Category: Book Reviews

A Love Once Lost- Bridwells’ Grand Tour Series by Jennie Goutet

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Publication June 23, 2026-Haven Historical Fiction, Romance-

Book Summary

Amy Bridwell reluctantly accompanies her family on a Grand Tour of the Continent–the very trip her former sweetheart proposed they take as newlyweds. Receiving no suitable marriage offer in the six years since and with her heart still guarded by regret, Amy has no choice but to go along with her widower father and younger sisters to ensure their travels proceed smoothly. 
 
James Fletcher has built a successful practice as a physician in the fashionable resort town of Spa. Though he came to the Netherlands with a wounded heart, seeking distance from Amy’s rejection, he’s managed to build a respectable life and is now engaged to a woman who will ensure his professional future. If only he could be certain that his betrothed’s heart is truly his. 
 
When the Bridwells arrive at their first destination, Amy is stunned to encounter James again. He is promised to another, and as old feelings resurface, Amy must confront the choice she made six years ago, facing the possibility that her heart has never truly moved on. 
 
Bestselling historical romance author Jennie Goutet weaves a story of lost love and second chances against the scenic backdrop of Georgian-era Europe.

Grateful Reader Book Review by Dorothy Schwab

A Love Once Lost is an 18th century, second-chance romance set in Spa, Belgium,1770. Spa is the town that launched the global self-care industry we know today. Springs of acidic, iron-rich water drew visitors to evaluate the health benefits, so the area was first known for “drinking therapy” rather than bathing in the thermal waters. Jennie Goutet introduces readers and the Bridwell family to Spa as the first stop on their Grand Tour, in hopes that drinking the mineral waters will help Mr. Bridwell.

Jennie Goutet’s diligent research has provided insight into society’s daily living, social expectations and, through James Fletcher, the possibilities for economic growth due to the healing waters. Amy, the oldest of the three sisters, is devoted to her eccentric father, and Goutet shows great discernment in Amy’s feelings of responsibility, self-doubt, and expectations regarding her sisters’ futures.

Goutet explores several relationships, their heartaches, and challenges. I felt empathy for James, and even frustration due to the acceptable social mores of the Georgian era. The well-drawn supporting characters gain readers’ confidence, disdain, or interest in the outcome of their relationships. A Russian princess, visiting Spa incognito, is my favorite. In the princess’s request for Amy’s help to improve her English, Goutet revealed the Russian’s direct nature and desire for human connection.

The best news is that after readers have experienced A Love Once Lost, Book One in Bridwells’ Grand Tour Series, the next in the series is coming summer 2027.

Jennie Goutet is the best-selling author of eighteen historical romances, including the Clavering Chronicles, Memorable Proposals, and The ‘Bridwells’ Grand Tour series. Jennie is an American-born Anglophile who lives with her French husband and their three children in a small town outside of Paris, but her imagination resides in Georgian England, where her proper historical romances are set.

Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn

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Publication June 23, 2026-Revell- Christian, Women’s Fiction-299pp

Book Summary

Cousins Nora and Allie are sent to Scotland to claim an inheritance but are hindered by delayed flights and canceled reservations before settling into a picture-perfect cottage. Surprised by an encounter with a man in a kilt and a visit from a nosy neighbor and her five Scottie dogs, the cousins begin to experience life in the village where their grandmother grew up. But a brewing mystery along with more delays make this adventure far different than they expected.

Undaunted, the Suitcase Sisters stock up on shortbread from the village bakery and explore the beauty of Scotland in autumn, beginning with a leisurely boat ride on Loch Lomond. Buoyed by laughter and shared childhood memories, they head to the Highlands for a tour of their ancestral castle and a luxurious stay at a resort.

An enchanting train ride returns them to the village, where a secret their sweet Gran hid from them all these years comes to light, and a final stop in Edinburgh holds more life-changing revelations for them.

On this armchair trek to Scotland, readers will experience a journey of surprises brimming with God’s mysterious ways and the unbreakable bonds of family.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

Lads and Lassies- This armchair trek through Scotland is filled with clans, castles, and shortbread! Robin Jones Gunn captures Scotland’s beauty and the quest for Gran’s diary through the eyes of Nora and her cousin Allie. Gunn’s story of the mystery of the diary, its importance, and the revealing story of Edward, (Another Edward, not their grandfather Edward)- provides the opportunity to weave in some Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, and Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Having lived in Scotland, I can attest to the vivid descriptions in Nora’s journal while traveling by train and car to Kildegren, Inverness, Glasgow; visiting Dunrobin Castle and St. Giles Cathedral.  Scottish sayings from poets and authors also add a heartwarming opening to each chapter.

