Can't Wait for... Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #CarnivalFantástico #AngelaMontoya #yalit #yabooks #fantasy


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I apologize about not posting last week! I had family in town staying with us and with all the craziness, I didn't get my post done. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a fabulous start to 2026!

This upcoming release reminds me a bit of The Night Circus, which is still a book that has stayed with me years later and was so unique. I don't have expectations that this will be like that book, but it is reminiscent and sounds intriguing. It's my pick this week...

Carnival Fantástico
By Angela Montoya
YA Fantasy, Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 464 Pages
February 3, 2026 by Joy Revolution

Summary

“Witty, charming, and a little sinister, this is a real showstopper.” —Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Starlight

An unputdownable romantasy following a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that the carnival is more sinister than it appears.


Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival's resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.

Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he's ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.

Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they'll need to confront.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Can't Wait for... Edge of Truth by Janice Cantore (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #EdgeofTruth #JaniceCantore #suspense #cleanreads @Crazy4Fiction


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I've been a fan of this author for some time. She writes compelling suspense with great characters who are usually in law enforcement. I can't wait for her newest to come up in my reading queue! It's my pick this week...

Edge of Truth
By Janice Cantore
Contemporary Romantic Suspense, Thriller
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 352 Pages
February 17, 2026 by Tyndale Fiction

Summary

One case almost destroyed her career. Now the past seems to have caught up with her. And as a high-stakes game of truth and lies unfolds, someone’s out for retribution at any cost.

As a detective in the Long Beach Police Department’s violent crimes division, Lainie Jensen is no stranger to hard-to-crack cases and unusual disappearances, but then her sister Evie vanishes on a trip to Hawaii. After traveling there to look for her, Lainie quickly realizes her brother-in-law Stan is telling law enforcement a story that doesn’t appear to add up.

FBI special agent Ben Isaacs has spent six months collecting evidence to take down a money laundering operation. While his fellow agent Efren Gomez goes undercover to infiltrate the ring, Ben investigates those connected to it, including Stan Moffitt, who Ben believes could help lead to the criminal kingpin. Then Stan’s wife goes missing just days after Ben contacted her seeking information, and he knows there’s more to this case, especially when he loses contact with Efren and law enforcement comes up short in their search for him.

When Ben’s and Lainie’s investigations converge, Lainie’s not eager to work alongside Ben given their complicated history, but she’s willing to do so if it means figuring out what Stan knows and locating Evie. Soon, Lainie can’t deny Ben’s dedication to finding the truth or her growing admiration for him. And the more the two examine the evidence, the more they suspect Evie’s disappearance is tied to a highly publicized criminal case from Lainie’s past . . . and someone is playing a perilous game aimed at personal revenge.

- Great for fans of thrillers by Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, and Allison Brennan
- Police procedural featuring a detective and an FBI agent written by a former police officer
- Clean, stand-alone romantic suspense novel filled with high stakes, edge-of-your-seat adventure, elements of mystery, and themes of fighting for justice
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

A futuristic sci-fi with an underdog heroine... Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer (Review & #Giveaway) #MaxineJustice #DavielSchwabauer #bookx #scifibooks #newbooks @celebrate_lit @enclavebooks


Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the giveaway below...

Maxine Justice: Public Offender 
(Maxine Justice #2)
By Daniel Schwabauer
Science Fiction, Dystopian
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 256 Pages
November 4, 2025 by Enclave Publishing

Summary

The case she didn’t need. The client she didn’t want. The trial she couldn’t win.

Fresh off her single-handed defense against alien adversaries in a galactic courtroom, Maxine Justice discovers that saving the Earth is not enough to earn a hero’s welcome back home. Once again broke and now looking for revenge, her return to night court as a public defender takes an immediate detour when she’s tasked with defending a Therapod murder suspect.

The case drags her into the quirky theories of her new client, Father Gilbert Barthes, and the corrupt underbelly of corporate robotics. As her defense takes on global significance, Maxine lands squarely in the crosshairs of new enemies determined to conceal their plans for acquiring the planet. Worse, her probably guilty client may be the only one who can expose what’s really happening.

Stripped of all credibility and most of her friends, can Maxine find some way to save humanity when the world is bent on self-destruction? Or will Earth finally succumb to the most unlikely deception?

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

MAXINE JUSTICE: PUBLIC OFFENDER is book two in this futuristic series set on earth where the heroine is a down-on-her-luck attorney with plenty of sarcasm. Fans of unique world building, relatable characters and intriguing plots will find much to enjoy as this series continues.

