Plague of Lies by Marbeth Skwarczynski Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: Plague of Lies

Author: Marbeth Skwarczynski

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Plague of Lies

The man who taught him how to live was living a lie.

Scott Andrews was content to be a rule-follower, happily attending church and youth group while planning a future with his beautiful girlfriend, Cindy. He and his friends planned to change the world. But when his mentor is exposed as a fraud, Scott’s life turns upside down. He’s forced to grow up, but unlike the man who betrayed him, Scott is determined to live honestly.

Lauren spent her life believing she was a mistake. Then, on her eighteenth birthday, a letter arrives from the father she’s never met. It seems out of character for a deadbeat dad who wanted nothing to do with her. But with the letter in hand, Lauren’s life suddenly has a purpose. She’ll confront the man and demand to know why he abandoned her so many years before.

It’s time for the truth to come out.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is an intense book for young adult readers. Characters are high school age. The issues explored are widespread and serious. The plot centers around teen pregnancy with quite a bit about abortion. There is also the immoral failing of a youth pastor and subsequent church cover-up. One of the characters is cutting. One church displays public church discipline. So there are a number of possible trigger situations within this novel.

Nonetheless, the novel deals compassionately with the serious issues. There are characters who have sinned but do the right thing after. One character, Scott, highlights the necessity of honesty, which is another major theme. There is a clear gospel message included as well as a salvation experience. I liked this novel. Just be aware it is not a simple Christian novel for youth but one that deals with the very real issues facing teens today.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Like many writers, I began as a reader. My favorite authors were those whose styles were realistic and relatable, so when I began creating my first novel in my thirties, I knew that, above all, I wanted my stories to connect with readers.

My first foray into writing was a book about the biblical character Ruth. I spent years rewriting and shelving the book before finally submitting it to Elk Lake Publishing. They loved the book, and helped me prepare it for publication. Now, my work of biblical fiction, Princess of Moab: A Novel of Ruth, is finished and ready to find its readership.

I also have a contemporary Christian fiction series called The Rose Collection. These timely novels spotlight healing after spiritual abuse. I keep my characters grounded in the real world, so while they grow, learn, and seek solutions, they must also confront the detritus of the past. I write what I know, whether firsthand or through close observation, infusing the joy, happiness, and humor that come with spiritual freedom and love. The Rose Collection goes further than the deconstruction of broken spirits to the reconstruction of rescued souls.

My non-fiction book, The Women Who Set the Precedents: An Exploration of the Bible’s Bill of Rights for Women, is a deep dive into the prophecy of Bathsheba. Each chapter explores the life of a biblical woman as she embodies the principles of empowerment, intelligence, and spiritual maturity mentioned in the iconic, but often misapplied, last chapter of Proverbs.

More from Marbeth

I wrote Plague of Lies during school holidays while teaching at my church’s Christian school and raising two teen boys. Some of the conflict in the novel was inspired by the sudden appearance of a youth pastor from another school (my sons played against that school in basketball and football). He joined our church and was immediately placed in leadership positions. Later, it came out that he was fleeing from a bench warrant.

My story follows the fallout after a beloved church leader and mentor is exposed as a fraud and shuffled off to another church. I wanted to explore what happened to one of the students left behind as he attempts to pick up the spiritual pieces of his life.

While the book contains some heavy subject matter, it also offers hope, encouragement, and relatable main characters.

Scott Andrews, a seventeen-year-old who is blindsided by his mentor’s moral failing, has a failing of his own. But, instead of running away, he repents and becomes determined to live his life with complete honesty.

Eighteen years later, the fallout of the lies and betrayal continues as Lauren Andrews-Gianni reconnects with her long-lost father and learns the truth about her birth, why Scott walked away, and how he remembered her during their forced separation.