The “suitcase sisters” learn about the Sutherland and Campbell clans, tartans, and mottos. As Allie and Nora explore Gran’s home village of Kildegren and Bird’s Nest House, they learn about themselves, their cousin relationship, and most importantly “to rely on the creative purposes of God.” The theme of “letting go” is carried through the characters Allie and Nora meet along their journey and through their personal disclosures. Robin Jones Gunn has done a “bonnie” job of Scottish storytelling in this tale of family heritage and love.

Libraries, rare books, shortbread, scones and if you’re brave, some haggis! Well, maybe just some fish ‘n chips and a copy of Shortbread in the Highlands.

Robin’s stories invite you into a world where the characters feel like your new best friends. Her non-fiction nudges you along in your faith as she opens her heart and shares her love for God. Robin’s novels have been adapted into four Christmas movies, and you can listen to her podcasts! Listen to the Women Worth Knowing podcast hosted by Cheryl Brodersen and Robin Jones Gunn. Each week Robin and Cheryl tell the stories of ordinary women who lived extraordinary lives.

The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester

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Publication June2, 2026-Ballantine-Women’s Fiction-384pp

Book Summary

A sheltered young woman living at the Chateau Marmont falls under the spell of a scandalous, secretive man as all of Hollywood’s glamour swirls around her—a stunning feminist reimagining of Jane Eyre from the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress.

In 1957, newly orphaned Aria Jones is sent to live with her aunt, a fading star who hides away in Hollywood’s infamous Chateau Marmont. There, two aspiring actresses, Calliope and Flitter, take grieving Aria under their wing.

But the Marmont isn’t meant for small girls with big hearts, and Aria’s first few nights reveal an insidious secret that continues to haunt her as she grows up in the hotel’s halls, where the bright lights of Hollywood cast even darker shadows. If Aria can just stay invisible and invite no trouble as she saves money, then she can leave the Marmont and live life on her own terms—alone, but free. 

All her carefully laid plans are shattered when the hotel is bought by Theo Winchester: a reclusive rockstar turned unexpected caretaker of his daughter Adele, and unlike any man Aria has met before. To earn the last bit of money she needs to escape, Aria becomes Adele’s tutor, which brings Aria closer to Theo and ignites a passion she never expected. 

Suddenly, Aria finds herself wondering if she still wants to remain invisible—and if inviting trouble is a risk she’s willing to take to pursue what she truly desires.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

Natasha Lester’s dual timeline is set at the famous Hollywood hangout, the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. Alternating between 1957 and 1964, the Chateau is a character that plays a key role in determining the paths of the inhabitants. The main roles in Lester’s Jane Eyre reimagining include “Three Sisters”- Calliope, Flitter and Aria Jones, former star, Miss Devine Rey, Director Bob Ashenhurst-King of Hollywood and Theo Winchester-Rockstar & new owner of the Chateau. This backdrop of ambitious starlets, the control and manipulation of starlets by directors, along with the addictions and overindulgences of the Chateau’s residents set the stage for Part 1. I viewed the 2011 Jane Eyre movie as a reminder of key elements: unusual noises, screams, rooftop death, a wedding, and fire-all of which are monumental in Lester’s reimagining.

Part II, in Italy, focuses on Aria’s fears, suffering, and dreams; searching for a skill to make her smile. Perhaps a typewriter? The influence of new characters and Aria’s personal discoveries add to the suspense of whether dreams come true for Aria, Calliope, Flitter, and the fading, addicted, Miss Devine Rey. I found part II very compelling as Lester unravels the plot line which involves a Hollywood remake of Jane Eyre. Speaking of divine- that describes Lester’s use of symbolism-stars, night, flames, fire, and the sea.

Whether it’s a poolside cabana at the Chateau or on a stool at the soda fountain in Schwab’s Drugstore-The Chateau on Sunset is the quintessential summer read filled with 1950-60’s Hollywood atmosphere and energy.

