MY REVIEW

Welcome back to Cloverdale Falls! Small Town Shenanigans is the PERFECT name for this series. I love these quirky secondary characters that "steal the show" every time you turn around. I can almost picture myself there in the middle of it all.

We've had the chance to meet Hudson and his cousin Braxton in books one and two. Now we get a closer look at Braxton's sister, Jeanette. We also get to know Cameron, the "grumpy" contractor. He is only grumpy because he sees Jeanette as controlling and opinionated. Really, she just knows her stuff and isn't afraid to stand her ground. He is really a kind and compassionate person, she just doesn't know it, yet. 

​Cameron and Jeanette are serious about their work but have very different opinions on how a renovation job should go. He’s got the builder sense, but she has designer sense. I just LOVED how they fell for each other without even realizing it. They kept trying to convince themselves that they didn't see the other as a potential date, yet they go on MANY such dates under the guise of losing a bet. The readers can see how much they look forward to their time together, but it takes them awhile to admit it to themselves. They work very well together despite their differences of opinion and the jobs they do turn out to everyone's delight, except her boss. As they learn more about each other and find out the hard situations in each of their lives, the ice between them begins to crack and before they even realize it, is gone. 

I like this series so much because it takes you away from the big city hustle and bustle. People are down to earth and they somehow find joy in the simplest things. There is much to laugh about in this series. Caring people with funny quirks fill that town. You never quite know what they will be up to next. 

Get your copy of Blueprint for Love to find out how they come together in work and love. Don't forget to grab the other two books in the series while you're at it! They can be read alone but where's the fun in that? Recipe for Love and Under the Mistletoe are waiting for you, too! 

The Bounty Hunter and the Bride by Vickie McDonough is a Christian Historical Romance published April 14, 2026

She’s wary of trusting her heart again. He’s haunted by his wife’s tragic death. As danger threatens to tear them apart, they must choose between fear and the chance for lasting love.

Pregnant and alone, Katie Hoffman struggles to save the family farm after her husband’s death. She nearly marries a charming stranger with dark intentions, but she’s saved by bounty hunter Dusty McIntyre. Though grateful, she blames him for the loss of her home and her brush with disaster. But as she witnesses his gentle way with her son and his determination to protect her, Katie finds her defenses crumbling.

Dusty McIntyre has spent two years tracking the outlaw who killed his wife, letting vengeance consume him. When his pursuit leads him to Katie, he never expects to feel such a powerful connection to the stubborn widow and her sweet baby boy. Yet his guilt over the past and anger toward God stand between them and any chance at happiness.

As an escaped criminal threatens their newfound peace and forces them to confront their fears, Katie and Dusty must decide if love is worth risking their wounded hearts—and if faith can light the way to a future together.

MY REVIEW

​I enjoyed the story. At first, it seemed so sad because they both lost spouses, but Vickie worked it out so well. The characters were strongly developed. It was a quick read but did have me on the edge of my seat several times. 

I love stories of redemption. In this book we see how we can come back to God because He is always waiting for us when we are ready to return. It is easy to be angry at God for "letting" bad things happen to us or our loved ones. We feel we need to blame someone, and God is the big Someone that we KNOW could have stopped it from happening. But He doesn't always do that, and we don't always know the reason why. We can get so caught up in our pain that we put the blame on Him and walk away from our relationship with Him. This story shows us how two people in similar circumstances can come together and find restoration and a new beginning. It shows how God can bring beauty from ashes.  

This is the first book of hers that I have read. I didn't know it was book 5 in the series, but it worked well on its own. Book 6 has the brother of the female lead in this book. I look forward to reading it and finding out how his redemption story comes together. 

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

Chapter 1

Spring 1903, Sanders Creek, Oklahoma

“You ought ’a be right proud of yourself.”

City Marshal Dusty McIntyre’s chest swelled at Deputy Tom Barker’s comment, then he heaved a sigh of relief, knowing the crafty swindler he’d been after for months was finally behind bars. He eyed the solemn prisoner in the cell. “I have to admit; there were days I wondered if we’d ever catch this weasel. Feels good to have him locked up.”

Ed Sloane’s eyes narrowed as he peered through the bars. “Just ’cause you got me locked up today, marshal, doesn’t mean you will tomorrow.” One cheek kicked upward in a cocky sneer.

Dusty wanted to smack that belligerent look off Sloane’s face, but he wouldn’t. As a law officer, he was bound by a different code than the man in his jail, and as a Christian, he was called by God to walk a straight path and control his temper. He looked at Sloane and recognized him for what he was—a lost man. A man on the road to hell if he didn’t change his ways real fast.

