To Substack or Not to Substack (Guest Post)

A woman in a flowered top works at a table with a laptop. A cup of coffee and glass of water are in the foreground.
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To Substack or Not to Substack

by Steph Beth Nickel

It has been almost a year since I began my Substack account.

My original plan? To post chapters of my YA novel on Mondays and devotionals on the Gospel of John on Fridays. [Note: To read the first post in each of these, click the linked text.]

I had written dozens of chapters of Rule and Reign and all the devotionals. So, I had a great running start.

And then I ran out of chapters of my novel and came to the last devotional.

The answer? Write and post a chapter of Rule and Reign each week.

How hard could that be? I’d only have to write a couple of pages each day.

But…life.

Did I get so busy I didn’t have the time? Nope.

Did I too often listen to the siren song of my not-even-very-comfortable couch? Why yes! Yes, I did.

Reading. Listening to podcasts. Watching miscellaneous YouTube videos. But writing when I wasn’t motivated? Don’t be silly.

There are legitimate reasons I won’t be posting much to Substack, if anything, between now and the end of September. 

My hubby and I are gathering our daughter’s belongings and driving them from Ontario to Saskatchewan. Sarah has a place of her own, and after approximately a year, has room for her things. It will be lovely to visit with her, her brother, and her sister-in-law, but there won’t be time for writing. 

Hopefully, my readers will forgive the delay.

[Note: If you would like to subscribe to Substack for FREE to read more, you can do so here: Steph Beth Nickel | Substack]

Things to Know About Substack

  1. There are many features I haven’t investigated, which, when taken advantage of, may improve the experience—for both creators and their readers. Reading up on these features is on my To-Do list. (Kudos to all of you who research a new-to-you platform before jumping aboard!)
  2. Just signing up isn’t enough. You actually have to create and post content. A given…that can be more challenging than anticipated.
  3. Developing a mailing list… If you don’t already have one, there’s virtual legwork to getting followers and subscribers. (Growing subscriber numbers isn’t currently high on my priority list, but it is important to the majority of Substack creators I’m sure.)
  4. What about random followers and subscribers who stumble across your account? Be careful. It seems some are bots or potential scammers looking for info.
  5. When a human follows or subscribes, it’s good to thank them and welcome them to your account. However, there’s no need to follow back just to boost their numbers if you’re not interested in their content and don’t have the bandwidth for one more email hitting your inbox that you don’t have the time or inclination to read.
  6. When a legit subscriber sends you a message, it’s a good idea to respond. Still, you’ll want to read their mini-bio. They may be in the market to sell you a service. You can tell pretty quickly from their messages and their public posts what their intention is.

What are my future plans?

I plan to do some research on the Substack features I am not taking advantage of.

Hopefully, I will have this draft of Rule and Reign completed and my 30-day devotional ready for formatting and publication by the end of the year.

Happy Writing and Publishing (wherever that may be)!

Here is my Substack info:

Steph Beth Nickel | Substack

Rule and Reign Chapter 1… click here.

Nurture and Inspire Love Day 1… click here.


Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

New Releases in Christian Fiction (August 2026)

August 2026 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:

Not My Hero by Michelle Bolanger — She lost everything… except the chance to begin again. He has everything… except the freedom to follow his heart. “Not My Hero” is a modern retelling of the Biblical Book of Ruth. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

What About the Song? by Rebecca Reed — What About the Song? is a kisses-only, faith-forward, contemporary Christian romance set in Nashville, perfect for readers who love equine therapy, wounded-hero, and music-driven slow-burn love stories. (Contemporary Romance from Moonsong Publishing)

Her Reluctant Amish Heart by Pamela Desmond Wright — When a reckless street race injures her brother, Anika Glick wants nothing to do with the man responsible—especially when he’s sentenced to help her family. But Elam Muller is desperate to prove he’s changed. As they work together on her family farm, Anika finds herself drawn to Elam’s remorse and kindness. But when they’re presented with one last risky race that could secure their future or destroy it all, everything they’ve built is put to the test. Will their growing love survive the pull of the past—or will it all come crashing down? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

General Historical:

Keeping Thessalonica by Jenifer Jennings — In the port city of Thessalonica, Persis, a daughter of Persia and bondservant of Aristarchus, is forever changed when she encounters the teachings of Jesus and learns of His imminent return. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Sibella’s Stand by Naomi Musch — A woman on the New York frontier, whose husband has gone to fight, must use her wits to protect herself and a young girl when enemy forces arrive at her door. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:


A Lady Unveiled by Sandra Ardoin — Frustrated with her present life, Issy Krueger seeks to reclaim the independence that defined her as the black sheep in her family. Then secret, romantic notes arrive to lift her spirits—until the words escalate into veiled threats. As tragedy strikes and fear mounts, Issy’s best chance of survival could come from the man who once broke her heart. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


A Contrary Betrothal by Denise Farnsworth — A Cherokee lieutenant, a colonel’s daughter, and a desperate fight to protect both land and love. (Formerly published as Bent Tree Bride). (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)


The Darling’s Daughter by Sydney Schmied — In 1912, Chillicothe, Ohio, a painter lands a job at a local theater in hopes of discovering the truth behind her stage actress mother’s murder, while enlisting the help of an architect battling his own secrets. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)


