The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch

 

The Girl Upstairs, by Jessica R. Patch, is an upcoming book by the author of many other suspenseful fiction. I am new-ish to this author (just in the last year or so) and have been devouring her books. This one is scheduled to release in April 2026 but I got a chance to review an advanced copy! 

There are many layers to this book and the more you read the more unfolds - kind of like peeling an onion. Gwen, Steven, and baby Tara move from Baltimore to Maine in an attempt to save their marriage and reputations. The old house they purchased seems to have a life of its own as it creaks and moans and, from Gwen's point of view, cries and talks. She sees things and hears things no one else seems to. As an ex-cop, she tries to not investigate, but it's in her blood. 

The house has a reputation for being haunted and the local teens spend each Halloween scaring each other on the grounds - Gwen is not thrilled knowing this and tries to ward them off. As time goes on she learns more about the history of the house which unravels her own history as well. 

I found this book to be enjoyable and not as creepy as some of her other books (The Garden Girls really creeped me out). This is her first foray into the mainstream marketplace and outside of the realm of Christian fiction. It is still a clean read though and appropriate for older teens and up. No profanity, no sexual scenes. 

Be sure to look for this one next April! 

The Perimenopause Reset by Dr Jennifer Pfleghaar

The Perimenopause Reset, by Dr Jennifer Pfleghaar, is an invaluable tool for women of any age who want better health. I am post-menopausal and I learned a lot. It is like sitting down with a very knowledgeable friend and having a conversation, it is that easy to understand. The book is interlaced with scripture passages that apply perfectly to each topic. Dr Jen has done her research and has written from the heart. 

The advice shared is worth way more than the small price of the book. I have been to integrative doctors and have paid out the wazoo for some of this information. Do yourself a favor and grab this book. It also has a 28-day devotional in the back of the book, full of ways to make small changes that will add up. 

If you read only one health book this year make it this one!

You can buy it here

One Sharp Stitch by Allie Pleiter

 One Sharp Stitch, by Allie Pleiter, is the first in the Nimble Needle series. I love a good cozy mystery - for several reasons: they are generally clean reads, they are not gruesome, they are light reading and I can usually get through them in one day. This one hit all the marks. Kept me guessing until the very end. I have been a fan of Allie's books since Bad Heiress Day (2005). While this does not have the humor that her chick lit had, it was a very enjoyable book. I learned a lot about needlecraft (something I knew nothing of before) and found myself wondering if this might be a hobby I would be interested in. 

The characters were true to life, and the relationship between the sisters was relatable. I loved the growth that those two shared throughout the book. 

I liked that this focused on the mystery and not on romance, too often I read romantic suspense and I'd rather it just be suspense. This book was just what I wanted on this day - sat down between loads of laundry and cleaning bathrooms. A very good escape. 

About the book:

After her graphic arts career - and her blooming office romance - got tossed like rejected design mockups, Shelby Phillips reluctantly returns to her painfully harmless town of Gwen Lake. Her stint is a simple and fool-proof as a tent stitch: manage the family needlepoint shop for a month during her parents' RV vacation. It's not as if they're retiring, right?

She's determined to pull off hosting her first trunk show with local vendors, even if that means dealing with her former classmate Kat Katsaros, a rising entrepreneur specializing in needlework scissors. Kat is angling to take over the Nimble Needle herself, and the tension unspools when she makes a terrible discovery on the morning of the event: Kat's dead body.

Shelby believes it was no accident and wants to expose whoever committed the murder with Kat's own equipment. She finds help in a new friend, a potential crush, and the surprising support of her sister and the Nimble Needle stitchers. Still, Shelby must move quickly to stitch together the clues before her maybe not-so-temporary new life comes apart at the seams!

2025 book list

 January

1. Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox (L)

2. Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner (L)

3. Deadly Secrets on Mackinac Island by Cara Putnam (Kindle)

4. What HIT Me? By Genny Masterman 

5. Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli (L)

6. One More Lie by Christy Barritt (Kindle) 

7. The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright (Kindle)

February 

8. The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck (L)

9. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (L)

10. All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese (L)

11. A Cry in the Dark by Jessica Patch (Kindle) 

12. Shadows of the White City by Jocelyn Green (L)

13. Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green (L) 

14. What a Wave Must Be by Angela Hunt 

15. Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman 

16. That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon 

17. Break the Mold by Dr Jill Christa 

March

18. Memory Lane by Becky Wade (L) 

19. Jean and Johnny by Beverly Cleary (L)

20. Happy Lies by Melissa Dougherty 

21. The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart (L)

22. One Sharp Stitch by Allie Pleiter

23. Saving Grayson by Chris Fabry

24. The Vow by D.L. Wood (Kindle) 

25. The Offer by D.L. Wood (Kindle)

26. The Choice by D.L. Wood (Kindle)

27. Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner (Kindle) 

