Rescuing Her Firefighter by Carol Ross

Posted on December 30, 2025 by EmpowerMoms

I absolutely loved this story about Michael and Brooke in the first book of the “Flame Texas” series.

Brooke and her sister Hailey grew up in the foster care program after being abandoned and have since both worked hard to create successful lives. Brooke moves to Flame, Texas from Philadelphia to start over after a work catastrophe. However, unlucky Brooke continues to have mishaps where she meets firefighter Michael multiple times, which also results in meeting all of his big family. Hilarious mishaps are Brookes lot in life it seems.

I loved the feel good stories, characters and wonderful family setting. Everything about this book I absolutely loved and couldn’t stop reading!

I can’t wait to read more books in Flame, Texas and the community! I really hope Hailey gets her own love story, happily ever after.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Not every hero… Wears a uniform

Brooke Lawson refuses to let her troubled past stop her from making her mark in Flame, Texas. The close-knit community is exactly the fresh start she needs. Great new job, caring new friends—her only problem is the series of mortifying scrapes she finds herself in. Being frequently rescued by Michael Barnes, the small town’s handsomest firefighter, does have its upside. His warmth and humor set him apart from every man she’s ever met. But when his large, ready-made family starts interfering, will she be the one to rescue him? And will their special spark continue to shine?

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE:

https://amzn.to/48BTMzL

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“Elisabeth: Mother of John the Baptist” by Heather B. Moore

Posted on December 29, 2025 by EmpowerMoms

About the Book:

Her greatest sacrifice became her greatest legacy.

Zacharias has loved Elisabeth all his life. When negotiations are made for their marriage, the childhood friends trust that their future will be bright. But as their story unfolds in their village near Jerusalem, the life they build together is marked by both the joy of love and the sorrows of loss and longing, for as the years pass by, the steadfast couple is never blessed with the thing they desire above all: a child.

Now beyond childbearing years, it seems that the couple’s righteous desire will never be granted—until a divine promise is made, and they learn that their fate will transcend the bounds of age and mortal comprehension. Elisabeth and Zacharias are destined to play a pivotal role in the fulfillment of ancient scripture, and they soon come to understand that God’s plan is far grander than they ever dreamed.

My Review

I loved this biblical fiction story about Elisabeth and Zacharias! This author has an amazing gift with bringing the scriptures alive in her biblical fiction books. I have been reading HB Moore’s biblical fiction for many years and they are my absolute favorite!

I loved this telling of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. So many emotions, especially reading in the month of December while contemplating the birth of Jesus Christ in the Christmas season.

I felt like I was right there with a characters in their time experiencing their lives. Wonderful characters, setting, and storyline. It flowed throughout using scripture references, and biblical facts. I absolutely loved it!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

Purchase your copy here:

https://amzn.to/47c0agM

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Shielded by the Cowboy by Connie Queen

Posted on December 28, 2025 by EmpowerMoms

I enjoyed getting to know the main character Holly in this fast paced, clean Love Inspired Suspense story.

Holly arrives in town to start a new life after the death of her husband and ends up meeting Clive when she finds herself on the run and needing protection against the unknown after witnessing a murder. They race against the clock to stay alive, trying to learn to trust and rely on each other. Clive is revisiting his worst nightmare; whether he can protect Holly and her unborn baby when he couldn’t even protect his own.

This story had lots of suspense and twists with danger around every turn! I loved the Texas location and large family theme. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more in this new Thunder Ridge Justice series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A witness in danger… and a protector standing guard.

Pregnant widow Holly Myers just wants a fresh start for her and her unborn child, but when she witnesses a double murder, her quiet life is shattered. On the run, she finds refuge with former Deputy Sheriff Clive Cantrell, who is determined to keep her safe. But with killers on their trail who’ll stop at nothing to silence Holly, staying alive might just be impossible. Especially when clues link the murders to a drug trafficking operation hidden on Clive’s family’s ranch. And stopping the criminals could prove lethal for them both.

Thunder Ridge Justice

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE

https://amzn.to/48gIHTu

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Scent of Sabotage by Dana Mentink

Posted on December 18, 2025 by EmpowerMoms

About the Book

Book: Scent of Sabotage

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: December 30, 2025

Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

Another winner for the Security Hounds Investigation series! This is book 6 and final in the series involving the Wolfe family and their dogs. I have loved getting to know the main characters like Garret, Chase, and now Beth. I have read the other 5 books and have enjoyed each one. I highly recommend this book and this entire Love Inspired Suspense series!

Beth and her bloodhound Arthur team up with childhood friend Jack to find a missing woman. Lots of twists and danger around every turn as they try to escape a wildfire and unnamed killer. I especially liked that the main characters Beth and Jack were more mature characters (in their mid 50s) with life and experiences.

