Staged Evidence: A Pen & Dagger Novel By Traci Hunter Abramson-Romantic Suspense Review

Book Synopsis

From the queen of clean romantic suspense—one terrified witness, one unsuspecting Broadway playwright, and a killer who won’t stop until the final curtain falls.

When Tessa Seidel delivers costumes to a Manhattan television studio late at night, she expects an empty set—not a murder scene. After stumbling upon a woman’s body and nearly being attacked by a man fleeing the scene, Tessa escapes with no idea who to trust—and a fear that the killer knows who she is.

Desperate, she runs to a friend’s beach house in the Hamptons, where Broadway playwright Parker Sawyer is retreating to finish his next script. But he knows danger when he sees it and offers to shelter Tessa, even when they find out she is being accused of committing the murder.

Back in Manhattan, CIA operatives Kimber Seidel and Brandon Hale realize Tessa is being framed. But with a powerful suspect manipulating the investigation, clearing Tessa’s name won’t be easy.

If they can’t unravel the truth in time, Tessa won’t just be the prime suspect—she’ll be the next victim. 

Book Details

• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Publication date: April 7, 2026
• Language: English
• Print length: 304 pages
• ISBN-10: 1639934731

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

Traci Hunter Abramson has done it again! I’ve been absolutely loving the direction she’s taken with her writing over the last few years, and 

Staged Evidence, 

the second installment in her A Pen & Dagger series, hits the mark.

The murder mystery is packed with twists, especially as we catch up with Kimber and Brandon from book one (Novel Threat). The stakes are personal this time: Kimber’s sister, Tessa, has been framed for murder. Forced to go on the run, she finds shelter in the Hamptons with Parker Sawyer, a Broadway playwright who happens to be the nephew of Kimber’s boss.

I absolutely loved the forced proximity of their situation. Being tucked away in a beach house created this cozy, high-stakes environment where their connection could really breathe. It wasn't just "insta-love"; it felt like a natural insta-connection that grew as they learned to trust one another. Parker is incredibly protective, but I loved that Tessa was just as fiercely protective of him. One of the most creative parts was seeing how Parker used his playwriting skills to help solve the case, weaving his career directly into the plot to communicate with those on the outside.

The plot moves at a breakneck pace, and I felt so much secondary anxiety as the detectives closed in. Traci expertly scatters clues and red herrings throughout, keeping the suspense at a fever pitch until the very last act. I ended up staying up way too late just to see how it all unraveled! While you could read this as a standalone, I’d highly recommend starting with book one to get the full experience. Traci Abramson always leaves me wanting more, and now I’m just anxiously waiting for the next release.

****Meet Author Traci Hunter Abramson****

Traci Hunter Abramson, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer, was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the CIA for six years until she resigned to raise her family.

Traci is a popular writing instructor and keynote speaker. She has written more than fifty best-selling novels, several of which have won awards. Traci was also honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2025 for her contribution to the writing community. She loves hearing from her readers. Learn more about her...

HERE: https://www.traciabramson.com/

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Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey By Jane Goodall with Phillip Berman-Review

 Book Synopsis

From world-renowned scientist Jane Goodall, as seen in the new National Geographic documentary Jane, comes a poignant memoir about her spiritual epiphany and an appeal for why everyone can find a reason for hope.

Dr. Jane Goodall's revolutionary study of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe preserve forever altered the very, definition of humanity. Now, in a poignant and insightful memoir, Jane Goodall explores her extraordinary life and personal spiritual odyssey, with observations as profound as the knowledge she has brought back from the forest.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2000
• Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised ed.
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0446676136
• ***I purchased my own copy at a Jane Goodall exhibit.***

• 
  

My Review

I purchased Reason for Hope a few years ago while visiting an exhibit about Jane Goodall. When she passed, it felt like the right moment to finally read it and learn more about such an extraordinary woman. She has always intrigued me because of her profound love for animals a passion I’ve shared my entire life. At one point, I even dreamed of becoming a wildlife biologist, zookeeper, or conservationist, which is why Jane’s work has always touched me so deeply.

Reason for Hope traces the journey of her life across many decades, taking the reader from the London Blitz to famous excavations in Africa, and eventually into the forests of Gombe to be with her beloved chimpanzees. Beyond the research, she opens up about being a woman of science who learned to embrace her spiritual side, a balance that gave her life true meaning and direction.

I was especially moved by her reflections on the meaning of life:

"Was there a guiding force in the universe, a creator of matter and thus life itself? Was there a purpose to life on planet Earth? And if so, what role were we supposed to play in the overall picture? In particular, what was my role to be?"

Looking back on her life, the impact of her work is undeniable. She was a woman of hope, dedication, and tireless optimism. At her funeral, her son, Hugo van Lawick Jr., gave a moving goodbye, remembering the quiet, wise, and loving times they had together. His words moved the world to tears as he honored her legacy—not through her fame, but through the everyday compassion she practiced for humans and animals.