The rebuilding of Scott and Lauren’s relationship is the crux of the book and serves as a picture of how our Heavenly Father is preparing a home for us

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 4

Simple Harvest Reads, February 5 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, February 6

Artistic Nobody, February 7 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 8

Guild Master, February 9 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 9

Leslie’s Library Escape, February 10

Fiction Book Lover, February 11 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, February 12

A Reader’s Brain, February 13 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 14

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 15 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, February 16 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, February 16

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, February 17 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marbeth 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/vm5xP/plague-of-lies-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Murder at the Duomo by T A Williams Book Review

About the Book:

As the sticky heat of August settles over Florence, Dan Armstrong is ready for a well-earned break—sightseeing with fiancée Anna, daughter Tricia and her fiancé Shaun. But when a British man is found dead inside the city’s magnificent Duomo, Dan’s plans quickly change.

The victim, Tristan Angel, is a super-wealthy arms dealer with a saintly name and a devilish reputation. But what was he doing in the cathedral, and who decided to make it his final confession?

At Angel’s opulent villa in the hills of Fiesole, Dan and Commissario Virgilio encounter a colourful cast of suspects—each one hiding secrets and none too eager to talk. As tempers rise and the heat outside grows ever more intense, Dan and his four-legged sidekick, Oscar, must sniff out the truth before the killer strikes again.

My Review:

I like this cozy mystery series mostly because of the settings. Williams does a great job of taking us on location, seeing and experiencing the buildings and landscapes. Here we get to experience the Cathedral, or Duomo, in Florence, both the beautiful exterior and the more plain interior. Dan and Oscar roam around various areas so we experience scenes overlooking the city too.

The mystery is good, taking us into the world of arms sales, exploring the ethical nature of selling arms to various entities. The possible suspects are many and it takes in depth investigation by the local Commissario with the help of Dan and his contacts from his previous government work. But the hero is Oscar who manages to find an essential clue.

This is a good cozy mystery for readers who like ones set in unique places and have interesting characters. There is a good balance of investigation and Dan's personal life. Williams' writing style is clear and entertaining. While it is down the line in the series, it reads well on its own.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the previous book in this series, Murder in Venice.

About the Author:

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunnits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that's why I like to inject some humour. I'm having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny Italy. They are all standalone books but if you really want to do it properly, start with the first one in the series, Murder in Tuscany. If my books can whisk you away to gorgeous locations, put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

Boldwood Books, 240 pages.

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

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Fatal Past by Sarah Hamaker Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Fatal Past

Author: Sarah Hamaker

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Dr. Eve Davenport has forged a life for herself far from the pain of her past. But when she foils the kidnapping attempt of Ethan Smith, she comes face-to-face with the boy’s father, Jefferson Smith—the high school sweetheart who broke her heart and left her with secrets she’s buried for nearly a decade. Jefferson can’t believe the woman who saved Ethan, his late twin brother’s son, is Eve—the girl he once loved and lost. But as the danger mounts, Jefferson and Eve must confront their tangled history and uncover who is behind the attacks targeting Ethan and Eve.

Click here to get you copy!

My Review

I liked this inspirational romantic suspense. Old secrets come to light as as a boy's life is in danger. What starts out as a chance meeting between Eve and Jefferson becomes dangerous. The suspense increases as someone is determined to ruin Eve's future. The romance is a refreshing reigniting of an earlier relationship. The plot might be a little repetitive as there are repeated attempts to kidnap the boy but it works out well in the end. Hamaker's writing style is clear and entertaining.

This is an enjoyable Christian romantic suspense. There is more to come and I'll be watching for it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Multi-award-winning and best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense, Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s an AWSA certified writer and speaker coach, and podcaster of “The Romantic Side of Suspense.” She and her husband are therapeutic foster parents with UMFS. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four children and two cats.

 

More from Sarah

Life has a funny way of mirroring fiction at times, and that happened to me with Fatal Past—but not when I was writing it! I wanted my hero’s (and heroine’s) son to be school-age but not too old, so I picked second grade, which put him at age 7. This is such a fun age, as they are independent and inquisitive, and you start to really see their personalities develop.

Little did I know when I wrote this last fall that I would be teaching twenty-three second graders as a long-term substitute this current school year! I began in mid-September and will continue through early March while their regular teacher is out on maternity leave. It’s been challenging but rewarding as they expand their knowledge and build on their kindergarten and first-grade foundations.

