Happy Tuesday, readers! Wow, I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I’ve shared a Top Ten Tuesday – over 7 months. I probably still won’t post every week, but I’ll try to be better about doing at least once per month. Today’s Top Ten topic is “Books on My Sumer 2026 To-Read List.” I don’t know if I’ll finish all of these by September 22 (the first day of fall), but it’s where I plan to start. Even though I write historical fiction, this list is a great example of how chaotic my reading choices are.
Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson – Dystopian written in 1907
Julia’s Gifts by Ellen Gable – WWI Historical Fiction (Book 1)
The Dawn We Seek by Sr. Allison Regina Gliot FSP – Catholic Vampire Fiction (Book 3)
Braving Fiery Waters by Sarah Hanks – Time Travel (Book 2)
Raise My Ebenezer by Jennifer Q. Hunt – 1830s Historical Fiction (Book 2)
Uncharted Blessing by Keely Brooke Keith – historical fiction/dystopian/magical realism (Book 16)
Ashes to Ashes by Hannah Hood Lucero – contemporary romantic suspense (Book 1)
Heart by Jacqueline Lucca – Zombie fiction
The Summer Scrapbook by Florence Migga – Young Adult Contemporary
The Brunswick by Callie Murray – WWII historical fiction
Have you read any of these books? Which books would you recommend from your Summer TBR?
God Bless America – My favorite patriotic Christian Fiction books.
Releasing in June– Other authors’ new releases I’m most excited about.
America 250
My books deal predominantly with United States history, so of course, I think America’s 250th birthday is a big deal. My upcoming book, Astonished, also includes a fictional U.S. Senator and his run for the 1916 Presidency. Research for that was particularly interesting. Did you know that prior to the 1914 mid-term election, U.S. senators were appointed by the state government, rather than elected by the people? Or that presidential and vice presidential candidates were nominated separately rather than the presidential candidate choosing a running mate as is done today?
The unnecessarily long term for a 250th anniversary is a semiquincentennial. While I won’t be visiting Washington D.C. for the big day, I have been blessed to visit our nation’s capitol four times in my youth. In 8th grade, my family went for vacation and in high school, I visited three times with my youth group for the National March for Life. If you’ve never attended this pro-life march, I highly recommend making the trip in person, or at a minimum, watching the event online. The speeches and sheer size of the crowd is inspirational to witness. Here are a few pre-digital-era disposable camera photos from my past travels:
The White HouseWashington MonumentMy husband and I at the Smithsonian many years before we married.
This year on July 4, I’ll be wearing my patriotic shirt which states, “Home of the Free Because of the Brave,” and praying for all those men and women who fight to keep our country safe.
God Bless America!
This month, I’ve seen several authors posting their favorite patriotic reads, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon. Here are some of my favorite Christian Fiction books that take place around the time of the American Revolution. (Note: I receive no compensation for featuring the books below.)
The Sugar Baron’s Daughter’s series by Lisa T. Bergren – 1772-1777 West Indies
The Molly Chase Series by Rhonda Ortiz – 1793 Boston
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer – Time Travel between 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and 1914 New York City
Many Sparrows by Lori Benton – 1774 Ohio-Kentucky Frontier
The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck – 1780 South Carolina & Present Day
Perpetual Rainbows by Jessika Caruso – 1776 New Jersey
Releasing in May & June
Need even more books? Here are this month’s (and last month’s) new releases. (Note: I receive no compensation for featuring the books below.)
Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti – Caught between duty, a dangerous past, and a budding love, Kellan and Sadie must rely on their newfound faith in each other and renewed faith in God to weather a shipwreck and a growing storm.
Ashes to Ashes by Hannah Hood Lucero – romantic suspense following Phee Flynn, in beginning the next generation of Hannah’s Sons of Vigilance series.
Breaking Triviality by Sarah Everest – The first book in a time travel serial from the 21st century to WWII Rotterdam
Uncharted Blessing by Keely Brooke Keith – The 16th book in her historical fiction/dystopian/magical realism series. This series is long but well worth it!
Someone to Lean On by Carrie Walker – As three adults seek control in their lives, a young child with no guarantees teaches them to trust. Book 3 in the Faith Endures series.
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer!
Want to know what I’m reading as I’m reading it? Follow me on GoodReads.
Happy June, readers, and Happy Month of the Sacred Heart ❤️! Raise your hand if school’s over for your kids. Now, raise your hand if that means things slow down. Are you laughing? Me too! Life is as crazy as ever, with church retreats, summer camp, and music workshops taking the place of school musicals, homework, and PSR. It’s a good crazy and for that, I’m thankful.
What’s in this Edition:
One Step Closer – All the Astonished Updates
Join the Launch Team – Read Astonished for free.
Recent Reads I Recommend – My favorite books from last month.
Upcoming Events – Where to find me in 2026
One Step Closer: All the Astonished Updates
Only 6 weeks until July 24, which is both the release day for Astonished and the day when Chapter 1 begins. All the beta reader edits have been returned, and I am now reading through my proof copy for final edits. Feedback from early readers has been, as always, incredibly helpful, and I’m grateful for both their excitement and constructive criticism.