Sloane stuck his hands between two bars. “Think you could take these cuffs off now that you got me safe in your jail?”

Dusty didn’t miss the sarcasm that laced his prisoner’s voice. The man still didn’t seem to realize he’d been caught. Much as he’d like to leave Sloane handcuffed, he crossed the room, his boots echoing on the wood floor. He pulled a warm metal key from his shirt pocket but stopped and glanced at Tom. “If he tries anything, shoot him.”

Tom pressed his lips together and nodded as he pulled his pistol from his holster and pointed it Sloan’s direction. “Be happy to.”

Dusty approached the cell with caution. Ed Sloane was slipperier than a greased hog at the county fair. A chill crept up Dusty’s spine when an evil glint flashed in the man’s pale blue eyes. What could bring a man to be so depraved that he would prey on the elderly and widows, stealing them blind, and leaving them penniless and heartbroken?

With a few rattles and clicks, the handcuffs were off, and Dusty moved back. Sloane chuckled a guttural laugh that sounded like a snarling, wounded animal. Shaking his head, Dusty crossed the room to his desk and tossed down the key. Tom picked it up, stuck it in the desk drawer, and then holstered his weapon.

“Don’t you reckon you ought ’a head home to supper and tell that fine wife of yours all about your exceptional day?” Tom grinned, and his thick moustache twitched. “If she’s fixin’ that rhubarb pie of hers, you might save me a slice—if you’ve a mind to. Mmm mmm, it’s mighty fine.”

“I may do just that.” Dusty smiled at his deputy. Tom had been his best friend since school days, and it seemed natural to hire him as his assistant when Dusty’s father retired as City Marshal and Dusty took over. Most of the time he worked days and Tom evenings, but lately they’d both been pulling twenty-four-hour shifts as their search for Sloane narrowed. They’d gone from house to house, ranch to ranch, searching for Sloane and his gang. His trail resembled that of a cyclone’s, leaving in its wake a debris path of desperation and destruction. Now that he’d captured Sloane, it shouldn’t be too hard to get the rest of his gang.

Dusty’s belly grumbled, and he yawned. All he wanted was to eat one of Emily’s fine meals, give her some lovin’, then hit the hay and sleep a full day and night.

Except for Sloane and the havoc, he and his gang had caused lately, this past year had been the best Dusty could remember. First, he’d given his heart to God, then five months ago, he’d fallen in love and married the new banker’s daughter.

He longed to run fingers through Emily’s thick auburn hair. Soft as a horse’s muzzle, but as sweet smelling as the rose bushes in front of their porch. He imagined her pine green eyes twinkling with merriment as she played one of her little pranks on him. An only child, Dusty couldn’t wait until they had a houseful of children. Emily would be a wonderful mother, and he could only hope he’d be a decent father. God would help him in that area.

Ah, yes, life was good.

I kept going back and forth about using money I shouldn't to register. I knew the right thing to do was to just forget about it and plan to go next year. I just wanted to go so badly. The other conferences were all virtual and the big in person conferences aren't until early fall. I didn't want to wait. That caused such an inner battle; one that I won because I have been fighting self and the need to spend where I shouldn't for a bit. I have been on a mission to pay off debt and live life more intentional. Spending that money when I didn't have it to spend wasn't an option. 

​FB has a way of bringing things back up so that you can't get them out of your mind. One day, I noticed the conference post was different. It mentioned that they had five full scholarships for the conference and were asking people to sign up for a chance to be chosen. I felt like I had little chance of being picked but decided to enter anyway. I had nothing to lose but so much to gain. It was so hard waiting an entire week to find out if I was one of the ones chosen. When it got late in the evening and I didn't hear anything, I knew I hadn't been chosen and told my daughters about it. I was sad but reminded myself that I would go next year. 

Two hours later, I checked my email and found one that said I had been chosen for a full scholarship for the conference. I was going with all expenses paid, except gas to get there and back. Praise the Lord because it was ALL Him. He wanted me there. 

I couldn't wait to get things together and go the following week. I ordered some simple, business casual clothes off Amazon. I had ordered a laptop so I could take it places like this and it arrived before the conference. I had my business cards delivered a few days before the conference. I was praying for God to show me His plan for my writing during those three days. He did NOT disappoint me. He never does. He always gives me so much more than I ever imagine. I can't wait to share some of the things I can away with at the conference. 

If you are interested in going to the Texas Christian Writers' Conference in 2027, I highly recommend it.

The new year dawned and something just felt different. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I had turned 60 and turning another decade older makes you look back on life. I found there are things that I wanted to accomplish and places I wanted to see that I hadn't yet. Like most people, I never put the effort into making a lot of them happen. Surely, thinking that "someday" I would do them. That WAS the reason for it not feeling like just another New Year's look back AND forward. It WAS different.

