Part of Your World by Karen Witemeyer

Part of Your World (Once upon a Time in Texas)
By Karen Witemeyer
Published by Hope & Light Publishing
Publication Date: June 10, 2026

Description from the publisher:
She saved him from the sea. He awakened her heart. Now a villainous scheme threatens to destroy them both.
Seawater runs through Muriel Quinn's veins-a fact that has long concerned her father, who longs for his youngest daughter to abandon the waves and embrace the respectable life expected of a grown woman. Yet even when banished from her beloved sea, Muriel feels its pull upon her soul. Drawn to the shore, she witnesses a boating accident and dives in to save a man from drowning. As she brings him back from the brink of death, a dream stirs to life in her heart.
Despite his family's wealth and social standing, Zane Erickson pursues a career in architecture, having no interest in cementing a match with any of the bridal candidates his mother foists upon him. Until a mysterious beauty saves his life and vanishes before he can learn her name. Determined to find her, he is stunned when the matchmaker his mother hired arrives with the very woman who has haunted his dreams. But he soon learns there are darker forces than romance at work in this meeting.
Entangled in a blackmail scheme that grows more deceitful and dangerous by the day, Zane and Muriel must fight not only for their love, but for the lives of those they hold dear.

My Review:
This is such a clever, touching retelling of The Little Mermaid! I love how Karen Witemeyer had so many nods to the Disney movie while also making it very much her own story. I actually preferred this plot to the Disney movie; having Zane immediately recognize Muriel allowed them to actively team up against their blackmailer, which kept the pacing fast and engaging (and made the story about so much more than whether he would ever figure out who she is). I also found the setting to be really interesting and well-written--with details about bathing suits and architecture of the day. 

Zane is totally adorable, while Muriel is relatable--she had a bit of growing to do but also had a kind heart. Their chemistry feels natural and grounded. 

I loved the hymns woven into the story, as well the strong faith elements focusing on relying on God, seeking His will, and finding redemption in Him.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves clean, faith-based romance and creative fairy tale retellings!

4.5 stars!

I read a DRC provided by the author. All opinions are my own. 

Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh

Brighter Than Before
By Courtney Walsh
Published by Thomas Nelson Fiction
Publication Date: June 9, 2026

Description from the publisher:
In her forties, newly single in the Windy City, and reeling from a major life shake-up, Claire Karadec finds a reset in the most unlikely of places--a dating profile set up by her adult daughter. 

Claire did not plan to end up mid-forties with a daughter studying in London and the unfortunate discovery that her husband is not the man she thought he was. In fact, he's the exact opposite of a faithful, loyal, kind, and good-hearted spouse. And the discovery of his real nature and lack of remorse leads her to do what she never thought she would--divorce him.
After a year of wallowing before hitting rock bottom . . . in public, unfortunately, Claire realizes she needs to finally answer the question her therapist asked her all those months "What do you really want?" It was a question she couldn't answer then, but now she knows it's time to figure it out.
It's the turning point that leads Claire to change her life. And not just a little--a lot. She sells her house in Denver and moves to the city that's always had her heart--Chicago.
With the help of nosy neighbors, new friends, and a daughter who sets her up on a dating site from across the ocean, Claire begins to answer that big, important question by figuring out what she wants and how to live life on her own terms.

My Review:
I was completely swept up in this story and couldn't put it down. Claire is a fantastic protagonist—it was so rewarding to watch her find her footing, embrace her bravery, and build genuine connections. Her resilience through awkward first dates and difficult hurdles felt both relatable and inspiring (and made me laugh quite a bit). Plus, the slow-burn chemistry between Claire and Miles was a total highlight.
The book is packed with beautiful themes: navigating change, the courage to heal, and the power of starting over. It’s heartwarming, hopeful, and exceptionally well-written. My only tiny quibble? Claire’s hobby-turned-business is baking. While it’s handled well, it feels like a very crowded trope in contemporary fiction—I’d love to see more heroines with different vocations!

