmother is not all hers.  She only inherited half of the bookstore, and her ex-boyfriend Gray Briggs has inherited the other half.  Gray Briggs grew up in the shadow of his alcholic father, and has had to bear the stigma and shame of his father's mistakes.  When as young teenagers, Shelby opens her heart to him, they discover an unexpected shared love of reading and ...

  "Mother and daughter never truly part, maybe in distance but never in heart" (Author Unknown) Fans of RaeAnne Thayne, Annie Rains, and Debbie Macomber will love Jenny Hale.  If you love clean, cozy romance novels set in the most wonderful time of year, this memorable, heartwarming, sensitive novel will warm your heart.   Jenny Hale, has become a favorite of mine,  so look for not only heartwarming Christmas novels from Harpeth Road Press, but great summer beach reads, or just a light hearted, clean, romance to cozy up with on that restful Sunday afternoon. In Ten Christmases Without You  Jenny Hale with much grace, and warmth brings the story of Emmy Brewer.  It has been 10 years, 10 Christmases since the passing of Emmy's beloved mom and the one person she shares a passion for clothing design with.  Lost without her encourager and best friend, Emmy ends up in New York in a dead-end job, a small dingy apartment, with little money and little hope...

"A daughter is just a Little Girl who grows up to be your best friend"  Author Unknown For many fans of Christian fiction, and Christmas Fiction a Karen Kingsbury novel is like cozying up with your favorite blanket and a long lost friend.  Her newest Christmas novel will not disappoint.   Her depth and knowledge of scripture and love of the Lord shine through when she writes.  Her characters are rich and grow as they seek the Lord and His will for their lives.  In The Christmas Ring  we first meet Vanessa Mayfield and her beloved daughter Sadie on a ski trip.   Vanessa is raising her daughter as a widow, having lost their beloved husband and father in the Middle East.  When Vanessa loses her beloved family ring  on the ski slopesthat her great grandfather had found in France on D-day she never loses hope that the beloved family ring will be found.   To her, the ring possesses only great sentimental value. ...