Brenda S. Anderson's Blog, page 8

Coming Soon … The Potter’s House Books! Plus Cover Reveal!

I’m so excited to share with you this amazing project I’ve been invited to join: The Potter’s House Series! We’re seven authors who love Jesus, and over the next year we’re bringing twenty-one God-honoring stories of hope, redemption, and second chances to our readers. Starting on March 27, Potter’s House authors will release a new story every two weeks for the first several books.  The Homecoming by Juliette Duncan goes up for pre-order on February 27! Each book is a standalone story.

And …

Check out the gorgeous cover for Long Way Home, my first book in the series. Long Way Home will release on May 8, 2018. For those of you who enjoyed my Coming Home Series and hated to see it end, you’ll be re-introduced to several familiar characters—but that’s all I’m going to say about it at the moment.

Inspy Romance Birthday Bash + #Giveaways!

Inspy Romance Birthday Bash!

We’re having fun over at Inspy Romance, celebrating our birthday with bundles of giveaways! Books and throws and Kindles and mugs and totes and so much more! And there are many different chances to win, with 10 different bundles (including one especially for international readers!) You’ll find Chain of Mercy and Risking Love among the book giveaways.

So click below to hurry over to Inspy Romance. Comment on the blog anytime from February 14, 2018 through March 16, 2018, and you’ll be entered to win!

IT’S TIME!!! The Annual Inspy Romance Birthday Bash is HERE

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Common by Laurie Lucking ~ Character Interview

COMMON by Laurie Lucking ~ Character Interview

It’s always a thrill when friends release new books, and it’s even more exciting when that book is a debut novel! I met Laurie Lucking through our Minnesota Chapter of ACFW. She’s now our esteemed secretary.

The (He)Art Connection

The (He)Art Connection

When I first began writing, I approached the process from my literature background. I did the same when reading books. It’s no surprise to you, I’m sure, that literature majors have a bit of a high-brow opinion of books, and tend to look down on any book that is not a literary classic or a modern genius. I’m not nearly as bad as my former classmates, but still my favorites in Christian fiction tend to have a more literary bent. Books by Athol Dickson and Dale Cramer top my list.

But books by those authors seldom top the lists of others who read Christian fiction. Too often, my favorite reads are ignored by the average reader.

And then there are the popular books that have high rankings on Amazon… I have read so many of these that leave me scratching my head. The characters are poorly developed or the prose is elementary or the plot sits static during the entire middle section of the book. Yet, the average reader loves them.

If you look at the reviews of any book on Amazon, you’ll see that opinions can be all over the place. In my book, Chain of Mercy, most readers rave about the deep characterization, but then I’ll read a review that complains about my undeveloped characters.

Who’s right?

To an extent, everyone is right when it comes to art. The ultimate purpose behind any work of art is to make a heart connection. The artist desires to make a connection on a deep level, one that reaches to the heart, but every heart reacts to art differently. Someone might look at a painting that has a black stripe dividing a wall of white and wonder what secrets are hidden in the dark, while others would roll their eyes and claim they could paint that too. 

The ultimate purpose behind any work of art is to make a heart connection.
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 The Greatest Showman is a recent movie release that puts the spotlight on P. T. Barnum. It’s a grand musical with big numbers that the majority of movie goers loved. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie received an audience ranking of 90%, yet the reviewer ranking was far lower at 55%. Personally, I LOVED the movie and could see it again and again, but when talking with a a fellow musical lover, she claimed she was underwhelmed by it.

Why the difference?

It all comes down to Heart Connection.  For whatever reason, when I leave the theater after watching The Greatest Showman, I feel completely uplifted. I’m humming the music, my toes are still tapping, and I can’t wait to see it again. When I watch this short clip below of Keala Settle singing “This Is Me”, the song reaches deep inside. Every. Single. Time. The music. The lyrics. Keala’s presentation. It all goes straight to my heart.

 

Yet someone else might watch that clip and remain unaffected.

I could go on and on with examples, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is that art is less about following rules and more about listening to the heart, and every heart reacts differently. 

Art is less about following rules and more about listening to the heart
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 The HeArt Connection is a mystery that I don’t believe we can define. And that’s good. Otherwise we might as well have heart-free robots creating art.

