Keely Brooke Keith
Edenbrooke Press, July 1, 2025
Book 15 in the series
169 pp
Paper 17.99
Ebook 7.99
While Anna opens a restaurant in Good Springs, curious
schoolteacher Caleb’s quest for truth stirs rebellion, romance, and a spiritual
awakening in the village.
Daydreaming of running a restaurant sparks joy in Anna Cotter’s solemn heart
while she works in her mother’s bakery with her two sisters. Her dream seems
impossible until she inherits a charming cottage in the heart of Good Springs.
Determined to make her restaurant a blessing to the village, Anna faces
challenges from the elder council and a group of rebels who gather at her
tables.
New-in-town schoolteacher Caleb McIntosh spends his evenings researching the
outsiders who have come to the Land in recent years. He uses the village’s new
restaurant to work on his manuscript and is struck to the core by the
proprietor’s confidence, beauty, and uncrackable demeanor.
Anna can handle demanding customers and the council’s edicts, but when the
village’s new know-it-all schoolteacher spreads his papers across her corner
table every day, her resolve is tested. Yet, as Caleb introduces her to new
ideas about the world, faith, and love, her carefully constructed walls begin
to crumble.
As a spiritual revival sweeps through Good Springs, tensions rise with whispers
of rebellion. When a mysterious ship appears off the Land’s coast, the stakes
escalate, and Anna’s dream teeters on the brink of disaster. With Caleb’s
research revealing life-altering truths, both their futures hang in the
balance.
Uncharted Joy weaves past and future in a faith-filled story of
life in a hidden land. Prepare to be captivated by this timeless romance,
brimming with mystery and suspense. If you enjoy the simplicity of frontier
romance and the wholesomeness of Amish fiction, you’ll adore Uncharted
Joy.
My review:
Too much information or secrecy is the new conflict to hit the Land. While this story takes place in the community of Good Springs, they’re not the only ones to suffer unrest of the young. Over a hundred years, several generations, have passed since the Founders landed on the Land Uncharted. Since reports of a world outside of their island have come to be known through visitors and newcomers who have come and integrated into society, the demand to know more, to be allowed to leave and see for themselves, has grown among the younger folks. A few have even turned to theft and rebellion in order to force the hand of the Elders.
Anna Cotter, however, simply wants to live out her dream of
cooking for others and making them happy. She’s been enthralled with the idea
since visiting the rooming house and restaurant at Falls Creek, and when she
learns of a special gift from her great-grandmother, she’s determined to take
advantage. Great-grandmother left her small home to Ann to run as a dining
establishment. The Elders agree, with limited hours as they fear a social
gathering spot may encourage men to leave their families in the evenings.
Meanwhile, the new teacher in Good Springs, Caleb is on a special mission to
make known the truth of the newcomer’s stories and world in turmoil. He hopes to
quell the growing unrest until he hears a unique and undeniable call from the
Lord. Anna had not planned on marrying for the sake of taking care of her
family, while Caleb is bent on overcoming his slow start in the field of
academics. While their meeting and developing relationship is inevitable, they
both put the needs of the Land and of the greater world first.
This latest installment of the Land Uncharted is a lovely, thoughtful addition. Are things changing too fast for this unspoiled experiment in a peaceful, self-contained society? I look forward to more stories. Keith continues to grow as a story-teller and these characters will entwine your heart. Those who enjoy faith-filled fiction with the dichotomy of history and dystopia will love each book, which stands alone but features characters from previous books.
Keely Brooke Keith is the author of the beloved Uncharted series—inspirational frontier-style fiction with a slight sci-fi twist.
Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing,
baseball-loving 80s kid. After a 15-year career as a homeschool teacher, she
now enjoys exploring the hidden gems of small-town America on road trips with
her husband. Wherever the journeys take her, Keely always returns to her
hilltop home south of Nashville, Tennessee, where she dreams up stories about a
hidden land.