The Chateau Marmont at 8221 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, was renowned in the 1960s and 1970s as a place that attracted visitors from Hollywood such as Roman Polanski and Donald Cammell; and celebrities from the music industry, such as the singer Ray Charles and the music producer Denny Cordell. This was not however the only era in which it was well-known: it has had a long and exciting history. Read more about the Chateau! https://www.theswinging60s.com/places/chateau-marmont/

Schwab’s Pharmacy was a drugstore located at 8024 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, and was a popular hangout for movie actors and movie industry dealmakers from the 1930s through the 1950s. Opened in 1932 by the Schwab brothers, Schwab’s Pharmacy in Hollywood became the most famous and longest-operating outlet of their small retail chain.[2] Like many drug stores in the United States during the mid-twentieth century, Schwab’s sold medicines and had a counter serving ice cream dishes and light meals. In the 1930s, Schwab’s was the inspiration for songwriter Harold Arlen to write the music for the song “Over the Rainbow” for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwab%27s_Pharmacy#History

The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin

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Publication June 2, 2026-Ballantine, Delacorte Press-Historical Fiction-384pp

Book Summary

A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American social climber. In this electrifying novel, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue tells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all.

Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Men: Edward David Windsor, heir to the British throne, and younger brother Albert, aka Bertie, “the spare.” The Women: Edward’s wife Wallis, an American divorcée, and Bertie’s wife Elizabeth, daughter of Scottish nobility. The Feud: a rivalry that will last all their lives, make headlines, and still fuel gossip pages a century later.

The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the queen-to-be, and Wallis Simpson, aka “That Woman,” who fell into a calculated love affair with Prince Edward. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors.

The first novel dedicated to the infamous rivalry between these two world-famous women, The Windsor Affair brings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals. As Queen, Elizabeth would become the symbol of British pluck and courage during World War II and remain a British institution for the rest of her long life. Wallis would be forever forced to enact the World’s Greatest Love Story even after it sours, as she goes from being admired to vilified and, ultimately, pitied.

Against the backdrop of the Abdication Crisis, World War II, coronations, funerals, births, and deaths, these two women maintain a bitter, biting, sharp-tongued feud—until age and the long arm of history bring about a kind of understanding. For the last communication between these bitter rivals was a simple, surprising message: “In friendship, Elizabeth.”

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

The royal name of Windsor conjures many names and events. Perhaps the most acrimonious is the decades long, ongoing feud between the English Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and the American, Mrs. Ernest Simpson. A royal feud known as the “Windsor Affair!”

Melanie Benjamin opens The Windsor Affair with the theft of the Duchess of Windsor’s jewelry at an estate in the outskirts of London. Benjamin vividly recreates the animosity between Queen Elizabeth I, “Cookie,” and Wallis Simpson, known as “That Woman,” from 1936-1976.  Laced with plenty of British history and details, Benjamin explores the royal feud from several points of view, including the Abdication and the war years, 1940-1945. Royal readers follow the feuding women to London, Scotland, the Bahamas, and Windsor.  Details of Bessie Wallis’ childhood, born without money and privilege, her marriages, her travels to Hong Kong, and her quest to be wealthy, attempt to explain this complex woman.  Likewise, Benjamin covers Elizabeth’s early debutante years, courtships, proposals, and finally marriage to the “spare” Bertie. She adds plenty of queenly maneuvers, conniving conversations, and society gossip to add fuel to the fiery feud!

For the first time in history, the King of England voluntarily abdicated the throne. Also, for the first time, the two women at the center of the abdication come face to face for readers’ examination; saintly or manipulator, victim or heroine? The Windsor Affair has “castles, jewels, the Blitz; scandal and designer clothes!”  A novel for readers with a royal fascination with two “Kingly” brothers; the heir in love with an American divorcée and the spare, the daughter of a Scottish earl. The women become sisters-in-law, but would they ever be friends? An insightful peek behind the royal gates and straight into the breakfast room, dining room, and dressing room conversations of the royal families.

Melanie Benjamin is the New York Times bestselling author of nine works of historical fiction: Alice I Have Been, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, The Aviator’s Wife, The Swans of Fifth Avenue, The Girls in the Picture, Mistress of the Ritz, The Children’s Blizzard, California Golden and The Windsor Affair. 

Lost in the Summer of ’69 by Eliza Knight-Music + Artists

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Publication June 9, 2026-Sourcebooks Landmark-Women’s Fiction -400pp

Book Summary

Three generations of women, an unforgettable summer of music, and the epic cross-country road trip they’ll never forget.

Summer, 1969: Eleanor Bell doesn’t have anything to lose. According to the doctors, she might not remember how to sing or play guitar soon, so why not head west now? Why not join the music festivals sweeping the country and lose herself in the music again, in a swan song of her own? 