So does this mean that as artists we shouldn’t continue to learn about our craft? Absolutely not. We should always strive to improve. But we also need to remember to listen to the part of our imagination that bleeds emotion onto the page: the heart. That emotion won’t be felt by all who read your work—it might only be felt by a small handful—but it’s that small handful that make connecting your heart to your art worthwhile.

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February 2018 New Releases

February 2018 New Releases from ACFW Authors

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Biblical: 

A Passionate Hope, Hannah’s Story by Jill Eileen Smith — Hannah has spent her life trusting God, loving her husband, putting up with abuse from a second wife and still she has no child–until one day she discovers the secret to her own heart’s longings and rejoices in what will soon become God’s promised hope. (Biblical from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Romance: 

Focus On Love by Candee Fick — In the standalone sequel to Dance Over Me, photographer-turned-actress Liz meets a freelancer who has put his career on hold, but when Ryan shows her what true love is all about, her life may never be the same. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Love by the Numbers by Laura V. Hilton — When false allegations by the bishop back home catch up with Lydia and threaten to ruin her reputation, can she clear her name and find lasting happiness? Or will her sunny disposition fade away into heartbreak? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House)

Historical Romance: 

This Treacherous Journey by Misty M. Beller — Widowed and with child, Emma Malcom is fleeing arrest. Innocent of her husband’s crimes, she and her brother hope to make it through the Rockies to Canada for a clean start. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on Simeon Grant’s doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects memories he’s worked hard to forget. Widowed and childless because of his own bad choices, can he overcome the past that haunts him to give her the safety she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all? (Historical Romance, ACFW Qualified Independently Published)

The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron — Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman speaks of a secret past and castle ruins. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . . But her grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s, and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley to unearth its secrets before time silences them forever. (Historical Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

The English Lieutenant’s Lady by Evelyn M. Hill — I’m not your enemy.” He held her gaze, willing her to believe the lie. It’s 1845. Britain and America both claim the Oregon Territory, and neither side is willing to back down. To survive, British Lieutenant Geoffrey Montgomery and American Lia Griggs both are pretending to be someone they’re not. The last thing either of them wants is to fall in love. And as the threat of war grows stronger, choosing to stay together could cost them everything they have. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Widow of Rose Hill by Michelle Shocklee — Widowed during the war, Southern slave owner Natalie Ellis strikes a bargain with a Union Colonel to save her plantation and her son’s inheritance: in exchange for use of her family’s property, the army will provide workers to bring in her cotton crop. Natalie Ellis is everything Colonel Levi Maish loathes: a Southern slave owner. But the plight of the beautiful Widow Ellis stirs to life his compassion and the heart he’d thought hardened by war. While the army camps on her land, Levi finds himself contemplating a future with Natalie and Samuel. But when he learns where her husband perished during the war, he knows a life with Natalie is impossible. How could she ever forgive him for what he’d done in battle on the banks of the Bull Run? (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin — As D-day approaches, an American naval officer and a British Wren work together on invasion plans. But if he succeeds, will he destroy what she loves most? (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky — A determined young aviator who strives to be the first to fly across the English Channel also longs to win the heart of an aspiring journalist who is secretly covering the race across the Channel. (Historical Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Random House])

The Mail-Order Brides Collection by Megan Besing, Noelle Marchand, Donna Schlachter, Sherri Shackelford, Michelle Shocklee, Ann Shorey, Liz Tolsma, Jennifer Uhlarik, and Kathleen Y’Barbo — Nine advertisements for brides lead to inconvenient complications in romance. Traveling west alone on a promise of marriage, each woman has her reasons to accept a husband sight unseen. Some are fleeing poverty or abuse while others simply seek hope for a brighter future. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense: 

High Treason by DiAnn Mills — CIA Operative Monica Alden and FBI Special Agent Kord Davidson face the challenge of their careers when a Saudi Prince’s life is threatened on American soil. (Romantic Suspense from Tyndale House)

Kill Shot by Susan Sleeman — As the ballistics and weapon’s expert for the FBI’s special task force nicknamed the White Knights, Rick Cannon has known the Department of Defense was developing self-steering bullets and feared their effects in the hands of the wrong people. Now his fear is coming true. The ammunition been stolen, and the Knights are called in to find the thief and stop the killings. When therapist Olivia Dobbs discovers one of her military clients moments after he is murdered, she becomes both the FBI’s prime witness, and suspect. But with a sniper now training his rifle on her, Rick must recall all the skills he learned as a Marine sniper to make sure the next bullet fired isn’t a kill shot that takes Olivia out. (Romantic Suspense from Faith Words [Hachette])

