Books with Dienece June-Sept 2026
Updated: Sep 30
Well, it's probably about that time again that I remember to tell you all the books I've been reading. :)
I'll go by month and the order in which I read them. And yes, I know I have very eclectic reading tastes. I bounce all over the place.
I also have quite a few from Sarah M. Eden. I'd never read her before and ended up borrowing a whole stack from my library! (Libraries are awesome!!!)
June
Romancing Daphne by Sarah M. Eden
I loved and sometimes wanted to hit the hero in this clean Regency romance. He could be a bit daft at times, but he was also a really nice guy. I liked how it all turned out in the end.
Whiteout by Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason
I'm still learning Lynette's style of writing, but Dani has always been a favourite. These duo are clean, inspirational romantic suspense. It was cool that the stories actually connect. One is from one side of the mountain after a snow/landslide, and the other story is from the other side!
Maiden in a Tower by Heidi Kimball
I think this was a Rapunzel retelling, if I remember correctly, but it is it's own story as well. The runaway dog was very cute, as was her attempts to 'dress' up for him. Interesting twist in the end about how and why she was in the little cottage! Clean Regency.
Purple Panic by Ella Shine
(read to my 9 year old)
My son loved this story about a disappearing guinea pig that can only be seen on purple stuff. It was hilarious. I was pleasantly surprised by how it ended. I wondered how the authors would work it out in such a short book, but they did a great job with this clean children's chapter book.
Forget Me Not by Sarah M. Eden
I love the title of this one. Forget Me Not flowers are my favourite, and this was a very touching and emotional book. I quickly fell in love with it, and it stayed with me for ages. She's been left behind for years, and he's been telling himself he has to live life to the fullest everywhere because of everyone he knew who died. Only, he's been leaving her behind for years as well. I also liked that the friends say that he didn't mean to 'forget' people. He honestly doesn't notice or mean anything by it, but he had to learn how to be better at being present for those that love him.
Stronger than the Strom by Deena Adams
Wow, what a lot of storms this family went through! It's a gritty Christian women's fiction that went a little farther than I wanted in the daughter's POV, but it's got a good message.
Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden
I should not have read this book so close to finishing Forget Me Not because I mourned right alongside the girl that the hero from the other book was dead. But otherwise, I liked this one. It was interesting to see how Sarah has been developing her books long before she wrote ones she hadn't released yet. Why do I know this? Because of how they all interconnect, and scenes from previous books start to make sense when you read later ones!
The Maestro's Missing Melody by Amy Walsh
I loved this one! Yes, it's an age gap, but she's like mid-twenties, and he's like mid-thirties. It didn't bother me at all once I knew their ages. And it was a lot of fun! Christian contemporary comedy romance set in England. I was a little thrown by the grandmother's actions at first, but then I started to see where she was coming from. FYI, it does talk about dementia if that's an issue for you.
Falling for the Family Next Door by Jennifer Slattery
A unique inspirational contemporary romance. She's been a foster kid for years with no one left now. Not even her sister who died and left her kids behind. She's struggling, and he thinks all he wants is to leave. All she wants is to stay in the one place that felt like home.
The Mother's Song by Caroline Johnston
This one was my favourite of the series so far! The mother was really funny, and the daughter's dislike of the guy was amusing too. A lovely Christian romance/women's fiction set in England
Autumn Kisses by Kristi Ann Hunter, Ashley Clark, Kimberley Duffy, Hayley Elliot, Kelly D Scott, and Jessica Kate
This was a newsletter sign up deal (and I don't think it's around anymore). I liked the stories when it was a complete story. Some of them were teasers to the rest of the series. They did give me a good glimpse of whether or not I'd like the authors, which is the purpose of a good sign up. Clean/Christian contemporary romances
Charming Artemas by Sarah M. Eden
Again, I should not have read this so close to finishing Forget Me Not, they are still grieving the dude from that book. And I cried and cried and cried. I also learned to understand Artemas who I hadn't really liked up until now, and I really liked this book. You even get to understand the Duke from Seeking Persephone better as well. Even though it did make me cry! It even explained a scene with Artemas from Seeking Persephone that Sarah kept in the movie (the friend Persephone 'doesn't' see). Clean Regency
Abduction in the Dark by Jenna Night
Her nephew is nearly abducted, and the dude tries to help her keep him safe. Plus, trying to track down the bad guy. He's a bounty hunter type guy. I liked the fact I couldn't figure out who was good or bad in the story. It kept me guessing. Christian Romance Suspense
August
Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon
This was a little steamy for me, but a nice story about a plus sized girl finding love. I liked how they TALKED at the moment most people would do a third act break up. That was a refreshing change. Christian (I think) contemporary romance.
After this book, I did try Book 1 in the series, but it was definitely out of my comfort zone in modern Christianity (a practicing Christian is a tattoo artist). So, I don't think I'll be reading more by this author as Bookmarked for Love was on the edge of my comfort zone as it was.
Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden
After all her Regencies, it was interesting to read a Western by Sarah! I liked this one about a doctor who needs some healing himself. He thought he was getting a mail ordered bride. She thought she was coming to work as his nurse, and he gets stood up at the altar. All kinds of chaos after that, but I enjoyed the story overall. Clean Western
The Mask's Shadow by Anna Jensen
This was a dual timeline set in South Africa. A woman in the 1900s is trying to decide if she should share her secret, and then 100 years later, a man is trying to figure out why he's been left an inheritance from so long ago! I really liked the family from the contemporary timeline. Clean and Christian.
