Without a Clue: A Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery Book about Books Paperback by Melissa Ferguson

Without a Clue: A Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery Book about Books by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful book. Penelope Mae DuPont is the personal assistant to a mystery writer. She organizes a luxury cruise for seven writers. Everything goes well until Hugh Griffin ends up dead, the cruise ship security is incompetent, and she is beginning to suspect everyone in her party. Nash, the dreamy Western author, offers to help her as they try to untangle the mystery and solve the crime.

 
Without a Clue filled me with joy and may be my favorite Melissa Ferguson book to date. I laughed out loud and finished this one quickly. I loved Penelope and watching her grow and change during our story. Penelope and Nash had great chemistry, banter, and it was fun to watch their relationship. The mystery added some intrigue to the story. I also loved how the author kindly roasted the different genres of authors and readers. The book cover will clue you in.

Without a Clue: A Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery Book about Books by Melissa Ferguson is fantastic. It has mystery, romance, humor and will make you smile as a reader. I highly recommend Without A Clue!

Without a Clue publishes February 17.   Pre-order today.  

 I was gifted a copy and not required to write a review

Melissa Ferguson is a bestselling author of romantic comedies and cozy mystery rom-coms, including Meet Me in the Margins, How to Plot a Payback, On the Way to Christmas, and The Perfect Rom-Com. Her debut picture book, Our Friendly Farmhouse, introduced young readers to her signature warmth and charm beyond the rom-com page. Two of her novels are currently being adapted for film with Melissa serving as Executive Producer.

Come join over one million followers as she shares glimpses of farmhouse life with her husband and five children and bookish joy at @ourfriendlyfarmhouse.

Instagram: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse

TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus

 The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus is a beautiful historical fiction novel.  Isabel’s circumstances have been reduced and she moves to Cornwall to occupy a small cottage.  The people of the town remember her as the girl from sea who was found soaking wet one day and adopted by an admiral and his wife.  The village has created stories around Isabel and her appearance from the sea.  She meets Jack.    Isabel is learning to make a life, deal with smugglers, revenue officers, and the calling of the sea.

I was truly enchanted by the story of Isabel and Jack who have wonderful chemistry and banter.  Their complicated lives make their love story so interesting, fun and endearing.  I was drawn into the small village of Cornwall and fascinated by the local legends, people and history. I truly adored this book!  

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus is an enthralling book filled with romance, adventure, and Cornish folklore.  This marvelous story drew me in and I did not want to leave my new friends.  I very highly recommend The SeaChild by Linda Wilgus and this will be a 2026 highlight for me. 

I was gifted a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review. 

Linda Wilgus grew up in the Netherlands in a house full of books and has lived in Italy, Belgium and the United States before settling in the UK. As a child she wanted to be an explorer, a traveller or a writer and she considers herself very lucky that, writing historical fiction, she gets to be all three. A graduate of the University of Amsterdam, she worked as a bookseller and knitting pattern designer and her short stories have been published in various literary magazines, including Zone 3, J Journal, Reed Magazine, Kestrel, Yemassee and The Fourth River.

Linda lives near Cambridge with her husband, three children and dog. She visits Cornwall and Brittany as often as she can and when she’s not writing, she enjoys taking long hikes, as well as learning about local history and folklore. The Sea Child is her debut novel.

Linda is represented by Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency.

She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

A Moment to Love by Tracie Peterson

A Moment to Love by Tracie Peterson is book number three in The Hope of Cheyenne Series. The book can be read as a stand-alone novel or to complete the series. Dr. Carrie Vogel is beside herself when her fiancé steals her research work. After breaking up with him she decides to go back home to Cheyenne in the Wyoming territory to start again. Her good friend, Spencer Duval, a Pinkerton Detective, needs to travel to Cheyenne for business. They decide to have a temporary marriage as a way to detract attention from Spencer. But it is hard when you start to fall in love with your best friend.

I was swept up in this delightful multiple POV story set in 1890. Carrie and Spencer had so much depth as characters, were committed to helping people, and grew so much in the story making them very endearing charters I was invested in. The author wove themes of redemption, forgiveness, family, and making peace with yourself into the book. I appreciated the beauty of the story, getting to know the people of Cheyenne, and learning about female doctors and medicine in the 1890s.

I enjoyed reading A Moment to Love by Tracie Peterson. The characters were so engaging, the story had beautiful spiritual themes, and the setting was so interesting. I very highly recommend A Moment To Love by Tracie Peterson.

I was gifted a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

 

Tracie Peterson gave her life to Jesus at the age of six. Tracie knew at an early age that God was calling her to ministry, and writing for Him has allowed her to offer the Gospel message and encourage people to hope in the Lord. Her motto in writing, as well as all other aspects of life is Soli Deo Gloria—For God Alone the Glory.

Often called the “Queen of Historical Christian Fiction,” Tracie Peterson is an ECPA, CBA and USA Today best-selling author of more than 110 books, most of those historical. Her work in historical fiction earned her the Best Western Romance Author of 2013 award from True West magazine and the USA Best Books 2011 Award for best Religious Fiction for Embers of Love. She was given the Life Time Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers in 2011 and the Career Achievement Award in 2007 from Romantic Times, as well as multiple best book awards.Tracie received her first book contract in November 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership’s vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row. Eventually, Tracie also managed Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents book line—overseeing the production of 52 books a year.
In December 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group. She has co-written with a variety of authors including Judith Pella, Judith Miller, James Scott Bell, Kimberley Woodhouse, and Tracie’s daughter Jennifer.

