Echoes of the Past and Hope for the Future by Evelyn Hood

Echoes of the Past 

and 

Hope for the Future

 
Book Summary Echoes of the Past

Can a family thrive after the death of a domineering patriarch?

Buckie, Scotland 1912

One year after Weem Lowrie’s death, his wife Jess and children are still living in his shadow, bound by the strict decisions he imposed when he was alive.

Eldest son James and his sister Bethany are trapped in marriages arranged to bolster the value of the family’s fishing business. Youngest son, Innes, struggles with the memory of his father’s disapproval over his failure to become a fisherman.

James longs to take over as skipper of the family fishing boat, The Fidelity, rather than working for his uncle. Bethany dreams of escaping from her role as a wife and stepmother to two young children and Innes longs for acceptance and respect from his siblings and to be seen as a man. But pursuing these aims only seems to invite new conflict into their lives.

And when Jess’s childhood sweetheart returns to Buckie, his attempts to help the family using his wealth and influence seem destined to cause even more chaos.

My Thoughts on Echoes of the Past

Echoes of the Past by Evelyn Hood is the inaugural volume in The Lowrie Family series. The author's straightforward style makes the story easy to read. She effectively brings Buckie in 1912 to life and clearly researched the setting as well as the time period well. The characters are well-developed and portray life by the sea accurately, with particularly notable details about the women’s experiences.  I liked visiting Buckie in Echoes of the Past and am eager to see what comes next in Hope for the Future.

Book Summary on Hope for the Future

Can a family escape it’s dark past to find happiness?

Buckie, Scotland 1918

Brothers James and Innes Lowrie return home to their wives and families after the war, Innes working for a shipbuilder and James returning to sea and the family's fishing business. Sister Bethany Pate and Innes have sons and heirs to go into the family business, but James does not. Innes takes in orphaned Etta Mulholland, adding to his already large family.

In 1931, as the new generation take the helm and pursue various careers in Buckie’s fishing industry, some are content to take on the roles their parents have chosen for them, while others rail against these strictures. Adam Pate longs to join the man he knows as his uncle, James, as a fisherman, while his mother wants him to study at university and to find a life far from the danger of discovering dark family secrets.

Trouble brews when Etta Mulholland begins work as a herring gutter, guided by her cousins, but new relationships set various family members against one another, and the family’s fortunes are threatened by external forces and the sea itself.

Is there light and happiness ahead for the hardworking families of Buckie or will discord from the past weave into their futures.

My Thoughts on Hope for the Future

Hope for the Future by Evelyn Hood is the second book in The Lowrie Family series.  While Hope for the Future could be read as a standalone,  I recommend reading Echoes of the Past before embarking on this story.  This story begins when the two brothers return to Scotland after World War I. I thought the story was well-written with developed characters.  It is an emotional story.  The author vividly depicts the realities faced by those who depend on the sea for their livelihood.  The temporal shifts within the narrative prompted reflection, and the conclusion was particularly moving and poignant. Hope for the Future is an agreeable and touching Scottish saga. 

Echoes of the Past and Hope for the Future are available at Amazon*.  You can find Evelyn Hood's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me during this busy holiday season.  I will return on Tuesday, December 30 with Taking a Second Shot by Leslie DeVooght.  The pictures below show you my front yard Christmas decorations. My North Pole village and its inhabitants.  I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and that you receive many wonderful books (or a gift card in which to buy books). Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Scent of Sabotage by Dana Mentink

Scent of Sabotage

About the Book

Book: Scent of Sabotage

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: December 30, 2025

Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

How could we be at the end of a series? I’ve been having a wonderful time with the Wolfe family and their house full of hounds. The last book is finally Beth’s story. She’s the matriarch of the family who has experienced the loss of a spouse. In this story, she will meet the son she never knew and explore the idea of learning to love again. I feel especially fond of this book because Beth is an older heroine who has some living under her belt. She’s learned how to carry on, with her old dog Arthur, and stand faithfully in the face of adversity. Now that’s a heroine I can root for! I hope you enjoy this final installment of the Security Hounds series!

