Sunday, January 25, 2026

Fighting for You by Robin Patchen

 

About the Book

Book: Fighting for You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 6, 2026

She’s running from her past. He’s protecting his future. Together, they must fight for what matters most.

Delaney Wright has always believed the best of everyone—even when she shouldn’t. After her ex-boyfriend’s shocking betrayal, Delaney flees Shadow Cove, determined to rebuild her shattered confidence. She lands a nanny position in Virginia, caring for precious four-year-old Charlotte. Her new employer is everything she should avoid—wealthy, worldly, and far too handsome for Delaney’s peace of mind. But this job is not the haven it seems.

Noah Aylett is desperate to hang onto his family’s legacy, despite a stalker who’s getting bolder every day. When his brother abandons his daughter, Noah takes in Charlotte, hiring a live-in nanny to give his niece stability. Though Delaney is young and attractive—the worst combination for a man trying to avoid scandal—her gentle touch breaks through Charlotte’s grief. But Noah needs more than just a nanny to secure his niece’s future. He must complete a business merger amidst compounding danger. Someone is determined to sabotage the deal…no matter what it takes.

When threats close in on all sides, Noah and Delaney must join forces to protect the little girl they both love. Trusting each other might be the only way to save Charlotte—and themselves.

A heart-pounding suspense and a swoon-worthy romance as Noah and Delaney discover that some battles can only be won with the right person at your side.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

"Fighting for You" by Robin Patchen is the 8th book in the series. And sometimes when series are this long the books gets to be not so good but not this series. This book kept me turning the pages. If you like stories with a loveable 4-year-old and suspense and when the two main characters start out as enemies but don't end up that way, then you need to read this book. This book has faith and humor. I can't believe I am typing this, but I think this book would be a good read as a standalone, but I have to ask why would you want to read part when you could read each book and learn about all the members of the Wright family. My heart was hurting for Charlotte and all the abuse she had suffered before coming to Noah's house and so glad that Delaney and Noah were there for her! I have enjoyed reading this series and getting to meet the Wright family. 
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

 

More from Robin

The Nanny Who Became a Hero: Why I Love Writing Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Circumstances

When I first introduce Delaney Wright to readers, she doesn’t look like much of a hero. She’s standing on the porch of a beautiful Victorian home in coastal Virginia, wearing a borrowed blouse that’s too big and reeking of cigarette smoke from the shelter where she’s been staying. She’s broke, far from home, and desperate to be hired for this nanny position because she has exactly forty-seven dollars in her wallet.

This is my heroine.

And I absolutely love her.

The “Ordinary” Woman

Delaney is the fourth of five sisters, and she doesn’t believe she measures up to any of them. Alyssa is brilliant. Brooklynn’s a gifted photographer. Cici owns a business, and Kenzie’s sailing the world. Meanwhile, Delaney’s one attempt to build a career was a spectacular failure.

Her ex-boyfriend turned out to be a criminal. Her own father expects her to fail. She’s terrible with adults, but at least she’s good with kids. That’s her one and only talent.

When the man seeking a nanny sees her, he takes one look and says, “It’s not going to work.” Too young. Too disheveled. Delaney is just not enough.

She doesn’t fight for the job because deep down, she believes it too.

What Makes Her Extraordinary

But Delaney’s superpower is fierce, protective love.

At sixteen, she was babysitting two boys during a tropical storm when the seven-year-old chased the family dog out into dangerous conditions. She had to secure the toddler before she could chase them. The 911 operator told her to stay put, but Delaney ran into the storm, found the terrified child and the dog, and brought them safely home.

When Delaney was praised for her bravery, she brushed it off. “I’d lost a kid and his dog,” she said. “Nothing brave about that.”

The Progressive Acts of Bravery

Delaney’s heroism isn’t a single dramatic moment but a series of choices, each one building on the last, each one requiring her to push past her own fears and insecurities.

When she encounters a little girl nearly wander into traffic because of an inattentive nanny, Delaney confronts the woman, even though conflict makes her uncomfortable. She puts that child’s safety above her own desire to avoid confrontation. (Her bravery ended up getting her a job.)

I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but Delaney proves, over and over, that she’ll do anything to protect the child in her care. She’ll put herself in danger. She’ll even step in front of a bullet.