Reading this book allowed me to get to know a different side of Jane Goodall. She was so much more than a researcher; she was a global activist and humanitarian. From founding the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 for community-centered conservation to launching the Roots & Shoots youth program in 1991, her reach was vast. As a UN Messenger of Peace, she never stopped advocating for the environment and animal welfare.

To end this review, I want to share her final message to the world from the Netflix series Famous Last Words. She urged us all to maintain hope and take action against climate change, reminding us that

"Every single day you live, you make a difference in the world—and you get to choose the difference that you make."

Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey is a beautiful reminder that we all play a role in conservation and animal rights. It has inspired me to continue doing my part to make the world a better place for all living things.

****Meet Author Jane Goodall****

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, is an iconic voice for holistic, compassionate, and sustainable solutions. Through her global advocacy as an ethologist and environmentalist, she is shaping attitudes and policy on issues ranging from human rights to the climate crisis, and inspiring action through the power of hope.

Jane Goodall was born on April 3rd, 1934, in London, England. At the age of 26, Jane followed her passion for wildlife and Africa to Gombe, Tanzania. There, under the mentorship of paleoanthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, she began her landmark study of chimpanzees in the wild. Her revelatory observation in 1960 that chimpanzees make and use tools rocked the scientific landscape and forever redefined our understanding of the relationship between humans and other animals.

In 1977, Dr. Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), a global community-led conservation, research, and animal welfare organization to advance her vision of a better future for all. In 1991, Dr. Goodall created Roots & Shoots, JGI's international youth program, now active in more than 60 countries, to develop the compassionate changemakers our world needs.

From scientist to world-renowned activist, Jane has been a leader in the community-led conservation and animal-welfare movements for decades.

She passed away in October of 2025.

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The House Saphir By Marissa Meyer-YA Romantasy Murder Mystery Review

 

Book Synopsis

This is the tale of Bluebeard as it's never been told before--a romantasy murder mystery.

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ FABER AND FABER
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 6, 2025
• Genre: YA Romantasy
• Edition ‏ : ‎ International Edition
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0571396976
• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
• 
  

My Review

I was so excited to dive into The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer. I’ve always loved her books, and when I saw this described as a "thrilling romantasy" that’s part ghost story and part murder mystery, I was sold. Honestly? It pretty much lived up to the hype.

The story follows Mallory Fontaine, a girl who can actually see ghosts. To keep her and her sister, Anaïs, afloat, they run fake tours and sell "haunted" trinkets. Their luck changes when Armand Saphir offers Mallory a deal: exorcise a ghost from his family’s massive estate, the ghostly murderer Monsieur Le Bleu, his great-great-grandfather, and he’ll pay their rent. What starts as a (somewhat) easy job quickly spirals into a dangerous game of murder, magic, and dark secrets.

Since this is a Bluebeard retelling and I hadn’t read the original story, the twists were all new to me. Even though Mallory is the lead, I absolutely loved Bastien’s dead wives. As ghosts, they brought so much humor to a book that gets pretty dark.

The story starts a bit slow, but the tension really ramps up once they’re trapped at the creepy House of Saphir. While I wished the romance between Mallory and Armand had a bit more spark, the real heart of the book is the fierce loyalty between the two sisters. I also loved the monster hunters, Fitcher and Constantino—they added some great levity while helping take down Bastien in the final act.

Watching Mallory finally find the power to banish Bastien to the underworld was the perfect ending. If you want a fast-paced, atmospheric mystery with heavy Gothic vibes and high stakes, you need to read this. It’s spooky, tense, and totally worth the ride.

****Meet Author Marissa Meyer****

Marissa Meyer is a fangirl at heart, with a closet full of costumes, a Harry Potter wand on her desk, and a Tuxedo Mask doll hanging from her rear view mirror. Han and Leia are still her OTP. She may or may not be a cyborg.

Marissa is also the NYT bestselling author of a number of books for teens, including The Lunar Chronicles, the Renegades Trilogy, and Heartless.

Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.marissameyer.com or follow her on social media:

Instagram: @marissameyerauthor

Pinterest: @marissameyerauthor

Facebook: @marissameyerauthor

Twitter: @marissa_meyer

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The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins By Melanie Dickerson-Historical Christian Romance Review

 Book Synopsis

My only remaining marriage prospects were the head gardener, the vicar, and the steward. But how could I marry any of them when I was in love . . . with Lord Brookhaven?

Charlotte Robbins accepts a governess position for the Earl of Brookhaven's siblings despite rumors of the earl's severe and mysterious demeanor. As a lowly governess, Charlotte entertains thoughts of possible romance with an eligible servant until she does fall unexpectedly in love--with the pensive earl himself.

But love does not mean a match is possible, and the earl's friends warn Charlotte that if he were to fall for her, it would ruin him. Just as Charlotte resigns herself to the impossibility of her feelings, she receives news that she has inherited a fortune from a long-lost relative. Now thrust into London high society, Charlotte grapples with suitors vying for her attention, but her heart still belongs to the Earl of Brookhaven. As secrets unfold, she's no longer certain if her newfound fortune is a blessing--or if it is the very thing that threatens the love she's always longed for.

