Not My Circus by Mark Batterson

About the Book:

Social media rewards outrage and punishes nuance. Algorithms decide what you see and who you hear. Mob culture stands ready to silence anyone who steps out of line. And the pressure to pick a side—and stay there—has never been greater.

No one is immune from conformity bias, including those who follow Jesus. Somewhere along the way, many have traded holy courage for social comfort, spiritual discernment for tribal loyalty, and amazing grace for the same culture of cancellation they claimed to oppose. The result is a faith that looks less like Jesus and more like whatever side of the aisle we happen to sit on.

Mark Batterson issues a rallying cry for a different kind of nonconformity—not withdrawal from culture but engagement with it on entirely different terms. In Not My Circus, he draws on Romans 12:2—“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed”—to show how to resist cultural pressure without retreating from cultural engagement.

After nearly thirty years pastoring just steps away from the halls of power in Washington, DC, Batterson brings hard-won wisdom to the defining challenge of our moment. You’ll learn how to cultivate a non-anxious presence by developing

• holy courage—the boldness to stand firm in your convictions without being controlled by others’ opinions
• spiritual discernment—the sense to know which battles are yours to fight and which ones aren’t
• amazing grace—the ability to engage those you disagree with, maintaining your witness without taking on their anxiety

For anyone ready to stop reflecting culture and start transforming it, Not My Circus offers a road map to escape the cult of conformity—and live for the applause of nail-scarred hands.

My Review:

We live in a crazy world. How do we do it? Batterson says it takes courage, spiritual discernment and grace. He encourages readers to set boundaries, to recognize that which is not our responsibility. We are to mind our own business so we can be about the Father's business.

His suggestions are so helpful. He illustrates his teaching with great examples and interesting stories. This is a good book for living in this crazy time.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Mark Batterson is the lead visionary of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church with a network of churches, National owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the DC Dream Center, the Culture House, and the Capital Turnaround. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, including A Million Little Miracles, Win the Day, The Circle Maker, and Chase the Lion. He has also authored the children’s books The Best Worst Day Ever and God Speaks in Whispers with his daughter, Summer Batterson Dailey. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Multnomah, 314 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Swamp Ghost by Christi Keating Sumich Blog Tour Book Review

 

THE SWAMP GHOST

by Christi Keating Sumich

October 12 - November 6, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

AN OLD NEW ORLEANS BOOKSHOP MYSTERY

 

In 1833, Irish immigrants are hard at work digging the New Basin Canal, a waterway that will connect New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. When one of the workers sees a strange blue orb glowing in the swamp at night, he fears it is a Fifolet (fee-foo-lay) guarding Jean Lafitte’s buried treasure. Legend has it that pirates killed a crewman and buried his body with their loot, dooming his ghost to stand guard forever. The next morning, the worker is found dead. The men believe the site is cursed, and Aiden Doyle, the crew's leader, must uncover the truth or risk losing his job. When the newly formed police force refuses to investigate, Aiden seeks help from Mary Catherine Whitney, now renowned throughout New Orleans for her mystery-solving skills after she and her husband, Tobias, unraveled the secrets of the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte and wrote a popular adventure story about it. She’ll need all her cleverness and wit to unlock the secrets of the Fifolet, and she may even need a little help from Lafitte himself.

Continuing characters from Lafitte Lives, The Swamp Ghost is the first in the Old New Orleans Bookshop Mysteries, featuring Mary Catherine Whitney, irascible wife, mother, and amateur sleuth in this charming series set in nineteenth-century New Orleans.

Praise for The Swamp Ghost:

"In The Swamp Ghost, the lovable Mary Catherine Whitney returns to lead readers on a captivating adventure through 1833 New Orleans as she investigates the mysterious death of a troublemaker who died while digging a canal. Word goes out that an evil spirit attacked him. A merry band of helpers joins Mary Catherine to find the true killer — or confirm the evil spirit tale. Along the way, they encounter pirates, gamblers, and drunkards. Once again, Christi Keating Sumich entertains us while immersing us in the sights, sounds, smells, and folklore of New Orleans."
~ Marlie Parker Wasserman, author of First Daughter

"If you love strong-willed women solving spooky mysteries in the heat of the bayou, this book is perfect for you! Introduced to the Whitney family in Sumich's first book, THE SWAMP GHOST expands their world and the mysteries in it. Mary Catherine Whitney is a force to be reckoned with. Even the supernatural can't hide from her investigations."
~ Nicole Asselin, Author of the Minor League Mysteries, Host of Baseball, Books, and Banter podcast.

