Between The Pages | June Reading Round Up

Who needs a plane ticket when you have a good book and a strong air conditioner? June has been a scorcher, but I’ve been happily traveling the world over without ever having to step foot outside. Books are the ultimate escape, and this month’s reading stack took me on a whirlwind adventure across the globe.

Our itinerary this month is beautifully eclectic. We’re heading out to the historical American frontier with a mail-order bride, diving into the deep and inspiring lives of two more remarkable women of the Bible, catching a tropical breeze in the Caribbean, and finally crossing the ocean to the lush, green landscapes of Ireland.

I’ve got my glass of iced tea ready, so pour yourself something cold and come along with me on my journey! Here is what I read in June…

The Tuscan Villa: Utterly compelling World War 2 Italian historical fiction (Daughters of Italy) by Ella Carey 

Set against the sweeping backdrop of Italy, The Tuscan Villa by Ella Carey follows a young woman’s journey to uncover the dark, hidden secrets of her past. In 1939, the beautiful Villa Aria stands as a symbol of hope and safety for the people of Cortona. As the dark clouds of World War II loom, the glamorous and compassionate owner, Vivi, decides to put her community first, opening her doors to shelter the most vulnerable villagers from the coming conflict. But amid the chaos of the war’s end, Vivi mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind a legacy wrapped in silence.

Fourteen years later, in 1953, twenty-five-year-old Francesca “Fran” walks away from her life in New York on the very eve of her wedding, drawn back to the beautiful ruins of the villa where she ran barefoot as a child. Determined to discover what happened to the kind woman who watched over her early years, Fran begins to untangle a web of forbidden love affairs and a tragic wartime love triangle that plagued the estate. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a shocking, long-buried secret that threatens to change everything she knows about her own identity and the ghosts of her childhood.

The Hidden Letter at Bluebell Farm: An utterly stunning and emotional page-turner (Wildflower Secrets Book 3)by Rebecca Alexander

Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, The Hidden Letter at Bluebell Farm by Rebecca Alexander follows historian Tasha as she arrives at the tumbledown farm feeling entirely alone. With her marriage over and her twins off to university, she is desperately seeking a distraction from her heartache. She soon strikes up a friendship with elderly Maud, whose prickly exterior masks a warm heart, and teams up with Ryan, a kind-hearted, motorbike-riding archaeologist, to dig into the estate’s rich history. But when they unearth faded photographs and a sealed, yellowing letter that has been hidden for decades, Maud’s eyes fill with tears as she insists the long-lost envelope must never be opened.

Intrigued by the stories hidden behind Maud’s sharp blue eyes, Tasha and Ryan begin to untangle a heart-wrenching secret connected to the Second World War and the mysterious disappearance of Maud’s father. As they delve deeper into the farm’s past, they discover that his vanishing is not the only mystery hidden within its walls. Guided by Maud’s encouragement, Tasha must decide if she can find the courage to move past the heartbreaks of her own history and embrace a second chance at love with Ryan, or if the secrets of the past will keep them apart.

The Path To Her Heart: Linda Ford

Set against the backdrop of the South Dakota prairie during the Great Depression, Linda Ford’s The Path to Her Heart is a touching American historical romance about healing, faith, and second chances. Boothe Powers is a grieving widower struggling to raise his young son alone, his faith in love shattered by a devastating loss he blames on the medical profession. When he meets Emma Spencer, a beautiful and dedicated nurse living in the same boardinghouse, he recognizes her gentle spirit and sees how easily she could love his boy and mend his broken heart. However, his deep-seated resentment toward nurses stands as a massive wall between them.

Emma understands Boothe’s pain all too well, carrying her own secret anguish that makes her believe a family of her own is completely out of reach. Despite her reservations, she agrees to a heartfelt deception when Boothe asks her to play his temporary fiancée to protect his son. As they navigate this pretend relationship, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. Emma finds herself hoping that God might grant her a miracle to heal both of their guarded hearts and pave a genuine path to a shared future.

The Irish Inheritance: Totally unputdownable and heartbreaking Irish fiction (Emerald Isles) by Daisy O’Shea

Set against the lush, emerald hills of Roone Bay, Daisy O’Shea’s The Irish Inheritance follows Tara Hourihan and her mother, Aoife, as they journey into a past shrouded in secrecy. When Aoife receives a letter revealing she has inherited a grand farmhouse sitting high on a hill, she pales with shock—having not stepped foot in her tiny southern hometown for decades. Upon their arrival, mother and daughter are met with a stunning revelation from the estate lawyer: the inheritance may have to be split. Shocking evidence suggests that Aoife’s twin sister, Eithne, whom everyone believed had died as a teenager, might actually still be alive, with records placing her as a patient at a local mother and baby home.

