Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 Chase the Light

About the Book

Book: Chase the Light National Parks Summers 

Series:  National Parks Summers (Book 2. It can be read as a stand alone.)

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: May 5, 2026

When Acadia National Park ranger Scout Johnson discovers a weathered note near a remote lighthouse, she never imagines it will expose a century-old mystery. The cryptic message points to a forgotten shipwreck, a vanished treasure, and a lighthouse keeper’s suspicious death. Seeking answers, Scout enlists Naki Dana, a thoughtful man whose Penobscot heritage provides crucial insights. As they venture deeper into Acadia’s rugged wilderness, their unlikely partnership begins stirring feelings Scout didn’t expect to find. But they aren’t the only ones searching.

Chase Fletcher, a charming local journalist, sees this treasure hunt as his last opportunity to save his failing paper–and finds himself increasingly drawn to the ranger leading the search. With pressure mounting and loyalties tested, Scout must navigate a winding path between history and justice, truth and betrayal . . . and determine who–and what–deserves her trust.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author, Christy finalist, Carol and Selah winner, and two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, with over forty books to her name. She writes contemporary, historical and Amish novels. Suzanne lives in California with her husband, where life (and friends) inspire her stories.

More from Suzanne

If a trip to Acadia National Park isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be—and when you go, don’t miss warm popovers on the lawn at the iconic Jordan Pond House.

The Unofficial-but-Close-Enough Jordan Pond Popover Recipe*

Back in 1895, Nellie and Thomas McIntire bought a Maine farmhouse overlooking the clear waters of Jordan Pond. On their wide green lawn, they served tea and towering popovers to well-to-do summer travelers. In 1928, J. D. Rockefeller purchased the land and later donated it to Acadia National Park. The lawn remains. The view remains. And the popovers? Still iconic.

While the original recipe is famously guarded, this version comes deliciously close.

Makes 6–8 large popovers.

What You’ll Need

• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• Pinch of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Let’s Make Them

1. Start with a hot oven (and a hot pan).
   Preheat your oven to 425°–450°F. Place your popover pan (or a muffin tin) in the oven while it heats.
2. Whisk the batter.
   Beat the eggs for about 2–3 minutes until slightly frothy. Slowly pour in the milk, then add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix just until combined. The batter should be smooth but not overworked.
3. Fill the cups.
   Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and grease it generously with butter or spray. Pour the batter into each cup, filling them about halfway to three-quarters full.
4. Bake.
   Bake at 425°–450°F for 15 minutes. Then, without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 350°F and bake another 15–20 minutes. The high heat creates the lift; the lower heat helps them set inside.
5. Resist the urge to peek.
   Do not open the oven door while they bake. The steam inside is what makes them puff and keeps them tall.

Serve immediately with plenty of butter and strawberry jam.

A Few Tips for Sky-High Popovers

• Room temperature matters. Cold eggs or milk will slow the rise. Let them sit out a bit before mixing.
• Heat is your friend. A properly preheated pan jump-starts the puff.
• No peeking. Steam is everything here. Let the oven do its work.

*Recipe adapted from Weston Table.

My Thoughts

Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher transported me to Acadia National Park.  I like the author’s friendly writing style.  I appreciated the list of characters at the beginning of the book (a good reference).  I love Maisie who is fifteen years old and has a crush on self-centered and dull-witted, Frankie.   Maisie is in for a learning experience and maybe a little excitement.  The story features a treasure hunt, saving a newspaper, romantic interests, family drama with a shocking secret, and several other mysteries.  I felt for Scout Johnson who was endowed with an unsuitable name and a Southern mother who was determined to interfere in her life.  I wish Scout’s reaction to the tall and handsome, Naki Dana had been more mature instead of on par with Maisie’s crush on Frankie.  Chase the Light is the second National Parks Summers novel, and it can be read on its own.  The ending of Chase the Light left me smiling.  

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!  Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below (or here) to enter.