'In Christi Sumich's new novel featuring the Whitney family, feisty Mary Catherine continues to berate her rambunctious sons and, if I may say, saintly husband, but is now stepping not-so-quietly into the world of the amateur sleuth, with help from her equally acerbic cook, Mrs. Clarke. We return to New Orleans. It's a divided city, where the Creoles and the influx of Irish are vying for economic and political dominance. At the heart of this novel is the death of an Irish "digger," just one of hundreds who are digging a new canal out of a swamp. Was his death a murder, or did a ghost protecting pirate treasure kill him? Although this is your classic who-dun-it, albeit with ghosts and pirates, the background of a city and the plight of immigrants is nicely documented. I'm looking forward to Mary Catherine's next "case"!'
~ Claire M. Johnson, author of the Fog City Noir series

My Review:

 Sumich takes readers into the spooky and mysterious swamp by New Orleans. One who was working on the canal is found murdered and Mary Catherine is on the case. I like her developing character. She is observant and because of it solves the mystery of the spooky lights in the swamp. The investigation moves forward a little at a time.

Characters make this novel entertaining. Mary Catherine's boys get into more than enough trouble but are so fun to read about. I like the introduction of Henrietta. A feisty woman helping Mary Catherine, she has some good ideas to aid the sleuthing efforts.

This novel does contain a pet peeve of mine, starting a chapter with suspense that turns out to be a dream. Nonetheless, I think Sumich is increasing her skill of writing a good historical mystery novel. You can read my review of the first mystery in this series, Lafitte Lives.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2026
Number of Pages: 232
Series: An Old New Orleans Bookshop Mystery, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Swamps Outside of New Orleans
1833

Chapter One

Sean Leery smacked his own cheek with such force that he felt like he was back in Ireland, on the receiving end of a blow in one of his many pub brawls. He missed County Cork and his cottage there. It hadn’t been much, but it was certainly better than his present circumstances, trying to catch some sleep in a sweltering Louisiana swamp. The pitiful cypress log hut that was his temporary home while he was out digging the New Basin Canal offered little comfort and couldn’t keep out the water from the daily rainstorms, let alone the mosquitoes that swarmed him and his fellow diggers.

He wiped a smear of blood from his face, slightly mollified to see this one had a full belly, judging by the sizable blood splatter. Hell, most of it was probably his to begin with, but at least the menace would feast on him no more this evening. Not that it would do much good. Ridding the Louisiana bayous of one mosquito had about the same effect as plucking a snowflake off an avalanche. God, he even missed the snow and cold of his homeland, though he still recalled shivering next to the stove, trying to extract the last bit of warmth from the feeble coal remnants. It was just so hot here. And not only during the day. In the summer, which seemed to last most of the year, it was equally unbearable at night, especially in the swamp. Even now, in October, the air was so thick he felt he needed to chew it before he could breathe it in.

He stretched his feet past the edge of his cot to restore circulation before tucking them back under the mosquito netting. Tomorrow, he’d have to find the hole where they were getting in and stitch it up. Cagey little suckers, they were. They’d weasel their way through the tiniest opening. He flopped onto his side, hoping sleep would envelop him again. He needed to rest if he had any hope of performing the arduous labor his job required. The sooner they finished their digging, the sooner he could high-tail it back to New Orleans and civilization.

Though the working and living conditions were less than ideal, Sean considered himself lucky to be on Aiden Doyle’s digging crew. Aiden was a fair foreman, much better than some of the others. He treated his “ditchers” well, as the men digging out the swamp were called.