Why This Character Archetype Matters to Me

I’m drawn to writing everyday heroines because I know so many of them, women who don’t believe they’re special. Women who work ordinary jobs—as nannies, teachers, nurses, caregivers—jobs that society often undervalues but that change lives. Women who doubt themselves, who’ve been hurt, who wonder if they’re enough.

Most of us have felt like Delaney at some point in our lives. We compare ourselves to others and come up short. We’ve made mistakes that haunt us. We’ve been betrayed by people we trusted, and it’s shaken our confidence in our own judgment. We wonder if we matter.

I think many of us women need the reminder, so just in case you do, I want you to know this: You matter. You’re gifted, you’re beautiful, and you matter.

Delaney’s journey isn’t about becoming a different person. She doesn’t suddenly gain superpowers or discover she’s secretly royalty or transform into someone unrecognizable. Her journey is about recognizing that she was always enough. That love—the kind of selfless, sacrificial love she’s capable of—is the most powerful force in the world.

Coming Full Circle

By the end of Fighting for You, Delaney has learned to trust her own judgment again. She’s proven to herself—and to everyone who ever doubted her—that she’s capable of far more than she believed. But she’s still the gentle, nurturing caregiver who reads bedtime stories and makes apple-peanut-butter sandwiches and knows exactly what a frightened child needs. Her heroism didn’t require her to become hard or cynical or tough. She saved the day by being exactly who she is—a woman who loves fiercely and protects those who can’t protect themselves.

At the end of the day, Delaney isn’t a superhero. She’s a nanny who became a hero because love compelled her to act.

And isn’t that the best kind of hero?

Who are the “ordinary heroes” in your life? The people who show up, who protect, who love without counting the cost?

Do you undervalue your own gifts and strengths? Maybe it’s time to remember you are who God created you to be, and that makes you beautiful.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 22

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 23

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 23

Betti Mace, January 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Mary Hake, January 25

Texas Book-aholic, January 26

lakesidelivingsite, January 27

Bizwings Blog, January 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 30

For Him and My Family, January 31

Blogging With Carol, February 1

The Bookish Pilgrim, February 1

Holly’s Book Corner, February 2

Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Blossoms and Blessings, February 3

Pause for Tales, February 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Capturing You!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/4YjqX/fighting-for-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Fatal Invitation by S.F. Baumgartner

 

About the Book

Book: Fatal Invitation

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Crime Thriller

Vanished women. A rising body count. A detective who won’t quit.

Detective Kylie “KC” Cassidy thought Major Crimes would be her big break. Instead, she’s chasing the brutal murders of young women—and the trail keeps circling back to Assistant State Attorney Gavin Watkins and his elusive ally, Kozlov.

Each lead vanishes before her eyes, every step forward dragging her deeper into danger. And when Kozlov’s men come after her, KC must rely on her instincts, and on the few people she can trust, to survive long enough to expose the truth.

But when KC gets too close to the truth, she becomes the target. Will KC survive the trap and bring down the predators or become their next victim?

If you like the relentless pursuit of justice in Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, the sharp investigative instincts of Lisa Gardner’s D.D. Warren, then you’ll be captivated by Fatal Invitation, a gripping, fast-paced crime thriller.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 



"Fatal Invitation" by S.F. Baumgartner is the first book in the series. It kept me turning the pages.  This story is filled with intrigue and suspense. It reminded me of the television show criminal minds. This book had different agencies working together to solve the cases. I really liked that the chapters were short, but the book was over 468 pages! If you like crime story than I recommend this book. I will definitely be reading other books in this series when they became available. I have read other books by this author and have enjoyed them as well. I think I like reading books like this because I know they are fiction but then I also know the things in these books happen too much in real life but while reading I tell myself this character isn't a real person that was killed. If you like fast paced crimes read, you need to get yourself a copy and start turning the pages.

I receive a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own. 

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estate series—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

 

More from S.F.

A New Adventure Begins: Introducing the Detective Kylie Cassidy Series

I’m thrilled to announce that Fatal Invitation, the first full-length novel in the Detective Kylie Cassidy series, is here!