 Chase the Light Celebration Tour Giveaway

Chase the Light is available from Amazon.  The first a National Park Summers novel is Capture the Moment.  Suzanne Woods Fisher has A Plain Confession coming out October 20.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will be sharing my thoughts on The Island Bakeshop by Roseanna M. White on Wednesday, May 20.  It is the second book in The Island Shop series.  I hope that you will have a positive day.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 16

Lyssa Loves Books, May 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 17

Texas Book-aholic, May 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 19

The Avid Reader, May 19

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 20

Lakesidelivingsite, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Holly’s Book Corner, May 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 22

EmpowerMoms, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 23

Blogging With Carol, May 24

Lily’s Corner, May 25

Devoted To Hope, May 25

She Lives to Read, May 26

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 27

Cover Lover Book Review, May 27

Simple Harvest Reads, May 28 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lights in a Dark World, May 28

Wishful Endings, May 29

Mary Hake, May 29

Do you have ORD?

*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.

The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White

The Island Bookshop

Book Summary

When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.

For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.

As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?

Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.

My Thoughts

The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White is a delightful diversion.  I like the author’s descriptive writing style which brought the setting and characters to life.   I was surprised by the historical chapters, but they were a great addition. The letters give the sisters a glimpse into the past as well as a teentsy mystery.  Those chapters added another layer to the story, and I like how everything tied together. The sister’s strong relationship added to the story.   I loved the sister’s charming bookstore. I enjoyed the references to some of my favorite childhood books.  The romance was sweet, especially with it being centered around the bookstore which is brimming with  books. I found the authenticating of old books to be fascinating. Faith is beautifully woven into the story.  The Island Bookshop made me want to hop into my car and head to the Outer Banks.

The Island Bookshop is available from Amazon.  The next book in The Island Shop series is The Island Bakeshop which comes out May 19.  If you follow Roseanna M. White on Amazon, they will notify you when she has a new book release.  Thank you for joining me today.  

I will return on Tuesday, May 19 with Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  I will be learning how to do create community newsletter this week.  They advertised for a couple months looking for someone with Microsoft Word experience.  My Mother told me to check it out.  I hesitated because I feel that I have enough on my plate.  However, it came down to the last month (May is her last month of working on the newsletter) and they still had not found anyone. So, I found myself volunteering.  The newsletter is digital and a hard copy (it contains about a dozen pages with articles, calendar of events, advertising, etc.). Wish me luck.  I hope that you have brilliant week.  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.

I, Spy by L.M. Kemp

I, Spy

Book Summary

Kendal Carter is out in the cold and she wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been four years since her daughter Rosie was born and Kendal has kept her miles away from the danger of her former life as a spy. But when their hiding place is discovered, Kendal is forced to turn to old contacts for help. Her longtime friend and ex-handler Rico doesn’t miss his chance to pull his best spy back in. Whisking them to London, Rico offers them a luxury safe house in an area with good schools. How can Kendal resist?

But there’s a catch, of course. Rico wants Kendal to come back to work for his espionage agency Bon Temps. He’s offering an assignment with no apparent downside, investigating one of the dads at Rosie’s new school who works at one of London’s biggest, murkiest tech firms and suspected of being up to no good. It should be easy enough for someone with her experience, and luckily, mother is the perfect cover.

However, it doesn’t take long for Kendal to realize that Rico’s got an agenda of his own. The tech firm may be dealing in darker and more deadly secrets than they all realize, plus the world of coffee mornings and playdates comes with its own web of allegiances and betrayals. Kendal soon finds herself in way too deep . . .

A gripping blend of suspenseful spy thriller with heartfelt women’s fiction, I, Spy is the first in a propulsive debut series about the masks we all wear, whether as a spy or as a parent.

My Thoughts

I, Spy by L.M. Kemp is a fun and fast paced spy story.  This was an original take on a spy story.  I thought the interactions between Kendall and Rosie were sweet. Kendall is clever and capable (watch out bad guys).  The side characters were engaging and droll.  I enjoyed the twists and turns which kept things lively along with the action.  I loved all the humor.  The author left room for a sequel or series.  I am looking forward to Kendall’s next adventure.  

