Six Anticipated Releases in January-February 2024

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What new releases are you looking forward to this winter? Here are the ones I'll reading in the next few weeks. Click on any cover to check out the book on Amazon. Don't forget to preorder! If you'd like to hear me talk about these books, you can access my audio content by subscribing to my newsletter here.



"The Seamstress of Acadie" by Laura Frantz

If you love novels with rich historical details seamlessly woven in, you are probably already familiar with Laura Frantz. This story is set in eighteenth century Canada and will be one of my very next reads.
Releases January 9



"The Divine Proverb of Streusel" by Sara Brunsvold

Sara's debut novel, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, has been met with broad acclaim. I have a feeling her second release is going to be just as well-received and touch many hearts.
Releases January 16



"Of Love and Treason" by Jamie Ogle

Are you familiar with the origins of Valentine's Day? In this debut novel from Tyndale, travel back to Rome in AD 270 to learn about this faithful hero in the retelling of his story.
Releases January 23



"Embers in the London Sky" by Sarah Sundin

A young widow is separated from her three-year-old son during the London Blitz. Doesn't that description already tug on your heartstrings? Sarah Sundin is the queen of WWII Christian fiction, and I can't wait to read this one.



"Rocky Road" by Becky Wade

FBI agent Jude has no problems following rules—until he meets Gemma and has to pose as her boyfriend in order to complete their protection assignment. This sequel to Memory Lane takes us back to Maine for another adventure with the Camden brothers.
Releases February 14



"The Rhythm of Fractured Grace" by Amanda Wen

I have loved Amanda Wen's Kansas-centered split-time novels. The contemporary half of the story focuses on addressing abuse in the church, while the historical counterpart is based on a real-life ancestor of Amanda's who survived being scalped. Aren't you intrigued already?
Releases February 20

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"Path of Totality" by Heather Kreke

 


I really do enjoy a good speculative title every now and then. This YA dystopian tells the story of Jadzia, a 17-year-old who is forced into the military after a series of terrorist attacks plunges the United States into war. 

(Review note: Yes, the main character's name is Jadzia. Like Jadzia Dax from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I'd hardly gotten used to it when the names of other Star Trek characters appeared, including Sisko, Bashir, Archer, and Riker/Ryker. Readers who are not Star Trek nerds might not pick up on this, but it did make me roll my eyes, if only because there were so many of them.)

Jadzia is motivated to do well in the military, but soon it all becomes too much and her goals change dramatically. She must lean on her instincts and her training to cross hundreds of miles, facing hunger, exhaustion, and attacks from unfriendly foes. Is anyone trustworthy?

Travel with Jadzia for one survival adventure after another. When she meets a group who live by the tenets of the Bible, she has to make different choices entirely.

I thought the writing was well-done, as was the narration for the audiobook. There were a few minor things that bothered me, such as the second point of view character not being introduced until around Chapter 40, and the book ends in a cliffhanger to draw you in for the second book in the series. Overall, however, I would recommend this for fans of YA dystopian with a Christian theme woven in.

"The Seamstress of Acadie" by Laura Frantz

 


Once upon Acadia's shores stood Sylvie Galant. Happy, content, and surrounded by family. But the world around her was not content, and Sylvie is forced to make choices she would never have made otherwise, including accepting courtship from a suspected British spy.

Then her entire world is turned upside down in a series of heartbreaking events.

William Blackburn has been a man of the woods ever since his childhood home was destroyed. Now a highly respected ranger, he leads his men for the cause he believes in. But when those he is aiding turn out to be no better than those who killed his family, Will leaves rangering behind and seeks to build a new home near colonial Williamsburg.

Their paths crossed a few times in Acadie, but when Sylvie and Will meet again in Williamsburg, much has changed for both of them. But their connection remains strong despite her feelings toward the role he played in Acadie. 

Like all Laura Frantz stories, this one has realistic characters, a touching storyline, and beautiful prose that draws you in. I thought it got off to a bit of a slow start and I would have liked to see more of the early story from Will's point of view, but I enjoyed the novel and highly recommend it for fans of historical romance. I enjoyed seeing a few minor characters from another of Laura's books, and there's one minor character who stole my heart in this story who I hope will have his own book someday.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this opinion are my own.