The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz — She’s a city-bred heiress chasing a brother in trouble. He’s a rugged settler with everything to lose. What begins as a desperate bargain becomes a journey of hope, healing, and a love neither saw coming. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)

Military Action/Adventure:


Stars and Stripes for Freedom by Delores Topliff, Jennie Atkins, Ellen E. Withers, Shirley Gould, and Cindy Bonds — With admiration for the women in all five branches of our military, these high action stories present five intelligent seasoned warriors who risk everything to protect the land of the free and the home of the brave. (Military Action/Adventure from TrueNorth Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:


Mad Dog by Sara Davison — Nothing was worth what it had cost him to walk away. In the next eight seconds, he will achieve everything he ever thought he wanted. Or he will die. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard — A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers–and danger closing in. (Romantic Suspense from Revell [Baker Publishing Group])


The Last Noel by Sarah Hamaker, Kimberley Woodhouse, and Jayna Breigh — The Last Noel is a riveting Christmas novella collection with suspense, intrigue, and second-chance romance. The stories are “Do you see What I see?,” (Hamaker) “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (Breigh) and “Do You Know What I Know?” (Woodhouse). (Romantic Suspense Novella Collection from Kregel Publications)

Speculative/Time Travel:


Braving Red Waters by Sarah Hanks — Phoebe Bristow has spent a decade guarding her heart after her father walked out and shattered her family. When she touches a mysterious antique mailbox aboard a whale-watching cruise in Baja California and wakes up in Civil War St. Louis, she must learn to trust again, first the quick-witted man who greets her on shore, then the God who placed her there for reasons she cannot yet understand. Back on the cruise, her mother Erica clings to the mailbox as the only thread connecting her to her missing daughter, while a thoughtful marine biologist, Rodney Duncan, steadily dismantles the walls around her wounded heart. Together and apart, mother and daughter discover that the courage to love again may be the most dangerous mission of all. (Speculative/Time Travel, Independently Published)


Jezebel’s Children by Lynne Basham Tagawa — Historian Geneva Fielding and physicist Peter Donatelli travel back in time to document the trial of Anne Hutchinson, but they find themselves caught in a web of politics, doctrinal disputes, and colonial intrigue. A dystopian time travel story where faith, gentle romance, and even humor overwhelm the dark elements. (Speculative/Time Travel from Blue Rock Press)

 

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Disguised Love by Marie E. Bast — Disguised Love: An Inspirational Victorian-Era Sweet Marriage of Convenience Romance Set on the Western Frontier During the Cholera Epidemic. (Historical Romance)

The Robber and the Witness by Danielle Grandinetti — Wisconsin, 1931—When Gideon Lundgren agrees to escort his best friend’s sister to Manitowish Waters, plans go awry when she witnesses a robbery. (Historical Romance)

Passionate Pursuit by Pamela Jo Harstad — Difficult backgrounds in the midst of threatening life challenges make having a relationship and safety almost impossible. (Romantic Suspense)

Sweet Dare by Sally Jo Pitts — A research biologist and curious youngsters are accused of unleashing a curse when a honeymooning couple is unearthed in an Indian burial mound. (Romantic Suspense)

Sunset Pointe: The Baby Between Us by Brenda Poulos — On the day before her Senior Prom, Karla finds out that her boyfriend, Jonathan, has fathered a baby with her best friend, Missy. (General Contemporary)

Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas — In the charming English village of Bramble Downs, threads of betrayal unravel the sickening truth as a ballerina’s family is stalked by a delusional murderer… (Romantic Suspense)

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Review: A Rumored Fortune, by Joanna Davidson Politano

Image: An elegant, shadowed staircase. Text: A Rumored Fortune, Joanna Davidson Politano.

A Rumored Fortune, by Joanna Davidson Politano (Revell, 2018)

In 1866, Tressa Harlowe returns to the family castle to discover her beloved-but-distant father dead and the family finances in dire straits. She knows there’s a fortune hidden somewhere on the estate, but her father had always said he’d reveal the location before he died. Now, it’s too late.

With bills coming due, a high-need mother, servants who seem to be keeping secrets, and an infuriating new manager her father hired to run the vineyards, it’s all too much. Oh, yes, and the gold-digging family members and former boyfriend…

Her best choice seems to be a cautious partnership with the new manager, Donegan Vance, to find the hidden treasure. Donegan comes with his own secrets, but if you like a swoon-worthy romantic interest, he’s it. Dark, mysterious, and brooding, maybe, but intensely loyal and kindness personified when nobody’s looking.

It feels like everything in Tressa’s life is being pruned away. This blends nicely with the chapter-opening quotes from the a vinedresser’s journal.

I appreciate how Tressa eventually discovers the painful past choices that make some of the characters so difficult to live with. This doesn’t excuse their behaviour, but it gives her compassion for them.

There’s a lot of depth to this novel. It’s a good mystery (I was late to catch onto the actual culprit because of all the options). It has emotional and spiritual depth. It evokes an appreciation of beauty and challenges us to look for the good in everyone without overlooking potential harm.

A Rumored Fortune is my first time reading Joanna Davidson Politano’s work. It won’t be my last. To learn about the author and her other works, visit jdpstories.com.

[Review copy from the public library.]