Speculative

Common by Laurie Lucking — Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished. Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair. And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia. But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason. Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne. Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend? (Speculative from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing)

Supernatural Thriller: 

The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart — In this fresh take on the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, James L. Rubart explores the war between the good and evil within each of us—and one man’s only chance to overcome the greatest divide of the soul. (Supernatural Thriller from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Western:

Cheyenne Sunrise by Janalyn Voigt — Can a woman with no faith in men learn to trust the half-Cheyenne trail guide determined to protect her? (Western by Mountain Brook Ink)

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A Lesson in Listening

A Lesson in Listening

I love the holiday season…

But my job doesn’t.

Every author has their own eccentricities when it comes to creating, and one of mine is I need uninterrupted silence. I write best when there are no people around. No music is playing. No phones are ringing. No distractions are calling to me. Let’s face it, from Thanksgiving to New Years, there’s very little silence. Add to that, all the extra things added during the holidays–kids home from college, shopping, decorating, parties, concerts, etc–and writing falls far down on my must-do list.

Which also means, that following the holidays, I have to play catch up. Over the past few years I’ve discovered the perfect way to win at that game. I go on a solo writing retreat. No phones. No people. No chores staring at me. There are no distractions, so I can focus on writing.

And more importantly, I can hear God better.

Cabin at Christmas Mountain Village

This year I spent four nights away from home (at Christmas Mountain Village in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin), which translates to three full days for working. The Dells are about a three-and-a-half hour drive from my home. I love the drive. Not only is the landscape unique and beautiful, but the quiet time comes in very handy for pre-writing.

I set a goal of 6000 words per day (using the half-day I arrived as wind down time.) Considering that in my typical day of writing, I’ll pen around 1500 words, 6000 was a lofty goal.

Days one and two, with the help of a bunch of prayer, and a lot of asking, What now, God?, I met the goal! In those two days I added 12,000 words to my manuscript! Needless to say, I was thrilled.

Then came my third and final day. I eeked out the first 3000, and I was well into the latter part of the afternoon. And then I was stuck. My mind was drawing a blank on what should come next. I knew of something that should happen later in the story, but I needed something that wouldn’t encourage readers to takes a snooze.

With nothing coming to me, I walked around my little cabin. I did a lot of asking God, Now what? I munched on food. Watched a little TV. Scrolled through Facebook. All the while, my imagination seemed to have taken a vacation.

I’d written 15,000 words so far. Nothing to scoff at, for sure, so I considered calling it a day. But being only 3000 words short of my retreat goal, I couldn’t stop, and decided to skip this section and move on to a scene a little ways down the road.

I sat at my computer and started typing, and words flowed onto the page…

But not words from the scene I’d intended to write. Rather, words from a scene I hadn’t imagined started appearing on my the computer screen. It was the type of scene that glued the story together with some laughter and some tears and a whole bunch of growing. A scene only God could have drawn up.

In a Facebook post, I described this as God showing up, but that wasn’t right either. God is always there. The difference was, when I sat at the keyboard, I had nothing. I was empty .

And He filled me. He opened my ears to His voice, and said “This is what comes next.” Can you say goosebump moment?

At day’s end, I had typed my 6000 words, and eclipsed the 18,000 word goal I’d set for my retreat. Now all those words won’t remain in the final manuscript, and plenty of new words will be added.

But more important was the lesson I learned. Being empty isn’t an obstacle, rather it’s an opportunity for us to ask, “What now, God?” and then listen for His answer.

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2017 Favorite Reads

2017 Favorite Reads!

According to my Goodreads page, I read only seventy-two books in 2017, falling just short of my goal of 75. (See my year in books here: Goodreads Year in Books) The shortfall is likely because I’ve become more selective when choosing the books I wish to spend several hours with, and the selections offered in my preferred genre are becoming fewer. Because I’ve become pickier, that also means that of the books I do read, a higher percentage end up with higher rankings and twelve books earned a Favorite star. To earn that star, that means the book must meet my rigid standards of quality, including multi-faceted characters, page-turning story, vivid descriptions. The story and characters must strike me as authentic, and, if there is a romance, it must occur organically.