If you’re new to Detective Kylie “KC” Cassidy, I recommend starting with Christmas Murders to get acquainted with this compelling character. And here’s a treat: there’s a free story called Orlando Prime – Origins available under the Freebie tab on my website at sfbaumgartner.com. This story introduces you to the elite crime-fighting unit and the team members who work alongside KC. Both KC and Orlando Prime take center stage in Fatal Invitation.

Writing this book has been an absolute blast! Unlike my Mirror Estate series, the Detective Kylie Cassidy series features self-contained stories in each book—think of it like your favorite TV crime drama where each episode (or book) solves a complete case. While there may occasionally be an overarching storyline, you can jump in at any point and enjoy the mystery. And as always, my books are clean reads.

Since this is a spin-off of the Mirror Estate series, longtime readers will enjoy spotting familiar faces. A few beloved characters get mentioned, and some may even guest-star in future books!

I truly hope you’ll fall in love with this new series as much as I’ve loved creating it.

Happy Reading!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 20

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 20

Bizwings Blog, January 21

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 22

Fiction Book Lover, January 23 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, January 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 24

Texas Book-aholic, January 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 27

For Him and My Family, January 28

Blogging With Carol, January 29

Betti Mace, January 30

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 31

Simple Harvest Reads, February 1 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, February 2 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

Fatal Invitation Celebration Tour Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/EvrUy/fatal-invitation-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Flames of Faith by Marguerite Martin Gray

 

About the Book

Book: Flames of Faith

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: February, 2025

1870 Switzerland. One year. A mountain of ideas. And a menacing railroad forging the barrier between dreams and reality.

Claire Pennington formulates a bold plan to avoid the pressure of yet another London season. Her parents grant her one year in Switzerland, yet afterward she must return to England and find a suitor. Armed with a notebook and gumption, she determines to make the mountain town of Thun a tourist destination for all classes of society. However, she does not count on an equally determined railroad engineer set on leaving Thun in the dust.

The rugged mountain terrain grants Englishman Lucas Stanley the opportunity to launch his engineering career. The railroad is the answer to modern travel—expedient, efficient, and competitive, yet conquering the section of track from Thun to Interlaken is harder than he originally thought, especially with opposition from a fiery female. Claire confronts him at every turn, using her enthusiasm and people skills to flame local zeal for change and progress in another direction.

Opposing proposals collide as Claire, Lucas, and the citizens of the quaint Swiss town face an avalanche of decisions and compromises sparked by flames of faith—and perhaps love.

Discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland through this standalone novel from the Elements of Hope series where fire, air, water, and earth meet elements of the heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!


 "Flames of Faith" by Marguerite Martin Gray is a delightful read that the reader can almost pretend that that they are watching the scenes unfold as they read it. I think I liked this book so much because it deals with time when railroads were just getting started and since my husband worked on the Railroad for almost 40 years, it is something that I am interested in. If a reader likes history and enemies to lovers and shares Gospel's truth without being preachy than I recommend this book! I have enjoyed every book that I have read that Marguerite Martin Gray has written but I can say this one is my favorite by her! 
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray is an award-winning author of a dozen novels and novellas. She enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish online. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and two grandsons keep her young and up-to-date.

 

 

 

More from Marguerite

I am a tourist at heart and always have been since I was a child growing up in England as a preteen. A castle, a map, a manor house, a museum, a mystery, a myth in any country or state. Flames of Faith was sparked by a recent train ride from Interlaken to Thun, Switzerland where an old turreted castle rose above the lake and village. A perfect setting for a novel. It spurred thoughts of who visited this area as well as how and when since the terrain made it dangerous and tricky to just visit on a whim on a Sunday afternoon.

Have you heard of Thomas Cook (1850s and onward) and his famous travels all over Europe with tourists by horse, carriage, boat, foot, and finally train? He paved the way for the middle-class citizen to see gorgeous venues like Switzerland and the Alps. What an adventure to have been on one of his early tours! A Slow Train to Switzerland by Diccon Bewes cemented what I wanted to express in this novel.

 

Meet Claire Pennington, my heroine, who encompasses the traits of tourist in all the good senses. She wants everyone to have the opportunity to travel the continent and world as she does. Her bold dream inspires others to possibly regard seeing new sites as a way to refresh and revitalize their own lives.