The Fullback's Try by Caroline Johnston
I LOVED this book. It had such great energy and yet covered some tough subjects without bringing the book down. I wrote a much longer review to it here.
Smoke and Ember by Jenny Beth Hall
Clean, Christian contemporary romance. She's lost everyone to a fire, including her faith, and is trying to rebuild her life. He just wants to keep her safe and show her that God has always been there.
After the Frost by Milla Holt
Christian contemporary romance. This is a later in life romance, and I really enjoyed it. It's set in the Netherlands, and that was a new location for me. It's a Christmas-ish contemporary romance as they are getting ready for a Christmas fair. An enjoyable read.
The Dreamer's Promise by Vida Li Sik
An American footy player has to learn to let go, and a South African vineyard owner is wondering if she has to sacrifice her family's legacy. I don't drink, so it was a little odd reading a book about a vineyard, but the author didn't talk much about drinking. Instead, she focused on other things, including the history, beautiful landscape, and family legacy. I liked that.
She also talked about the difference between how South Africans and Americans view certain terms, and she didn't shy away from talking about some painful history. Yet, she didn't delve deep into it all, just informed me of it. I appreciated how she handled that. Clean, Christian Contemporary Romance
A Lady Unveiled by Sandra Ardoin
This Western wasn't quite the book I was expecting from the description, and I ended up liking the hero better from the past than the present. In the past he was more proactive rather than reactive. I did like the fact that Sandra kept me guessing over who the bad guy was. And FYI, I did not guess. I also found the part with her sister refreshingly honest, even if it was sad. So even though the hero didn't hit the right notes for me, I enjoyed the rest of the story. Clean, Christian Western
September
The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz
Christian Georgian romance. The couple were an interesting pairing, and there were a few twists and turns to the story I wasn't expecting. Actually, there was a lot of elements to the story I hadn't expected like the girl refusing him and then chasing after him because her life is in danger (not to mention why her life was in danger!). He wasn't a Christian, but he comes to Christ in the story. If you like to be surprised, you might like this one!
Murder at Crayfish Cove by Suzie Peace Pybus
This is a cosy mystery with a soft romance plot which kept me guessing as to whodunit! The opening pages made me laugh, and I enjoyed this small-town, clean, cosy mystery.
The Doctor's Burden by Allyson Koekhoven
I loved how the opening chapter showed me what it was like to travel through South Africa. I felt like I was in the car with the girl in this Christian women's fiction, and then through every moment thereafter even in the hospital. Allyson kept me turning pages wondering what had happened to her before the story which shook her confidence so much, and I read it in less than 24 hours!
The Fixer's Release by Vida Li Sik
I LOVED this Christian women's fiction. It made me laugh, cry, taught me about trusting God, and taught me about ways I should interact with people (and never even thought about). It encouraged my faith. This was one of my favourite reads.
Trapped on the Alaskan Glacier by Megan Short
Megan brings something fresh to the Inspirational Romanic Suspense genre. She comes up with things I hadn't thought of and uses her location to advantage. I love how this book is not just a book which says it's set in Alaskan. The location is an integral part to the book.
The Singer's Calling by Amy Walsh
This book really tugged on my heart strings with a girl who had lost her leg (and her identity) to cancer, an over worked pastor in need of support, and a young mother who thinks her life is over. This book was such a blessing. However, despite all the romance vibes, this is a women's fiction. So, it ends with a happy for now, and you might want to keep that in mind. Since I didn't expect a happy for now ending, it became 4 stars for me. Otherwise, it totally would have been 5 stars. I loved it.
The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep
I've tried a few Michelle Griep books, and I haven't really gotten into her style. But this Christian Regency suspense pulled me in, so I'm going to give her other books another go. I'm not sure what it was about this one, just that it actually hooked me and kept me reading.
A Yuletide Regency by various authors
Follow the River Home by Krista Lynne Jensen was my favourite!
Marry Me at Willow Haven by Stephanie McRae
Another newsletter sign up freebie. It's a quick, short historical romance. I wondered if it would stay clean for a bit, but it was clean in the end. It also talks about the selkie bride, a Scottish folktale that I'd only heard a little bit about. I liked her take on that, and how she applied that to her story.
Vivienne's Regency Romp by Ana Waters
If you liked Bridget Jones Diary, you'll like this. It's basically a Christian version where no one sleeps together, yet she is very much like Bridget Jones. Talks a bit too irreverently for my tastes and has some 'creative' swearing, especially in the second half. The Mr. Darcy character speaks Russian. I forget his actual ethnic background, but that was an interesting twist to the classic. I'm undecided about finishing off this series as it personally wasn't to my tastes, but if you liked Sarah Monzon and Pepper Basham (I'm iffy on Basham myself), you might like this.
Rise of the Falcon by Alexis M. Melvin
A very interesting look into what it would be like to convert to Christianity within a tribal community and the challenges you'd face. The author shows how they have the chance to be a witness by doing the right thing, and yet she doesn't shy away from showing her characters sometime failing to do the right thing too. I don't know how accurate it is to tribal life, but I was absorbed by the story and felt submersed in the culture. It's listed as Christian Fiction adventure.
This was book 2, and it stood alone just fine. But it also made me want to read book one!
Still looking for something to read? Try these!
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