4 Ways to Read
Ready to read? Those who order through my online store or join the launch team will receive some fun swag and an extra entry into the release day giveaway on July 24. (I’m still working on what that will be. Stay tuned!)
Need another book for your TBR? Of course you do. Here are the books I’ve recently read and loved. (Note: I receive no compensation for featuring the books below.)
As a former opera technician currently writing about an asylum, I was itching to get my hands on Sung in the Shadows by Crystal Caudill. This opera-infused novel tells of a stage manager and a former opera singer’s daughter who meet while visiting their mothers in Cincinnati’s Longview Asylum. Sparks are flying, but dangers of the past threaten to keep them apart at every turn. While the middle of the story slows more than I would have liked, this book’s action-packed ending made up for the wait. I also appreciated how the author approached mental health with sensitivity while portraying the treatments of the time period realistically. Even though this is the second book in the series, I had no problem following the story. Fair warning if you plan to read Book 1: there are spoilers.
Surprisingly, I never read The Giver by Lois Lowry when I was in elementary school. My son was reading it with his class, so I decided to read it with him, and finished it in one day. Like most dystopian novels, this one brings up scary possibilities (and sometimes unknown realities) of the world we currently live in. While The Giver had elements of fantasy, such as people no longer being able to see color, other areas like population control, hive mind, eugenics, and rewriting history made for good areas of discussion. I also recommend watching the movie after reading the book. Since the book is in first person, the movie is able to explain the external characters more in depth. There are obvious differences between the two, but overall, I thought it was a good adaptation.
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer!
Want to know what I’m reading as I’m reading it? Follow me on GoodReads.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars! Here’s where you can find me and my books in 2026, including the opportunity to pre-order Astonished. As additional events are scheduled, I’ll add details on my website.
Elks Lodge 2587 Craft Fair – July 18, 2026 – O’Fallon, MO (with author Susan Laspe)
Encounter School of Ministry Summer Intensive – July 27-30, 2026 – St. Charles, MO (Requires registration.)
St. Joseph Catholic School Craft Fair – October 10, 2026 – Cottleville, MO (with author Susan Laspe)
Francis Howell High Band Craft Fair – December 5, 2026 – Weldon Springs, MO (with author Susan Laspe)
Happy May, readers! I know I’ve been a little quiet the last few months with only one newsletter, but it’s been for good reasons. Between writing Astonished, I’m still working on covers and interior book layouts for my clients along with lots of family life and my day job, plus trying to keep the characters for my next book at bay. It’s chaos but I really am blessed to be doing all the things.
What’s in this Edition:
All the Astonished Updates – Launch Team and eBook Preorder
Recent Reads I Recommend – My favorite reads from last month.
A Little Non-Bookish Delight – The beauty of Goretti Fine Art
Upcoming Events – Where to find me in 2026
All the Astonished Updates
Astonished is finally out with beta readers! This amazing group will be the first to read Astonished and provide feedback, looking for all the inevitable continuity errors and hopefully catching those pesky proofreading problems that always slip through the cracks. While the editing process is far from done, I can breathe a little easier now that the main part of writing is complete. I can’t wait to receive their notes and find out how I can make Avila and Matthias’s story even better for all of you.
I’m happy to also announce that the ebook is now available for pre-order everywhere. Paperbacks are still only available for pre-order through my online store. Audiobooks are coming this fall.
Bonus: If you would like to read Astonished early and for free, sign up for my launch team. Here’s all you have to do:
Read Astonished and share your honest review on at least one site (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, personal blog, etc).
Request your local library purchase Astonished.
Recommend Astonished to 5 friends via any method you choose.
Optional – Share on social media. I don’t have social media, so I won’t require you to either.
Need another book for your TBR? Of course you do. Here are the books I’ve recently read and loved. (Note: I receive no compensation for featuring the books below.)
My first Elizabeth Camden novel, Beyond the Clouds, was a heart wrenching, romantic story to begin with! If you enjoy World War I, spies, and second chance romances, you definitely need to give this one a try. Even though this is third in a series it absolutely can be read as a standalone. I loved every quickly turning page!
Final cover not yet available. Graphic compiled in Canva.
I just finished beta reading A Blight of Gold by Susan Laspe and her first fairy tale retelling does not disappoint. This 18th Century Rumpelstiltskin retelling with an Oliver Twist twist has the heart-pumping high stakes curses and witty banter of her first series combined with an enemies to more/mistaken identities romance. This take on prince- meets-thief is definitely swoony, but still completely spice-free. Releases on August 21, 2026. Cover reveal coming soon!
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer!
Want to know what I’m reading as I’m reading it? Follow me on GoodReads.