My Thoughts

Scent of Sabotage by Dana Mentink is the final book in the Security Hounds Investigations series.  This story focuses on the matriarch of the clan and the head of Security Hounds Investigations, Beth Wolfe.  I enjoyed this entertaining story.  I like the humor and tension that Jack St. James brought to the story.  Arthur and Poe were delightful.  I just loved the two dogs and how Arthur took care of the little pup.  The mystery had twists and turns.  I liked that it was not predictable (hooray)!  There is action and suspense that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.  I liked the setting of the amusement park because it provided many hidden nooks and crannies. The wildfires closing in really ramped up the fear.  The author provided an ending for the series that will make readers smile.  While Scent of Sabotage can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading all the books in the engaging Security Hounds Investigations series.  Scent of Sabotage is a suspenseful story with a blast from the past, an abrupt attack, frightening fires, an AWOL woman, a surprising secret, a precious pup, and an alarming amusement park. 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana 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 here to enter.  Good Luck!  

Scent of Sabotage comes out December 30 and it can be pre-ordered from Amazon*.  You can find the other novels in the Security Hounds Investigations series here.  You can follow Dana Mentink (they will send you an email when she has a new book release) and find her other novels here.  Dana Mentink has Raging Waters coming out March 1, 2026 (I cannot wait to read it).  It is the second book in the Elements of Danger series.  Thank you for joining me today. 

  

On Thursday, December 18, I am featuring Echoes of the Past and Hope for the Future by Evelyn Hood.  I am off to decorate my golf cart for the holidays since it is warmer today (it was too windy yesterday).  We have a golf cart parade in our community just before Christmas and I want my golf cart to look festive.  I even have an inflatable Santa that will stand in the back.  I am going to need a lot of zip ties.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  I hope that you have a merry day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 16

The Avid Reader, December 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17

Pause for Tales, December 18

EmpowerMoms, December 18

Bizwings Blog, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 20

Alyssa Amey, December 20

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 21

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 22

For Him and My Family, December 22

Devoted To Hope, December 23

Blogging With Carol, December 23

Because I said so, December 24

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lily’s Corner, December 26

Mary Hake, December 26

Labor Not in Vain, December 27

Blossoms and Blessings, December 27

Holly’s Book Corner, December 28

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 28

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, December 29

Lights in a Dark World, December 29

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Miriam's January Promise by Tracy Fredrychowski

 Miriam's January Promise

Book Summary

She can’t stop the darkness from closing in, but one forbidden hike could lead her to love… or cost her everything.

Miriam Troyer has always lived by the rules: serve her family, obey her mother, and surrender her dreams to the life chosen for her. But when her vision begins to fade and her controlling mother arranges a loveless marriage, Miriam refuses to let blindness—or fear—decide her future. Running away is reckless… but staying could mean losing herself forever.

She never expected MJ King to be on the same road. Torn between duty to his family and the freedom he longs for, MJ has spent years carrying expectations that no longer fit the man he’s becoming. When Miriam steps into his path, her quiet courage awakens something he thought he’d lost… a longing for faith that feels personal, not prescribed, and a love that asks him to stay when every instinct tells him to run.

As her vision fades and her independence slips away, Miriam must decide what she’s willing to risk for love, for faith, and for the life she’s only begun to glimpse.

Miriam’s January Promise is the emotional first book in the Amish Romance Birthday Series, a heartfelt journey of love, loss, and learning to trust what you can’t always see.

My Thoughts

Miriam’s January Promise by Tracy Fredrychowski is the first book in An Amish Romance Birthday Series.  I thought Miriam’s January Promise was a touching story.  I felt for Miriam and M.J.  They are both struggling with parental expectations.  I thought Miriam’s mother was particularly harsh (she did one thing that shocked me and I would have done the same thing as Miriam). M.J. and Miriam are searching for their place or path in life.  They want to make their own choices which is understandable.  I liked how faith was woven through the story.  I appreciated the epilogue which provided an upbeat and heartwarming ending.  Miriam’s January Promise  is an emotional tale with deteriorating eyesight, a critical mother, a foregone future, walking trails, a hidey hole, and acquiring clarity. 

