Radical sequel to Tiny Tin House L Maristatter

 

Radical

L Maristatter
Book 2
NiftyCat Press, 701 pp
September 15, 2026
Dystopian
Ebook $7.99
Paper $27.99
Harcover: $41.88

 
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About the Book

MERYN FLINT BEAT THE ODDS.

She lives quietly now in her tiny tin house at Shady Dell under the protection of close friends. She’s holding down a good job, dating a wonderful man—and happier than she’d ever imagined a low-caste woman in the Christian States of America could be.

But the Reformation Directorate’s ever-changing roster of laws continues to tighten like a giant noose around the theocracy’s women. And every day, increasing numbers of women are punished and brutalized by the Sanctioned Church . . . in the name of God.

Reeling at the impact on her friends and desperate to bring about real change, Meryn speaks out. Her ideas catch fire among the nation’s women, making her very popular. Very visible.

AND VERY DANGEROUS TO THE REFORMATION DIRECTORATE.

 

My Review

Reminding me of the firemen in Fahrenheit 457 who burn books, Guardian angels in the Christian States of America protect the pure faith of those living in dystopian future by killing those who don’t follow the law. God isn’t questioned; the manner of acting in His mercy, is. Meryn, now safe and in her own home, is haunted by nightmares of her past capture and torture, and in frightful awe of her amazingly vicious will to survive, while still dealing with a powerful man who wants to control her. When her friends begin to die, Meryn must answer her underground church’s pastor’s question of whether her understanding of being a “good girl” might differ from God’s. Along Meryn’s journey of discovery, hard truths begin to redefine her beliefs and understanding of the reformation directorate. Growing up is hard to do in the CSA, and when all feels lost, Meryn comes to appreciate more than ever the truth of her true family. Recommended for those who aren’t bothered by questions of faith matters, exploring religion, and the harsh grittiness of what the future could look like should women give up our hard-won civil rights. I am reading and reviewing a copy I received from the author.

 

About the Author

L Maristatter has published fiction in The Saturday Evening Post and Persimmon Tree journal. Her poetry has appeared in the journal Defuncted. Maristatter is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, The Author’s Guild, and Realm Makers. She loves cats, books, and chocolate, in that order. Usually.

New addition to the Uncharted Series

 

Uncharted Blessing
Keely Brooke Keith
 
#16 in the Uncharted Series
 
Edenbrooke Press, June 1, 2026
Ebook $7.99
Print, 239 pp
Buy Amazon
About the Book

Charlotte Cotter finds purpose in caring for others while burying her broken dream of a family of her own. When she leaves home to tend to a village matriarch, Charlotte never imagines the household she enters will change her life forever. But when a dying friend needs her help, Charlotte faces a daunting promise and a fragile hope she scarcely dares to claim.

Josiah Roberts never expected trouble at the family mill, nor to share a home with the village baker’s quiet, selfless daughter. Still haunted by past rejection, Josiah is determined to keep control of his life—in business and in love. But as Charlotte nurtures his mother, his home, and now an orphaned baby, Josiah sees true strength lies not in control but in compassion.

Meanwhile, as Caleb’s missionary journey continues, he discovers the dangers of life outside the Land.

My review

Keith’s latest addition to the Uncharted series takes us outside of the Land once again, this time for a more in-depth look at dystopian life after a decimating war. Sheltered over generations, the Land has been isolated from news of the outside world, two hundred years after their accidental arrival in the mid-nineteenth century. Uncharted Blessings opens with a charming visit between friends, a contentious episode at a local business, and a shift to an island in the South being restored to habitability after the war.

Uncharted Blessing pairs another unlikely couple in a potential romance. Josiah Roberts, thwarted in his desire for his father to see him as a responsible adult ready to assume control of the family business, has shielded his heart after a broken engagement. His frustration with his parents occasionally gets the better of him, and the absence of his younger brother Silas on a dangerous mission to the outside world has his parents neither willing nor ready to hand over the reins and retire. Charlotte Cotter has a secret known outside the family only to the community’s physician: she won’t be able to bear children and thus sees herself as unfit to marry. She’s always pretended invisibility, but this time she can’t hide when her friend, Josiah’s mother, has a stroke and Charlotte is asked to stay and help care for her.

The in-between adventures of Silas and Caleb’s missionary journey to an island in the South Atlantic add a little tonic to this tale and I’m curious what they’ll report if and when they return to the Land.

Although I understand the reasons for this society to act as it does—so conservative that it hurts my heart—I am so sad for Charlotte that she sees her worth of a man’s love only as a breeding animal. She feels she is worthy only to be a servant to others, which of course is honorable, but she is so reserved that she purposefully watches the ground as she walks so she doesn’t accidentally meets anyone’s eye. Charlotte does find herself a bit by standing up for others who have been damaged, and her family and friends love and support her, so there is growth. As a Christian I do understand the society stuck in 1860-American conservatism Protestantism, but with the current abuse and mockery of our precious faith in the regime of today, even this fiction is a bit painful. As always, Keith’s writing is beautiful and characterization lush. Readers of faith-based fantasy fiction will enjoy this next addition to the series.

Author

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.

Great Line up of series starter books and giveaway!

 

I’m so excited to be a part of N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Book Series Starter Bookish Event. Check out all the featured books and enter the giveaway to win a $50 Amazon gift card

 #mustread #bookseries #giveaway

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card

or

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Open Internationally. 
Runs January 12 – January 20, 2026.
Winner will be drawn on January 21, 2026.

 I will be featured on Friday, January 16, 7 a.m.

Join all of the authors all week long at the Bookish Series Starter event!