They were the lead crew on the project, an ambitious plan by the New Orleans Canal and Banking Company to dig a navigable commercial waterway from Lake Pontchartrain to the American Sector of New Orleans, located behind the Vieux Carré, or the French Quarter, as the Americans called it. The canal was to be six to ten feet deep, sixty yards wide, and six miles long. It was being dug by a workforce composed mainly of Irish immigrants wielding picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows, slowly making their way through the swamps outside the city.

It was dangerous, backbreaking work. Ditchers, even young ones, often did not fare well. Because Irish immigrants were arriving in New Orleans in large numbers and were willing to toil for low wages, the company hired them as “expendable labor,” knowing that excavating mosquito-infested swampland meant losing many workers to yellow fever, cholera, and malaria. Some of the foremen joked that to dig a canal, at least four things were necessary: a shovel, a pick, a wheelbarrow, and an Irishman.

Aiden Doyle was Irish, so Sean supposed that might explain his more compassionate nature. Most bosses wouldn’t have taken on someone as old as Sean, let alone someone with his less-than-stellar reputation. Sean would be forty-two on his next birthday, but he looked far older. Hard living took its toll on a man. So did drinking too much whiskey and trying to live by his wits for too long, especially since he hadn’t been blessed with an abundance of them. His bulbous nose was a testament to his love of drink, and its crookedness to the brawling that generally followed.

Sean also loved cards, and he owed debts to the sort of people who expressed their displeasure at not being promptly reimbursed in unfortunate physical ways. So when his debts began piling up and he feared the threats of bodily harm were no longer mere threats, he sought employment out of sheer necessity. He would work until he could pay the most pressing debts to the most violent of his creditors, then quit and resume his life of gambling, drinking, and enjoying the company of disreputable women. Such was his pattern, and Sean was eager to return to it—if he survived this present job.

Sean flopped onto his back, blowing out a frustrated breath. In addition to the stifling heat and swarming blood suckers, his ability to fall back asleep was being hindered by Darren’s snoring and Murph’s farts. Might as well take a piss while I’m awake.

Sean grunted as he shifted to his feet. They were sore after the day’s labors. Every inch of him hurt, but the worst was his shoulders. They ached and throbbed, adding to his insomnia. He needed to sleep if he was to get up the next day and do more digging. If he couldn’t work, Aiden would have to replace him on his crew. Sean wasn’t keen to find another crew. He didn’t particularly like any of the men he worked with out here in this godforsaken place, but he figured he had less than a month to go before he would have enough money to quit. What could be worse than having to beg your way back onto a job you hated? He needed to tough it out.

He pulled on his boots and left the shack. The sliver of moon did little to dispel the swamp's stygian darkness. As he made his way to the temporary privy the crew had erected, he was careful not to trip over the cypress knees poking out of the semi-solid earth and to avoid any snakes that might be hiding in the tall grass. No doubt there were alligators to avoid as well. He shuddered at the thought of disturbing a sleeping gator as he swatted futilely at the mosquitoes buzzing around his head.

Suddenly, his hand froze in front of his face. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? The sight before him shouldn’t be there. A bright blue orb was dancing in the distance, just beyond a copse of water gum trees. Could it be his imagination? It was easy to think so. After all, this landscape was eerie and otherworldly at night. It occupied a nebulous space between water and earth, always wet and only sometimes solid. The densely packed cypress trees, dripping with tattered Spanish moss that reminded Sean of ghosts caught in the branches, crowded out the sun during the day, making it perpetual dusk at its brightest and forcing the humid air to hover over the swamp dwellers like a hot, moist blanket.

Sean had seen some unusual sights out here, but this went beyond any of them. Could it be the moonlight illuminating some swamp gas? He knew this wasn’t it, but he was desperate for a logical explanation. Sean was not superstitious, unlike some of the men he worked with, fools still clinging to their Irish folklore like a lifeline in this strange place. Yet the sight before him sent chills down his body, straight through his aching arms and into his cramping feet.

What was he looking at? There should not be a blue light shining in front of him out here in the desolate swamp. It was not a fire or a lantern, of that he was certain.