I, Spy can be obtained from Amazon. If you follow L.M. Kemp on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for popping by today.  On Tuesday, May 12, I will be featuring The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White.  May your weekend be a little island of sunshine in the ocean of your week. 🌴🌞  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.

A Heart on Consignment by Mindy Steele

 

A Heart on Consignment

About the Book

Book: A Heart on Consignment

Author: Mindy Steele

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release Date: April, 2025

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Despite knowing her parents are getting desperate for their only child to marry and give them grandchildren, Salina Stoltzfus is weary of seeking the perfect match. Every time she thinks she has found “the one,” he marries another.

The best way to forget you are the last woman any man in Havenlee, Indiana, wants to hitch his buggy too is to find something passionate to focus on. When the area is overrun with donations after a tragic storm, Salina suggests opening a consignment shop. The deacon supports the idea and offers his visiting nephew to help set things up.

After the embarrassment of having his fiancée call off their wedding, Seth Weaver takes his mother’s advice to leave Kentucky to stay with his uncle for a while. Unfortunately, Seth knows nothing about building furniture in his uncle’s factory, which is the only reason he agrees to help ready the consignment shop next door—not because of the little chatterbox working inside.

When Salina’s parents are caught meddling in her love life, she comes up with a crazy idea that might gain her some time and space. Could it be the road to happiness is paved with good intentions and epic fails—until we cross paths when the one made especially for us?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mindy Steele was raised in Kentucky timber country and has been writing since she could hold a crayon against the wall. Steele writes Amish Romance peppered with just the right amount of humor, as well as engaging Suspense, using rural America and the residents as her muse. Steele strives to create realistic characters for her readers and believes in engaging all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A hopeless romantic, with a lyrical pen, Steele wants her readers to find themselves somewhere within her pages. A mother of four and grandmother to a half dozen blessings, Steele enjoys hiking and gardening, coffee indulgences and weekend road trips, and is personally doing all she can to make peanut butter its very own food group.

More from Mindy

The Story Behind the Story

Writing fiction has always felt like opening my window and inviting readers to look out at the world with me. Over the years, I’ve stumbled into countless moments that later became stories—and A Heart on Consignment is one of those grace-filled accidents.

This book began with a series of God winks. A scheduled photoshoot led me to a tucked-away Amish consignment shop in Kentucky. After making my purchase, an experience that sparked a story of its own, I left carrying more than a dress. I carried the generosity of the owners and the quiet power of their story. I’ve always believed everyone has a story, and I’ve learned to be a good listener.

A year later, during one of my many visits to Baltic, Ohio, I found myself unexpectedly stepping into a massive Amish volleyball tournament. It was a charity event raising funds for a local child with a heart condition and a man awaiting a transplant. That evening, a simple conversation with a passerby, who would later become a dear friend and fellow writer, opened doors to learning even more about Amish and Mennonite ministries, fundraisers, and community outreach.

Since then, I’ve attended countless charitable events, witnessing firsthand the generosity woven into Amish life. From organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, Special Hearts Workshop, Disaster Aid Ohio, and CAM, to tournaments of every kind—volleyball, pickleball, softball, even ping pong—each experience planted another seed that eventually grew into this novel.

What began as a frantic search for a dress became a tapestry of God-ordained moments. Each step guided me toward telling the story of a young woman whose courage, compassion, and steadfast heart shine brightest in the face of disaster.

I invite you to join me on this journey from Kentucky to Havenlee, Indiana, as Seth and Salina search for forgiveness, hope, and love. May their story touch your heart as much as the journey touched mine.

My Thoughts

A Heart on Consignment by Mindy Steele is a lovely addition to The Heart of the Amish series.  Mindy Steele’s writing style is engaging, approachable, and accessible.  The characters are developed and relatable.  I enjoyed getting to know Salina Stoltzfus and Sean Weaver as well as their families and friends.  I felt for Salina, whose mother was determined to find the right fellow for her daughter (and one who lived in another state was not suitable).  Salina felt that she was too short, had mousy hair, and a plain face.  It takes the right person to see an individual’s inner beauty, and a smile can transform a person’s face.  