The books listed below (in no particular order) all met those guidelines (in my opinion, as I do realize all art is subjective) and they are stories I would highly recommend.

(Note: making this list means that I read the book in 2017. It may–or may not–have released during the year.)

Have you read any of the following books? What were your favorite books from 2017?

A MOONBOW NIGHT

by Laura Frantz

When Virginia surveyor Sion Morgan arrives at the Tucker family inn with his crew, he’s shocked to discover that the wilderness expert he hired is Temperance Tucker—a woman! Soon, though, he discovers that her skill rivals his own. But can the tenuous tie Sion and Tempe are forming withstand Indian ambushes and conflicting loyalties?

PORTRAIT OF VENGEANCE

A Gwen Marcey Novel #4

by Carrie Stuart Parks

Gwen Marcey investigates a case of a missing child in Lapwai, Idaho. Details keep surfacing that are similar to her childhood traumas. Meanwhile her ex-husband back home is threatening to take sole custody of their daughter. The clock is ticking for the lives of both little girls.

LIFE AFTER

by Katie Ganshert

In a world where bombings are more prevalent than ever, Kate Ganshert writes a novel about a woman who boards a passenger train and seconds later a bomb explodes. One year goes by and she still can’t recall that horrific day. She feels grief and guilt because she is the only survivor. Unable to put it to rest, she contacts the families of the victims. Paul Elliot lost his wife and the mother of his children. His daughter Reece reaches out to Autumn for that one last link to her mother. Paul wants to keep the information from Reece so she can heal. Will Autumn finally remember what happened that day?

FATAL TRUST

by Todd Johnson

Criminal defense attorney Ian Wells inherited a law practice from his father in Minneapolis. A new client offers him two hundred thousand dollars to find out whether three men qualify for over nine million dollars of trust funds. To qualify, none of the men can have a criminal record for the past twenty years. He finds out the trust has links to an old criminal enterprise and an unsolved art theft. Now Ian is under criminal investigation as the money from the crime begins to surface.

EVERY DEADLY KISS

by Steven James

Patrick Bowers is FBI special agent in Detroit who uncovers a terror plot that goes back hundreds of years. He finds a ruthless murderer and killings that link to his own history with a known terrorist and that his ex-girlfriends secret past could be the only thing that can help them stop the killing spree.  If they can’t find the killer, a bioweapon attack is certainly heading their way. 

BEFORE WE WERE YOURS

by Lisa Wingate

Based on one of America’s real-life scandals. Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country.

In the year 1939 Memphis, Tennessee, Rill Foss is a twelve-year-old river gypsy whose family lives on a Mississippi River shantyboat. When an emergency takes their parents to the hospital, strangers take the children from their world and place into an orphanage. Rill fights to keep his sisters and brother together. 

Present day, in Aiken, South Carolina, Avery Staffords is the daughter of a U.S. senator with a career as an assistant D.A. in Baltimore, Maryland. She is planning her wedding when suddenly her world tips upside down the day her father becomes ill. She returns home to help and finds out about her hidden past.

THE BROKEN TRAIL

by Christa MacDonald

Katherine Grant takes the job at Sweet River Christian Academy hoping a small town in the wilderness of Maine will be a vacation from her high-powered career and a break from the emotional toll of the secrets she has buried deep. With the school director on a power trip and evidence of shady dealings, there’s nothing relaxing about it. Maybe it would be easier if she wasn’t so distracted by Captain MacAlister, the local cop she can’t get along with, yet can’t get out of her head. She didn’t trek up to the middle of nowhere to lose her heart.

Mac doesn’t need the kind of trouble he believes Katherine will bring. He’s got enough to deal with from poachers to drug crime. Mac has rules to maintain his faith, like avoiding the pull of an attractive woman who doesn’t fit his life. But when he meets Katherine, he’s drawn in by her intelligence and strength, despite getting burned by her quick temper.

When near tragedy strikes, Katherine reveals her feelings, and Mac doesn’t hesitate to respond. If only their scars, both seen and unseen, didn’t threaten to tear them apart. Two wary hearts must soften and two steel wills bend if they have any hope of making it down the broken trail to love.

HOMESTANDS

A Chicago Wind Novel #1

by Sally Bradley

When baseball star Mike Connor stumbles across his ex-wife six years after their divorce, he’s stunned to find that she’s the mother of a kindergartner who wears his jersey. And shares his last name. 