Sean was not a religious man, yet he crossed himself in an unconscious, protective gesture. He needed to get back to the safety of the shack and the other diggers, but fear froze him in place. There was a terrifying moment of stasis, and then the blue orb advanced rapidly toward Sean, as if sensing his presence and locking onto him, preparing to give chase. Sean heard a scream and realized it was coming from his own throat. He turned and ran back through the swamp, trying to stay upright as he stumbled over the cypress knees and deep eddies, all thoughts of sleeping gators and rattlers driven from his mind. He burst into the shack, waking the rest of the crew.

As they rubbed sleep from their eyes and sat up in astonishment, trying to make sense of what was happening, they took in the strange sight before them. Sean Leery, the ornery old bastard they had assumed feared nothing and no one, was gasping for breath, sputtering about something he’d spotted in the swamp. His face was as white as if he’d seen the very devil himself, and a dark, wet spot spread across the front of his breeches where he’d pissed himself.

***

Excerpt from The Swamp Ghost by Christi Keating Sumich. Copyright 2026 by Christi Keating Sumich. Reproduced with permission from Christi Keating Sumich. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

Christi Keating Sumich holds a PhD in History and a master’s degree in English. Her writing combines her fascination with history with her love of the mystery genre. She is the author of Lafitte Lives (Level Best Books, February 2026), a historical mystery centered on her ancestor, the notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. It is the prequel in the Old New Orleans Bookshop Mysteries, followed by The Swamp Ghost (Level Best Books, September 2026). She is also the author of the short story “The Night Doctor of New Orleans” in Crime Before Our Time (Level Best Books August 2026).

Christi's nonfiction titles include Hauntingly Good Spirits: New Orleans Cocktails to Die For (Wellfleet Press, 2024) and The Brandy Milk Punch (Louisiana State University Press, 2025), both written with her mother, Sharon Keating.

Christi lives just outside New Orleans with her husband and too many pets, as she has a soft spot for “unconventionally attractive” animals in need of homes. She is the mother of three grown children (plus a daughter-in-law). Her claim to fame is being the winningest contestant on Hollywood Squares.

Catch Up With Christi Keating Sumich:

ChristiSumich.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @sumichchristi
Instagram - @casumich
Facebook - @christi.keating.sumich.author

 

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Enter If You Dare...

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THE SWAMP GHOST by Christi Keating Sumich | Gift Card

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Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Last Noel, novellas by Sarah Hamaker, Jayna Breigh and Kimberly Woodhouse

About the Book:

"Do You See What I See?" by Sarah Hamaker

Oakleigh Wright's estranged foster sister reappears late one night desperate to hand off her children. Oakleigh agrees to bring them to their aunt out of state, but her travels are intercepted by a ruthless gang. She turns to her ex, Joseph, for help. Will they rekindle their love as they uncover what the gang seeks?

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Jayna Breigh

Trial lawyer Elise Sinclair resigns herself to a lonely Christmas reviewing legal documents—until her renegade fiancé, Jack, reappears. He is jobless, broken, and seeking forgiveness. Can two battered hearts overcome secrets and restore their love?

"Do You Know What I Know?" by Kimberley Woodhouse

When Faith Thibodeaux returns to her Cajun-style food truck in Alaska after an accident, the last thing she expects is to find out that her ex-boyfriend is the executive chef of a new restaurant. When they return to their hometown over the holidays to fundraise, will the "friendly" competition restore their love or rip them apart forever?

My Review:

This is an entertaining collection of three novellas to read during the Christmas season. Different authors, different stories but all entertaining. Hamaker's novella has a good dose of suspense and a tearful ending. Breigh's novella is a good exploration of forgiveness as well as informative about how supporting evidence for a legal case is accumulated. Woodhouse takes us from the cold setting of Alaska to the warmth of Louisiana and might just make you hungry for gumbo. While no recipes are given, she includes a link to them.

These novellas are good reads of an evening around Christmas. Some suspense, some information, some light romance and some good food all come together to make an entertaining collection.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Authors:

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley's writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now makes her home in the Pennsylvania Poconos. Visit her at kimberleywoodhouse.com.