Overall, I absolutely loved it. Easily a 5-star read and one of my top picks for 2026.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Every Beat After by Sara Larson

Every Beat After
By Sara Larson
Published by Shadow Mountain
Publication Date: June 2, 2026

Description from the Publisher:
Years after a life-saving heart transplant, Liv Karlsson lives in the fragile space between gratitude and fear—thankful for every heartbeat and afraid of when they might stop. Running her family’s cozy Swedish bakery gives her purpose, but mounting financial pressures and the shadows of her past leave her wondering: Is she truly living . . . or simply existing?
Then Hunter moves in next door. Guarded, cynical, and annoyingly attractive, he’s everything Liv avoids—and he’s also unfortunately her roommate’s cousin. But when he unexpectedly steps in to help Liv save the bakery with a new marketing plan, their reluctant partnership sparks something neither one is prepared for. He pushes her. Challenges her. Sees her. Suddenly, the girl who’s spent years protecting her heart finds it racing for someone who might just understand her better than anyone ever has.
But just as Liv begins to imagine a future worth fighting for, a devastating revelation threatens to unravel everything. Now Liv must face the ultimate test: Will she find the courage to love, or will fear take it all away?

My Review:
Olivia and Hunter both have a lot of emotional baggage--which makes them relatable to readers, even if their particular burdens aren't the most common. I totally understood why Hunter would lash out during their initial meeting and why Olivia would respond in kind. Their relationship progressed slowly, with a lot of one-step-forward, two-steps-back action, but again, it made sense with their backstories. There's a lot going on here--Olivia's health and her worries, her grandmother's health, the precarious situation of their small business, Hunter's issue, etc.--so it can feel pretty weighty. At the same time, there are lots of funny lines, and so I devoured it for about 80% of the book; I just couldn't get enough....and then there was one more really big problem, and it was maybe one too many things. (I know life is sometimes like that, but for me, it upset the delicate balance of reading something realistic but also reading for escape and entertainment.) I was ready for the happily ever after, not another fifty or so pages of heavy emotions and conflict. Overall, I still enjoyed the book and I think other readers will, too!

4 stars.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In Pursuit of Civility by Jen Turano

In Pursuit of Civility (Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies #2)
By Jen Turano
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: April 21, 2026

Description from the Publisher:
Annaliese Merriweather has been appointed the temporary headmistress of the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies while her sister is on her honeymoon, but she doesn't feel cut out for the role. Especially after she loses two of her most troublesome students during an outing to a county fair and has to recruit the help of Seth McCormick, an eccentric inventor, to retrieve them.
Soon after, one of those mischievous students disappears again, intent on pursuing a pirate map. Together, Annaliese and Seth set out to find her, accompanied by a menagerie of Annaliese's rescued animal companions. As they stumble from one chaotic situation to the next, sparks fly between Annaliese and Seth. Somehow, they'll need to outwit dangerous individuals also intent on seeking treasure and bring everyone back in one piece--all while deciphering what their hearts desire.

My Review:
Jen Turano is absolutely my go-to author when I need a laugh! Her books are always unique, fast-paced, and filled with quirky characters.
In her latest book, Annaliese a hoot. It's so funny to see her try to wrangle her students while simultaneously keeping track of her animals (including a pet ferret who rides around on her shoulders and occasionally behaves like a guard dog) and falling for Seth. Seth was absolutely adorable--I love how how he cares for Annaliese as she is and doesn't try to change her, supporting her instead. I also appreciated how Annaliese and Seth could be straightforward about their feelings, no dancing around or guessing or whatever.
With great main characters, fun adventures, and a bevy of matchmakers (from mothers to students), this book was lots of fun to read.
4 stars.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Whispers in the Valley (Sisters of the Heart #2) by Amanda Cabot

Whispers in the Valley (Sisters of the Heart #2)
By Amanda Cabot
Published by ByDand Publishing