I have been an empty nester for almost 6 years and after spending the last 35 years raising my children, I had some thinking to do. How DO I want to spend the next 30+ years of my life, if I am blessed with that many? I don't want to just sit around wishing and dreaming about the life I want. I want to LIVE it! 

What steps did I take?

I'd been really evaluating my life and the things I felt God wanted me to do with it but also, things I'd always dreamed about doing. I made a list of things I wanted to do and places I wanted to go.

I wrote that list and did what any normal person would do. I forgot about it!

I am ALWAYS writing lists. I will sit and make a list of things to do, a list of things I need to clear out, a list for the weekend and lists of things I want to change about my daily routine. You get the idea, right? I love checking off the things on the list. How about you?

I ran across this particular list in early February, a few weeks after I wrote it. 

• Write a book
• Go to Scotland
• Visit every state in the US that I haven't yet
• Buy some land and live in a cozy cottage away from the big city noise and crowds
• .... (I cannot remember any of the other things I had on that list)

Notice the first thing on the list? Write a book. I have dreamed of that since I was a teenager. I have attempted to write a book many times, but I let self-doubt and honestly, just life, put a stop to it every time. This list got me to thinking about that dream of being a writer and about the steps I needed to take to get back into writing. I had attempted to get into the writing world over a decade ago. The first steps I took this time were to mirror what I did that time. 

I rejoined ACFW, the DFW-ACFW local chapter and FHLCW. That is where I connected with so many other writers and found great inspiration and lots of amazing books to READ! 

I began looking for conferences, virtual and in person. I signed up for writing classes with one of my favorite authors. I made a plan to find and sign up for anything I was able to. I found several virtual writing conferences in the month of March. I knew the tentative dates for the major conferences in the fall so I wrote those down, knowing full well that I would have to choose which one to attend when the time came to register.

​I was ready to make the commitment to make my writing a reality. I decided I also wanted to work on doing some proofreading and freelance editing as another income stream. I started looking for books I could purchase to help me with that and for classes I could take. I ordered some business cards to hand out at conferences and other opportunities as they arise. 

I began to work on my writing space, my office. I purchased a backdrop to hang behind my desk and began to create a cozy atmosphere for myself. I got a microphone for recording videos for book reviews, podcasts and YouTube videos. I created a new backdrop for my computer. I set up all of my social media accounts under the name A Simple Texas Girl. I began creating specific picture backgrounds for all of my posts to look similar even when they were different content. Everything was coming together. I now had my own little writing space where I could escape from the busyness of my everyday life as a teacher and I had all the places set up to create. 

That was just the beginning... ​

The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore is a Christian historical fiction with strong faith themes.  Published in September 2025

One letter stitched a family together. Now, with war on the wind, only love—penned note by note—holds the threads in place.
Autumn 1941

Three young women—strangers to one another—each receive an alluring invitation they cannot and dare not refuse—Thanksgiving dinner in Texas with a mysterious ninety-year-old woman.

Virginia Campbell, a poised Boston socialite on the brink of marrying into a powerful political family, is entrusted with a delicate family mission—one that could jeopardize the perfect wedded life she so carefully planned.

Eulalia Bell, a spirited nursing graduate, earned her scholarship in Nebraska thanks to the Orphan Train. But the truth of her past threatens the career she’s fought hard to build.

Francesca Smythe, a resilient wife and mother on an Oklahoma ranch, survived the Dust Bowl and Depression. She longs for the warmth and connection of a true family. When the letter arrives, she wonders if it holds the key to the belonging she’s yearned for all her life.
​
As secrets unfold and pasts entwine, these three women are drawn to a truth that will reshape their lives—about love powerful enough to face a potential world at war, desires too strong to be silenced, and the courage to claim their place in history.

MY REVIEW:

I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read. It took me two evenings. The story caught my attention because it was about three young women who were connected as a family but didn't know it. My two sisters and I were raised by three different families, only I was raised IN our family. They grew up not knowing it. I loved Mimi and how wise she was. I was very surprised by her story but loved how the girls grew to love and care for her as the great-grandmother that she was. There were certain storylines that I wish had been flushed out a tiny bit more but for the most part, it was very well done and wrapped up nicely. The historical content was interesting to hear about, and I loved that it took place in Texas, even though it was a bit west of where I live. I loved that family was important and making memories and keeping them together was the most important thing that Mimi wanted to share with them. That situations and conflict can be resolved, don't let the time pass and live with regrets. Time passes and when you look back, what would you regret if you didn't try to do something about it? 