Sarah Hamaker is the award-winning author of the Seeking Justice series, host of The Romantic Side of Suspense podcast, and an AWSA-certified writing coach. Find her at sarahhamakerfiction.com.

Jayna Breigh is a retired attorney living in the southeastern United States and the author of The Hunted Heir. She brings to her writing over a decade of experience in trust and estate litigation in Los Angeles. Connect with Jayna at www.jaynabreigh.com.

Kregel Publications, 328 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Establish Content Group. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Embers of Endurance by Carolyn Dale Newell Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness

Author: Carolyn Dale Newell

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release Date: February 17, 2026

When chronic pain invaded Carolyn Dale Newell’s life, it didn’t just attack her body—it attacked her faith.

Through crippling sciatica, major spinal fusion surgery, and countless complications that left her in agony, Carolyn found herself in the darkest valley she’d ever known.

But in that darkness, she discovered something powerful: God’s grace truly is sufficient, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

In this raw, honest 30-day devotional, Carolyn walks alongside you through the unique spiritual battle of chronic illness. She shares the biblical truths that sustained her through the fire and will sustain you too.

Like embers rising from ashes, you can find beauty again.

Begin your journey from surviving to thriving in chronic pain now.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Newell writes from her experience of severe chronic pain from scoliosis. She fought doubt, discouragement and depression, at one point thinking of ending her own life. She shares what she has learned, including biblical and practical ways to stabilize faith and draw closer to God.

A surprise: “God gives us more than we can bear because He helps us bear it. Otherwise, we would never need Him.” (Day 6) Wise words for those suffering.

This is a good book for anyone facing chronic pain. The lessons Newell learned and the insights she shares are very encouraging.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Carolyn Dale Newell is a bestselling and award-winning Christian author, certified speaker, and contributor to iBelieve.com. Despite living with chronic pain, she empowers women to break free from emotional strongholds and embrace lives transformed by faith. She resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband and their two loyal Black Labrador Retrievers.

 

More from Carolyn

The Reason I Wrote Embers of Endurance

While discouragement had its tentacles wrapped tightly around me, it seemed easier for doubt to chisel away at my faith. Before I realized it, I was depressed, living without joy and peace. Life seemed hopeless because surgery changed my life forever.

Once God brought me out of the darkness, I began finding Scriptures I’d never given much attention. Job and the psalmist felt like I did. Elijah gave up and couldn’t resist the threat in his life. I was in good company, and so are you, my friend. I realized I walked a horrific journey of pain due to scoliosis to share my experience with you.

These devotions aren’t filled with one victory after another, but rather a slow steady pace to living like the conqueror God has made each of us to be.

I felt like my life was a pile of ashes, but then embers began to rise above that pile. Something new began to spark in my life. God gives us beauty for ashes, and I want to help you find beautiful again.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 21

Texas Book-aholic, October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 23 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, October 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25

Fiction Book Lover, October 26 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, October 27 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, October 28 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29

Mary Hake, October 29

For the Love of Literature, October 30 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 31 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, November 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 2

Stories By Gina, November 3 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/srRQl/embers-of-endurance-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Ordinary Altars by Sarah Bessey

About the Book:

Many of us were taught to look for God in the extraordinary: in big callings, dramatic transformations, affirmations of constant achievement, or in lives that inspire millions. But what if that way of seeing has left us unable to recognize that God is also present in the everyday—especially now, when headlines are overwhelming, our systems feel broken, and hope seems naïve? What does it mean to actually live a faithful, meaningful life when the world is on fire and nothing turns out as advertised?

Drawing from her own story of faith, disillusionment, motherhood, and decades of work as a spiritual guide, Sarah Bessey believes there comes a time when you decide that being earnest and sincere is better than being defeated. She names what she calls “ordinary altars”: places and people where the holy and the commonplace meet, not as an escape from our daily lives but as full-bodied engagement with the questions of our time and an encounter with the God who is with us in it all. Blending rich storytelling and compassionate spiritual insight, Ordinary Altars is a declaration of choosing stubbornly, again and again, to keep loving your small patch of the world when it would be easier to shut down or walk away or even become what you despise.