The last thing Meg Connor wants is to be around Mike. After all, he was the one who hurt and abandoned her. But she can’t deny him—or their son—time together to build a relationship, which means Mike is around too often, reminding her of why she fell in love with him so long ago. If only she could forget their past… The painful and the good. 

Between their guilt and closely held hurts, Meg and Mike struggle against each other, their feelings, and God as they fight their own desires for the future, a future that might never happen when the past that tore them apart collides with their present. 

A FRAGILE HOPE

by Cynthia Ruchti

Marriage counselor Josiah Chamberlain has a high success rate repairing other couples’ relationships. But when it comes to his own wife, things aren’t what they not perfect. As she becomes unreachable, he feels betrayed. Now that love seems to have failed him, will his faith sear through the wall that separates them?

HOME

by Ginny L. Yttrup

Facing a deadline, novelist Melanie Vander escapes to a picturesque localation hoping to inspire her husband to appreciate her again. Meanwhile, Craig is seeking God’s wisdom for his struggling business and marriage. Will Melanie keep running from reality and her problems? Or will she allow her characters to lead her home?

FORGOTTEN

by Don & Stephanie Prichard

Federal prosecutor Eve Eriksson disappears under mysterious circumstances and shows up a year later in a coma. What happened, and where has she been? She can’t remember, and her life is in jeopardy. Four people are hunting her down. Three claim to have been stranded on an island with her. The fourth is her old nemesis, Chicago drug lord Danny Romero, who still wants her dead. 

Jake Chalmers is shocked to discover his fiancé is a federal prosecutor. Why did she hide this from him on the island, and who is going to such great lengths to prevent their reunion? If she doesn’t regain her memory, he’ll be thrown into prison for murder. 

THE COLOR OF TRUTH

A Chain of Lakes Series Novel

by Stacy Monson

Marti has been on her own since she was 15, determined to build a life for herself and her sister despite the threats of a man intent on keeping her from revealing his secret. 

Sam Evans’ turbulent teen years prepared him for the perfect job—counseling troubled youth. Then his pregnant wife walked out on their marriage and his life imploded, leaving him without a family, a job, or his hard-earned reputation. 

With her sister in trouble, they’re forced to divulge the secrets, lies, and half-truths they’ve kept hidden from each other, and from themselves. If they can’t face the brilliant colors of God’s truth, the consequences may be deadly. 

The post 2017 Favorite Reads appeared first on Brenda Anderson Books.

January 2018 New Releases

January 2018 New Releases from ACFW Authors

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance: 

Her Handyman Hero by Lorraine Beatty — Reid Blackthorn arrives in Dover on a personal mission—to make sure his terminally ill brother gets a chance to meet his daughter. Deceiving little Lily’s guardian isn’t his intention. Yet once Tori Montgomery mistakes Reid for her new handyman, he knows it’s the only way to be close to his niece. Tori is honoring her friend’s last wish by keeping Lily away from her father’s family. And once she learns who Reid truly is, she realizes there’s too much at stake—including custody of Lily—for her to fall for the former DEA agent. But in keeping a promise, is she losing out on her chance for a happily-ever-after? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin — It’s been four years since Jennie’s husband died in a farming accident. Long enough that the elders in her Amish community think it’s time to marry again for the sake of her seven children. What they don’t know is that grief isn’t holding her back from a new relationship. Fear is. A terrible secret in her past keeps her from moving forward. Meanwhile, Leo Graber nurtures a decades-long love for Jennie, but guilt plagues him—guilt for letting Jennie marry someone else and guilt for his father’s death on a hunting trip many years ago. How could anyone love him again—and how could he ever take a chance to love in return? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Ain’t Misbehaving by Marji Laine — True, Annalee’s crime amounted to very little, but not in terms of community service hours. Her probation officer encouraged her with a promise of an easy job in an air-conditioned downtown environment. She didn’t expect her role to be little better than a janitor at an after-school daycare in the worst area of town. Carlton Whelen hides behind the nickname of CJ so people won’t treat him like the wealthy son of the Whelen Foundation director. Working at the foundation’s after-school program delights him and annoys his business-oriented father. When a gorgeous prima donna is assigned to his team, he not only cringes at her mistakes but also has to avoid the attraction that builds from the first time he sees her. (Contemporary Romance from Write Integrity Press)