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Book Recommendations by Steph Beth Nickel (Guest Post)

A stack of hardcover books, with the top book lying open and a pair of glasses on top.
Image by Hermann Traub from Pixabay

Book Recommendations by Steph Beth Nickel

In my last guest post, I spoke about getting older.

Below are a few of the books I recommend for those of us “of a certain age” and others as well.

[Note: All book links point to Goodreads.]

Health and Fitness

Independence for Life by Will Harlow: An excellent step-by-step guide to improve mobility, strength, balance, and bone density, as well as focus on lessening chronic pain.

Biblical View of Aging

Dust to Dust by Jen Wilkin: An insightful look at what the Scriptures say about growing older.

Building a Legacy of Faith by Chris Syme: An examination of what we can leave behind that will truly bless others.

No Matter What Your Age

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman: A look at how to determine the next step to take, no matter how small.

The Next Right Thing Journal by Emily P. Freeman: A guided journal to help you determine what’s next.

Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller: A challenging yet encouraging examination of how to be less self-focused with countless honest examples from the author’s life.

The Cost of Control by Sharon Hodde Miller: A book whose subtitle says it all: Why We Crave It, The Anxiety Over It, and The Real Power God Promises.

The Plan by Kendra Adachi: A guide by the author of The Lazy Genius Way and host of the podcast The Lazy Genius. The tagline: How to be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.


Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

New Releases in Christian Fiction (July 2026)

July 2026 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:

New Beginnings in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch — When the storm passes, can two guarded hearts believe in love again? Perfect for fans of heartwarming Christian romance, this tender small-town story weaves together friendship, faith, grief, and healing as two guarded hearts must decide whether love is worth trusting again. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Second Shot at Love by Carolyn Miller — Ten years ago Genevieve Rivas made a mistake that changed her entire family. Since that, she’s done all she can to make up for it and make them proud and is now working as a junior doctor in one of Seattle’s leading hospitals. Everything is finally tracking as it should be, until one day a blast from the past re-enters her life. Ten years ago, Kyle Tinkler thought he had it all. Until a night of celebration went too far and he lost the person he held most dear as he chased his NHL dream. Now he might be Seattle’s top player, but his hard shot and skills on the ice aren’t enough to dodge the guilt now he’s returned to his old stomping ground. When injury reunites these two, regrets soar and secrets become increasingly hard to hide, threatening to fracture two families. And while God is a healer and redeemer of broken pasts, can they learn the power of forgiveness to find a way forward? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Trusting the Single Dad by Meghann Whistler — Former bad boy Devin Spencer never thought his past would follow him back to Cape Cod—but neither did Cassie Reed. Tasked with reopening her family’s beloved summer camp, Cassie is determined to keep her distance from the man. But Devin’s dedication to giving his young daughter a stable life starts to break down her walls. As they grow closer, Cassie’s heartbreaking secret and Devin’s troubled history threaten to keep them apart. Can they find the courage to face the past and create the family they’ve both been searching for? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Cozy Mystery:
Dumpsters and Dragons by Susan Page Davis and Page M. Davis — They threw it away, and now they’ll kill to get it back. When garbage collector Cassie Willis finds coded documents in a dumpster, her routine route turns deadly. Chased by a sinister biker and pulled into a murder investigation, Cassie must follow hidden clues tied to an online game before the killer strikes again. Dumpsters and Dragons is a small-town suspense novel where faith, danger, and mystery collide. (Cozy Mystery from Scrivenings Press)

Crime Thriller/Suspense:
When Daylight is Gone by Georgia Curtis Ling — The Pastors’ Wives Club is back! From #1 Amazon bestselling author Georgia Curtis Ling comes When Daylight Is Gone a new standalone novel in the Pastors’ Wives Club Suspense series. When a child is left for dead in the Appalachian wilderness, four pastors’ wives hunt a monstrous predator through a dark forest of buried sins. These unlikely warriors, armed with unshakable faith and a refusal to yield, are determined stop him before another child vanishes into the darkness. (Crime Thriller/Suspense, Independently Published)

General Historical:

The Amazing Crab Alley Revival by Sharon Wilharm — The year is 1897 and wealthy widow Lydia Culpepper is evaluating her mundane existence. For sixty-three years, she’s faithfully gone through the motions of fulfilling everyone else’s expectations for her life, but nothing she does is ever enough. She longs for something more. When a young boy comes to her house in search of his missing coon dog, she gets her wish. She meets Emily Reed, a young finishing school instructor, and Opal Jackson, an Irish single mother, and the three women join together on a mission that turns the First Baptist Church on its head. Suddenly, the town is in an uproar as lives are being changed. When Yellow Fever hits, it looks like their efforts may have been in vain, but the epidemic isn’t enough to thwart the fruits of the Crab Alley Revival. (General Historical from Elk Lake Publishing)

Historical Romance:


Beyond the Melody by Amanda Cabot — By the spring of 1946, life in Sweetwater Crossing is almost back to normal after the war. Not Anna Finley’s. She lost her chance at happily-ever-after when the man she loved was killed in France. Anna does her best to hide her sorrow and a secret that haunts her as she works on the jukeboxes she inherited when her brother died in combat. There’s no point in dreaming about what might have been. Jim Smythe is also grieving a shattered life. His fiancee broke their engagement, reminding him that a respected magazine said it should take no more than three weeks for a veteran to forget the war. But Jim cannot forget the men in his platoon who didn’t return home, and he’s made it his mission to visit each of the fallen soldiers’ families, hoping to give them some small measure of comfort. Sweetwater Crossing is his final stop. After that, he’ll have to return to Boston and the life that holds no appeal. If only he could find an alternative, one where people saw him for himself, not his family’s name. He’s given up hope that anyone will understand what his parents and fiancee did not, but everything changes when he enters a small cafe and sees a woman whose eyes reflect his own pain standing next to a jukebox. Jim knows he’ll never see her again, yet it somehow feels right to extend his hand and say, “May I have this dance?” It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for two wounded people unless they can overcome their fears and find the courage to love again. (Historical Romance from ByDand Publishing)


To Fall in Love at Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher — Alice MacPherson came to Idaho with nothing but her nursing skills, her Bible, and a lifetime of rules that have left her weary in both body and soul. Color, beauty, and celebration feel frivolous to her, a distraction from the seriousness of faith and her nursing profession. She expects nothing more for her future than work and solitude. Reverend Truman Blankenship has spent five years tending his small flock in Gibeon. Shy by nature, but strong in faith, he delights in the joy of Christ—especially at Christmastime, when he fills the church and parsonage with greenery, candles, and celebration. Thrown together in the homes of the sick, in the bustle of the town’s Christmas preparations, and in the laughter of children rehearsing a nativity play, Truman and Alice discover unexpected attraction. Her rigid beliefs may clash with his merry faith, but in the glow of Christmas, both will find that God’s love can heal the past—and open their hearts to a future filled with hope and joy. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

To Chase the Stars by Tara Johnson — A sailor hiding a dark past, and a woman on the run… Will they find what their hearts are looking for? Isabelle Holland is trapped in a life she never wanted. When her tyrannical aunt plans her marriage to an odious man, and with no word from her family in Charleston, she feels her life is over…until she meets a sea captain who can offer her a way to flee Savannah and unravel the mystery of her family’s secrets. Captain Henry Kincaid is running from the demons of his past. His only solace? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


A Mess of Dreams by Jessie Mattis — In spring of 1943, seventeen-year-old Lorene Stewart isn’t looking for complications. She’s content on her parents’ Illinois farm, longing for the day she might travel beyond the cornfields of Potomac. But when Amos Alexander chooses her angel food cake at the town cakewalk, everything changes. For the first time since tragedy struck her family long ago, Lorene’s heart stirs with hope. Yet as quickly as their romance sparks, a world torn apart by war threatens to extinguish it. When Lorene befriends Dietrich, a German POW whose kindness and mysterious past captivate her, she begins to question everything. How can someone deemed “the enemy” side with all that’s right and good? And what if Amos has inherited his father’s deep prejudice, which he swore to resist? Amos seems to know what he wants, but when his father forbids him to court Lorene, it’s unclear if he will honor his parents’ wishes or pursue true love no matter the cost. Lorene must discern who she can trust if her dreams are to become reality. Her hope of a future spent changing the world with the right man at her side depends on it. (Historical Romance from Ashberry Lane)

Romantic Suspense:


Trapped by Jerusha Agen — Her lies keep her safe. Until the truth shows up. And it’s carrying a gun. Kristen Grant will do anything to protect her adopted teen daughter from the dangers of their past. No matter how many secrets it requires, Kristen will ensure Rosalia enjoys a happy life and promising future Kristen didn’t have. His childhood friend may have a different name, but that doesn’t change the way he feels. Security specialist Sean Kingston never expected to meet his childhood buddy in sleepy little Leben Falls. She’s changed, shrouded in mystery and secrets she doesn’t want to share. But when a shooter wakes up the small town, it seems those secrets are going to get Kristen killed. Freedom has a price, and the enemy of Kristen’s past has come to collect. Will Kristen have to pay with her life, or can Sean and his God set her free? (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


Overdrive by Taylor S. Newport — The mission looked simple. But the enemy is closer, faster, and deadlier than they imagined. Tyler Reid needs a break, but trouble finds him first. A call from London pulls him into a missing-person case linked to a powerful surveillance project that’s suddenly worth killing for. The deeper he digs, the more bodies he finds—and the more obvious it becomes that someone wants the entire system for themselves. Alexandra “Alex” Romanova is looking for an escape from Veritek and the weight waiting for her back home. A trip with Tyler should’ve been the break they both needed. But when the case escalates and puts her company in the crosshairs, she goes with him—trying to keep him grounded even as the danger forces him to speed up. The investigation spirals into a breakneck pursuit, ambushes snapping at their heels as their unknown enemy stays one move ahead. Someone is erasing anyone tied to the project, leaving bodies instead of answers. With the elusive threat closing fast, Tyler and Alex are fighting to get ahead long enough to expose who’s hunting them. (Romantic Suspense from Whitewater River Publishing)

Western/Historical:


Seeds of Hope by Teresa Wells — Blooming Grove, Texas, 1896- Deputy Rabb Truitt has sworn to protect Blooming Grove. But when a clerical error sets a criminal free, Rabb blames himself. He should’ve admitted he can’t read, and now he must resign. If he failed the town once, he could fail it again. A recent survivor of a devastating fire, Sallie Parker refuses to let Rabb give up the job he loves. She helps him make sense of letters on the page, and as his knowledge grows, so do their feelings for each other. When a series of mysterious events surround Sallie’s school, Rabb fears a connection to cattle rustlers he’s pursuing. Each day without arrest, the demands for mob justice increase. Rabb races to protect the town and the woman he loves. But is he too late? (Western Historical from Scrivenings Press)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Burns and Beauty – Philistines by Christine Dillon — Saphi has spent her life despising the mother who scarred her face and condemned her to obscurity as a temple sweeper in the house of Dagon. Scorned and friendless, she expects nothing from the Philistine gods except silence. Then the Philistines capture the ark of the God of Israel. (Contemporary Romance)

Dotty Makes a Difference by Jeni Jennings — What if what makes you different makes all the difference? Set against the stunning backdrop of gorgeous African landscapes, this heartwarming story of faith, courage, and friendship for readers 3-8 will inspire children to embrace their differences and see the beauty in all God’s creations. (Children’s/Picture Books)

Praying for Mr. Wright by Kimberly Kirkland Absher — A worship leader, a matchmaking scheme, and an unexpected love story. Praying for Mr. Wright is a warm, faith-filled contemporary Christian Romance about surrendering expectations, trusting God with your heart, and discovering that sometimes the answer to prayer looks nothing like the plan you imagined. (Contemporary Romance)

Diamonds & Dynamite by Jane Daly — When a stolen diamond, a deadly cartel, and a secretive mine collide, love might be the most explosive force of all. (Romantic Suspense)

Rainbow Valley by Cathe Swanson — The life they built is changing. The past they buried is calling. Rainbow Valley is a heartfelt story of marriage, faith, identity, and the courage to rediscover each other after a lifetime of becoming someone new. (Historical Romance)

Something New by Cathe Swanson — Coming home is the last thing Charlea wants—but it may be the beginning of everything she’s been searching for. (Contemporary Women’s Fiction)

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Review: The Alchemist of Riddle and Ruin, by Gigi Pandian

A pink background framed by black border. Black cutout-type illustration of a crouched grinning gargoyle holding a candle, facing a crow on a thin tree. The book title fills the top of the image, with the author's information at the bottom.

The Alchemist of Riddle and Ruin, by Gigi Pandian (Gargoyle Girl Productions, 2022)

Zoe’s an alchemist, sure, but she doesn’t believe in magic. Or in ghosts. So when she and a friend see a teenage girl who was murdered 16 years ago, she’s shaken. Her idea of a rational explanation is that maybe the girl was a prodigy who found the Elixir of Life at a young age, faked her own death, and has reappeared.

Most of her friends’ votes split between “ghost” and “trick.”

Anyone else who’s seen the apparition was connected with the dead girl. Zoe’s friend was the intended target at their sighting. And one sighting led to an injury. Is Zoe’s friend in danger too?

The sixteen-year-old murder case was never solved. Along with trying to find the truth about the “ghost,” Zoe and friends want to find the murderer and bring closure to the girl’s family and friends. Although the crime happened in the past, the investigation has a satisfying locked-room feel since everyone’s convinced the killer was one of the small group invited to the girl’s homecoming party the day she died.

Alchemist Zoe Faust, a 300+ year-old herbalist currently living in Oregon, may have been intended as the star of this series, but living gargoyle Dorian charms his way into first place. There’s something about this old-fashioned, formerly-stone, classically-trained French chef that endears him to readers. And beginning in the previous book he has his own point of view chapters.

I’m so fond of these characters. We have a mix of these two who are very old, a few even older friends, regular adults like Zoe’s boyfriend, and some ordinary teens. The interplay works well.

The Alchemist of Riddle and Ruin is book 6 in the Accidental Alchemist series. Each mystery reads well as a stand-alone, although there’s character and relationship development along the way. There’s no harm in starting here, but it’s such a good series I have to suggest you begin at the beginning with The Accidental Alchemist.

USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author Gigi Pandian also writes the Secret Staircase mysteries and the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries. And there’s a new Jaya Jones series coming in 2027: the Scottish Treasure Hunt Mysteries. For more about the author and her work visit gigipandian.com.

[Review copy from the public library.]

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Review: Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation, by T. Christopher Hoklotubbe and H. Daniel Zacharias

Colours of red, orange, brown, white. Circles including a crown of thorns surround the title "Reading the Bible on Turtle Island" Subtitle and authors' names are also featured on the cover.

Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation, by T. Christopher Hoklotubbe and H. Daniel Zacharias (InterVarsity Press, 2025)

“What does it look like to be authentically Indigenous and a follower of Jesus?” [p. 160]

The authors explore this question with an approach that “invites Indigenous Christians to hold together both our Indigenous and Christian identities when we interpret Scripture” instead of going with the default “Euroamerican” interpretation. [p. 102]

From the forward, by Shari Russell:

“Danny and Chris seek to build bridges between Christian understandings and Indigenous perspectives, showing the breadth, depth, and inclusivity of the gospel’s invitation.” [p. xi]

Reading the Bible on Turtle Island is a book for two groups: Indigenous and non-Indigenous. In other words, everyone can find something useful in its pages.

From the authors:

“We hope that this book is received as an invitation for Indigenous followers of Christ to read Scripture in light of their own ancestral wisdoms, stories, and ceremonies.” [p. 188]

T. Christopher Hoklotubbe and H. Daniel Zacharias are scholars who researched heavily to bring balance and clarity to a small part of the vast intricacy of their subject. They delved deeper than reading—they spent much time listening to the stories and learning from elders and peers in Canada and the United States.