You almost feel like you're reading or watching one of the classic detective shows except the main character is an attorney and it's set in a futuristic world. The author's unique imagination comes through in this world with humans, androids, and aliens. Then there's the main character, Maxine Justice, who is so every-day relatable with her wit and sarcasm. There are also a handful of interesting side characters. Maxine got mixed up in a case in the first book that she's still recovering from, and doesn't realize that she's still in it and digging deeper. I enjoy the underlying suspense and mystery in all the books I've read by this author and that is very present here. The plot steadily weaves its way and the reader finds things out as Maxine does (so you experience her story instead of being told it), with plenty of red herrings in the mix. I also like how Max thinks so little of herself, but honestly keeps getting herself into these situations where it shows she has quite a bit of mettle and integrity. There's some intensity and danger to this story as well with a climatic ending with a courtroom finish. I'm very curious what the author is working up for book three!

In the end, was it what I wished for? If you're a fan of sci-fi with relatable characters, a unique world, interesting plots, and no romance, then this is definitely a series to check out!

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my review.)

About the Author


Daniel Schwabauer, ThD, teaches English at MidAmerica Nazarene University and writes award-winning fantasy and science fiction novels. His professional work includes textbooks, stage plays, radio scripts, short stories, newspaper columns, comic books, scripting for the PBS animated series Auto-B-Good, and theology. He earned an MA in creative writing under science fiction legend James Gunn and completed his doctoral work in semiotic theology with Leonard Sweet. He lives in Olathe, Kansas, with his wife and dogs.

More from the Author (from Maxine Justice)

I tend to get three questions from people who only know me from the Night Court Channel or watching my defense of planet Earth on the global broadcast that made me famous. To the first, no, I haven’t seen a penny of the money I’m owed because the feds froze ALL of my bank accounts, even my personal savings. Second, traveling in a space-egg with a pastoroid was not as terrifying as it sounds—except that I had no way to escape Counselor Singh’s dad jokes. And third, no, even though my cat is still missing, I do not want one of your kittens, thank you very much.

Maxine Justice, LLC is your only source for first-hand legal advice pertaining to extraterrestrial medical malpractice, predatory off-world time-sharing contracts, and “surprise implants” experiences at the Coliseum.

We’re also the only law firm committed to exposing what’s really happening in the world of artificial humans.

Ever wondered how Counselor Singh could be targeted on the steps of the UN building during a heavily-covered press conference, yet six months later law enforcement still claims they have no idea who the shooter was? Doesn’t it seem odd that they turned the forensic evidence over to Singh’s manufacturer instead of using a neutral third party?

If I were an artificial person, I’d be screaming these questions from the rooftop. Yet we haven’t heard a peep from that community since it happened.

That’s not some wild conspiracy. That’s fear.

Which is where I come in.

If you’re a TheraPod concerned about your future in a world spiraling out of control— if you’re a pastoroid, a rabbot, a podre, an e-mam, a surgicon EZ Doc, or any other model of artificial person and you face a legal dilemma involving your own termination and/or the fate of biological humans, give me a call.

If you’re a regular human and you’ve been railroaded by York City’s legal system, targeted by ruthless corporate bullies, or victimized by inhuman—and I do mean not-at-all-human—business practices, talk to me.

I’m not in it for the money.

I don’t have any!

I’m in it for my name—for Justice.

And I promise you this: I won’t smile until you do.

Tour Schedule

Simple Harvest Reads, December 13 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 14 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, December 15 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, December 15

Blossoms and Blessings, December 16 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, December 17

Fiction Book Lover, December 18 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, December 19 (Spotlight)

Blogging With Carol, December 19


For the Love of Literature, December 21 (Author Interview)


A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 23 (Spotlight)

Stories By Gina, December 24 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, December 25 (Spotlight)

Books Less Travelled, December 26 (Spotlight)

Tour-Wide Giveaway


To celebrate his tour, Daniel 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.


Have you read any other stories like this? Have you read the first book in this series or any of the author's other books?

Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this Regency suspense... Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen (Review) #newbooks #bookx #WhispersatPainswickCourt #JulieKlassen #christfic #histfic #historicalmystery #historicalsuspense #cleanreads @Julie_Klassen @austenprose

Whispers at Painswick Court
By Julie Klassen
Historical Suspense, Romance, Inspirational
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages
December 2, 2025 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

She expected her return to Painswick would bring memories of the past--not danger and romance.

Anne Loveday, a surgeon's daughter, is determined to live a single, useful life. To escape her matchmaking stepmother, she accepts an invitation from an old friend to return to Painswick, the place where she and her sister spent many happy summers until that last, fateful year.

Soon after arriving, Anne is asked to serve as sickroom nurse to Lady Celia, who forbade her nephew to marry Anne's sister years before. Pushing aside resentments, Anne moves into Painswick Court, a shadowy old house rumored to be haunted. Also in residence are Lady Celia's spinster daughter, her handsome adult nephews, and a secretive new lady's maid. Two local doctors visit regularly as well, one of whom admires Anne while concealing secrets of his own.