Miriam’s January Promise is available from Amazon*. If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read Miriam's January Promise for free.  The next book in An Amish Romance Birthday Series is Lily's February Love by Kelly Irvin which will be available on February 1, 2026. You can see what books are coming next in the series here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I know it is a busy time of year.  I am working on whittling down my to do list.  I love that I can ship packages without leaving my home (thanks to Click n' Ship on USPS.com).  

On Wednesday, December 18, I am a stop on the Celebrate Lit Tour for Scent of Sabotage by Dana Mentink.   It is the sixth and final book in the Security Hounds Investigations series.  I am off to get a couple of packages ready to ship out tomorrow and put the final touches on our Christmas tree (is it possible to have too many ornaments).  I hope that you have a jolly day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. 

The Case of the Stolen Fireworks by Tracy Fredrychowski and Emily McCullough

 The Case of the Stolen Fireworks

Book Summary

A stolen stash of fireworks. A midnight deadline. One brave group of kid detectives racing the clock.

When the town's fireworks vanish just hours before the big celebration, twelve-year-old Sophia and her friends in the Mystery Hunters Club spring into action. Armed with notebooks, keen observation skills, and their loyal dog, Shadow, they follow a trail of clues through snow-covered streets and secret hideouts.

But as the mystery deepens, tensions rise. Ethan, the newest club member, seems to be hiding something. Sophia can’t shake the feeling that something is off. Is he nervous… or hiding the truth?

Join the Mystery Hunters Club and uncover the truth before the clock strikes midnight!

My Thoughts

The Case of the Stolen Fireworks by Tracy Fredrychowski and Emily McCullough is a cute story that reminds me of the mystery novels that I read as a child.  I thought the story was well written and easy to read.  I liked the characters and the camaraderie between Sophia, Grace, Penelope, and Jackson.  Sophia’s dog, Shadow, was also a valuable member of the team. The whodunit was fun.  I liked the mystery group’s approach to solving the case of the missing fireworks.  They had a list of suspects, searched for clues, and asked questions.  The story had an uplifting ending.  I am looking forward to the next book in The Mystery Hunters Club series.  The Case of the Stolen Fireworks is a delightful tale with pilfered fireworks, kid sleuths, a howling hound, suspicious suspects, footsteps in snow, and a cheerful block party.

The Case of the Stolen Fireworks is available from Amazon*.  You can read it for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited. The next book in The Mystery Hunters Club series is The Case of the Double Trouble which will be out October 1, 2026.  Tracy Fredrychowski writes Amish romance and mysteries as well.  You can find her other novels here. Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, December 16 with Miriam's January Promise by Tracy Fredrychowski. It is the first book in An Amish Romance Birthday series.  

I am off to deal with an inflatable snowman that keeps playing music.  I turn it off at night and two hours later it begins playing again.  Sometimes, it is two days later.  I do not want my neighbor's complaining about the singing snowman keeping them awake at night.  My mother finds it amusing.  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.

At Morning's Light by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

At Morning's Light

Book Summary

In her new homeland of Iowa, she must risk heartbreak and uncertainty for her dreams to flourish.

Maya Bredesen and her husband plan to journey from Norway to a new life at her cousin's boardinghouse in America, but on one last fateful fishing trip, a fierce winter storm steals away her husband. With her dreams for the future crushed, Maya is left grieving on the voyage to Iowa, accompanied instead by her brother, who plans to finish his seminary degree.

Norwegian Immigrants

Arriving at a boardinghouse spilling over with orphans and a newly married couple, Maya struggles to find her place amid the chaos. A new friendship develops between her and Eben Miller, the reserved, kind farmer next door, but just as Maya begins to recover from her wounded heart, more tragedy engulfs her. As she and Eben weather trials together, can they overcome the difficulties this new land holds when it seems so far from becoming home?

This Christian fiction historical read by Lauraine Snelling paints a heartwarming story of family and love on the Midwestern frontier for readers of frontier romance, Janette Oke, and Tracie Peterson.