They’re also two ordinary North Americans living the ongoing reclamation of their Indigenous cultural heritage. This is why I say what they’ve written is for everyone.

Although some of the concepts went a little over my head, my heart caught the stories. I’ve peeked into another culture’s understanding and experiences, and I have so much more to learn. (Note for the sensitive: When necessary, the book refers to Indigenous suffering but in ways that neither traumatize nor inflame.)

Readers will encounter concepts like asset-based vs. deficit-based theology (God’s intent for good vs. humans’ sin), nature’s living parables, reading Scripture with the heart, and perhaps my personal favourite: how “the blood of Jesus purifies” vs. being to “placate the wrath of an angry God.” [p. 66]

This book is an incredibly rich treasure. I hope it will speak wholeness where harm still lingers and unity in place of suspicion. May its impact be great as the conversations continue.

My own roots are mainly 1750s settlers, giving me many generations of history in the Mi’kma’ki region. Yet I still lack the rootedness to the land which forms so much of the Indigenous understanding.

Reading this book revealed many ways my understanding has been shaped by Euroamerican culture and assumptions. And the corresponding “colonizing” form of Christianity where ways that might actually be complementary must be cut off because the “colonizers” don’t understand them.

As well as informing my awareness, the authors have shown me areas of my faith where colonialist roots can be replaced by attitudes better aligning to the ways of Jesus. I’m grateful.

Reading the Bible on Turtle Island is amply stocked with footnotes. Most cite sources, at times giving additional content. But there are some surprise chuckles as these two writing friends occasionally poke fun at one another.

T. Christopher Hoklotubbe and H. Daniel Zacharias are university professors (Cornell College, Iowa and Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia) and also on faculty with NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Visit the InterVarsity Press site to view a one-minute introduction from the authors and to preview the first chapter for free. And click here to read an interview with Danny Zacharias.

[Review copy from my household library.]

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Growing Older (Guest Post)

Growing Older

by Steph Beth Nickel

I have reached the age that the Canadian government classifies as “a senior.”

Why did this trip me up for the briefest of moments? Is it because I subscribe to the apparent worldview that “you can’t be young, thin, or rich enough”? I don’t.

Is it solely because I want to “finish well” and leave a God-honouring legacy? While that’s a big part of it, it wouldn’t be honest to say that was the only reason.

I truly love this stage of life. I have more time with my hubby now that he’s retired. He left his “temporary job” after more that forty years, nine days after his 70th birthday. We are completing several long-needed renovations to our century home and will take some time to enjoy it before moving west to be close to family, Lord willing. Because of God’s grace, I have family and friends who love me and enjoy spending time with me. The list could go on and on.

Still, there are so many perspectives on aging, and I want to set a good example for others, whether they are in their fall or winter years or still in the spring or summer of their lives. But it’s a matter of finding the balance between assumptions, reality, and eternal matters.

Do we have to accept the fact that our health is going to rapidly decline?

While it’s unlikely that we will have the physical acumen that we had in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s, it isn’t inevitable that there’s nothing we can do about it. Eating well, staying active, getting adequate rest, continuing to learn new things, and participating in a supportive social community go a long way in maintaining our physical, emotional, and intellectual health.

Do we have to buy into the anti-aging industry?

What a loaded term, anti-aging! Even the term makes aging the enemy. Whether or not you agree with the premise, Dove was onto something when they brought out their line of “pro-aging” products. I don’t know enough about the company to know if it was truly anything more than a marketing approach. Still, if we viewed aging with a positive attitude and encouraged others to do the same, I believe we would make a more positive impact on those around us—whether our nighttime routine includes 30 minutes of skincare or less than five minutes.

Do we have to resign ourselves to being confounded by technology?

It’s true that technology is constantly changing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn enough to at least be “in the loop.” There are plenty of seniors who successfully use cell phones and computers. There are even several who do so “like a boss.” And when it comes to the things we want to learn about tech, what better way than to ask a young person to show us the ropes? We just may learn something new, and they may learn how to effectively distill what they seem to know instinctively and patiently share it with another person.

Do we have to cringe when others refer to us as old and assume they mean this as a negative?

This is the crux of the matter for many of us. Their attitude toward aging, whether actual or merely something we assume, doesn’t have to shape ours. If we embrace the positives of getting older (and there are many), we may be influential in changing another’s perspective—and maybe even our own. And while it may stir up anxiety, resentment, or some other unpleasant emotion when someone makes a joke about Boomers, we can deliberately refocus and give thanks that because we’re still drawing breath, we still have purpose.

Do we have only two options: buy into the negative press about getting older or become resentful and rebellious?

We may vacillate between the two, but there are other options. Here are just a few of them: 1) we can keep a thankfulness journal specifically about the things we enjoy about aging, 2) we can get involved in a social group in whatever capacity corresponds with our interests and abilities, and/or 3) we can choose one healthy habit to pursue (it may be more achievable than we imagined).

And my new government-assigned category? Well, I have received my first OAS and CPP cheques. So, there’s that. <grin>


Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography

As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.