28. Count the Nights by Stars by Michelle Shocklee (L)

29. The Killer’s Therapist by Christy Barritt (Kindle) 

30. Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee (L)

April

31. The Crime of Our Lives by Christy Barritt (K)

32. Dying for Cupcakes by Donna Doyle (k)

33.The Words we Lost by Nicole Deese (L)

34. All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore (L)

35. To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano (K)

36. Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart (L) 

37. The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel (L)

38. The Glory in Your Story by Monique Rodriguez

May

39. The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch (L)

40. What We Hide by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker (L)

41. The View From Above by Kristin Billerbeck (K)

42. I Think I was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker (L)

43. A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner (L)

44. Room at the Top by Kristin Billerbeck (K) 

June

45. Under a Neon Moon by Kristin Billerbeck (K)

46. Leap Day in the Square by Erynn Mangum (K)

47. Lies we Tell Ourselves by Amy Matayo (K)

July

48. If You’re Reading This by Christy Barritt (K)

49. Before the Night Falls by Christy  Barritt (K)

August

50. The Faux Must Go On by Christy Barritt (K)

51. Unintended Target by D.L. Wood (K)

52. Half Empty by Christy Barritt (K)

53. The Perimenopause Reset by Jennifer Pfleghaar (Kindle) 

54. Where Madness Lies by Lyndsey Spence (L)

55. Enough Already by Valerie Bertinelli (L)

September 

56. Secrets Along the Shore by Jaime Jo Wright, Taylor S Newport, DL Wood, and Julia Blythe (K) 

57. A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander 

58. Being Henry by Henry Winkler (L)

59. Unintended Witness by D.L.Wood (K)

60. Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright (L)

61. Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe 

62. Glitter Saints by Robin Brown

63. Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker (L)

64. Home by Ginny L. Yttrup

65. Firefly Cove by Davis Bunn (L)

October 

66. The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R Patch (K)

67. Falling for Your Fake Fiancé by Emma St. Clair (K)

Rescue on the Farm by Allie Pleiter

 

Rescue on the Farm, the upcoming release (February 25, 2025) by Allie Pleiter, is her latest in the Love Inspired Romance books. This book introduces us to Meg and Grant. Meg, recently widowed, has two young daughters and runs the small-town diner. Grant, a police officer, is on forced leave due to internal investigations (that he discovered) and returns to his hometown to hang out until it's safe to return to work. Meg lives next door to his mother's farm and has a big part in helping her dream of owning a rescue farm come to life. Meg and Grant butt heads at first, but as the book progresses, so do they. A sweet romance that is clean and has characters who not only love the Lord, but talk about Him as they get to know each other. 

What I love about Allie's books is that her sense of humor shines in them, this one has little peeks of it. Adorable book. What I love about Love Inspired is that they are always a clean read.

This book is coming soon! You don't want to miss it. A perfect way to spend a cold winter day. 

Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley

 

Deadly Revenge, by Patricia Bradley, is the third installment in her Pearl River series. I did not read the previous two books but was able to get into this story easily and it read fine as a stand-alone. Jenna and Max seemed real to me as their story unfolded. This was a hard book to put down as I just wanted to see what happened next. The insight each brand to the investigation complimented each other's abilities and it was fun to watch them grow together and towards each other. This was a clean read and is suitable for YA and adult readers. I thought it was interesting to read about coon hunting and how the dogs work together to find a raccoon. I am looking forward to more from this author.

This book provided for review by Revell. 

Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn

 Tea with Elephants, by Robin Jones Gunn, reminds me of the Sisterchicks series and I haven't enjoyed books by this author this much since then. This was such a fun and surprising adventure to read. I whipped through it in about a day. It captivated me and I related to both Fern and Lily. I loved the way they met and how their friendship grew, reminded me of some summer camp friendships that I still have. It was the perfect book for me as it made me laugh and cry. I felt the emotions of the characters as they encountered new things (and animals!) throughout the book. I loved how Fern journaled and worked her way through her feelings in words. I cannot wait to read the forthcoming books in the Suitcase Sisters series! I hope it's more with Fern and Lily. 

From the back of the book:

Ever since Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden met as teenagers volunteering at a conference center in Costa Rica twenty years ago, they have shared a close friendship, even though they live in different states. They can hardly believe it when their teen dream of traveling to Africa together becomes a reality. It's the trip of a lifetime -- but life sure isn't what they thought it would be back when they were young.

Along with their suitcases, both women bring emotional baggage that weighs heavily on them. The two best friends slowly open up to each other about the challenges waiting for them back home. Soon they discover that the people the meet and the places they experience have the power to change their heart -- but only if they listen to the gentle lessons God is teaching them in the land of emerald tea fields, graceful giraffes, and rambunctious elephants.

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure on a safari of the heart in this vulnerable exploration of how to move forward in faith even when the future is uncertain.

This book provided for review by Revell.