Finding Grace by Melanie D. Snitker — Single dad Tyler Martin can’t be more grateful to the woman who finds his missing daughter. Even though he feels a spark between them, falling in love is a risk he shouldn’t take. Too bad chance encounters and his stubborn heart keep trying to convince him otherwise. After escaping a nightmarish relationship, Beth Davenport is content with her safe and blessedly normal life. Yet something about Tyler and his adorable daughter makes her wish for more. With the walls around her heart finally starting to crumble, she’s afraid of a future she can’t predict. Can they let go of their fear and trust God to lead them to the love they desperately need? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Marrying Mandy by Melanie D. Snitker — Mandy Hudson swore she’d never marry. Abandoned by her parents and raised by her grandparents, she has a hard time trusting that real love will last. When her grandmother dies, Mandy’s shocked to discover a stipulation in the will. Considering marriage to her best friend may be the only way to keep her family’s beloved bed-and-breakfast. The loss of his job threatens Preston Yarrow’s shaky financial stability. Besides, he can’t watch his best friend give up the only real home she’s ever known. Frustrated by Mandy’s stubborn refusal to let him help, he’s certain they are stronger together than they are apart. A marriage of convenience might be crazy… or an answer to both their prayers. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Historical: 

Son of Promise by Caryl McAdoo — Can a wife find the grace to forgive when her husband’s withheld the truth? Travis Buckmeyer has a secret son, and the morning’s come to tell his sweet wife. He hates breaking Emma Lee’s heart. She promised him one ten years ago, but hasn’t been blessed to carry a baby to term. Every miscarriage made the telling harder, but now his clock’s run out. He’s going for his son, praying he won’t lose her.

Cody knows who his mother claims his father is, but he’s only interested in getting sprung from reform school then boosting enough from the do-gooder to bust out on his own.

Can Travis find redemption, Emma Lee forgiveness, or Cody the love he’s been longing for? (Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance: 

Hearts Entwined by Mary Connealy, Melissa Jagears, Regina Jennings, and Karen Witemeyer — Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. In Karen Witemeyer’s “The Love Knot,” Claire Nevin gets the surprise of her life awaiting her sister’s arrival by train. Mary Connealy’s “The Tangled Ties That Bind” offers the story of two former best friends who are reunited while escaping a stampede. Regina Jennings offers “Bound and Determined,” where a most unusual trip across barren Oklahoma plains is filled with adventure, romance, and . . . camels? And Melissa Jagears’ “Tied and True” entertains with a tale of two hearts from different social classes who become entwined at a cotton thread factory. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

A Bouquet of Brides Collection by Mary Davis, Kathleen E. Kovach, Paula Moldenhauer, Suzanne Norquist, Donita Kathleen Paul, Donna Schlachter, and Pegg Thomas — For seven bachelors, this bouquet of brides means a happily ever after. Meet seven American women who were named for various flowers but struggle to bloom where God planted them. Can love help them grow to their full potential? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

A Mother For His Family by Susanne Dietze — Lady Helena Stanhope’s reputation is in tatters…and she’s lost any hope for a “respectable” ton marriage. An arranged union is the only solution. But once Helena weds formidable Scottish widower John Gordon, Lord Ardoch, and encounters his four mischievous children, she’s determined to help her new, ever-surprising family. Even if she’s sure love is too much to ask for.

All John needs is someone to mother his admittedly unruly brood. He never imagined that beautiful Lady Helena would be a woman of irresistible spirit, caring and warmth. Or that facing down their pasts would give them so much in common. Now, as danger threatens, John will do whatever it takes to convince Helena their future together—and his love—are for always. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

His Forgotten Fiancee by Evelyn M. Hill — Liza Fitzpatrick is stunned when her fiancé finally arrives in Oregon City — with amnesia. Matthew Dean refuses to honor a marriage proposal he doesn’t recall making, but Liza needs his help now to bring in the harvest, and maybe she can help him remember… Matthew is attracted to the spirited Liza, and as she tries to help him regain his old memories, the new ones they’re creating together start to make him feel whole. Even as he falls for her again, though, someone’s determined to keep them apart. Will his memory return in time to save their future? (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White — Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a critical task at the outset of World War I–to secure a crucial cypher key from a famous violinist currently in Wales. Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won–until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father’s work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only distraction he finds from his worry is in meeting the intriguing and talented Willa Forsythe. But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t–that she must betray him and find that key, or her own family could pay the same price his surely has. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

