Carla's Book Crush

Amish Sleigh Bells by Patricia Johns
Publisher: Love Inspired
Publication Date: November 26, 2024
Genres: Amish Romance | Holiday Romance
Pages: 208
Format: paperback
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They’re worlds apart.

Can love unite them?

Spending yet another Christmas without a husband isn’t something Lydia Speicher is looking forward to this season. Helping the new veterinarian, Thad Miller, navigate his way around the local farms is a welcome distraction, despite the Beachy Amish man’s shocking customs. But when Lydia accidentally crashes Thad’s truck and he’s forced to borrow her family’s sleigh, liberal Thad must live the conservative Old Order way of life until it’s fixed. Lydia and Thad couldn’t be more different, but while working together highlights their similarities, are they willing to change for love?

This sweet, quick read will leave you enthralled from the beginning. Even though they are both Amish, Lydia and Thad’s religions are very different. Thad goes to college and drives a truck. Lydia uses a horse and buggy and didn’t get beyond the eighth grade. When you pick up a romance you know that the two main characters are your happy ending but I was on pins and needles wondering who was changing religions. And at what cost?

I could relate with Thad quite easily, being conflicted with drive and passion but also wanting to ensure it doesn’t overshadow the more important things in life. That is such a hard balance and Thad’s struggle was real. And as a fiber artist, Lydia’s crochet joy had me hooked.

Ms. Johns gets so much credit for making this Grinch tear up multiple times. The connections to God, family, and faith were so deep that I could not help it. It all came together so well and with so much thought and care. If you haven’t read an Amish romance but love holiday romances, this would be a great book to dip your toes into the Amish genre. For those who already love Amish romances, you will love this – Christmas time or not. Because, as you will feel when you read this – faith, love, and happiness are available to you year-round.

So Into You by Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Format: ebook – NetGalley
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Artist Britt Branch has a successful online channel where she teaches a variety of art lessons. Obsessed with the 1970s, she has a style all her own. But she also has a huge problem–severe social anxiety. She lives with her mom, and while she pays her own bills, she wonders if she’ll ever have the courage to move out and move on. When her best friend announces she’s getting married, Britt decides it’s time to make a change.

Gorgeous Hunter Pickett has always skated by on his model looks, applying very little effort to anything except sports, and even that was iffy at times. The third son of extremely wealthy and successful parents, he dealt with being the black sheep of the family by drinking and using drugs. By his third year of sobriety, he’s still dealing with aimlessness. Late one night he catches Britt’s channel and ends up watching her videos. He’s not interested in art . . . at first. And when he sends her an online message, he’s surprised she responds. Before long they are chatting every day, and once they start meeting in person, a spark-filled friendship begins.

But both of them are keeping secrets. Big ones. When all truths are revealed in one pivotal moment, Britt and Hunter are at a crossroads. Will he fight for the happiness he’s worked so hard to obtain? And will she continue to hide from life, or can she finally step out of her own shadow?

I was hooked on this book the second I opened it. I immediately got excited about every little thing that happened. We’re talking 11% in. That’s so rare! I felt so much joy over Britt’s transformation throughout the book. And Hunter was realistic and down-to-earth, which makes him a wonderful book boyfriend. There is also a secondary romance involving Britt’s mom, Amy. I felt very connected to Amy as a mother. Worrying about a child does not stop simply because they are adults, especially when the child has an emotional disorder.

This is one of the best, if not the best, reads of 2024. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys closed-door romances with former bad boys, women who’ve sworn off relationships, and readers who always cheer for opposites who attract.

Tracking the Missing by Sami A. Abrams
Series: K-9 Search and Rescue – Book 13
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Publication Date: December 24, 2024
Genres: Suspense
Pages: 219
Format: paperback – author
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A search for three abducted teens—

and a K-9 on the case.

After surviving a vicious attack in the woods, Tori Campbell awakes to her worst nightmare—her son and his two friends are missing. She calls the one person she knows she can trust, her late husband’s best friend, former DEA agent Michael Lane. Together with his search-and-rescue K-9, they must track the boys and figure out who took them—and why. Only, the Indiana wilderness is full of dangers beyond their abductor. Can Michael and Tori find the teens…even if it means falling into a sinister trap?