For readers who are spiritually tired but still hopeful, deconstructed but longing to rebuild, grappling with despair but determined to make room in their spirituality for the ache in their chest, Ordinary Altars offers honest field notes for a sturdy faith that can bear the weight of the world—rooted in reality, loving defiantly, and being stubbornly faithful enough to make the world feel like home again.

My Review:

This is a good book for those who have thought of doing great things for God but then found their life and belief changed. Bessey explains the changes she has made in her thinking and how she understands life and faith. She has been released from the Calvinist idea of basic depravity, for example. “...I've always believed and lived from the center of the belief that we have an essential goodness to us.” (905/3010) She leaned into the ancient paths of Celtic Christianity, finding there a place where she belonged.

This book is good for those who have lost their opportunity for formal church ministry because of changes in belief. “Whatever work you do, you get to do to the glory of God, and there are altars everywhere...” (1707/3010) An aspect of this book I really appreciated is her teaching on how to dismantle an altar, releasing it without burning it down. That is especially helpful to those who have left one faith community to go to another.

Bessey encourages us to not give up. She explores “all the ways we experience and know the love of God in our ordinary lives...” (1128/3010) For those who have felt the need to leave a ministry opportunity, this is good news.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

This book releases in January, 2027.

About the Author:

Sarah Bessey is the author or editor of six books, including the New York Times bestseller A Rhythm of Prayer.  She cofounded Evolving Faith, a conference and online community for people who are reimagining their faith with hope, and writes a weekly newsletter, Field Notes. Sarah lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and their four children.

Convergent Books, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Abiding Tree by Michael Weissman

About the Book:

The Abiding Tree is a modern parable of endurance, renewal, and rest. An encouraging story for anyone who has spent their strength on others— and deserves to be reminded that life can still hold abundance for them.

The story is for anyone who has ever felt depleted, unseen, or worn thin.

Through gentle storytelling, scripture, and luminous illustrations, it reminds us that true fruitfulness is not in striving, but in abiding.

My Review:

This is a good parable for the weary. Weissman wrote it for a friend who had given everything and come to the point of having nothing else to give. This well illustrated book reminds readers of the necessity of abiding in Him. It is the secret to being able to produce fruit, even in dry times. It is an encouraging story for anyone who has grown weary and is unsure if there is any possibility of continued ministry.

This short book contains a good story written by Weissman with supporting Scripture. It also has quite pleasant illustrations painstakingly made with AI. It would make a good gift for one who is weary and needs to be reminded of the necessity of remaining in Jesus to continue on.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Michael Weissman is a writer, filmmaker, composer, and storyteller. He is the co-author of The Paradox of Excellence, a business parable published by Josey-Bass, a Wiley imprint, and translated into seven languages.

His work - books, documentary film, music, and visual storytelling - bears witness to lives well spent. He is drawn to the people who shape the world most profoundly and are often the least fully seen, and to stories that help them feel seen, strengthened, and less alone.

Michael has led men's Bible studies for more than twenty-five years.

Fresh Perspectives Publishing, 52 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Charred by GP Gottlieb Blog Tour Book Review

 

CHARRED

by G.P. Gottlieb

October 5 - 30, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A WHIPPED & SIPPED MYSTERY

 

Alene Baron is already juggling frustrated employees, closed schools, and a beggar who harasses customers outside her café. Then two dead bodies are discovered in the charred remains of buildings owned by the husband of her pastry chef, Ruthie Rosin. The mystery deepens when both victims are found wearing jackets stamped with the name, “Rosin,” and crumbled in the pockets are the Whipped & Sipped café’s distinctive wrappers. As if that weren’t enough, Alene's uncle, a convicted felon who vanished 22 years ago, suddenly appears in Chicago. With suspicion and chaos mounting, it’s all too much for the owner of the Whipped & Sipped Café.