Except she forgets, maybe on purpose, to tell anyone where she’s going. When her daughter, Leanne, discovers her mother missing, she enlists the help of her own daughter, Nora, to help her find Eleanor. The last thing Nora wants to do before starting as one of Yale’s first female undergrads is hit the road. But then Nora hears something strange on the radio—her grandmother’s voice, singing. Nora and Leanne hop in their Chevy for a cross-country road trip, always one step behind Eleanor, who has been dubbed the Dame of Rock n’ Roll by none other than Johnny Carson. 

Full of nostalgia and awash with the warmth of summer, Lost in the Summer of ’69 is an epic celebration of savoring the encore-no matter what the next act may bring. 

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

A poignant return to the music and vibe of rock festivals through the fading memory of sixty-nine-year-old Eleanor Bell; formerly known as the Bell of Wartime Music. With a secret Eleanor’s kept tucked away, along with a forgotten note: “until next time,” Eliza Knight’s Lost in the Summer of’69 bombards the senses with blaring guitars, masses of humanity, the aroma of hot dogs, beer, sweat, and the sting of tear gas. Readers get a guided tour of rock festivals as Eleanor follows her heart and love for the music from coast to coast, ending in Woodstock, New York! Eleanore’s daughter Leanne, struggling with her marriage, and granddaughter, Nora, one of Yale’s first female undergrads, add two generations of perspectives on love and life to this rockin’ jaunt across the country. The music list below includes songs played at the concerts, heard on the radio, and listened to on “turn tables.”

So much music. So many memories. Three generations of love stories. Put on the bell bottom jeans, tie-dyed t-shirt & fringe vest for a real trip, Lost in the Summer of ’69.

MUSIC FROM THE SUMMER OF ’69

Purple Haze-Jimi Hendrix , Abbey Road-Beatles, Proud Mary-Credence Clearwater Revival, With a Little Help from My Friends-The Beatles, Here Comes the Sun-Beatles, Celebrate-Three Dog Night, Bad Moon Rising-Credence Clearwater Revival, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me-Dusty Springfield, Whole Lotta Love-Led Zeppelin, It’s My Party-Lesley Gore, Loretta Lynn, Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay-Otis Redding, Heartbreak Hotel-Elvis, Break on Through to the Other Side-The Doors, Light My Fire-The Doors, Crazy-Patsy Cline, Summertime-Janis Joplin, With a Little Help From My Friends-Joe Cocker, Joni Mitchell

Music in Epilogue & Author’s Note

Please Be Mine-New Kids on the Block, Foxy Lady-Jimi Hendrix, Piece of My Heart-Janis Joplin, Break on Through-The Doors, You Can’t Always Get What You Want-Rolling Stones

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The Godfather-Mario Puzo, The Love Machine-Jacqueline Susann, The Stud-Jackie Collins

The Queen’s Coronation by Jennifer Ryan

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Publication June 2, 2026-Ballantine Books-Historical Fiction-336pp

Book Summary

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to take the throne, three women in her employ will discover where they belong in a rapidly changing world in this heartwarming novel from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

London, 1953. Buckingham Palace and the many employees vital to the smooth running of the monarchy find themselves in bedlam as the Queen’s coronation quickly approaches.

Caroline Brimstone, assistant dresser to the queen, watches the queen finding the strength to rule—a woman taking charge of her future. Meanwhile, Caroline’s life is worn thin by her gambler husband, and she is barely holding on as every penny she earns seems to run out the door. When a trip to Balmoral brings her face-to-face with the man she once loved, she finds herself at a crossroads between what her life is and what her life could be. Can she, like the queen, find the strength to define her own future?

Lucy Jones is a junior wardrobe assistant who positively radiates life—she’s young, idealistic, and eager to become a famous singer. So when a handsome, wealthy man at the palace promises to help her on her way to stardom, she’s over the moon to have such a supportive husband-to-be. And if he’s asking some things of her that she’s not quite sure about, isn’t that just part of the glamorous life?

Miranda Miller has come over from America just in time to help with preparations as a temporary secretary in the palace. The job is a perfect way to gather information for the article she’s writing about the coronation for a magazine back in New York; the article that will keep her boss from firing her because of her gender.