I was immediately sucked into the woods with Tori, feeling her emotions as she did anything she could to find her son. This book was a nail-biter all the way through. The air of mystery around the attacker and the things that Tori and Michael had to fight in the woods put me on edge (in a good way). While a forced proximity trope, the closeness only made them deal with emotions that had been percolating for some time. I appreciated Tori’s struggles with relationships and God and could relate to the way she was feeling. The description of Michael’s PTSD and the comfort that his golden retriever air-scent dog, Ducky, brought him made this cat-lover want a dog pretty badly.

This book is so good I didn’t want to put it down! This is my first introduction to Abrams work and I can’t wait to read more. This is a great read for anyone who likes on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense that keeps you guessing.

The Way of Water by Toni Cabell (Author), Lisa Lynn Sandlin (Narrator)
Publisher: Endwood Press LLC
Publication Date: February 12, 2024
Genres: Young Adult | Fantasy
Length: 8 hours and 30 minutes
Format: audiobook – received from narrator
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The desert kingdom of Toresz is a dangerous place if you’re a woman with a witchy skill—or a man in love with the wrong kind of woman.

Visitors from every land and province are traveling to Toresz for the new king’s coronation. Crown Princess MaudeLyn of Censarra arrives early. A day early, in fact. Forcing her way into the dress rehearsal, she delivers shocking news: according to the arcane laws governing royal marriage and succession, Rhees and the princess are betrothed!

Solace and Rhees part on bitter terms. Homeless and heartsick, Solace begins the arduous journey back to her father’s house. Yet at every stop along the way, the people hail her as the Water Witch Queen.

But when tragedy strikes, and Rhees needs her one last time, will Solace stay and fight for her adopted homeland and their new king?

If you love warring kingdoms, strong, sassy heroines, and clean enemies-to-lovers romance, discover Water Witch, a complete romantic fantasy series for fans of Shari L. Tapscott, Kenley Davidson, and Melanie Cellier.

This is book two of the Water Witch series. While a young adult low-fantasy, the storyline has a historical romance feel. If you do not typically like fantasy but enjoy historical fiction, this book will definitely change your mind about fantasy. The world is imaginative and inviting and draws you in while not taking you far from an earthly feel so that you can truly capture everything in your minds eye. Characters have special gifts, such as Solace’s gift to divine for water, but there are no supernatural creatures which is something that I prefer. Although, Solace’s horse does seem rather intuitive.

Lisa Lynn Sandlin’s narration is top notch. She kept the same voices through both books in the series and captures the spirit and voice of Cabell’s writing. You do need to read book one (The Way of Water) to be able to really grasp what is going on in this book. But reading both books is well worth it. While this book did wrap everything up, it was so good, that I want more. I could happily “live” in Toresz for many books to come. In the absence of another book in this series, I will gladly pick up other books that Cabell has written.

His Perfect Bride by Jody Hedlund
Series: Bride Ships: New Voyages – Book 3
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Publication Date: February 18, 2025
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 284
Format: ebook – received from author
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Sage Rhodes is eager to escape Manchester, England, and leave behind the pain of a broken engagement. When she’s offered the job as a lady’s maid to Augusta Lennox, who is traveling to Vancouver Island to visit her brother, Sage happily accepts the position.

Not so long ago, brilliant engineer Jackson Lennox faced a terrible tragedy during the building of a suspension bridge in the Fraser River Valley and becomes a recluse in his fine home in Victoria. When his sister and her beautiful lady’s maid arrive on his doorstep, he’s reluctant to welcome the visitors.

Organized and efficient, Sage starts to bring order not only to Jackson’s home but also to his life. Even though at first they clash, the attraction between the beauty and the beast is undeniable. Still, they do their best to ignore it. But when Augusta goes missing and they’re thrust into a dangerous adventure together, circumstances require them to pretend they’re married.

Both Jackson and Sage are perfectionists who get in their own way—Sage believes she is unworthy of love, while Jackson fears he will only hurt those around him. Despite Sage’s vow to remain a spinster and Jackson’s hardened heart, their kisses are undeniably steamy. You’ll want to fan yourself as much as Sage does just thinking about them.

I really liked Augusta. She is progressive in her thinking, refuses to bow to the pressures of her social class, and values people for what’s in their hearts.

Faith plays a subtle role in the book, woven between the lines. The underlying message is clear—only God is perfect, and striving for perfection will only lead to losing ourselves. There are only two direct Bible references, though they are not quoted verbatim.

This is a great read for closed-door romance fans who want a touch of faith and a whole lot of passionate kisses.