Seth and Salina get the opportunity to work together and get to know each other.  As we see, love often develops unexpectedly and in unlikely places.   It is wonderful how Amish communities help each other during tough times (tornado, fires, floods) and we get to see it in action in this story.   The ending left me wanting more.  A Heart on Consignment is the twelfth The Heart of the Amish book and it can be read on its own.  A Heart on Consignment is an uplifting tale with a battered heart, a twisty tornado, a matchmaking mama, a shed shop, overflowing riverbanks, and a caring community.  

Amish build tiny homes for hurricane victims

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mindy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.  Good Luck!

https://gleam.io/5crnf/a-heart-on-consignment-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Heart on Consignment can be obtained from Amazon.  You can find the other novels in The Heart of the Amish series here.  Mindy Steele has Murder Plainly Written coming out September 1.  It is the first book in The Plain Order Ink Society.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Thursday, May 7 with I, Spy by L.M. Kemp. I am off to organize (my pantry is a mess).  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway before you depart and leave a comment for an extra entry. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 30

Stories By Gina, May 1 (Author Interview)

Fruitfully Planted, May 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 2

Holly’s Book Corner, May 3

Artistic Nobody, May 4 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Guild Master, May 5 (Author Interview)

The Avid Reader, May 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 7

Fiction Book Lover, May 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 8

For Him and My Family, May 9

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 11

The Bookish Ledger, May 12 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, May 13 (Guest Review from Donna)

*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.

Home No Matter Where by Nancy Naigle

 Home No Matter Where

Book Summary

Three generations of women confront their pasts and discover it's never too late for new beginnings in this heartwarming novel of second chances and unconditional love—from the bestselling author of The Shell Collector.

Nina is at her wit's end with her teenage daughter, Kendra. Still dealing with her own wounds of divorce, Nina hopes a change of scenery will help. She and Kendra head to the serene coastal town of Whelk's Island to spend a restorative summer with Nina’s mother, Rosemary—bringing three generations under one roof for the first time in years. Amid the island's charm, old wounds begin to heal, and as new friendships bloom—especially with the steady and enigmatic Fisher—light begins to break through the cracks of Nina’s tightly controlled life.

Kendra's reckless behavior continues but Fisher’s intervention during a critical moment for Kendra sparks a sense of hope in Nina that she thought was lost. Still, change is never easy.

As the women navigate the tides of forgiveness, growing up, and letting go, healing begins and new love brings surprises. While Whelk’s Island may not hold all the answers, it has a way of reminding people that moving forward doesn't follow a set path—it requires the bravery to start anew.

My Thoughts

Home No Matter Where is a heartwarming story by Nancy Naigle.  I like the author’s descriptive writing style which allowed me to visualize the setting and the characters. There are great characters in the story.  I like how comfortable Fisher felt in his own skin (he was so chill).  The narrative unfolds through several points of view, and I found the transition from one narrator to another to be well-executed.  I thought the author captured the teenage mindset and attitude.  There are good life lessons in the story.  My favorite is to live one day at time and to focus on the positive in your life.  Themes in the book are second chances, family, romance, and finding where we belong.  Home No Matter Where is the third A Shell Collector Novel and it can be read as a standalone.  Home No Matter Where was a delightful escape that had me longing for the beach. 

Home No Matter Where is available from Amazon.  Click here for a free excerpt. The first two A Shell Collector Novels are The Shell Collector and To Light the Way Forward.  You can find Nancy Naigle's other novels here.  Thank you for dropping by today.  I am a stop on A Heart on Consignment Celebration Tour on Wednesday, May 6.  There will be a giveaway.  Other books out today are Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher, I Spy by L.M. Kemp, and Liberty Island by Virginia Hume.  I hope that you have tremendous Tuesday. 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.