This was a beautiful story about forgiveness, redemption, love and family. This emotional story kept my interest chapter after chapter until the end. I loved it!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

How could we be at the end of a series? I’ve been having a wonderful time with the Wolfe family and their house full of hounds. The last book is finally Beth’s story. She’s the matriarch of the family who has experienced the loss of a spouse. In this story, she will meet the son she never knew and explore the idea of learning to love again. I feel especially fond of this book because Beth is an older heroine who has some living under her belt. She’s learned how to carry on, with her old dog Arthur, and stand faithfully in the face of adversity. Now that’s a heroine I can root for! I hope you enjoy this final installment of the Security Hounds series!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 16

The Avid Reader, December 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17

Pause for Tales, December 18

EmpowerMoms, December 18

Bizwings Blog, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 20

Alyssa Amey, December 20

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 21

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 22

For Him and My Family, December 22

Devoted To Hope, December 23

Blogging With Carol, December 23

Because I said so, December 24

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lily’s Corner, December 26

Mary Hake, December 26

Labor Not in Vain, December 27

Blossoms and Blessings, December 27

Holly’s Book Corner, December 28

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 28

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, December 29

Lights in a Dark World, December 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana 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/T2I2F/scent-of-sabotage-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Underestimated by Sherri Wilson Johnson

Posted on December 11, 2025 by EmpowerMoms

About the Book

Book: Underestimated

Author: Sherri Wilson Johnson

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery

Release Date: December 9, 2025

Liam Holcomb is a no-nonsense forensic accountant, not a farmer—but when his grandfather dies under suspicious circumstances, Liam returns to the Anything Goats farm near Nashville to investigate. What he finds buried in old records suggests the death wasn’t an accident—and someone wanted the land badly enough to kill for it.

Wren Meadows, a free-spirited goat yoga instructor and single mom, is busy planning the church’s Christmas celebration at the farm when her daughters witness something they shouldn’t have. Now, threats are closing in, and Liam may be the only one who can protect them.

He’s serious, guarded, and sworn off relationships. She’s sunshine, spontaneity, and a walking invitation to chaos. But as danger deepens and sparks fly, Liam and Wren may discover that opposites don’t just attract—they just might save each other.

A cozy but gripping Christian romantic suspense full of heart, humor, and holiday hope.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

I enjoyed reading this Christian suspense story, which is book 1 of The Silas Holcomb Legacy series. The story line was intriguing with great characters that kept my interest from beginning to end. I especially love the setup of this new series; Liam and his cousins inherit the Anything Goats farm together but they can’t make any changes to it for six months.

Liam, a forensic accountant finds the death of his grandfather suspicious, so it decides to dig deeper; but instead of finding answers, he’s left with more questions. I enjoyed getting to know Liam and Wren in this faith filled, clean romance that kept me reading more chapter after chapter. I can’t wait to read more from this family Legacy series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

About the Author

Sherri Wilson Johnson writes romantic suspense from her home in Georgia where she lives with her husband, their two dogs and spoiled Bombay cat. Sherri loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, reading or working on her current work-in-progress. She dreams of a second home on some beach somewhere some day, where she can plot romantically suspenseful novels around the clock.

More from Sherri

In Underestimated, Liam Holcomb cooks his grandmother’s Beef Hash recipe. This is actually one of my mom’s recipes that I cook quite often. She passed away in 1993, and cooking her Beef Hash always brings fond memories to my mind. So I’ll share the recipe with you now. Keep in mind that just like Liam’s grandmother, I use lots of garlic salt. I sample along the way until I get just the right amount of seasoning. You may want to use more or less, depending on your preference.

But here are the basics:

Ingredients:

2 lbs lean ground beef

6-8 yellow potatoes (or 4 large Idaho potatoes) cut into cubes

½ cup finely chopped onions or dried minced onions

2-3 large cut carrots (or a ½ to ¾ bag of frozen cut carrots)

Black pepper to taste

Garlic powder and onion powder to taste

Lawry’s Coarse Ground with Parsley Garlic Salt (This is the secret sauce—use as much as you want to get that good savory flavor to your liking.) (I probably use ¼ cup for a large batch, but I’m not 100% sure, honestly. I always eyeball it and then taste it once it’s done.)

Instructions:

Season the ground beef with the garlic salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Brown, drain and rinse.

Cut the potatoes into cubes and slice the carrots into circles about ½ inch thick. Boil until tender (you can use an Instantpot or pressure cooker). You can add salt to the water, but I usually don’t because I don’t want to overdo the salt. I save the saltiness for the garlic salt.

After the potatoes and carrots are tender, scoop them into a pot with the ground beef and add the potato water as the broth. You can add as much as you like depending on how much broth you like.

Bring everything to a boil, smashing some of the potatoes until the broth thickens.

Toast hamburger buns until crispy then pour the Beef Hash on top and gobble it up.

Serve with a side salad.