Your turn—how has something you read resonated with you lately? Has a storyline mirrored something happening in your own life?

Sarah

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 31

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 1

Books Less Travelled, February 2

Stories By Gina, February 3 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 4

Texas Book-aholic, February 5

Simple Harvest Reads, February 6 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, February 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 7

Artistic Nobody, February 8 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 9

Cover Lover Book Review, February 10

Bizwings Blog, February 11

Fiction Book Lover, February 12 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, February 13

For Him and My Family, February 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, an ebook copy of Fatal Past, a paperback copy of Truth, the limited collection of four short novels that includes Fatal Past, signed by all four authors, and Fatal Past-themed socks!!

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

https://gleam.io/k1w6L/fatal-past-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an honest and independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings Book Review

About the Book:

Recruited into the fundamentalist Quiverfull movement as a young wife, Tia Levings learned that being a good Christian meant following a list of additional life principles––a series of secret, special rules to obey. Being a godly and submissive wife in Christian Patriarchy included strict discipline, isolation, and an alternative lifestyle that appeared wholesome to outsiders. Women were to be silent, “keepers of the home.”

Tia knew that to their neighbors her family was strange, but she also couldn't risk exposing their secret lifestyle to police, doctors, teachers, or anyone outside of their church. Christians were called in scripture to be “in the world, not of it.” So, she hid in plain sight as years of abuse and pain followed. When Tia realized she was the only one who could protect her children from becoming the next generation of patriarchal men and submissive women, she began to resist and question how they lived. But in the patriarchy, a woman with opinions is in danger, and eventually, Tia faced an urgent and extreme choice: stay and face dire consequences, or flee with her children.

Told in a beautiful, honest, and sometimes harrowing voice, A Well-Trained Wife is an unforgettable and timely memoir about a woman's race to save herself and her family and details the ways that extreme views can manifest in a marriage.

My Review:

Levings' memoir is eye opening. She is a good communicator and her book is well written. It is also sad in that what is supposed to be good and uplifting was actually destructive for her. She is only one of many women who have shared their experiences enduring overbearing and controlling Christian leaders and spouses. It is hopeful to know that she found her way out and experienced healing. Her writing style is engaging, even as her material is so honest and somewhat depressing.

It is important to note that Levings says it was not the events themselves that caused her religious trauma but her reactions to them. (260) Many experienced the same teaching she did about the rapture and hell and yet were not traumatized. And many, me included, grew up in a church setting that was not traumatic in any sense. This story is hers and not everyone's. It does need to be acknowledged but not generalized. Her experience was with authoritarian, high-control religion and is a good warning for all involved in Christian leadership.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma, evangelical patriarchy, and the Trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and the HuffingtonPost. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter. Her second book, I Belong to Me, releases May 5, 2026.

St Martin's Press, 304 pages.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Great Shadow by Susan Wise Bauer Book Review

About the Book:

Anti-science, anti-vaccine, anti-reason beliefs seem to be triumphing over common sense today. How did we get here? The Great Shadow brings a huge missing piece to this puzzle―the experience of actually being ill. What did it feel like to be a woman or man struggling with illness in ancient times, in the Middle Ages, in the seventeenth century, or in 1920? And how did that shape our thoughts and convictions?

The Great Shadow uses extensive historical research and first-person accounts to tell a vivid story about sickness and our responses to it, from very ancient times until the last decade. In the process of writing, historian Susan Wise Bauer reveals just how many of our current fads and causes are rooted in the moment-by-moment experience of sickness―from the search for a balanced lifestyle to plug-in air fresheners and bare hardwood floors. We can’t simply shout facts at people who refuse vaccinations, believe that immigrants carry diseases, or insist that God will look out for them during a pandemic. We have to enter with imagination, historical perspective, and empathy into their world. The Great Shadow does just that with page-turning flair.