But as all three women discover, just because a woman will soon be sitting upon the throne, it doesn’t mean that society will change overnight—and if they want to carve places for themselves in this world, they’ll have to do it together.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, London1953, is the stunning backdrop for the lives of three women employed at Buckingham Palace. From parade routes, royal carriages, the design and fitting of the Norman Hartnell-designed coronation gown, to the nerve-wracking T.V. rehearsals-readers are submerged in the frenzied day-to-day hubbub of the palace staff-all leading to Coronation Day.

Jennifer Ryan expertly braids intricate coronation plans and history with the point of view of three vastly different women; each trying to ‘break free’ from life as they know it. Caroline Brimstone, with a 13-year-old daughter, is Assistant Dresser to the queen. Caroline needs to break free from the suffocating control of husband, Frank. A Scottish gardener from Balmoral and Caroline’s past, Angus, adds tension and anticipation to this situation.

Second on the royal staff is Miranda Miller, a journalist sent by the New York Gazette to report on coronation happenings. She’s a war widow, independent and ambitious. Miranda’s mask is that of grief; she’s in a rut, using her situation as an excuse. This plot thread threatens to shred friendships with betrayal, putting trust and ambition in the balance.

Lucy Jones, running from life in Cornwall is a third POV. Lucy becomes a wardrobe assistant working for Caroline, while looking for adventure, glamour, romance, and she can sing! Sucked into the world of beauty pageants and prostitution, Lucy becomes involved in the infamous Thursday Lunch Club. While beauty is her strength, her weakness is self-doubt. Ryan incorporates male perspectives and a few known, accepted palace behaviors in this POV.  

Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor, Westminster Abbey, and the sheer opulence of the royal parade are front and center in Jennifer Ryan’s tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen’s Coronation. A royal treat for royal readers.

Jennifer Ryan is the author of National Bestseller THE CHILBURY LADIES’ CHOIR, THE SPIES OF SHILLING LANE, THE KITCHEN FRONT, THE WEDDING DRESS SEWING CIRCLE, AND THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY.Previously a book editor with The Economist, DK, and the BBC, she moved from London to Washington, DC after marrying, and she now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children. Her novels are inspired by her grandmother’s tales of the war in Britain.

Missed Connections by Aimie K. Runyan

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Publication May 26, 2026-Harper Muse Romance-Sci-Fi & Fantasy-Women’s Fiction-320pp

Book Summary

What if you had the chance to revisit every choice that mattered?

Sabrina Sorensen is 37, single, and recently let go as general manager of a posh Parisian restaurant. She heads home to California for her younger sister’s engagement party, and it’s an open door for her mother and siblings to prod Sabrina for her itinerate lifestyle and her inability to commit to any of her previous jobs and relationships. What they don’t know is that Sabrina, for fifteen long years, has been building her résumé in hopes of becoming an inspector for the famed MICHELIN guides—a path that has required anonymity and keeping her ambitions hidden. And now, with her career on the downturn, even that is in jeopardy. After her mother’s final clumsy attempt to fix her up with the charming “boy next door,” Sabrina bolts for Burbank Airport.

The problem? She has nowhere to go.

She arrives at the airport, resolved to put the family conflict behind her and focus on her work, but now her mother’s critical voice fills her with doubts. Has she been wasting her life? Faced with the enormity of her next decision, and feeling utterly alone, Sabrina breaks down at the ticket counter. The kind ticket agent ushers her to a private lounge and offers her something far more important than tea and sympathy: the opportunity to revisit some of her key choices, personal and professional, in her past. Sabrina suddenly is given the rare chance to answer the burning question: has she been foolish to sacrifice so much for her dream of becoming a Michelin inspector? Spanning fifteen years and thousands of miles, Sabrina will have the rare opportunity to know for certain if all her choices had led her down the right path.

Grateful Reader Book Review by Dorothy Schwab

Foodies everywhere will appreciate this delicious melding of menus, Michelin stars, and life choices into a tantalizing concoction of fantasy and time travel known as Missed Connections. Sabrina is at a crossroads in her life and needs a friend to help her find the right path. Reminded of bad decisions by traveling back in time, Sabrina has a chance to learn lessons and find out what would’ve happened had she made different choices altogether. Through this foray into contemporary fiction, readers are treated to tantalizing menus and restaurants from coast to coast and beyond, terrifying Michelin agents, sticky front and back of house situations, and an adorable Irish “fairy godmother.” Recipes included! An appetizing exploration of overcoming self-doubt to grow and prosper in the deliciousness of the present. Five Michelin Stars!