"A unique story with a richly tapestried setting that makes this Regency novel sparkle to the very end."--Laura Frantz, Christy Award-winning author of The Indigo Heiress

In this captivating rags-to-riches, upstairs/downstairs historical Regency romance for fans of Jane Eyre, New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson weaves a stunning tale of a mysterious fortune, forbidden love, and a brooding love interest.

Book Details

• Publisher: ‎ Bethany House Publishers
• Publication date: ‎ March 17, 2026
• Genre: Historical Christian Romance
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 0764245228

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. ****

My Review

The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins by Melanie Dickerson is a charming Regency romance that leans into those classic Jane Eyre vibes.

The story follows Charlotte Robbins, an orphan raised in a girls' school who longs for a family of her own. She takes a position as a governess for the broody and mysterious Earl of Brookhaven, William. Their connection is instant, starting with a midnight rooftop meeting, and I loved watching their relationship blossom on his estate. However, the vast gap in their social stations makes a future together seem impossible.

The novel is split into two distinct parts. Part One: Is my personal favorite. It focuses on Charlotte bonding with William’s siblings and the unexpected romance growing between employer and employee. Part Two: Is the "Rags to Riches" twist. Charlotte receives a mysterious fortune from an "unknown uncle," allowing her to enter society. Unbeknownst to her, William is the one who gifted her the wealth to secure her future.

The second half was a bit frustrating for me. While Charlotte deals with fortune hunters and a blackmailing villain trying to take her orphaned wards, William remains distant. Having been burned by a former fiancée, he stands by while other men court her. I really wanted to see him take a stronger stand for her hand much sooner!

While the middle dragged slightly and I craved more "on-page" romance before the finale, the characters themselves are very likable. If you enjoy a clean, faith-based Regency with a Cinderella-style transformation, The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins is a solid pick.

****Meet Author Melanie Dickerson ****

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author of happily-ever-after romance. She believes in love, laughter, afternoon tea, and the power of story.

With a million books sold and numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Golden Quills, a National Readers Choice Award, Christian Retailing’s Best, and Book Buyers’ Best Awards, her books have hit #1 in her category on the New York Times bestseller list.

When she’s not writing, Melanie can be found watching While You Were Sleeping for the hundredth time, cozying up to her handsome hero husband, or shaking her head at her slightly unhinged Jack Russell terrier. She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians near Huntsville, Alabama.

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All Booked Up: A Small Town Contemporary Clean Romance By Melody Carlson-Review

Book Synopsis

Empty nester and widow Riva Owen lives in the Victorian house that's been in her family for three generations, but finances have become a challenge she can no longer ignore. Her daughter is pushing her to move, and after considering all her options, Riva knows selling would be the smartest course. But she just can't bring herself to leave years of memories--and her cherished library filled with hundreds of books.

When she pursues an alternative--opening her home to women like her who have been forced to make lifestyle changes and need a room to rent--Riva is unprepared for the mix of personalities and peculiarities of her new housemates. She is even more unprepared for Marcus, the handsome and handy older brother of one of her new tenants. The possibility of finding love again feels overwhelming, even as her tenants seem to have romantic schemes of their own.

Warm your heart with a contemporary romance story of found family, booklovers, new beginnings, and an unexpected second chance at love in Melody Carlson's delightful signature style.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Revell
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 17, 2026
• Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800747259

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

• 
  

My Review

I recently finished All Booked Up, and it was exactly the kind of story I needed. It is so rare and refreshing to find a novel that focuses on middle-aged women with such honesty and heart. I found myself nodding along to so many of their struggles, feeling like I was sitting right there in the room with them.

The story centers on Riva, a widow who is at a major crossroads with her beautiful, memory-filled home. Instead of taking the predictable path and selling it, she makes the brave (and slightly chaotic!) choice to rent out rooms to other women. This decision sets off a chain reaction that changes everything. Watching her navigate this new chapter was incredibly inspiring; it reminded me that our lives don't have to stop evolving just because we hit a certain age.

The house becomes a melting pot of personalities, and that’s where the magic happens. I went through the whole emotional spectrum:

• The Laughs: The banter and unexpected situations were so funny.

• The Tears: The moments where the women dealt with grief were handled with such grace.

• The "Cringe": There were definitely those awkward, petty jealousies that made the characters feel like real, flawed human beings.

What resonated with me most was the focus on friendship over romance. While society often tells us we need a partner to be "complete," this book argues that a solid group of friends is the most important support system of all. Even the most annoying character in the group, the one I wanted to shake at first, eventually won me over. Seeing her learn to love and forgive herself was a powerful reminder that it is never too late to make a new start.

This novel is a beautiful "second-chance-at-life" story. It’s empowering and hopeful and left me with a huge smile on my face. If you’re looking for a book that celebrates the journeys of women growing together, this is it.

****Meet Author Melody Carlson****

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

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