Praise for Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery:

"Peopled with tons of quirky characters and loaded with family drama, Charred is so much more than the average cozy culinary mystery."
~ Donna Thompson

"The Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series is a delectable treat."
~ Julie Ditton

"Gottlieb packs a lot into this third book Charred... murder, arson, identity theft, gambling, kidnapping, destruction of property, tax evasion, uncovering a hidden basement under the cafe with tins with treasures in them, family drama, secrets, the pandemic, trying to stay healthy, learning how to live a new life in semi-quarantine...."
~ Missi Martin (Stockwell)

Charred "had just enough flavor to make it delicious, and just enough mystery to keep me guessing the whole way through!"
~ Bettybee306

"This series is right up my alley, and if you love cozy mysteries with a little romance and baked goods, it will be right up your alley, too! ... This is a five-star book in a very neat little package!"
~ Suzie Mumba

My Review:

This murder mystery is quite different from the usual kind. Most of the novel is really about people and their relationships and their work. There are a couple of bodies found but the murders happen off site and, while we ultimately here about the results of the investigation, we do not experience it. The main character owns a vegan cafe during the early time of the Covid pandemic. It was interesting to remember that time, the unknowing and the unrest. We read much about the people working in the cafe as well as the delicious food made there. Recipes are included.

This is a fun cozy novel with quirky characters, some coming out of the past. There are relationship dramas, secrets coming to light, and a hint of romance.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Published by: Anamcara Press
Publication Date: May 30, 2026
Number of Pages: 260 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781960462824 (ISBN10: 1960462822)
Series: A Whipped & Sipped Mystery, Book 3
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Anamcara Press

The Whipped & Sipped Mystery Series

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Read an excerpt:

It was warming up inside the car. Alene searched for Kacey and Kofi through the car window and the construction fence, but there was a jungle of trees and bushes lining the sidewalk. The post-fire building site was probably soggy and disgusting. If only she’d thought of bringing an old blanket to protect the back seat from burnt wood.

Kacey startled Alene by opening the passenger door and jumping back in. “He doesn’t need my help,” Kacey said as she used her shirt to clean her glasses. “We were looking for a way to get into the site and my glasses got too smudged for me to see. I’ll stay in here with you.”

Kofi had probably circled the tall fence surrounding piles of wet, muddy, and burned wood, trying to get inside. Moments later, they heard an owl hoot, and Kacey whispered it was Kofi letting them know that he’d gotten past the fence. What if tromping through the remains of the fire exposed Kofi to toxic materials? He wore gloves and a mask, but it wasn’t an N95 with protection against particulates. If paper masks didn’t protect against airborne particulates, how could they protect against a cunning virus?

The sun had risen, but a scrim of humidity diffused the light. Alene thought she saw Kofi alternating between moving and crouching. She figured he was trying to be invisible. He was lanky, his legs bulging with muscles from years of riding his bicycle for miles through and around the city. They both lost sight of him for about ten minutes, but suddenly he rushed back to the car and jumped into the back seat. He hadn’t taken a single piece of wood. “How was it?” Kacey asked.

Alene heard Kofi’s jagged breathing and turned around to watch him pull off his gloves and hat. “It was, um, weird and chilly,” he said, haltingly. “And there wasn’t anything I could use.” His focus was sideways, out the window, and he seemed tense. Alene turned away, imagining one of Frank’s police friends driving by and stopping to ask what she was doing. They drove home in silence and trudged to the elevators. Kofi, usually cheerful after an expedition to find materials, was unreadable and oddly stone-faced as he thanked Alene for the ride. Kacey mouthed her thanks as she unlocked her door, and Alene held her hand to her ear in a sign for Kacey to call later.

Alene unlocked her own door, wondering why Kofi hadn’t found even one usable piece of wood. Before she could take off her jacket, her phone rang.

“Kofi wants you to promise not to tell Frank about this morning,” Kacey said in a whisper. It seemed unnecessary; it wasn’t as if Kofi had started the fire, and Frank was a homicide detective, not a cop on the lookout for arsonists.

“I can’t promise that. We tell each other everything,” said Alene, “But there’s nothing to tell, because Kofi came up empty.”