 

 

 

new concept Bible Study guide from Barbara Britton

 Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus
Fiction-based Bible Study
January 6, 2026 by ScrivInspire,167 pp
ISBN 9781649175588 (ISBN10: 1649175582)

$15.99 paperback, $24.99 hardcover

Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee by Barbara M. Britton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a fan of Barbara Britton's fiction. I was curious about this new-to-me form of Bible study, so agreed to check it out. Britton's cross-genre Bible study guide based on fictionalized stories of scriptural events is interesting. She chose six familiar stories from the book of Mark, with support of other scriptures, to briefly expand in compelling and realistic fiction on those stories. They are the story of the demon-possessed man among the tombs; the woman with bleeding who touched Jesus's cloak; Jairus and his daughter; Peter's experience when sent out to evangelize; the feeding of the thousands; and Peter's experience when Jesus interacts with the Gentile woman believer who wanted healing for her daughter. Britton chooses names and adds contextual details to "flesh out" the stories of the passages in several brief chapters in each section, some from different points of view of the observing or involved characters.

Each segment includes an author reflection mostly based on a trip to the area. Following is a several-question study guide that includes questions and comments from other similar and related scriptural references in other books. I personally am glad to see supporting scriptures especially for this study.

I am honestly not sure that creating a Bible study with fictionalized accounts of Biblical stories is for everyone. Britton's creation leaves little room for too much conjecture and is thoughtful. It's an interesting concept and will make for good discussion among people who are already familiar with the Bible.

The book is due out for sale January 6. I received an advanced copy for review.

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Nice holiday read

 

While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked the story quite a bit, a sort of tale from an old woman to her great-granddaughter, looking back on life. The only mentions of this, though, are in the front, and at the epilogue. Otherwise, it's historical fiction, set in an anonymous small kingdom during an anonymous time frame, but one that included outbreaks of smallpox and little to no healers/medical people. Although the story is supposed to be a trope of Sleeping Beauty, it didn't feel that way to me. The fairies who cursed and relaxed the curse of the princess were her great-aunts. In fact, we didn't even get to meet a princess until quite far into the book. The other elements of sleep and wake-up kiss are less fairytale. So...I liked it, but it was a nice slice of early medieval castle life from the viewpoint of a serving girl with questionable parenthood who rose to prominence in the local castle. For that, it was a picture of a period of time I enjoy reading about. Not too gory or gritty or traumatizing; just a nice holiday read. Recommended for those who enjoy fairytales and medieval life lite.

View all my reviews

Uncharted Joy by Keely Brooke Keith

 

Uncharted Joy
Keely Brooke Keith
Edenbrooke Press, July 1, 2025
Book 15 in the series
169 pp
Paper 17.99
Ebook 7.99

Amazon
Goodreads

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.

 

Keely Brooke Keith New Uncharted story

 

Uncharted Mercy

Keely Brooke Keith
Edenbrooke Press, January 1, 2025
Print, 224 pp $17.99
Ebook $6.99
Hardcover $23.99

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About the Book:
Lonely bachelor Noah Vestal longs for a family of his own. His inherited farmhouse feels empty, and working the expansive orchard doesn’t keep his mind off his life in America before being shipwrecked on the Land. When he learns the lovely widow next door is being pressured to marry a man she’s never met and to leave her son behind, he offers to marry her. She could have a home and keep both of her children, and he could fill the orchard house with the family he longs for. But when Noah’s inheritance is contested by someone claiming to be the orchard’s rightful heir, he stands to lose everything—including his new family.

Bette Owens has made the best of things since losing her husband three years ago, but now her forceful in-laws want rid of her. When they persuade her parents to help separate her from her son, she has nowhere to turn but to the generous bachelor next door. She has always admired Noah and misses the protection and companionship of having a husband, so when Noah proposes a quick marriage, it seems like a wise remedy. Just when her children are settling into their new home—and love between Bette and Noah seems possible—she discovers Noah isn’t who he says he is.
While the Good Springs elder council becomes judge and jury over the orchard’s ownership, Noah’s dreams of supporting a family and being part of a community slip away. And as Bette’s friends side against her, she finds herself in an unimaginable fight for her family—and for love.
Can their marriage of convenience withstand the battle for inheritance, family, and love?

My review:
Keith settles deeper into her role of great story-teller with her fourteenth book in the Uncharted series. I have often longed for steeper conflict to propel her stories, and she fulfills my wishes in Uncharted Mercy. There isn’t much I can add to the cover copy. The story in a nutshell is that characters we’ve met earlier, Noah clinging to his values with all his might, and his sister Caroline’s pet project and friend next door, Bette and her kids who are getting a total bum rap from her inlaws, finally get story. They both know they can make a relationship work, given time, which they don’t have. It’s not really a marriage of convenience story so much as a “two are better than one” story when facing a brutal series of bullies, no less the established societal expectations of legalism over practicality in the Land. The interesting twist playing out is that in this male-dominated culture, a particularly cruel woman is dealing the hand.

Hidden love, great secrets, deeply held promises, misinterpretation of laws meant to guide society—all of which Keith uses to great value in her circle of tales about a Brigadoon civilization hidden from the evils of the world by a mist that clears for a brief window each year. Well done. Fans of the series will certainly enjoy this latest addition. Readers of inspirational fiction, not exactly historical but set amid a greater dystopian and unseen world, should check out the series.

About the Author:
Keely Brooke Keith is the author of the beloved Uncharted series. Her books are best described as inspirational frontier-style fiction with a slight sci-fi twist.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving 80s kid. When she isn't writing, Keely enjoys teaching home school lessons and playing bass guitar. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee, where she dreams up stories about a hidden land.