Tracie, a Kansas native, now makes her home with her husband, Jim, in the mountains of Montana.

Remember That Day by Mary Balogh

I was so thrilled to read Remember That Day by Mary Balogh published by Berkley. It is a delightful Regency Romance and part of the Ravenwood series The story actually combines charters from to series. The author does a great job giving you the back story you need to easily understand the story.

I was looking for a Regency Romance to start off my year and this was the perfect book! I loved the engaging characters, Regency setting, and the sweet romance. The story had all things Regency with a house party, a Summer Festival, a London Ball, and all the complicated Regency society, friendships and rules explained so well.

Winifred Cunningham was endearing, kind, full of charm and a realism that she made her way into my heart. Nicholas is the perfect hero and I appreciated his introspective character. This dual POV made this love story a fun one to watch unfold. There were many interesting side characters giving the story depth.

I highly recommend this closed-door Regency romance. It was the perfect book to start off my new year with. I very highly recommend.

I was gifted a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Blurb: Winifred Cunningham, the adopted daughter of a portrait painter, hopes that her new close friend, Owen Ware, will soon ask for her hand in marriage. But when Owen introduces Winifred to his elder brother Nicholas, the late Earl of Stratton’s second son, the slow burn between them begins.

Mary Balogh grew up in Wales and now lives with her husband, Robert, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series.

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen

 Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen is a wonderful book and first in the Melodies and Memories series.   Blair Emerson is the piano accompanist for the Peterson high school choir.  She has sadly watched choir directors come and go for the last few years at her beloved school.  Callum Knight sees his position as choir director as a layover on the way to bigger and better things.  When Callum and Blair discover a piece of choir music from the 1970’s they both work together to the discover the mystery of the writer and what happened to her. 

I was absolutely drawn into this lovely dual time line multiple POV story.  This beautifully woven story was filled with romance, mystery, and themes of faith.   Callum and Blair were complex and likeable main characters with great chemistry and banter.   I loved their growth, introspection and watching them fall in love.  I was truly enchanted by this book and kept reading to see how everything would come together. 

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen was truly magical and one that will stay with me.  The author moved flawlessly through time as she told this delightful story. It  is a fantastic book that I highly recommend. This will be a 2026 favorite for me. 

I was gifted a copy from the publisher and not required to write a positive review. 

Amanda Wen’s novels have released to both reader and critical acclaim. Her second novel, The Songs That Could Have Been, won both the Selah and the Carol Awards, and her debut, Roots of Wood and Stone, was a finalist for the Christy Award. In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team, as well as serving as a choral accompanist. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.

An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main

An Unexpected Texas Reunion K-9 Companions by Heidi Main is a sweet Love Inspired romance and part of the K-9 Companions Tale book 40. It is a standalone story. Brenna Parks comes back to her small town with her support dog, Lulu, to ease back into life after a very traumatic experience. She is hoping to co-lead a summer camp with her friend. But things change, and she is now working with recently widowed, Owen McCaw, her past boyfriend from high school. Do they have a chance?

This is a beautiful second chance romance, and the author did a great job helping me to connect with characters and story through her writing. Main characters Brenna and Owen both transformed in the story and I was rooting for them to have a happily ever after. I loved their tender conversations. The story explores themes of grace, forgiveness, and trusting.

This will be a 2025 favorite for me and I highly recommend An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main. A delightful story that you will connect with through the themes, characters and sweet love story!

I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review.

Heidi Main is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, a Holt Medallion finalist, and a Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers Reader’s Choice Award finalist. Her sweet inspirational romance novels celebrate small-town life, faith, and the beauty of second chances. Though she lives in the suburbs, Heidi dreams of acreage and horseback riding—longings that find their way into her novels through wide-open ranches and loyal horses.

She loves popcorn and milk chocolate (not necessarily in that order), and savors novels and movies with happily-ever-afters. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys taking walks, gardening, playing card games, curling up with a good book and watching HGTV. Before starting her writing career, Heidi worked with computers and taught Jazzercise. A perfect Saturday is spent relaxing on the deck with her husband and watching the birds that visit their backyard. 

Betting on the Best Friend by Melanie Jacobson

 

Betting on the Best Friend: A Sweet Romantic Comedy and partof the Betting on Love series by Melanie Jacobson is a delight!  This is a series, but I think you can pick up any book at any time.  The author does a fantastic summary at the beginning bringing you up to speed.

 Ruby has dated a guy for five years, broke up with him, and now he is flaunting an engagement to someone else on Instagram.  Her roommates are trying to set her up so she can show him!   Luckily, she has her best friend, Charlie, until she doesn’t.  Can they be best friends again, will they be friends again,  or can they be more?

This was a refreshing take on friends to more. The author did a great job in this dual POV sweet romance.  Charlie and Ruby had great chemistry, banter, and a friendship that fun to watch.  I seriously wanted to hang out with Ruby and Charlie at the library, and the fact that they both worked at the library was an added bonus to the story.  It was fun to visit with the characters from past books and they added their unique personalities to the story.  I laughed many times over their antics.

Betting on the Best Friend by Melanie Jacobson is one of the best friends to more story that I have enjoyed in a long time. I loved the depth of the characters, the humor, banter, and the sweet romance. This was the perfect way to end my 2025 and will be a 2025 highlight for me.  I highly recommend that you read!

I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review. 

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She lives in Southern California with her husband and children, a series of doomed houseplants, and a naughty miniature schnauzer. She holds a Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a USA Today bestseller and a four-time Whitney Award winner for contemporary romance.