Under Red Skies by Samantha Roman | Book Review & Guest Post
Some family secrets don't stay buried. And some answers could change everything.
Just when Leslie is preparing for a new beginning, questions surrounding her parents' deaths threaten to turn her world upside down. Meanwhile, Candy faces mounting pressure as she struggles to keep her music career moving forward. In Under Red Skies by Samantha Roman, the third book in the Honeybrook High series, family secrets, second chances, and faith come together in a Christian family drama. Today, I'm sharing my book review along with a special guest post from Samantha Roman about the challenges of writing characters whose influence lives on after their deaths.
Book Details: Under Red Skies by Samantha Roman
Under Red Skies By Samantha Roman
Series: Honeybrook High Series, Book 3
Published by Batyah Press on November 2026
Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Family Drama
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Her parents were murdered in cold blood. At least, that's what Leslie believes. When the thirty year old mystery comes even closer to her, the day before her wedding, she doesn't know what to do. And with the adoption of her new son, would finding answers help the adoption or actually hurt it?
The record label doesn't understand the words "writer's block," but Candy can't say anything because she agreed to write three more songs for them in the next three months. If she doesn't, she won't just let down her friends, she'll end her musical career.
Will both women trust God for the right outcome? Or will they decide to choose their own paths to their own happily ever afters?
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Reader Resources
Reader Info at a Glance
| Best For | Readers who enjoy strongly faith-centered family dramas, second chances, and ongoing mysteries |
| Pacing | Steady, with increased mystery and unresolved story threads |
| Romance | Second-chance romance with closed-door intimacy |
| Series Reading | Best read in order; earlier books provide important character and mystery background |
| Overall Feel | Emotional, faith-centered, mystery-driven, with occasional heavy-handed messaging |
| Rating | 3.75 out of 5 stars |
Things to Know Before Reading
- Series reading: I recommend reading the Honeybrook High books in order. I missed Book Two and felt that some important background was missing.
- Faith content: Christian beliefs and messages are prominent throughout the story.
- Content considerations: References to murder, grief, alcohol abuse, smoking, and difficult family relationships. Romance remains closed-door.
- Continuing mystery: Some major questions remain unresolved, with the story continuing into an announced fourth book.
My Thoughts on Under Red Skies
Under Red Skies by Samantha Roman brings more mystery into the Honeybrook High series, and that was one of the things I appreciated most about this installment. Family secrets, unanswered questions, and the possibility of second chances give the story an intriguing foundation. I enjoyed seeing the mystery take on a larger role than it did in Butterflies.
One thing I would strongly recommend is reading this series in order.
I reviewed the first book, Butterflies, but wasn't offered Book Two, so I went directly into this third installment.
While I could follow the main storyline, I often felt that I'd missed important character developments and background information. Some relationships and situations seemed to assume knowledge I didn't have, which occasionally left me feeling a step behind.
Second chances are woven throughout the story, from Leslie's personal life to the difficult family questions that continue to surface. I liked that there was more to explore here than a straightforward romance or family drama. The mystery surrounding Leslie's past added an interesting layer, although readers hoping for complete answers should know that some questions remain unresolved for the announced fourth book.
The deeper I got into the mystery, the more I wanted answers. I just wasn't ready for the story to end.
Character development was less satisfying for me. At times, the characters came across as more whiny than I expected, and I wanted greater depth in their thoughts, reactions, and decisions. These moments sometimes made it difficult for me to connect with their struggles as strongly as I would have liked.
The Christian themes are once again very prominent. Readers who enjoy strongly faith-centered fiction may appreciate this aspect of the series. Personally, I found some of the messaging about drinking and smoking a little too preachy. Faith can certainly be a meaningful part of a character's journey, but I prefer when those lessons emerge naturally through the storytelling rather than feeling like repeated reminders. Even familiar truths need strong storytelling and well-developed characters to make them meaningful.
And then there's the ending! I understand that this is an ongoing series, and I'm perfectly happy with a mystery that continues into another book. But just as I was becoming emotionally invested in the mystery and eager to see where it would lead, the book ended. I turned the page thinking, "Wait ... that's it?" I don't mind unanswered questions, but I do prefer a little more sense of closure, even when the larger mystery is still unfolding.
Despite those reservations, the stronger mystery and recurring themes of second chances kept me interested. There is plenty of potential in the continuing story, and I can understand why readers would want to follow Leslie and Candy into the next installment.
Final Thoughts on Under Red Skies
Under Red Skies offers an intriguing blend of family drama, second chances, and an unfolding mystery. While I would have liked more character development and a less abrupt ending, the questions surrounding Leslie's past kept me interested in what might happen next.
Readers who enjoy strongly faith-centered fiction, complicated family relationships, and mysteries that develop across multiple books may find plenty to appreciate in Samantha Roman's Honeybrook High series. I recommend starting with the first book so you can follow the characters and their journeys from the beginning.
Guest Post: Why Writing Dead People Can Be Tricky
By Samantha Roman
One of the intriguing elements of Under Red Skies is how the past continues to influence Leslie's present. Today, Samantha Roman joins me to share some behind-the-scenes insight into writing Frank St. John, a character whose influence remains important long after his death. Please welcome Samantha!
In the Honeybrook High series, we follow a mother-daughter duo, Candy and Leslie, who want to find their way back to the happiness they lost. Candy wants to share her newfound faith in Jesus with her gift of singing and travel the country. Leslie would be grateful if her past mistakes wouldn't haunt her. Her mistakes come back, but her late father's alleged mistakes come back to haunt her too. Coming from an old Southern money family, Leslie believed her father could do no wrong. But, when someone from her past suddenly dies and his father blames her and her late father's "side business" that she knew nothing about, secrets and rumors start to swirl faster than a blizzard.
Writing about the late Frank St. John, Leslie's father, can be challenging sometimes, because his personality lives in Leslie's memory of him. His dark, slicked back hair, his tan business suit, his polished shoes and intense blue eyes… all live as memories inside a 48-year-old woman who called him dad. I get to write about Frank through the blue eyes Leslie inherited, as well as the dark hair, but with the heart of a daughter. A daughter who officially has started to question everything she ever knew.
A daughter only sees parts of her father's life, not the full picture of it. It's up to Leslie (and readers) to decide based off Leslie's memories, and any evidence she ever finds, if Frank was the kind man she believed him to be or maybe he had a darker side he shielded her from?
My thanks to Samantha Roman for sharing this behind-the-scenes look at Under Red Skies!
Meet the Author
Beyond her writing, Samantha Roman is a former homeschooler turned teacher-author who enjoys watching mystery movies, crocheting, and walking on the beach. These little details offer a glimpse of the person behind the Honeybrook High series.
Learn more:
Amazon | Goodreads
Where to Buy
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Let's Chat
Do you enjoy mysteries that unfold across several books,
or do you prefer each installment to offer some closure?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Tour dates: November 10 through November 30, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit the
iRead Campaigns tour page.
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Thank you so much for reading and sharing! Thank you for having me on your blog and joining the tour!!!! -Samantha