My Thoughts

At Morning’s Light by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron continues the story of Amalia and Absalom.  Maya Bredesen along with her brother come to America and join their cousin at the boarding house.  I like Amalia’s generous heart.  She is always willing to help others.  We get to follow Amalia as she cooks and cleans plus does the other chores needed to run the boardinghouse.  Eben Miller, a neighbor, is unlucky in love and has trouble getting his father to see that he has good ideas for improving the farm.  More time is spent on the conflict between Eben and his father than on romance.  

I like the characters, and I thought the author captured the time period.  The steam powered threshing machine that Eben wishes to invest in is an example of the latest in farming equipment.  It took a crew to operate it as the author shows in the story.  Faith was nicely woven into the story.  It seemed natural for Maya to question why God allowed certain events.  I believe it is something that everyone struggles with at one time or another.  The story moved at a mild pace which suited it.  At Morning’sLight is the second book in Home to Green Creek series.  While At Morning’s Light can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Land of Dreams first.  At Morning’s Light is a heartwarming historical tale with a bustling boardinghouse, a sunken ship, blissful nuptials, welcoming cousins, school distress, a hardworking husband, and a new addition.

At Morning’s Light is available from Amazon*.  The first book in the Home to Green Creek series is Land of Dreams.  You can find Lauraine Snelling's other novels here (she has written many wonderful stories).  Thank you for dropping by today.  How are your holiday preparations coming along?  I am slowly whittling down my "To Do" list.  I will return tomorrow with a cute story called The Case of the Stolen Fireworks by Tracy Fredrychowski.  It is the first book in The Mystery Hunters Club.  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.

The Cold Case and the Corpse by Debra Sennefelder

 The Cold Case and the Corpse

Book Summary

When foul play pays a visit to a snowy mountain retreat, Hope Early will have to battle the elements to catch a cold-blooded killer . . .

With her first cookbook about to be published, food blogger Hope Early decides it’s the perfect time to attend a weekend retreat with a life coach and take her career to the next level. Her hopes for a life-changing experience are soon dashed, however, when she realizes the woman’s wisdom is nothing more than buzzwords and hollow clichés. Suspecting she’s a fraud, Hope discovers the woman is a longtime con artist and is even linked to an unsolved murder. But before she can learn more, someone puts an end to the life coach’s scam—permanently.

News of the murder has put everyone at the retreat on edge, and the stakes are raised when a fierce snowstorm threatens to strand them all there with the killer. With everyone a suspect and at least one other person pretending to be someone they’re not, Hope’s determined to unearth any clues that link the victim’s sordid past with someone at the retreat. But the killer is dead set on stopping Hope in her tracks, and what started as a weekend to build an exciting future turns into a struggle to survive another day . . .

Includes mouthwatering recipes!

My Thoughts

The Cold Case and the Corpse by Debra Sennefelder has Hope Early attending a life coach’s weekend retreat.  I could tell that the weekend was not going to go well from the beginning.  The treacherous driveway to the lodge confirmed my feeling of doom.  The author captured the feeling of being isolated in a lodge during a raging blizzard (at least they had a generator).    The story is easy to read, but slow-paced and repetitive.  

I always enjoy a locked room (in this case lodge) mystery.  There are a handful of suspects, and it seems each person has a secret (what a bunch).  Hope is too pushy when investigating.  It seemed that a couple of the regular characters had attitude problems (Claire was peevish, the mayor was extremely annoying).  The reveal happened suddenly (you need to hit the brakes, or you will slide right by it).  There is a good wrap up at the end.  Hope’s surprises do not end at the lodge.  I had a feeling this particular news was coming after a certain person made a comment early in the story (I do not want to spoil it for you).  The Cold Case and the Corpse is the eighth A Food Blogger Mystery.  This book can be read on its own for those who are new to the series as the author provides all the necessary background information.  There are (of course) recipes at the end of the book (a savory and two sweet).  

The Cold Case and the Corpse is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Food Blogger Mysteries here.  If you follow Debra Sennefelder on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Wednesday, December 10 with At Morning's Light by Lauraine Snelling.  It is the second book in Home to Green Creek series.  Cold weather has hit Florida.  It was 52 degrees last night (brrr!!!).   What is it like in your part of the country?  This is the perfect weather for settling into a comfy chair under a cozy blanket with a warm drink and a good book to read.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.