My Review:

We may forget the hundreds of years it took to have the understanding of disease and medicine we now enjoy. Bauer takes us on an informative journey of experience and attempted cures, such as religious attempts to explain death and attempts to appease the gods. Assuming the cause was external, attempts were made to drive the cause away. Eventually a cause was sought inside the person, such as with epilepsy. She draws from a variety of sources, sometimes including personal accounts. There are many interesting and informational stories, like the development of the word disease, from dis-ease. Another section relates the troubled development of inoculation. What a breakthrough to finally understand the reality of germs.

This is a very readable exploration of how disease was understood and has been treated over the centuries. Thank goodness we have scientific investigation now rather than mere speculation or superstition.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Susan Wise Bauer is a historian and educator. Her sweeping works of narrative history include, among many others, The History of the Ancient World, The Story of Western Science, and the Story of the World series for young readers. She is the co-author of The Well-Trained Mind, author of The Well-Educated Mind, and owner of the Well-Trained Mind Press. She taught at the College of William and Mary for eighteen years and now writes on the family farm, Peace Hill, in Charles City, Virginia. Photo Credit: Kelly J. Mihalcoe

St Martin's Press, 352 pages.

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

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Tell-Tale Treats by Jennifer J Chow Book Review

About the Book:

Is Felicity to blame when a hotel guest drowns after eating her enchanted cookies? Felicity Jin returns in the third installment of the Magical Fortune Cookie series.

A group of high school alumnae reunite years later and reserve rooms at Pixie Inn for an extended retreat. As part of their pampering package, Felicity delivers a scrumptious assortment of enchanted pastries, including her new almond cookies.

But the queen bee of the group is soon found dead in her bathroom, drowned in the tub, and she recently sampled the delicious baked goods. Could Felicity’s almond cookies have set off a fatal nut allergy? The enchanted pastries are supposed to bring joy, not sorrow―and certainly not death.

Boyfriend, Kelvin Love, is eager to assist, although odd things have been happening to his senses ever since he baked with Felicity. Will his extra sensitivity help or hinder the investigation? Plus, special bunny Whiskers lends a magical paw to the detecting since Felicity can’t and won’t relax until she restores both order and magic to her world.

My Review:

I usually avoid mysteries with any kind of paranormal content but I like this series. It is sort of “magic light,” more like insight into character feelings and actions than spooky stuff. As Felicity's mother says, “Magic is about kindness.” (loc 1686/3135) The plot and investigation is complex but Felicity and her fiancée muddle through to the end. The relationship between the supposed friends from high school is a study in relationships in itself.

I like the addition of Kelvin in this novel with some powers of his own. I learned some about plants and flowers from him too. And what fun to have a rabbit help solve the mystery. Detective Sun is one of my favorite support characters as she is able to see through Felicity's attempts to gather inside information. That adds a little humor to the plot.

This is an entertaining cozy mystery for readers who like something a little different in their characters. The magic used is fun and rather light hearted. This is an entertaining and informative cozy mystery I enjoyed.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of a previous novel in this series, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts.

About the Author:

Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Lilian Jackson Braun Award-nominated author. Jennifer J. Chow writes cozy mysteries filled with hope and heritage. She lives in Los Angeles.

Minotaur Books, 304 pages.

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

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Rifle Season by Pat Kelly Book Review

About the Book:

A game hunter is in a race against time to save his family from the most dangerous predator on earth—other people—in this high-stakes thriller in the vein of Jack Carr and Peter Heller.

Mason “Mace” Winters, with his acclaimed reputation as one of the best big game hunters in Colorado, lives for the thrill of the hunt. His lucrative career guiding the wealthy on intense hunts through the Colorado mountains is suddenly brought to a stop when an accident hangs an involuntary manslaughter conviction around his neck. Now he’s relegated to a life of trash pickup in the very wilderness where his prowess as a tracker and killer was the stuff of legends.

At rock bottom, Mace descends into a haze of Tito’s and sativa when two strangers seek him out. They wave enough cash under his nose to convince him to help them up into the mountains he knows so well on the opening day of Colorado’s rifle season. An innocent enough request, and the perfect cover for the trip’s true purpose: to assassinate an infamous warlord. All at once, Mace goes from unwitting to unwilling accomplice and it will take all his now dusty skills to outfox his patrons in their deadly game.