BOUT THE AUTHOR:

Loni Kemper Moore is a sports-cheering, Diet-Pepsi-sipping, Rocky Mountain–adventure-seeking storyteller who longs to reflect God’s beautiful love through life’s hardest places, especially for remarkable women around the globe.

A preacher’s kid at heart though her father joined her mother in Heaven, Loni’s wanderlust was sparked early by family and missionary stories. She has visited more than a dozen countries, learning from other cultures while often experiencing life as “the other.” Though she attended multiple schools as a minority and later discovered African heritage through DNA testing, she approaches those experiences with humility rather than assumption.
Loni earned bachelor’s degrees in education and biblical studies from the former Denver Baptist Bible College and completed graduate work in Education at the University of Evansville.

A Jesus-following history enthusiast, Loni was named Leonnie Sue after generations of strong women. Leonnie was her maternal great-grandmother, who died during the Influenza Pandemic, leaving behind her husband and four teenagers. Sue traces through the family tree to Susanna Dean, who stepped off a ship in Korea, Maine, in the 1640s. These inherited collections of more than 500 spoons; stories of faith, endurance, and love deeply shape Loni’s writing.

Her novel The Last Quiet Autumn came to life after cousin reunions on both sides of her family stirred memories of childhood gatherings at her grandparents’ homes—one on a Loudoun County, Virginia farm and the other on a southern Colorado ranch. Reflecting on shared family experiences and her parents’ childhood just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Loni began to wonder how different her life might have been without nearly two dozen cousins spread across four time zones. That question sparked a story that grew far beyond her original imagination.

When she isn’t writing, Loni is visiting friends, studying history, and exploring meaningful places—like the Cherwell River near Oxford, UK where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis once walked. During a trip to Swindon, England, she visited the Eagle and Child pub, where the Inklings met, a moment that proved especially encouraging.
​
Loni is the proud mom of Adam, a CAD engineer and YouTuber; Becca and Anthony, who made her a delighted grandmother of her “GrandMiracles,” Naomie and Zemira; and a frequent traveler with her beloved “Hugsband,” Robert, an embedded engineer. A granddaughter of ranchers and farmers, Loni holds close the legacy of trusting God through tragedy—faith that carried her grandparents and parents through the World Wars and continues to anchor her stories today.

More from Loni​

I can still picture my grandmother standing at her farmhouse stove, cracking open precious eggs she’d just sold back to herself. The surplus eggs were sold to allow her to buy rationed products.

One recipe she made regularly was this ‘Wacky Cake’—a chocolate cake so frugal it needed no eggs, butter, or milk. While historians debate the exact origin of the name, the most likely explanation is that it earned its playful moniker from the unconventional method of mixing everything directly in the baking pan—no bowl required. Homemakers could hardly believe a cake without eggs or butter would actually rise and taste good. But it does!

As a child spoiled by Betty Crocker mixes, I had to admire her ingenuity, even if I couldn’t quite share her enthusiasm for the taste. When my character Chessa bakes in ‘The Last Quiet Autumn,’ I drew directly from recipes like this one. Understanding how women stretched ingredients during wartime rationing helped me write scenes that felt authentic.

Have you tried Depression-era recipes? I’d love to hear about your family’s resourceful traditions from that era. It reminded me how faith, like that cake, often rises when we least expect it to.

​Little by little, their relationship turns to friendship with the hope of more AFTER the case is solved. He wants to keep thing professional. We get to see Oaklee interact with the other two brothers, Grayson's mom and nephew. The Brenneman family is very close, and they do what is needed to help each other, and others. 

Some of the secondary characters in the book were very strange and really set my nerves on edge when she had to interact with them. They seemed like villains from the start. But there was more than meets the eye behind even that. 

I will say that this book had some surprising twists that I did not see coming, at first. Some really threw me for a loop. It unfolded perfectly. 

This is a book that has faith elements running through it. Grayson has walked away from God, but he finds his way back after Oaklee asks him why he doesn't go to church anymore. I love the redemption between him and God and his family. It is beautifully done.

I loved the entire series!

Check out the author's website for information about her books: PennyZeller.com

I found this story interesting because it gives young readers a look into that time period from a teenager's perspective. I am a homeschool parent and grandparent and I've found the best way to teach history is through novels. We find books like this and use them to pique our interest to dig deeper into a topic. This book does that because it doesn't go into huge details about the arena but enough to make you want to ask questions. There is so much more to learn than most of us know and understand in present day America. 

This book could be something to assign a student on their own or it could be a part of a unit study where you read it aloud in the group and assign research topics to dig deeper over the course of a couple of weeks. It could stretch longer if you had other books on the same topic. 

