A Million Little Choices was the 2024 Carol Award Winner in the Contemporary category. You won’t want to miss this powerful story.

When Claire Powell reluctantly follows her husband to Atlanta for his new job, she’s already questioning their strained marriage—and to make matters worse, she can’t stand their new house. But when she stumbles upon an old journal, uncovers a long-buried secret, and forms an unexpected friendship, Claire is drawn into a journey that forces her to confront the past and embrace a restorative truth that could change everything.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Josiah Chamberlain, a marriage expert, faces the collapse of his own marriage. After his wife is involved in a serious car accident and suspected infidelity, Josiah must confront what true love really means.

Ruchti’s books are known for their powerful messages, vivid metaphors, and beautiful prose. But above all, they are compelling, well-crafted stories that are a joy to read.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

I loved Cora Matthew’s story. After the death of her mother and a broken engagement, she returns to the lakefront lodge her grandparents owned when she was a child. The best part of this story are the quirky small-town characters she meets. Made me laugh, cry, and muddle through the mess to find a new normal for Cora. Well worth the journey! A gripping tale of love and secrets that spans generations.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee is a powerful journey into the heart of resilience and forgiveness. Shocklee’s characters—Mattie and Ava—are unforgettable, each shaped by the scars of war in dual timelines. Mattie grapples with resentment over her brother’s death in Vietnam, while Ava witnesses the injustice and heartbreak of German-American internment during WWII.

This beautifully woven story explores faith amid suffering and the healing power of forgiveness, making it impossible to put down and hard to forget.

Ruth Schmeckpeper, Author and Reviewer

Speculative fiction isn’t usually my go-to, but this story pulled me in. When a time-machine accident sends Cassie back to her own neighborhood in 1870, she finds herself embraced by a family she grows to love. While adjusting to the customs of the time, she senses an unsettling danger. The characters feel like family, and the writing truly brings them to life.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Amanda Cox delivers a heartfelt tale of restoration and second chances in this beautifully woven story. When Joey Harris takes on the task of restoring a decommissioned lighthouse, she has no idea how much it will change her own life. Her interactions with Finn and his endearing grandfather, Walt, are both touching and profound.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Grieving the loss of her husband while raising an infant and fending off family conflicts, Carly Harris barely has time to breathe. But when a long-lost heirloom surfaces, its discovery puts her in unexpected danger.

Enter Lucas Bennett, the homicide detective next door. As Carly and Lucas unravel the mystery, secrets unfold, tensions rise, and danger closes in. With every twist, so does the undeniable pull between them.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Jaime Jo Wright’s mystery and suspense novels have me completely hooked! Her latest dual-time story unfolds in the eerie small town of Shepherd, Iowa, where 322 Predicament Avenue holds chilling secrets. A murder, a web of suspects, and heroines who must summon their courage set the stage for a gripping tale. As always with a Jaime Jo Wright novel, you can count on an ending filled with hope and the promise of a future.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

When Nikki Werner needs space to find herself, she goes to her late grandmother’s home. There she finds a journal filled with German recipes and wise sayings from the book of Proverbs.
Making old family recipes, learning family history, and renovating Grandma’s old house give Nikki time to learn the wisdom of the ages.

This delicious book is worth savoring!

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer is the beautiful story of Reverend Overly’s dream to reach the women from the local brothels.

Rescued from a life of hardship in a house of ill repute, Birdie Clarkson receives grace and a chance to dedicate herself to serving others.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Emma’s Hero by Carrie Walker is heart wrenching and beautiful. When little Theo is born with a severe disability, Emma, a single mom, fights to give him the best life possible. Befriended by Paramedic Ben Sullivan gives her hope and support. I love the way Walker wove Mason, a lonely seventeen-year-old blogger, into this precious story of love, commitment, and hope.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

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T.I. Lowe crafts incredible stories with vibrant, strong-willed characters. Where else could a determined divorcée face off against the new doctor in town and end up winning his heart? This is the third book in the series, which made it exciting to see familiar faces, but it also makes a nice stand alone.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Forty-year-old widow Julia has built a quiet, content life—running her cleaning business, sharing beignets and dreams with her best friend Kate, and cheering on her college-aged sons. But when Samuel Reed, the ex-boyfriend who once broke her heart, suddenly reappears, Julia must decide whether she can trust that he’s truly changed—or if some doors are better left closed.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

I loved Alyssa Schwarz’s latest book, Wild at Heart. Kimmie has been living her dream, traveling the world as a wildlife photographer, but when she returns to her hometown, she discovers something she didn’t know she was missing—a chance at love. The characters are endearing, and the writing is beautifully done.

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper

Beckett and Callie must resolve the issue of being co-inheritors of the Walsh Farm. Both desperately need it for different reasons. This is a  compelling story of messy family issues, grief, and hope!

Reviewed by Author, Ruth Schmeckpeper