Hop on board and discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland. Be a tourist without leaving your home.

 

 

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, January 21 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

Texas Book-aholic, January 23

Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, January 25

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Guild Master, January 28 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 28

For Him and My Family, January 29

Devoted Steps, January 30

Fiction Book Lover, January 31 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 1

Holly’s Book Corner, February 2

Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Giveaway

Flames of Faith Celebration Tour Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/sMCBM/flames-of-faith-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Scars of the Revolution by Megan Soja

 

About the Book

Book: Scars of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Some scars are born from duty, others from rebellion—theirs were carved by both.

Libby Caldwell has been in love with Isaac Harrison for years, ever since her late father befriended him. While her head knows there is no hope of sharing her life with a British soldier, her heart is much more difficult to convince, especially now that he is quartering in her home. With Boston under siege and battle looming, each day together forces her to recognize how deep her feelings truly are…and how forbidden.

Bound by duty to both his family and country, Isaac is determined to serve honorably in the King’s army, despite never wishing to be a soldier. But quartering with the widow and daughter of his old friend places another obligation on his shoulders—that of their well-being. The more time he spends with Miss Caldwell, the more that duty begins to feel like something personal, something he cannot allow.

As the siege of Boston tightens, Libby finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of espionage that could save the Patriot cause—and destroy any chance of a future with the man she’s growing to love.

Will betrayal and war keep their two worlds forever apart? Or will they look to the One whose love knows no bounds to bring them healing and a future?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

"Scars of the Revolution" by Megan Soja is the third book of the series. I do recommend that you read the books in order. This novel has Scripture as part of the storyline and is woven into the pages beautifully and is a reminder to readers that God is sovereign and works all things for the good. This novel isn't always a feel-good read as the subject of the novel is war. Of course, this novel is also a love story and the two are on opposites side of the war. I recommend this series to readers who want history and fiction and Biblical truths and romance in their books. 
I receive a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Megan Soja is a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

 

 

 

 

More from Megan

One of the things I love about reading and writing Christian fiction, is being able to see God’s truth woven into the story. Even though the characters and their experiences are fictional, the truth of who God is and how He loves us is very real.

In Scars of the Revolution, my heroine, Libby Caldwell, wrestles with understanding God’s goodness in the face of loss and hardship. Libby is grieving the death of her beloved father, while also facing the siege of her hometown and the worsening fight between the Patriot colonists and the British Army stationed in Boston. Her growing love for one of the British officers further complicates matters, and makes it hard for her to discern what God is doing in her life.

Her questions and struggles reflect much of my own faith journey. When my husband and I lost our first baby just after birth, I spent months trying to reconcile what I thought I knew of God with the tragic loss we had experienced. I wasn’t angry at God, but I was utterly confused as to how to understand His goodness in the midst of something that felt anything but good.

It wasn’t easy, but when I look back now, I see how God led me through my grief into a deeper understand of His character and a stronger reliance upon Him. I can truthfully say, as Libby’s mother does in Scars of the Revolution, that it was “in the hardest times, when God has seemed utterly incomprehensible, that my faith has grown the most.”

If you have ever walked through a painful experience that made you struggle to understand God’s purpose or even doubt His love, I hope that Libby’s journey will inspire your own faith. Or maybe your experience is more like that of my hero, Isaac Harrison, whose life has revolved around duty for so long, that it is hard for him to comprehend a God who freely gives His love and forgiveness, even when we don’t deserve or cannot earn it. I won’t give any spoilers as to how Isaac’s understanding grows and changes, but I hope you’ll be encouraged when you read it.

Libby and Isaac’s story is one of love against all odds, set against the backdrop of the Battle of Bunker Hill and a complex web of espionage. But it is also a story of faith in the God who is able to turn our scars into something beautiful. I pray you will find that truth in the pages of Scars of the Revolution.

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, January 17

Bizwings Blog, January 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 18

Books Less Travelled, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Betti Mace, January 22

Holly’s Book Corner, January 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Connie’s History Classroom , January 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, January 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 27

The Bookish Pilgrim, January 27

Simple Harvest Reads, January 28 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

Pause for Tales, January 30

Blossoms and Blessings, January 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Megan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/nSWnS/scars-of-the-revolution-celebration-tour-giveaway