New Releases in Christian Fiction (June 2026)

June 2026 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Children’s Picture Books:

Would You Rather: Bible Attire Adventures by Jerah Alvarado — Would you rather wear a coat of many colors like Joseph? Or would you rather wear clothes made of camel fur like John the Baptist? Choose from thirteen different Bible clothing adventures, the one you would rather experience! (Children’s Picture Book from Mt. Zion Ridge Press)

Contemporary Romance:
Wildflower Heart by Tara Baisden — She didn’t come to Serenity Crossing to fall in love. She came to disappear. Tori Hamilton has spent nearly her entire life being managed by a powerful family who gave her everything except the one thing she actually wanted — to be loved for who she is. After a lottery win hands her the means to finally break free, she leaves Atlanta behind and drives to a small mountain town in Tennessee where nobody knows her name, her family, or the secret she’s carrying. She buys a house, purchases a building for the flower shop she’s always dreamed of, and begins building the ordinary, beautiful life her parents would call beneath her. But the fresh start she’s counting on has a crack running through it — because the truth she left out of her new story is the one thing that could cost her everything. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Cozy Mystery:
Gone with the Woodwinds by Jennifer Lamont Leo — January 1921 brings two arrivals to Timber Coulee, Idaho: the Idaho All-State Music Competition, and a killer. Amanda Parrish, proprietress of Mountain Melodies Music Shop and newly engaged to Sheriff James Holcomb, has pulled off a small coup for the local planning committee—convincing her old conservatory friend to come up from the University of Idaho to judge the woodwinds competition. Gerald arrives on the train charming, warm, and unchanged after twenty years. He is dead before the week is out. Suspicion settles immediately on Amanda’s co-manager, Callan MacTavish—a Scottish WWI veteran whose midnight walks and troubled silences make him an easy target. Amanda knows better. The clock is ticking on finding the real killer before they vanish forever…or strike again. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

Dual Timeline:
Jane’s Secret by Jennifer E. Tirrell — Bound by blood, but separated by centuries, the two women unravel a hidden family secret in a thrilling quest for truth that could change everything. Jennifer E. Tirrell’s richly layered suspense story weaves between the Tudor period and present day, pulls readers into a world of hidden truths, historical intrigue, and modern-day discovery. (Dual Timeline from Ambassador International)

General Historical:

Shining Bright by Janet Joanou Weiner — How can a young woman with disability contribute to the French Resistance? Can she survive Nazi contempt? Jeanine Bourguet resides in a château in the south of France, but her life is no fairy tale. A repressive grandmother and a wheelchair have long impeded her desire to make significant contributions to her community. When those limitations threaten her determination to take in a young Jewish refugee, Jeanine’s lively mind and sharp sense of justice overrule her fragile body. Increasing deportations of Jewish families, food and clothing shortages, and a constant stream of Nazi propaganda present her opportunities to resist the tightening noose of Nazi control under the turncoat Vichy regime. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:


Mail-Order Viscountess by Misty M Beller — When a Montana blizzard strands two strangers in a cave, honor demands a vow neither of them want. Nobody knows the truth about newly knighted Lord Thomas Balfour. He doesn’t deserve the honor being showered on him, so after this last trip with his brother and sister-in-law to Butte for supplies, he’ll leave this territory behind completely. But once he reaches town, he’s blindsided to discover his brothers have ordered him a bride by post. A woman complicates everything. And even worse—the bride has brought her sister. Kate McKinney masterminded this journey west to rescue her younger sister from their controlling mother’s plans. Yet one look at the intended groom’s scowl, and Kate’s doubts bloom. Maybe this mail-order marriage scheme will be far worse for her beloved sister than the wealthy brute their ambitious mother arranged. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


Freed by the Frontier by Denise Farnsworth, Sherry Shindelar, and Susan F. Craft — Three remarkable women find themselves caught between two worlds on the American frontier. A captive of the Comanche must choose between escaping to white society or her growing feelings for a rising war chief in 1850s Texas. A Georgia judge’s daughter flees an unwanted betrothal during the War of 1812, only to be captured by Creek warriors but protected by a mysterious brave. And in 1754, an English lady traveling the Great Wagon Road to become a music teacher discovers her carefully planned future may not survive her attraction to a protective frontiersman. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)


Uncharted Blessing by Keely Brooke Keith — When Charlotte’s caregiving leads her into Josiah’s home and an orphaned baby into her arms, two wounded hearts discover an unexpected blessing. Uncharted Blessing (Book Sixteen in the Uncharted series) weaves past and future in a faith-filled story of life in a hidden land. Prepare to be captivated by this timeless romance, brimming with mystery and suspense. Perfect for readers seeking traditional family values, faithful men who are true heroes, and clean, heartwarming courtships. If you enjoy the simplicity of frontier romance and the wholesomeness of Amish fiction, you’ll adore Uncharted Blessing. (Historical Romance, Independently Publish)


Eye of the Beholder by Linda Shenton Matchett — Left with physical and emotional scars after the Great War, Hank Drake has been shunned by polite society as the Ugly Duckling. Fine by him. He’d much rather be alone. Until he meets the kind proprietress of a tea stand at New York’s World’s Fair who isn’t repulsed by his appearance. Can he hope for acceptance…or even love? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

