Melanie D. Snitker's Blog, page 2

So Much Snow and Ice!

We ended up with some crazy winter weather here in the Texas Big Country. Thankfully, it was nothing like Snowmageddon we experienced last year. Still, we started off with freezing rain yesterday afternoon followed by hours of sleet. That finally turned to snow around 3 this morning and has continued for most of the day. All in all, I think we got around two inches of snow. 

​Our daughter and the dogs enjoyed going outside and playing, but with the windchill bringing temps down to feel like 2'F, they didn't stay outside long. 

The dogs in the pictures above are Natty, our 9-week-old puppy, Loki, who just turned a year old. Then on the bottom we have Jessie, who is seven. And then on the bottom right is Jasper, our senior gentleman. He wasn't overly interested in the snow, and I can't really blame him. Ha!

Below are some of the plants in our yard that are covered in snow and ice. It's all very peaceful and beautiful, but I'm thankful I live in an area of the country that doesn't get a lot of snow often.  All of this snow makes me think of one of my books, I Still Do . In this book, a family gathers to honor a loved one who passed and ends up snowbound together, including Grey and Cora who divorced years ago. It's pretty hard to keep running away from each other when there's nowhere else to go!  If you haven't read I Still Do yet, you can grab a copy from any of your favorite book retailers. If you do, I hope you enjoy it!

What's worse than running into your ex-husband? Becoming snowbound with him and an avalanche of memories you can't escape.

When Cora Wells married her high school sweetheart at nineteen, she thought it was the beginning of a perfect life together. Their divorce two years later shattered her heart. She thought she'd never see him again, until she agrees to go on a crazy trip to honor a loved one and comes face to face with none other than her ex-husband, Grey.

Grey Jackson never could decide which was his biggest mistake--marrying Cora or divorcing her. He thought he'd moved past it all, but unexpectedly seeing Cora brings every emotion back to the surface. He can tell she's keeping something from him, yet how can he expect her to open up to him after he shut himself off from her years ago?

When a crazy winter storm leaves them all snowbound, everything seems to go wrong, and Cora and Grey have no choice but to work together. As tempers flare and old wounds are re-opened, they must face the truth of what happened between them. Will it give them a second chance to rediscover their first love? Amazon | Apple | B&N | Google | Kobo

A Puppy, COVID, and VR - oh, my!

Hello, friends!
​
I realize I haven't posted on my blog in a really long time. Honestly, I took it off my site because I found the process of keeping it up-to-date very overwhelming over the last year or so. In that time, I've also found that I've truly missed it. So I'm back, and I hope at least some of you are still out there. To start a new blog post off, I'm going to share the message in my latest newsletter. Then I'll be posting new content from then on.  We've had quite the beginning to our new year.  

We got a new puppy for my husband's birthday. Shortly after that, we all came down with COVID one-by-one. Dealing with being sick and a young puppy who is getting up multiple times at night to go out or because she was hungry hasn't been easy! On top of that, both our daughter and my husband were sick for their birthdays. Our son is having some health issues in addition to COVID. 

We're all mostly feeling better, finally, but are still dealing with congestion and fatigue.
I'm so ready to get back to normal. Oh, and spring. I'm really ready for spring. Ha! 

Okay, enough about being sick. On to the new puppy! My husband named her Natty Gann, and we call her Natty. She's about 9.5 weeks old now, and fits perfectly with our family. We bought her to be my husband's dog. My dog, Loki, turned a year old in December. The two absolutely LOVE to play together. I really don't know how we would've made it through not feeling well if it weren't for Loki entertaining Natty so much. 
Natty is supposed to be a full German shepherd, but that didn't matter too much to us. I guess time will tell as she grows. We may do one of those DNA tests with her that we did with Loki because it was fun. But will wait a while for that.  Have any of you used a Virtual Reality (VR) system? My husband wanted one last year and I finally got him one in November thinking I'd never use it in a million years. After trying it that first day, I absolutely loved it and had to get one of my own. 

I've been using it for Beat Saber, which is a music and rhythm game, and for Supernatural, which is an amazing fitness game. I've used them regularly for about two months now and I'm seeing improvements in my strength, heart rate, blood pressure, and my stress levels.