Mystery:

Surgeon’s Choice by Richard L. Mabry, MD — Dr. Ben Merrick thought his biggest problem was getting his fiancé’s divorced parents into the same room for the wedding–and then, people started dying. (Mystery, Independently Published through White Glove)

Romantic Suspense: 

Innocent Lies by Robin Patchen — Desperate to be safe from the man who held her captive and ruined her life, Kelsey must ensure her child is protected before she can take her enemy on. But a string of bad luck gets her arrested and lands her face-to-face with the only man she’s ever loved—the only man who can destroy all her plans. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Cold Truth by Susan Sleeman — When research chemist Kiera Underwood receives the cryptic phone call about her twin brother, she tries to contact him to no avail. Her twin sense tingles, warning her that something is wrong. Kiera’s not prepared when an attempt is made on her life and Blackwell Tactical operative Cooper Ashcroft delivers her second shock of the day. Someone killed the supervisor at the research lab where her brother works and stole a deadly biotoxin. The main suspect? Her brother, and Blackwell Tactical has been hired to bring him in. If that wasn’t shocking enough, she’s suspected of colluding with him. Setting out to prove herself and her brother is innocent, she is almost abducted before Ashcroft rescues her. He’s faced with the reality that she’s telling the truth and someone has likely abducted her brother—perhaps killed him—and now Kiera’s very life is in danger, too. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

The post January 2018 New Releases appeared first on Brenda Anderson Books.

Unwrapping God’s Gifts to Us

(Originally Posted on December 12, 2013)

Fluorescent light and a thump on the bed awake you. You blink, slowly bringing your child into focus. His eyes are wide with expectation. “Wake up! Santa came!” And though, as a teenager, he doesn’t believe in the Santa of the red hat and white beard anymore, Santa’s spirit is very much alive.

You shoo your teen from the room and sit up with a stretching yawn. Then the fever hits. Christmas fever. The excitement you saw just moments ago in your child’s eyes, now bubbles in your heart. You can’t wait until he unwraps the present you so carefully purchased, knowing it was the perfect gift for him.

After tying on a robe, you walk with your spouse to the living room. Lights blink on the tree. Stockings overflow with candy, fruit, and, of course, a toothbrush.

Camera in hand, you hold your breath as your child rips the paper. This moment needs to be recorded. He lifts the cover on the box. Excitement drains from his eyes, and for just a moment, his smile falls. But you’ve trained him well. He looks at you, and his lips curl upward, but disappointment clouds his eyes as he murmurs, “Thank you,” his gratitude an obvious lie.

“You’re welcome.” You return the disheartened smile.

Weeks later, you discover that gift buried beneath your child’s bed, entombed in plastic. Didn’t he know it was chosen specially for him?

Have you experienced that as a parent, or even as a child, excitedly tearing into wrapping paper only to discover that the gift wasn’t at all what you wanted or asked for? I know I have. There’s seems to be a disconnect between the giver and the receiver, a moment of truth when you realize you really don’t know each other.

Just think how God feels when we ignore the gifts He’s given us, when we hide them away unused. When we bury them so deep, they will never bear fruit, and oftentimes erode away.

For years, that’s what I did with my writing. It certainly wasn’t a practical gift, so I stored it beneath my bed, buried beneath years of dust, and behind other unwanted gifts. Eventually, I forgot about it.

But, God doesn’t forget. Over time, He kept nudging me, reminding me of that closed box. Finally, I listened and dug out that box. I opened the lid and, telling no one else, I pulled out the gift and started using it. As time passed, I slowly told others about my present, fearing their response. No one chided me. No one called me lazy. Instead, I’ve received unexpected praise and encouragement.

But the best thing of all was experiencing God’s joy in finally using His gift. The distance between us has abated, and His voice is clearer as my disingenuous “Thank you,” becomes living gratitude.

And an act of worship.

As we move through this Advent season, celebrating God’s greatest gift to us, I dig beneath my bed, wondering what else I’ve hidden. What other gifts have I failed to use? Have I buried my faith beneath home decorating, stuff-buying, and card writing? Or do I live that faith so others will see it and accept His gift?