Description from the Publisher:
Victoria Holton has it all, or so it beauty, a doting father, betrothal to one of Philadelphia’s most eligible bachelors. But all that ends the day her father is imprisoned for embezzlement. Suddenly penniless and shunned because of her father’s crime, she flees to Carr Valley, hoping to find refuge with Sophia, her sister of the heart.
With her life upended, Victoria longs to find a new purpose, but what can she do? She wishes she could solve a decades-old mystery that’s haunting a newfound friend, but the only clue leads nowhere. Her attempts at housekeeping in Sophia’s hotel are laughable, and despite a number of would-be suitors, she has no intention of marrying. The only man who interests her is one she could never consider, for if there’s one thing Victoria knows, it’s that she is not meant to be a minister’s wife.
Pastor Peter Mulholland has never doubted his calling to the ministry … until now. Even though he can’t please everyone, he refuses to let the deacons’ demand that he marry determine his future. He knows the kind of wife they expect him to choose, and it’s not a woman like Victoria. Besides, what does he have to offer her? Perhaps his critics are right, and it’s time for him to leave Carr Valley.
But then a stranger arrives and the whispers begin.

My Review:
The second book in the Sisters of the Heart was even better than the first! (Echoes of Sunrise is book one. It's not necessary to read the books in order, but I recommend reading that one as well!) There are not one but TWO romantic storylines, plus a couple of small mysteries to solve. Besides Victoria and Peter, I also enjoyed getting to know Phoebe and Rex. I liked the way each character had to examine his/her heart and values and figure out the right path for him/her. I can't wait to read the next book in the series! 4.5 stars.

Home to Me by Sarah M. Eden

Home to Me (Hope Springs #8)
By Sarah M. Eden
Published by Pineway Books

Description from the Publisher:
Ten years have passed since Finbarr O’Connor’s life was changed forever by the horrific fire that still haunts Hope Springs. He’s learned to navigate the world without his sight. He has even regained much of his independence. But he’s exhausted, worn down, lost. So, when an opportunity arises that would make his life far easier, he’s tempted. But accepting it would mean leaving Hope Springs and all his family. Emma Archer has been away from Hope Springs for nearly half a decade. Distance has helped her escape the ghosts that haunt her there. But the pain she has not entirely outrun catches up with her when a telegram arrives from an unknown sender, urging her to return home for the sake of her sister. She loves her family too much to ignore the plea, yet returning will be painful. Seeing Finbarr O’Connor again, she fears, will shatter her completely. Her unexpected return thrusts them together again. Both struggling with their pasts and unsure of their futures, they begin to find in each other some of the trust they once lost. Is there hope for something more in the pull they feel to each other, a new chance to find home, healing, and love before life pulls them apart once more?

My Review:
I have been anxiously awaiting this book for years--and then when I purchased it, I was a bit nervous to start it, because what if it wasn't as good as I hoped? Well, if you have similar concerns, have no fear, because this book is total perfection. It's beautiful and heartbreaking and hopeful and everything I could have hoped for it to be. I just loved it, start to finish. I really, really hope that we'll see more books in this series (or a spinoff), because I am so not ready to be done getting to know the O'Connors and their neighbors. 5 stars and definitely goes on my Best Books of 2026 shelf.

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

A Brewed Awakening
By Pepper Basham
Published by Thomas Nelson Fiction
Publication Date: May 5, 2026

Description from the Publisher:
Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival?

In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.
After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.
But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.
Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?

My Review:
Daphne and Finn were both realistic characters. While I liked Daphne, I struggled initially with Finn—he was just a bit too mean and even if I could understand why he was the way that he was, it was still frustrating; I actually had to stop reading for a bit because I was disliking him so much. Luckily, when I dove back in, it was right when he starts to soften a bit and I didn’t have to hope he got a pot of hot tea dumped over his head. Once he realized that he needed to do some changing, I liked him quite a bit. I especially like that he recognized he hadn’t been the nicest to Daphne and needed to do some work to build trust.
I have mixed feelings on the social media comments at the beginning of most chapters. Some of it was really funny, but sometimes it was a bit too much and could have been pared down. Overall, a fun book and definitely one I’ll be rereading.
4 stars.
I read a DRC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.