I so look forward to my time on there. Being able to take an hour a day to do something for me, to better my health, has made such a difference on the days that stress would normally have me feeling down. 

While I haven't been able to get in an hour straight since COVID, I do feel like doing at least some exercise a day has helped with my recovery time. Hopefully I'll be back to normal again soon.

And yes, I had to buy the sticker you see on the picture above to make the VR system look like Baymax from Big Hero 6. Ha! 
​
I hope you are all doing well and hanging in there. It seems like so many people I know are sick right now. Take care of yourselves, okay? 

Last Chance Sale!

This is your last chance to grab a copy of the Sweet Kisses Limited Edition box set.

This set will come down from publication on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

The price is set at $4.99 for 21, yes, 21 ebooks!

Sweet Kisses

Twenty-one swoon-worthy heroes.
Twenty-one chances to fall in love.
Twenty-one happily ever afters.

Billionaires. Cowboys. Rock stars. Mountain men … and more.

They’re all about to find love, whether they were looking for it or not…
...their last first kiss that will change their lives and flip their neat and orderly worlds upside down.

Enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, second chance -- you’ll find all of your favorite tropes along with scorching leading men and heroines you’ll be cheering for.

Don’t miss this limited-edition box set of fresh, new stories from bestselling and award-winning sweet romance authors.

Click to download your copy before this incredible set is gone!

Sweet Kisses

New Books: January 2020

Happy New Year! Whether you make new year resolutions or not, I hope reading more books is one of your goals. You can start now by checking out these great new releases! All should be Christian and/or clean, but please make sure you verify them! Meanwhile, I hope this is a great start to a new year.  January 1st The Ranger's Destiny
​by Bree Livingston

​A dog rescuer, the man assigned to protect her, and the ominous threats that force them together.

When veterinarian and dog lover, Holly Blake, realizes a dogfighting ring is stealing dogs in her town, there’s no way she’s sitting idly by. Once she starts asking questions, she finds herself—and her little boy—in danger from the ruthless thugs that run it.

Ex-Army Ranger, Mason Andrews’s new assignment has him undercover as a small-town physician on the hunt for a dogfighting ring and protecting the local vet, Holly Blake. She’s beautiful, kind and a mom. Just the type of woman he shouldn’t be interested in. Not with his past.

Holly thinks her life is too complicated for love, and Mason believes he’ll never be good enough to fill the role of husband or father. Will their past keep them from moving forward or will love find a way to soothe their aches and bring them together?
Strike Three, You're Mine
​by Julie L. Spencer

Amberlyn didn’t realize her boyfriend was spending more time with her best friend than with her. Betrayed and publicly humiliated, she needed a box of tissues and a shoulder to cry on.

Aiden was happy to supply them. Having a crush on Amberlyn for years, he was secretly glad her boyfriend had dumped her. He may even have participated in the events that caused the breakup.

But he couldn’t focus on that when he needed to train for the upcoming baseball season.

With Amberlyn still crying over her ex-boyfriend, scouts vying for Aiden’s attention, and betrayals coming out of left field, they have so many strikes against them, they may never hit a home run.
Editing Bootcamp
​by Dola Basu Singh

​Looking to self-publish on a low budget but can’t compromise on quality?
Want to polish your book before querying an agent?
Are you a newbie fiction editor wanting to learn developmental editing?

Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.

Lots of books teach the craft of writing but not many focus on reworking, polishing, or self-editing. Learning editing skills shouldn’t be restricted to a privileged few. All writers should have access to strategies that can change a crude first draft into a polished work of art.

Editing Bootcamp will demystify the editing process by showing you how to spot and avoid common pitfalls, and correct the mistakes.

Inside you'll find:
•Actionable steps for all stages of editing.
•Seven fiction elements including structure, point of view, characters, dialogue and more.
•Handy editing checklists.

Take your writing to the next level with this concise how-to guide. Edit yourself into print. The Spirit Witch
​by L.E. Gordon

​“Well, dear, you are an unusual one. So unusual we have only come across one other witch like you before. We believe you’re a Spirit Witch, watching over the fifth element of Aether. Aether is the spiritual element and has no form, but you hold all the other elements together, which is why you can channel power. You’re blessed indeed Kira, the Goddess has chosen you to work with the divine.”