Many things Titus goes through are very hard and at one point, he even seems to give up hope. Faced with moral decisions, he makes the right ones, despite the people who he is going up against. At the beginning of the book, he stands with his father and does not deny the name of Christ. The consequences of that are different for him than his father. His father is sent to the arena, where his mother was taken, to die. He is sent to the copper mines. While he is there, he is faced with how to treat others in the face of despair. His story continues past the time in the mines, and a surprising twist comes after he defends and saves someone others see as an enemy. 

Not everyone's story can have happy endings. Titus does get some happiness, but he still deals with hardship in his life. I think that is a very important thing to teach our youth. They need to know that even when things don't turn out how we think they should and we go through really hard things, we can keep our eyes on Jesus to get us through. We can find the good in every situation. God saved Titus for a purpose and he did great things. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Blog Stops for Titus and the Christian Coin 

For Him and My Family, March 12

Simple Harvest Reads, March 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 14

Guild Master, March 15 (Author Interview)

A Simple Texas Girl, March 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 16
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Fiction Book Lover, March 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 18

Vicky Sluiter, March 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 20

For the Love of Literature, March 21 (Author Interview)

Capturing Luminous, March 21

Lily’s Corner, March 22

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 23

Artistic Nobody, March 24

The Bookish Pilgrim, March 25

To celebrate his tour, Dennis is giving away the grand prize of a $100 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/Vpjph/titus-and-the-christian-coin-celebration-tour-giveaway

Diana is written in 3rd person. She is the gallery's keeper of the Moder Collections and Lily is her assistant. Diana has worked her way up to this position and is doing everything she can to keep it. For Lily, this is a dream come true. Lily has put both their jobs in jeopardy by speaking those words in front of everyone at the showing, including the press. 

An insurance company has sent an art investigator to find out about the painting that is said to be a forgery before they can compensate the owner. He knows a lot about art and gets right to business of figuring out what Lily knows about that painting and about art in general. He plays a big part in how things unfold although Lily is the one who does a great deal of her own investigating. At one point he asks her if she is in the right business because she finds out some important information many times. 

Things aren't how they look on the surface and I got carried away with the story as things unfold. Lily's family is a bit complicated and at first, we don't know why. We find out at the beginning that she has another big regret, like she regrets speaking up about the portrait. I enjoyed how that unfolded and came to a resolution with her sister and then her mom.   

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning history when it is intertwined in a fictional story. Once you've read several chapters, it becomes difficult to put down. I switched back and forth between audible and e-book. The narrator was very good. I enjoyed her accent and style of reading.                                                 

Favorite Quotes:

"Her example has taught me that if you have status, money, and power, you don't need to talk about it. Rather you wear it lightly, effortlessly, like an Egyptian cotton shift on a warm summer day." 

"Sometimes an artist needs to begin in secret because, just like those unfinished works she loves, true expression can be daunting, paralyzing, and even terrifying. It's a solitary, often painful venture and it's almost impossible to share such vulnerability with others." 

Check out her website: Katherine Reay​

WHERE SECRETS LIE

Book two in the Tupelo Grove series did not disappoint. This book starts where the first book left off. It is filled with even more mystery and family secrets that lead to more to be discovered in this book and the next.

We delve deeper into the issue of stolen artifacts and smuggling while the university that they work for is on the verge of financial collapse. Savannah and Hez end up in more danger as they strive to save the school and solve the mysteries. There is so much more going on behind the scenes with the university that I am not even sure they have shown us all of them.

There are also some strange things going on that have nothing to do with the school but cause problems for them personally as they try to rebuild their relationship. I guessed who was behind those things pretty easily after the first book. There is only one person against them being together. 

There are so many twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. I listened to it in one day on Audible right after I finished book one. I can't wait for book three to come out next month.

Check out their websites:
Colleen Coble
Rick Acker​

​"There are books enough to find a thousand worlds. You can play in the woodlands or write home or mend your socks. It is only for lack of imagination that you are bored."

"These stories make us remember something we forgot. They make a young boy want to hop out of bed and see the ruins of a castle. These kinds of stories wake us up."

"Grief is the price I paid for loving fiercely, and that was okay, because there was no other choice but to love fiercely and fully."

This book made me want to reread all of the Narnia books and so many other things that C.S. Lewis wrote. It made me excited to read with a new outlook, to look for those hidden stories inside of the story. I felt so many emotions as I read the last quarter of the book. A book that can pull that much out of me deserves to be shared with others. 

Check out her website for more information on her books: Patti Callahan Henry