As an escalating series of mishaps befalls her patient, Anne realizes someone is trying to kill the woman. But who? When Anne finds herself a suspect and her resolution to avoid romance challenged, can she discover the real culprit--and protect her heart--before it's too late?

Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this compelling Regency-era novel laced with intrigue, love, and English village charm for fans of historical romance and whodunit mysteries.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

WHISPERS AT PAINSWICK COURT has a slight Gothic feel to it as the heroine cares for an ailing gentlewoman in a great English house. The heroine is easy to like with some other interesting characters who may or may not be trustworthy. The suspense steadily unfolds with a climatic ending that fans of the genre will enjoy!

There were several little nods to Austen and Northanger Abbey in this story, which I found very fun. Then there was this small group of characters who gave a slight feel of Agatha Christie's style. The mix was interesting and definitely kept me turning the pages. The suspense was fairly steady and underlying for most of the book. The heroine wasn't exactly sure what was happening and if she was imagining sinister intent. Then towards the end, the suspense intensifies with plenty of danger and a few chills.

I liked the characters in this story. Anne is unsure of herself in so many ways, but is an intelligent, responsible woman with her own dreams and expectations. The cousins at the estate, two of which I liked, all have their different personalities and are well drawn. Lady Celia is a bit of a cranky old lady, but she grows on you. Each doctor has his own role to play as does Anne's old family friend and the maid who cares for Lady Celia. There are some complex relationships, some sweet and some not. There is also a budding romance that is weaved throughout the story. I liked that it wasn't the main focus and that Anne coming to her own truths in many ways was. The story felt genuine in Anne's character development and in the sweet ending.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an overall enjoyable suspense, more on the light side but with some intensity towards the end. There's a motley crew of characters, a likable heroine, and sweet romance with a touch of inspirational elements. Recommended to fans of the author and genre.

Content: Some violence but clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

What was the last historical mystery/suspense you read? Would you recommend it?

Can't Wait for... Track of Courage by Susan May Warren (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #TrackofCourage #CalloftheWild #SusanMayWarren #suspense #romancebooks #christfic


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I have a confession to make. I'm pretty much addicted to this author's books. She has great characters, sweet romance that usually has plenty of humor, and hold-on-to-your-seat suspense. They're unputdownable and I usually need to binge an entire series at once. Her upcoming release is my pick this week...

Track of Courage
(Call of the Wild #1)
By Susan May Warren
Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 320 Pages
January 6, 2026 by Revell

Summary

A hijacked plane. A pursuing killer. And a K9's instinct to help them make it out alive.

Pop singer Keely Williams's search for her biological mother in Alaska has been painfully unsuccessful. Now she just wants to escape this wild frontier and never look back. But when her plane is hijacked, she's suddenly plunged into a race against not only an Alaskan blizzard but also a killer who's on her tail.

After a career-ending injury, ex-cop Dawson Mulligan has only one friend--Caspian, the stray dog he adopted. Dawson just wants to figure out how to get his life on track, but during a flight home to Copper Mountain, he spots a downed plane and stops to help. Except, when his not-a-rescue dog runs off into the woods and discovers the trail of a missing survivor, it's up to the former cop to stage a rescue.

But Dawson has no idea he's being pulled into a deadly pursuit, or that Caspian is more than he seems. There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future.

Join master storyteller Susan May Warren for a propulsive ride through the Alaskan wilderness, where love might be the riskiest--and most rewarding--adventure of all.

Prepare to experience edge-of-your-seat action combined with heart-stirring romance and heroic K9 companions in this exhilarating romantic suspense that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

A modern Pride & Prejudice story... Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller (Review) #newbooks #bookx #NotExactlyMrDarcy #TheSilverTeapotSeries #CarolynMiller #BarbourFiction #romancebooks #cleanreads #christianromance @austenprose

Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
(The Silver Teapot Series #1)
By Carolyn Miller
Contemporary Christian Romance, Clean & Wholesome
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 256 Pages
December 1, 2025 by Barbour Fiction

Summary

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book. Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

NOT EXACTLY MR. DARCY takes readers to a charming English town and a struggling estate that was famously used in a Pride and Prejudice film. Full of small-town quirks, delightful townspeople, one rather gruff gardener, a troublesome dog, complex family, and a girl trying to find what path God has for her makes for an endearing story. Fans of Austen's Pride and Prejudice will find some similarities in this story and will delight in how the author makes this tale completely her own!

Olivia is easy to love as the heroine of this story. She has some quirky, over-the-top caring family members and escapes to her equally quirky grandmother in England. The town and its people are so charming, as is the manor caretaker even though first impressions, and second, and third... seem otherwise. There is a nice bit of humor throughout and some lovely relationships that develop. I most loved the back and forth between Olivia and Liam and their delightfully sweet romance. I also enjoyed Olivia's relationship with her grandmother and Liam's sister. Olivia is lost in parts as she tries to figure out what she's supposed to do, but she moves forward as best she can, trusts in God, and finds that she's someone worth fighting for.