After years of being a solo witch, Kira has faced her past and become part of the coven she turned her back on so long ago. Her joy at finding her place in the magical world is shattered by a vision of ghosts taking over her town at their annual Halloween celebration.

Instead of relaxing into her new position as the coven's Spirit Witch, Kira and the other Keepers of Kilbrae must find out the source of the ghosts and stop them before the Halloween party turns Kilbrae into a real-life ghost town. The Christmas Ring 
​by Shanna Hatfield

​ She’s desperate to forget her past
He’s determined to give her a future

Victoria Carter flees from the gossip that dogs her every step. She hopes to embark on a new chapter of her life at her brother’s home in eastern Oregon. What she didn’t plan on was the stagecoach being robbed on the way there, or the immediate attraction she feels to one of the outlaws. Then she meets a telephone lineman she finds charming, witty, and kind. Despite her intentions to avoid all members of the male species, her affections are torn between the two men.

A man of many secrets and talents, Trace Travers knows he has to stay focused on his work. Yet, the lovely sister of one of his friends threatens to capture not just his attention but also his heart. Resolved to ignoring Victoria and the emotions she stirs in him, he discovers she is a difficult woman to overlook, especially when she keeps popping up in the most unexpected places.

Trace and Victoria are swept into the town’s festivities as they ring in the holiday season. But will Christmas bring the forgiveness they both need if they hope to have a future together? Enjoy this sweet holiday romance, rich with history, laughter, and heartwarming Christmas cheer. January 4th Star Rising
​by Janet W. Ferguson

Star Youngblood has always been a fighter–a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.

After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray—a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted—his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.

As Paul and Star strive to protect his mother in their own ways, they soon find their own hearts are at the greatest risk.
January 6th Cinders & Blades
​by Amanda Kaye

A great betrayal requires a great revenge.

Sasha’s childhood was shattered when the Tsar murdered her father. She’s spent her life searching from the shadows for a way to make the Tsar pay for his crimes. But people who question the Tsar have a habit of disappearing, and Sasha can’t trust anyone.
​
When the Tsar announces an extravagant ball for the prince, Sasha sees the perfect opportunity for revenge. But the interference of a mysterious stranger could be her undoing—or her salvation. Forced to keep this unlikely dance partner close while guarding against his betrayal, Sasha uncovers new revelations around every turn. As the chance to strike draws near Sasha must question everything she thought she knew.

What price is she willing to pay to avenge her family? January 10th The Ties That Bind
​By Amelia C. Adams

Peter Thomas has never had much luck with romance. For as many times as he's put his heart on the line, he's been rejected, and he can't help but wonder if perhaps being a family man isn't in the stars for him. He tries to focus on building his career instead, but he knows he'll never be truly happy until he has someone to share his life with.

Scarlett Carlson isn't interested in romance at all. She's a young widow with two small children, and every moment is spent taking care of them. When she isn't worrying about their needs, she's still grieving the loss of her husband, and she doesn't even want to think about welcoming someone new into her life. For some reason, though, Peter Thomas has decided she's the one.

Sometimes things are meant to be, and sometimes they're not. But fate never stopped the seven meddling grandmas of the sewing circle from putting their two cents' worth into the pot ... Paris with You
​By Ellen Joy

​ She wants to go back and bake in Paris.

He wants her out of his kitchen.

But is she the missing ingredient from his life?

Ally Williams flies back to Camden Cove from Paris as soon as she hears about her father's heart attack. But when she runs into Michael Mailloux and finds out he’s the replacement at her family’s bakery, she feels completely left out. How could her dad hire the high school bad boy instead of asking for her help? Paris feels very far away and she can’t wait to get back to her life she left behind.

Michael can't wait for the homecoming queen to go back to Paris and leave him alone. Only, he needs her help, whether he wants to admit it or not. Sure, he had baked in the Marines, but tourist season in Camden Cove was worse than a battlefield. The tourists loved her family’s pastries, and his didn’t measure up.