My Review:

This is a novel firmly set in the elk hunting hills of Colorado. Mace is a flawed character. He has turned to alcohol and weed to sooth himself. I had difficulty liking him as a hero. His wife is too nice and I hoped he would wake up and be nicer to her. The plot centers around the desire for revenge in the form of murdering the man who did terrible things during war in Bosnia. That the assassination plan involved finding him in the snow covered hills in Colorado may be a bit far fetched. There was a shocking twist near the end I did not see coming. As the suspense increases, the action frequently changes location, not indicated by extra space or some other way in the advanced eARC I read. That was a bit confusing.

This book would especially appeal to readers who like hunting and/or hiking through mountains. While the first half of the book might have been a bit slow, the last half made up for it. I look forward to reading another novel by Kelly featuring a much more likable Mace.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author:

Pat Kelly, born in Galveston, Texas, and raised in Denver, attended CU Boulder. After working as a writer in New York City, he pursued screenwriting in Los Angeles, and his credits include A Perfect Murder and Don’t Say a Word. Rifle Season is his debut novel. He currently lives in San Miguel County, Colorado, and Malibu. Photo by Nancy Heritage.

Atria, 272 pages.

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

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Language of Science and Faith by Karl W Giberson and Francis S Collins Book Review

About the Book:

Christians affirm that everything exists because of God--from subatomic quarks to black holes. Science often claims to explain nature without including God at all. And thinking Christians often feel forced to choose between the two.

But the good news is that we don't have to make a choice. Science does not overthrow the Bible. Faith does not require rejecting science. World-renowned scientist Francis Collins, author of The Language of God, along with fellow scientist Karl Giberson show how we can embrace both. Their fascinating treatment explains how God cares for and interacts with his creation while science offers a reliable way to understand the world he made.

Together they clearly answer dozens of the most common questions people ask about Darwin, evolution, the age of the earth, the Bible, the existence of God and our finely tuned universe. They also consider how their views stack up against the new atheists as well as against creationists and adherents of intelligent design.

The authors disentangle the false conclusions of Christians and atheists alike about science and evolution from the actual results of research in astronomy, physics, geology, and genetics. In its place they find a story of the grandeur and beauty of a world made by a supremely creative God.

My Review:

I was taught as a child evolution was evil. Here the authors argue evolution is a done deal, scientifically proven and Christians must accept it. They write that God created all the many life forms using natural processes. ”God's creative activity is executed within the natural order, working through and respecting the laws of nature.” (loc 838/3130) Young earth claims are evaluated and different ways of interpreting Genesis are offered. Since evolution does not deal with the actual problem of life forming, it is not addressed here. They are clear in saying God is Creator (however that is meant).

The concept that nature has freedom, similar to the free will humans have, was new to me. This freedom was granted by God and allows nature to develop new beings and to develop deadly creatures, explaining evil and death in nature. This freedom in nature eliminate the concept of God's sovereignty, something this Reformed believer has trouble accepting, as the authors predicted I would. There is no need for Adam and Eve so I wonder what happens to passages like Romans 5 where the existence of Jesus is tied to the existence of Adam. Also, how humans became spiritual beings is not clarified although it is suggested God did enter into a special relationship with those who had developed the necessary characteristics. (loc 2593/3130)

This is certainly a thought provoking book. It introduced new possibilities to me in the reconciliation of scientific discovery and the claims in the Bible. It did leave me with unanswered questions too.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Authors:

Karl W. Giberson (Ph.D.) is an internationally known scholar who serves as professor of physics at Eastern Nazarene College, is the director of the Forum on Faith and Science at Gordon College, and is executive vice president of The BioLogos Foundation. Giberson has published over a hundred articles, reviews and essays and written seven books, including Saving Darwin.

Francis S. Collins (M.D., Ph.D.) is a world-renowned geneticist
known for spearheading the Human Genome Project, which finished sequencing human DNA in 2003. He is director of the National Institutes of Health, founder of The BioLogos Foundation and author of the New York Times bestseller The Language of God.

InterVarsity Press, 251 pages.

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

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)