I push boxes aside beneath my bed. It isn’t long before I find another abandoned present. I open it and remove sheet music. It’s time I demonstrate my gratitude.

Yes, I can hear God rejoicing.

The post Unwrapping God’s Gifts to Us appeared first on Brenda Anderson Books.

A Reader’s Christmas List – Day Three

And some final ideas for that reader on your Christmas Shopping List!

Historical Fiction

A Moonbow Night

by Laura Frantz

When Virginia surveyor Sion Morgan arrives at the Tucker family inn with his crew, he’s shocked to discover that the wilderness expert he hired is Temperance Tucker—a woman! Soon, though, he discovers that her skill rivals his own. But can the tenuous tie Sion and Tempe are forming withstand Indian ambushes and conflicting loyalties?

Purchase A Moonbow Night here: https://books2read.com/u/bpWnQ9

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

(Tales from Ivy Hill book #2)

by Julie Klassen

Unable to support herself, Rachel Ashford lives with her friend Mercy Grove. Jane Bell and some others urge her to open a circulating library with the books she has inherited. Rachel discovers mysteries hidden among the books the villagers donate. A man she once cared about helps her look for clues, but they both find more than they bargained for. Mercy Grove finds managing her girls school fulfilling. When several men take an interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes it is because of the beautiful Miss Ashford. She finds the truth surprising.

Purchase The Ladies of Ivy Cottage here: https://books2read.com/u/m2oBn6

Contemporary Romance

Carolina Dream

(A Southern Breeze Series #1)

by

Sarah Crawford wants more from life than to attend the wedding of her ex-fiancée. An unexpected inheritance in South Carolina comes at the perfect time, just as Sarah is willing to use any excuse to get out of town.

When she meets potential business partner Jared Benton and discovers that a house is part of the inheritance, she is sure that God has been preparing her for this time through a recurring dream. But will a dream about an antebellum mansion, many rooms to be explored, and a man with dark brown eyes give her the confidence to take a leap of faith, leaving friends, family, and her job behind?

Purchase Carolina Dream here: https://books2read.com/u/4Aw1GA

The Broken Trail

(Sweet River Redemption book #1)

by Christa MacDonald

Katherine Grant takes the job at Sweet River Christian Academy hoping a small town in the wilderness of Maine will be a vacation from her high-powered career and a break from the emotional toll of the secrets she has buried deep. With the school director on a power trip and evidence of shady dealings, there’s nothing relaxing about it. Maybe it would be easier if she wasn’t so distracted by Captain MacAlister, the local cop she can’t get along with, yet can’t get out of her head. She didn’t trek up to the middle of nowhere to lose her heart.

Mac doesn’t need the kind of trouble he believes Katherine will bring. He’s got enough to deal with from poachers to drug crime. Mac has rules to maintain his faith, like avoiding the pull of an attractive woman who doesn’t fit his life. But when he meets Katherine, he’s drawn in by her intelligence and strength, despite getting burned by her quick temper.

When near tragedy strikes, Katherine reveals her feelings, and Mac doesn’t hesitate to respond. If only their scars, both seen and unseen, didn’t threaten to tear them apart. Two wary hearts must soften and two steel wills bend if they have any hope of making it down the broken trail to love.

Purchase The Broken Trail here: https://books2read.com/u/3L9LJN

For Women’s Fiction, Family Drama, and Literary novels, see Day One:

http://brendaandersonbooks.com/2017/12/05/readers-christmas-list-day-one/

For Mystery/Suspense and Legal Fiction, see Day Two:

http://brendaandersonbooks.com/2017/12/06/readers-christmas-list-day-two/

Available from Brenda S. Anderson

Click title for purchase link ~

Where the Heart Is Box Set: 3-in-1 Special Edition

Risking Love (a Where the Heart Is Romance #1)

Capturing Beauty (a Where the Heart Is Romance #2)

Planting Hope (a Where the Heart Is Romance #3)

Coming Home Series Box Set: 4-in-1 Special Edition

Pieces of Granite (Coming Home Series Prequel)

Chain of Mercy (Coming Home Series #1)

Memory Box Secrets (Coming Home Series #2)

Hungry for Home (Coming Home Series #3)

The post A Reader’s Christmas List – Day Three appeared first on Brenda Anderson Books.