Aimie writes fiction, both historical and contemporary, that celebrates the spirit of strong women. In addition to her writing, she is active as a speaker and educator in the writing community. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, kids, cats, and pet dragon.

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

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Publication May 19, 2026-Sourcebooks Landmark-Historical Fiction-368pp

Book Summary

1919, Washington D.C. Elisabeth Beaumont comes from a renowned jeweler family, but after the untimely death of her twin brother, she’s left on her own to run the failing family business. Desperate for work, she approaches the affluent crowd her brother Julien once courted to expand Beaumont Jewelers. Their ringleader is wealthy socialite Evalyn McLean, owner of the world’s most infamous gemstone, rumored to curse all who travel within its orbit. The Hope Diamond.

As Elisabeth is swept into Evalyn’s toxic world of dark opulence, the lines defining who she is and where she belongs begin to blur, leading Elisabeth to question all she once believed. She’s no longer certain she wants to take over the family business and be beholden to the wealthy elite of D.C. But she can’t fathom leaving her father in the lurch. There’s also Evalyn to consider, and the Hope Diamond, which beckons Elisabeth to admire it, touch it, care for it, despite every warning she’s been told.

When tragedy strikes one night, not only is Elisabeth’s fragile friendship with Evalyn put to the test, but her carefully constructed glamorous new life comes crashing down. Now Elisabeth must face the truth about her brother’s death and decide what matters most. 

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab-First Published Historical Novels Review May 2026 -EDITORS’ CHOICE

     This historical mystery set in early 20th century Washington D.C. is as captivating as the legend of the Hope Diamond. Based on real life Evalyn McNeal, her world acclaimed jewelry collection and conniving socialite friends, Webb melds high society “mean girl” antics and secrets with the untimely death of charismatic jeweler, Julian Beaumont.  Brimming with mysterious accidents, The Hope Keeper follows the questionably lucky or unlucky lives of owners and the legendary curse of the Hope Diamond.

     Struggling to save the family business after Julian’s death, Elisabeth Beaumont, Lizzie, becomes the caretaker of Evelyn McNeal’s jewelry collection.  Webb’s character development in critical social situations glistens with glares and acerbic dialogue tangled with shallow attitudes and frivolous conversations, creating animosity and doubt among the socialites. Inhibited, mousey Lizzie is lured into accepting Evie’s amazing generosity, though the friendship does provide access to a whole new group of friends and business possibilities. Even as Lizzie ingratiates herself with the higher echelons of D.C. society, mimicking Evie’s mannerisms and attitudes, she blossoms and wisely discerns society’s games and exactly how to play. Webb expertly unveils the universal human trait of insecurity while seeking acceptance and approval, creating extremely relatable characters.  She masterfully blends self-discovery from the absence of a loved one with Lizzie’s growth in confidence after losing her twin brother.

     The suspenseful plot is pleated with secrets and suspicions between couples and friends nestled snuggly against sparkling jewelry design and scientific gemstone research. An occasional first-person account of the Hope Diamond’s historic travels and feelings is charmingly mingled into the plot. Historic details of cherry blossoms in Potomac Park, the Washington Monument, and women employed at the Smithsonian add to the world building in the unfolding captivating mystery of The Hope Keeper.  Highly recommended.

HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE MAY 2026

Heather Webb is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of eleven historical novels. Her most recent include The Next Ship Home, Christmas with the Queen, and Queens of London. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was a Goodread’s Top Pick, and in 2018, Last Christmas in Paris won the Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. Meet Me in Monaco, was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Goldsboro RNA award in the UK, as well as the 2019 Digital Book World’s Fiction prize. To date, her novels have been translated to 18 languages. She lives in New England with her family and two mischievous cats.

The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michelle Richardson

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Publication April 21, 2026-Sourcebooks Landmark-Historical Fiction-384pp

Book Summary

In this standalone and companion novel to the The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek series, our heroine for the ages, legendary book woman, Cussy Lovett, returns home. A powerful testament of strength, survival, and the magic of the printed word, The Mountains We Call Home is wrapped into a vivid portrait of Kentucky life: examining incarceration and criminalization, exploring the effects on the poor and powerless, and tracing the societal consequences of fractured family bonds, along with nostalgic glimpses of a bustling, multifaceted Louisville, and heartwarming portraits of reading efforts in every facet of life. 