My only real complaint with this story was some of Olivia's cluelessness and subsequent reactions to finding out something. It felt like it was much too strong for the situation and made me disappointed as I thought her character was better than this. I think a slightly different circumstance could have still worked. 

In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed just about every minute of this story. It was heartfelt, sweet, with emotional depth and likable characters. It's definitely a book to grab if you're in the mood for an inspirational romance set in a small, quaint town in England with plenty of nods to Pride and Prejudice.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author


Carolyn Miller is an inspirational Regency and contemporary romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband, she has pastored a church for ten years and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

Find the author here.

Have you read any books like this where the heroine gets to work at a location that appeared in a movie? Who is your favorite leading hero?

Can't Wait for... Mayhem on the Marzipan Express by Rebecca Connolly (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #MayhemontheMarzipanExpress #RebeccaConnolly #AClaireWalkerMystery #mystery #cozymystery #cleanreads


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

These cozy mystery books mixed with baking are so much fun! I'm very much looking forward to this second Claire Walker Mystery. It's my pick this week...

Mayhem on the Marzipan Express
(A Claire Walker Mystery #2)
By Rebecca Connolly
Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Romance
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 320 Pages
January 26, 2026 by Shadow Mountain Publishing

Summary

A romantic getaway through the Scottish Highlands turns deadly when a passenger on the train is murdered—and a famous chef is the prime suspect.

Amateur baker and part-time sleuth Claire Walker may not have won Britian’s Battle of the Bakers cooking competition, but she still went home with a grand prize: Jonathan Ainsley’s heart. The happy couple boards the famed Scottish train, the Mallaig Steam Express—temporarily renamed “The Marzipan Express” in honor of famed chef Alan Gables, who is hosting an exclusive culinary experience for his most devoted fans. Claire is delighted to serve as Alan’s sous chef for the trip, hoping to learn some baking tips from the master.

The trip has barely begun when the train screeches to a halt. The engine has malfunctioned and must be repaired. While Claire and Jonny explore the train, they discover a dead body in one of the dining cars. It appears to be an accident, but Claire can sense something is wrong as easily as she can sense an overbaked soufflé. When the clues all point to Alan as the culprit, Claire and Jonny decide to investigate on their own. Unfortunately, Alan doesn’t have an alibi, his assistant is oddly nervous around him, and a shadowy figure keeps appearing at all the wrong times. Could it be someone from Alan’s past trying to frame him? Or could Alan be trying to cover his tracks?

Claire had hoped for a delicious, romantic getaway, not investigating a mysterious death while stress-eating trifle in the kitchen car and trying to not be jealous of a magazine reporter who is flirting with Jonny. It’s mayhem in more ways than one.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one? Did you read the first book in the series?

Another delightful Austen inspired cozy mystery... Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly (Review) #MurderatDonwellAbbey #AnEmmaKnightleyMystery #VanessaKelly #newbooks #bookx #cozymystery #regencymystery #austenesquefiction #janeausten #jaff #austenprosepr @KensingtonBooks @austenprose

Murder at Donwell Abbey
(An Emma Knightley Mystery #2)
By Vanessa Kelly
Historical Cozy Mystery
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 416 Pages
November 25, 2025 by Kensington

Summary

This latest Regency-era mystery from USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly finds Jane Austen’s clever Emma Knightley (nee Woodhouse) as an amateur sleuth, navigating shocking changes in her family—while meeting her match in a deadly adversary . . .

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

MURDER AT DONWELL ABBEY is another delightful Austen inspired cozy mystery in this series. With Emma and Knightley along with other characters investigating a mysterious death, the small town of Highbury finds it's not as peaceful as thought. With the fun dynamics between Emma and her husband, a bit of a surprise with her father and the cadence of the original, Austen fans will find much to delight in this second installment! Also highly recommended to cozy historical mystery fans! 

I adored the first book in this series and was excited to jump back into the world of Emma with this one! It did not disappoint! Like the first book in the series, the pace is fairly steady with occasional red herrings and small town happenings dispersed throughout. I loved the dynamic between Emma and her husband (one of my favorite things about this series) along with all the humor. The characters come alive, especially Emma and Miss Bates. The story also has a climatic end that will push you to the edge of your seat and was done remarkedly well. I enjoyed just about every single minute and am looking forward to more!

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a relaxing (except towards the end when it's a bit intense) delight to read. Highly recommended for Austen and cozy historical mystery fans!

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Image linked to my review.)

Are you an Austen or Emma fan? Have you read the first book in this series? Have you read anything similar where an Austen character is the main character by another author?