A Little Non-Bookish Delight
In a world flooded with artwork created by AI, it is beautiful to come across genuine artwork created by people. Goretti Fine Art is a Missouri-based brother-sister duo who creates the most beautiful pieces for private and public worship spaces with a mission “to nourish the human spirit and to glorify God through beautiful, inspiring, and innovative imagery that speaks to contemporary experience, is grounded in the Judeo-Christian faith tradition, and builds upon the rich heritage of Western religious art.” Not only are their paintings beautiful and lifelike, but are thoroughly researched, utilizing several historical sources to make sure that each piece is as accurate as possible. I find their “Making of a Painting” blog fascinating and highly recommend checking it out. You can find the full gallery of their work on their website: https://www.gorettifineart.com/gallery The painting above of St. Maria Goretti is their latest piece. You can purchase copies of all their work on their website.
(Note: I receive no compensation for featuring Goretti Fine Art.)
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars! Here’s where you can find me and my books in 2026, including the opportunity to pre-order Astonished. All events are in partnership with historical fantasy author, Susan Laspe. As additional events are scheduled, I’ll add details on my website.
Elks Lodge 2587 Craft Fair – July 18, 2026 – O’Fallon, MO
St. Joseph Catholic School Craft Fair – October 10, 2026 – Cottleville, MO
Francis Howell High Band Craft Fair – December 5, 2026 – Weldon Springs, MO
No April Fool’s jokes here, I promise. I know I’m early for April’s newsletter, but I wanted to get this out to you before Easter. I hope that these next few days provide inspiration as we celebrate our risen Lord. Know that my prayers are with you as we continue through this joyous Easter season.
What’s in this Edition:
Who’s ready for a Cover Reveal? – See Astonished‘s cover.
Recent Reads I Recommend – My favorite reads from last month.
A Little Non-Bookish Delight – Experiencing the Easter Triduum
Upcoming Events – Where to find me in 2026
Astonished has a Cover!
I repeat, this is no joke. Astonished finally, FINALLY, has a cover. This cover went through so many versions over the past year. It’s actually crazy when I think about how many, and I am thankful it is finally complete. A massive shout out to everyone who provided input, especially my daughter who modeled, fellow authors Jennifer Q. Hunt, Susan Laspe, and Tanya E. Williams who put up with all my indecisiveness, a long phone call with my mom who helped seal the deal, and the many members of the Catholic Writers Guild who shared feedback on the final version. Oh, and St. John the Apostle’s intercession because, let’s just say, it’s been greatly needed.
Ready to see the cover?
Here it is!
What do you think? For now, you can pre-order both paperbacks and eBooks through my website for delivery on or after July 24, 2026. By my next newsletter, eBook pre-orders will be available at other retailers, and audiobooks will be available Fall 2026.
Now to finish writing and get this off to beta readers!
Need another book for your TBR? Of course you do. Here are the books I’ve recently read and loved. (Note: I receive no compensation for featuring the books below.)
There is a lot of WWII fiction set on the battlefield or related to spies, but not so many that deal with everyday families on the American Homefront. Until We Meet by Camille di Maio has just the right mix of complicated family dynamics, sweet romance, and a nod to the power of friendship. I found all six of the key characters (Margaret, Dottie, Gladys, John, William, and Tom) to be three-dimensional and fully relatable, even the ones who came from a very different background than my own. While the book’s description focuses on the women in the story, the friendship between the three male soldiers is given equal prominence. I especially liked how it didn’t shy away from the emotional aspects of male friendships and that it’s ok, even healthy, for men to be vulnerable with their closest friends. Especially in a time of war, everyone needs someone to support them through the hardships, and this book showed exactly that.
Note on Content: There is some profanity, but it isn’t excessive. One character also admits to being gay, but has not embraced that lifestyle and lives as a single man. I found his struggle, and his friends reactions to it, to be handled well.
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer!
Want to know what I’m reading as I’m reading it? Follow me on GoodReads.
A Little Non-Bookish Delight
Tomorrow begins the Easter Triduum, when we observe the three days leading up to Christ’s Resurrection (The Last Supper, Good Friday, Holy Saturday). As a Catholic Christian, this is also the main season when new Catholics receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation). I’m thrilled to share that my local Archdiocese of St. Louis has over 1,000 people coming into the Church this year.
Last year was the first in a long time that I attended the entire Triduum. Every minute was absolutely awe-inspiring and emotionally-moving. If you haven’t been in awhile, or ever, I invite you to do so this year. Even if you’re not Catholic, you’re welcome and encouraged to share this time with us. (One element to be aware of: Non-Catholics are not able to receive Communion in a Catholic church, just as Catholics would not receive in a non-Catholic church. Here’s why.)
Not sure what to expect? The video below provides an excellent overview, starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Saturday’s Easter Vigil.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars! Here’s where you can find me and my books in 2026, including the opportunity to pre-order Astonished. All events are in partnership with historical fantasy author, Susan Laspe. As additional events are scheduled, I’ll add details on my website.
Incarnate Word Academy Spring Boutique – April 23, 2026 – St. Louis, MO – Requires advanced registration.
Elks Lodge 2587 Craft Fair – July 18, 2026 – O’Fallon, MO
St. Joseph Catholic School Craft Fair – October 10, 2026 – Cottleville, MO
Francis Howell High Band Craft Fair – December 5, 2026 – Weldon Springs, MO