Meticulously researched and richly detailed with a new cast of absorbing and complex characters, this beautifully rendered, authentic Kentucky tale is gritty and heartbreaking and infused with hope, spirit, and courage known only to those with no way out.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab First Published in Historical Novels Review May 2026

     The Mountains We Call Home is third in the Book Woman of Troublesome Creek series. Cussy, the beloved Kentucky “book woman” and her mule, Junia, introduced readers to the Pack Horse Librarians and their lifechanging journeys through the Appalachian mountains. Now the early 1950’s, Kentucky Blue Cussy, is married to white man Jackson Lovett, and they have been arrested and incarcerated for miscegenation. The Mountains We Call Home is Cussy’s story of survival and a testament to the courage and strength she possesses as she brings books to heal those in prison.

     Kim Michele Richardson brings an unsettling depth of understanding to the mostly new cast of characters based on her own background of poverty and homelessness. Chosen to be the Book Woman in the prison, Cussy’s gift of matching books to readers wins the hearts and souls of the women, the warden and the guards. Cussy brings hope to the women in the Geriatric ward when she movingly reads chapters aloud from Charlotte’s Web. The women make astonishing changes showing the power of the written word on their relationships and outlook.  As Cussy appears with books, ward by ward, KMR slowly reveals the humanity and worth of those imprisoned.

     This well-researched novel shines a dark light on treatment of incarcerated women, medical experiments with lobotomies, and later the costs of urban renewal. Up and over the trails of Troublesome Creek, tragedy in Louisville, and finding a new life teaching women to read and write, Cussy Lovett’s saga imparts the immense pride and the power reading the printed word has on all lives. An eye-opening, heartwarming denouement. Highly recommended.

A native-born Kentuckian, Kim Michele Richardson is the New York Times, L.A. Times, USA Today bestselling author who has written six novels, a memoir and most recently, two children’s picture books The works have been published in more than 18 languages, and she is a two-time Southern Book Prize finalist. Her novel The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is taught widely in high schools and college classrooms and has been adopted as a Common Read selection by states, cities, and colleges across the country and abroad.

Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Camden

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Publication Jan. 2025-Bethany House-Christian-Historical Romance-368pp

Book Summary

They lost each other once before; now the clouds of war may give them a second chance.
     As teenagers, Delia Byrne and Finn Delaney fell in love while flying kites and dreaming of a future together–until betrayal tore them apart. Now, as America enters World War I, Delia works for peace as a paralegal and pacifist. Her values forbid her from supporting the war effort, but she volunteers for a relief organization trying to save millions of lives in famine-stricken Belgium.
     Returning to America as a decorated war hero, Finn is eager to get back to the front but is assigned to use his fame to raise funds instead. To his surprise, this mission will bring him face-to-face with Delia, the only woman he ever loved and once hoped to marry. As their shared mission draws them together, old sparks of romance begin to stir–until duty sends them behind enemy lines in occupied Belgium. Will the greatest danger be the conflict raging around them–or the possibility of falling in love again?

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab First Published in Historical Novels Review May 2026 Issue

     Beyond the Clouds, third in the Women of Midtown Series, combines well researched history of pre-World War I America and 1917 occupied Belgium with a post war relationship challenged by sense of duty, courage, and fear.

     Elizabeth Camden expertly weaves teenagers Finn Delaney and Delia Byrne’s backstory before World War I with their present-day situation, hopes, and fears. Years later after a betrayal, conflict ensues as war hero Finn returns to the U.S. and pacifist, Delia is working as a paralegal. The descriptions and details of Delia’s life in New York City sink readers into the social dilemmas faced by working women and the political climate in the United States pre and post-World War I.  

     From the initial description of Finn’s plane crash, the novel quickly draws readers into occupied Belgium, while contrasting the social and political turmoil here in the U.S. Camden focuses attention on compelling historical details of Herbert Hoover’s creation of the CRB, Commission for Relief of Belgium. A strong sense of the U. S. economic climate is provided by Finn’s experiences contacting wealthy Americans for contributions, such as Randolph Hearst, past president, Howard Taft, and many others.

     A Christian romance, Beyond the Clouds spans just over a decade. From a 1917 plane crash in occupied Belgium to 1928, Times Square, New York City, this is a splendid exploration of fear, courage, duty, and love; filled with hope and possibility.

"Historical romance of second chances, sacrifice, and redemption set against World War I Belgium."

Elizabeth Camden is best known for her engaging romance novels featuring clever heroines with richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.