Determined to uncover the truth, Tara and Aoife team up with Declan Ford, a handsome local garda (police officer), to untangle a decades-old home secret and a potentially terrible cover-up that tore the twin sisters apart. As they dig deeper into the faded walls of the grand farmhouse and the town’s history, they are forced to confront whether Aoife’s parents lied about Eithne’s tragic fate. The heartbreaking truths they unearth threaten to completely rewrite their entire family history, leaving Tara to wonder if they can finally lay the ghosts of the past to rest before it is too late.

Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán

Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist. Still, her sunny outlook is shattered in a single day when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage at the exact same moment a doctor delivers devastating medical news. Realizing that her rose-colored glasses have blinded her to reality and feeling like she has absolutely nothing left to lose, Libby makes the impulsive decision to abandon her life in Chicago. She flees to the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean, determined to live out what she believes might be her final, spectacular hurrah.

However, despite the beautiful tropical paradise, Libby quickly discovers that she can’t completely outrun her past or find the courage to face an unknowable future. Her plans for a quiet escape go awry when her worried twin brother hits her trail to find her, and an unexpected new relationship begins to bloom on the horizon. Surrounded by the warmth of the islands, Libby is forced to decide if she will hide from her fate or risk everything to truly live—and love—a little longer.

Martha: Sister of Mary and Lazarus (New Testament Bible Stories Retold Book 6) by Tim Sawyer

Set in first-century Bethany, Martha: Sister of Mary and Lazarus by Tim Sawyer brings the classic New Testament account to life through a touching and relatable lens. Martha is an earnest woman who firmly believes that working harder and controlling every detail is the only way to keep her family safe. When the traveling rabbi Jesus begins staying in their home, Martha’s structured world is turned upside down, leading her to clash with her contemplative sister, Mary, over what it truly means to serve God. Amidst the daily hustle, she also navigates a sweet romance with a merchant named David, all while trying to manage the heavy weight of her household responsibilities.

Through seasons of deep love, shattering loss, and a growing friendship with Jesus, Martha undergoes a beautiful transformation from an anxious controller to a confident woman of faith. The turning point of her journey comes when she witnesses the miraculous resurrection of her brother, Lazarus, which shifts her entire perspective on life. Ultimately, Martha learns that a genuine relationship with God matters far more than perfect performance, discovering that the greatest act of service is simply learning to receive His love and find peace in His grace.

Eve: In the Beginning by H. B. Moore

In a world where everything is perfect yet unchanged day after day, Eve finds herself standing at a monumental crossroads. She must decide if she wants to live forever in the flawless serenity of the Garden of Eden alongside Adam, or risk it all to discover what lies beyond its protective walls. When she ultimately makes the choice to partake of the forbidden fruit, the consequence is immediate, and she and Adam are cast out to face the swift and heavy realities of mortality.

As they venture into the uncharted, rugged wilderness of their new world, Eve must adapt to the physical toll of her changing body and the hardships of human life. Yet, amidst the trials and the pain of their fall, she discovers a beautiful silver lining: the true sweetness of first love with the man who has always been by her side. This imaginative retelling offers a deeply personal and emotional look at humanity’s first couple as they learn to navigate grace, sacrifice, and the bonds of family.

Mail-Order Bride Mommy (Montana Mail-Order Brides Book 1) by Linda Ford

Set against the rugged beauty of the West, Mail-Order Bride Mommy by Linda Ford follows a heartbroken cowboy and a woman searching for security as they navigate an unexpected arrangement. Still grieving the tragic loss of his fiancée, Matt Shannon has completely barred his heart against the ideas of love and marriage. However, when he suddenly becomes the guardian of four-year-old Lindy, he realizes he is out of his depth and desperately needs a woman to mother the little girl. He decides to arrange for a mail-order bride, explicitly intending for the union to be a marriage of convenience only.

Gwen Humber, willing to do whatever it takes to guarantee herself a safe and permanent home, answers Matt’s call and travels west with the understanding that they will be partners in name only. She instantly falls in love with the delightful little Lindy. She throws herself into being a devoted mother. Still, she soon finds that guarding her heart against Matt is much harder than she anticipated. As Gwen’s natural kindness and gentle nature begin to chip away at Matt’s walls, both must decide if they have the courage to overcome their past pain and let a real love bloom from their arrangement.

And that wraps up my travels for June! It’s always such a beautiful reminder that no matter where we are, a good story can carry us across oceans, into the past, or right into the heart of a cozy new community. I’m so thankful for the quiet, cool moments this month gave me to simply sit, turn pages, and savor these journeys.

Grab a refill on your drink, leave a comment below, and let’s share our love of books. Blessings to you all, and may your July pages be just as wonderful!

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