“He’s worried that someone saw us there and the police will get him for trespassing,” said Kacey. Alene could hear her sniffling.

Alene had already frittered away forty-five minutes driving them over there and waiting for Kofi to hunt for wood. “Come on, Kacey,” she said. “We didn’t see anyone, and no one saw us.”

“But are you going to tell Frank that we were there?” Kacey asked.

“Kacey, Frank would never do anything to hurt me or the people I love.” Being with Kacey had always required patience. “And I’m driving the getaway car, so if we were committing a crime, I’d be just as guilty.”

Kacey said, “I hope you’re right.” She sounded more than a little paranoid.

***

Excerpt from Charred by GP Gottlieb. Copyright 2026 by GP Gottlieb. Reproduced with permission from GP Gottlieb. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

G.P. Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped & Sipped Mysteries (Battered, Smothered, and Charred, Anamcara Press). She is on the board of Sisters in Crime Chicagoland and a member of SinC Colorado, MWA, and Blackbird Writers. As host of New Books in Literature, a podcast channel on the New Books Network, she has interviewed over 280 authors.

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I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Iron Vault by S F Baungartner

About the Book:

The evidence survived twenty-six years. It may not survive Friday.

Navy lieutenant Eli Mercer needs a hidden Pacific Northwest archive to clear his father’s name. But a backdated destruction order gives him only days to find it.

Forensic financial investigator Rosalie Tanaka can trace money through any shell company, but she refuses to call a theory proof. Together, they follow vanished settlement funds from a Bremerton records annex across Puget Sound to the Iron Vault.

Someone is already erasing the trail. Legal obstruction becomes sabotage. Fire and flood turn evidence recovery into a fight for survival.

If Eli and Rosalie cannot authenticate and release the archive before Friday, the final proof behind Blackwater will disappear and twenty-six years of lies will become permanent.

The Iron Vault is a clean action-adventure thriller with procedural suspense and a slow-burn romantic undercurrent. It is Book 3 of The Mercer Files but can be read as a standalone.

Follow the evidence into The Iron Vault before the record closes for good.

My Review:

This is the final novella in a series featuring the three sons of Tom Mercer, a man killed in an offshore rig explosion. (See below for a synopsis of each of the novellas.)

Baumgartner has written a novella with intense descriptions of Eli and Rosalie working against time to uncover the records of the Blackwater rig explosion before they are destroyed. There is an attempt to keep them from finding and recording the data so there is suspense involved. The descriptions of the actions are vivid, describing the papers discovered, photographing and documenting information, sending the packets to the appropriate people.

I was really hoping at the end of this novel would be something like, “With this information we proved...” “Now we know the truth of the Blackwater explosion and it is...” But there was not that informative concluding explanation of all the action these three novellas cover. I felt like I was reading a novel with very exciting and well written scenes but at the same time not knowing the overarching story of the novel. Lots of information was preserved and documented. But what did it all mean?

Baumgartner's writing style is succinct. It is action packed and moves quickly. That means much of the essential context and information about the meaning of the action is left out. I have read all three novellas and I can only say that there was a discrepancy about the number of men who died in the explosion. I am still unclear how the mining claim in Australia figures in.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

From "Following the Trail" at the end of The Iron Vault:

One family. Three investigations. One conspiracy.

Prequel: The Last Shift  (read my review here)

Blackwater Rig Three explodes in the Gulf of Mexico.

The official death toll is eleven.

The truth disappears beneath the waves.

Book 1 Black Gold Secrets (read my review here)

Gulf Coast, USA

Luke Mercer and investigative journalist Gemma Klein uncover evidence that the explosion was no accident.

Book 2 The Lost Claim (read my review here)

Australian Outback,

Noah Mercer and Lori Callahan uncover an erased claim connected to decades of mining fraud.

Book 3 The Iron Vault

Pacific Northwest

Eli Mercer and forensic accountant Rosalie Tanaka race to uncover the master archive before it disappears forever.

About the Author:

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estate series—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.  And as always, her books are all clean.

Independently published, 190 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through BookSirens. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)