The Girl from Tomorrow’s Town by Naomi Musch — After being sent away on an orphan train and surviving years of hardship, nineteen year old Lily Mae Dodge is finally heading east, determined to find the mother she lost and a life shaped by hope rather than fear. On the journey she meets Francis Basnett, a kindhearted circus roustabout barred from the Great War by his failing vision and concealing deeper unworthiness behind a pair of dark glasses. Though branded a coward by strangers, Francis longs to prove his courage. Drawn to Lily’s quiet resilience, he offers friendship and refuge in the dazzling world of the traveling Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, as she begins her search. There, amid the sawdust and spangles, Lily allows her guarded heart to soften. But when a runaway train slams into the circus cars in the dead of night—igniting a catastrophic fire—her fragile new beginning collapses. Dozens are dead, hundreds injured. . .and Francis is missing. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)


Sarah’s Search by Jodie Wolfe — Can two searching hearts find the same path? All her life, Sarah McBride has gone along with whatever her guardian dictates. Now on the verge of graduating from the Shippensburg State Normal School, she questions her ability to teach in a classroom when her heart isn’t in the profession. What she wouldn’t give to pursue her heart’s desire of becoming a writer instead of following what’s expected. But how can Sarah defy her guardian’s plans? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


A Heart’s Hope by Penny Zeller — To what lengths will one woman go to rescue her sister? She’s from high society. He’s a humble rancher. Can an unorthodox marriage lead to love? A Heart’s Hope is a heartwarming marriage-of-convenience love story that reminds us that God has a way of working out even the most unconventional things. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Speculative Fiction Fantasy:


Scarlet Oak by Demi Griffin — With the fragrance of Cerulean roses filling the air, all seemed well in the kingdom at last. Dealing with guilt and fractured loyalty, Enris wasn’t prepared to embark on the quest his father asked him to take. With his newly restored relationship with the King of Cerulean redefining him as both a son and a prince, Enris couldn’t refuse the odd request to locate a twin brother he never knew he had. (Speculative Fiction Fantasy, Independently Published)

Speculative Fiction Romance Fantasy:

Canthany Rising by Kenneth Bliss — T’alla was a simple cat frolicking in Eden until the serpent came and changed everything. She and six other animals willingly ate the only fruit T’WA-O, the Three-Who-Are-One, had forbidden. Instead of just being expelled from the Garden, they awake in another world called Canthany with human-like forms. Strange rules govern this world, where health points, character levels and special abilities determine survival. And they’re not alone. The fallen angel, Ashtoreth, wants to steal them away from T’WA-O and make them and their future generations her slaves. Unsure of her place, T’alla must master her newfound psionic abilities and conquer her fears. Armed with a mysterious staff called Kolonos, every battle with Ashtoreth’s demonic minions brings new knowledge and new skills, but also a test of the Seven’s faith in T’WA-O. In a world where prayer is power and sacrifice unlocks miracles, some victories will require the ultimate price. (Speculative Fiction Romantic Fantasy, Independently)

 

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Find Me at the Table by Andrea Christenson — She ruined his career with one review. Now they have to cook together. (Contemporary Romance)

Three Good Lies by Luana Ehrlich — When CIA operative Titus Ray arrives in Panama, he discovers the intel is false, the sources can’t be trusted, and the objective is a lie. With his team under fire and the secret police closing in, Titus must rely on his training—and his faith—to survive and uncover the truth. (Romantic Suspense)

A Refuge in Montana by Allie Pleiter — In Big Sky Country, Sometimes forgiveness takes the most courage… For her son’s sake, widowed veterinarian Vicky Siden works hard to pretend all is well. But the arrival of game warden Nick Youngston at her family’s animal rescue—with a horse and donkey in tow—changes everything. (Contemporary Romance)

Callie’s Redemption by Tammie Edington Shaw — Can a pampered Eastern young woman, alone and betrayed, learn to trust and love again in the rugged West and a young man from the West pursue his calling to be a preacher and leave his love for a transplanted Eastern girl behind? (Historical Romance)

The Stained Glass Window by Crystal Walton — She’s fighting to heal him. He’s risking everything to protect her. In the line of fire, they’ll need a miracle to survive. (Contemporary Romantic Suspense)

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Review: A Grave Deception, by Connie Berry

Book cover image: Stone houses lining both sides of a peaceful canal, with a church spire among them. It looks like a quiet English village. Text: A Grave Deception, A Kate Hamilton Mystery, by Connie Berry.

A Grave Deception, by Connie Berry (Crooked Lane Books, 2025)

How on earth can an antiques expert in contemporary England put a name to a remarkably well-preserved woman secretly buried 700 years ago?

Researching a long-ago murder seems safe enough, but when a member of the archaeological team is found dead Kate is drawn into that investigation as well.

The present-day killing has a classic British house-party vibe, with its limited pool of suspects. Complicating things are the abundance of personal motives within the team and the dig protestors lurking on the fringes. There’s also a possibly unrelated fugitive on the loose.

Readers familiar with the Kate Hamilton Mystery series know to expect a clean, engaging mystery with engaging characters, charming Suffolk village settings, and delicious references to food.

If you’re new to the series, you can start here with book 6 without feeling lost since each story is self-contained. Kate’s relationships with Tom and Ivor develop along the way, so for the full experience you may prefer to begin with book 1, A Dream of Death.

To learn about author Connie Berry and her work, visit connieberry.com.

[Review copy from the public library.]

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