When Michael finally breaks down and asks Ally for her help, he soon realizes he's falling for her. But how can he ask her to stay if her life is in Paris? January 13th Friends Like These
by Carina Taylor

NOAH
Inheriting a debt-ridden golf course was not the opportunity I was looking for. While I desperately try to salvage the business, she bulldozed into my life–intent on fixing everything for me. I’ve never been rescued before—definitely not by such unconventional methods.
But what will happen when there’s nothing left for her to fix? I want her to stay. Now I just have to convince her.

PAGE
Spending the day golfing was not my idea of fun. Ruining the golf course’s main attraction? Definitely not what I had in mind. When I meet the attractive golf course owner, I want to make everything better for him. He needs help with the golf course and—though he won’t admit it—he needs an adventure.
He’s organized and a rule follower. I’m a free spirit.
Even worse, he likes tea…
I’ve got my work cut out for me. January 14th Upon an April Night
by Krista Noorman

​Love isn’t always picture perfect.

Jamie Linde is on the verge of great things. Her photography business is booming, and everything’s going according to plan, until two little lines on a pregnancy test turn everything upside down. For years, she’s loved her best friend’s brother from afar, but after their one and only night together, he left town on a business trip and hasn’t spoken to her since.

Duncan McGregor thought he had set his old ways aside. He’s been living a good Christian life, waiting on God to bring the right girl for him—except for one night of weakness with his sister’s best friend. His work in Denver couldn’t have come at a more perfect time to distance himself from temptation and get right with God.

When Duncan returns from Denver with a girl on his arm, Jamie is devastated and confused. What she wants more than anything is to be a family, but it seems that dream isn’t going to come true. If she tells him about the baby, she’ll ruin his newfound happiness. If she decides not to keep it, she’ll let everyone down, including her best friend.

Will she make the choice on her own or discover that God’s got a better plan? Lunch Ladies
​by Ruth O'Neil

These are not your typical lunch ladies. Seven women. Each dealing with her own personal struggle. Satan attacks where they are vulnerable, yet through the power of prayer and the strength that can only come from the band of friendship, they will overcome, even if the endings aren't all fairy tales.
January 16th How to Kiss a Guy in Ten Days
​By Liwen Y. Ho

Spoiler alert: It was supposed to be a pretend relationship, so why are they getting all the feels?

Hannah

When my dad went to jail, my world flipped upside down. Even my boyfriend wanted to take a break. But I've got a brilliant plan to show him what he’s been missing since he broke my heart.

Enter the cute new guy—Seth Spark.

Seth

When Hannah Mitchell, a girl completely out of my league, asks me to be her fake boyfriend on my first day at Edenvale, I almost lose it. A shy and awkward guy like me would never get any girl’s attention— especially a pretty one.

Never say never.

Now, I only have ten days to convince her to forget about her ex… and to give us a real chance.
​
The Edenvale Arts High School series brings you the sweetness and innocence of young love amidst a backdrop of the performing arts. Combining creativity and romance, this clean and wholesome YA series is perfect for fans of High School Musical and Zombies. January 18th The Cost of Humanity
​by Erin Winters

Enouim struggles to live a carefully controlled, safe life, but one blunder leads to another and soon she is caught up in a quest for something that may not even exist.

Tribesmen from the surrounding areas are uniting under one man and have begun cutting off trade routes. As a last resort, Gorgenbrild sends an elite body of warriors after a legendary weapon that could turn the tide, and the leader is less than enthused to have an unqualified addition to the team.

As Enouim faces down dangers she never imagined, her life tailspins out of control and she’s forced to consider that everything she was ever taught about life and honor may be wrong.
January 21st Courting Will
​by Nerys Leigh

​How can the right man be so infuriatingly wrong?
​
Daisy and Will have been not courting for a year.

At first, that was a good thing. When Will began spending time with her and her young son, only four months had passed since the death of Daisy’s husband, and having her childhood friend around eased her loneliness and pain.

But now, a year later, Will is still spending time with her, and they’re still not courting, and it’s beginning to feel like not such a good thing.

But with his wild past, Will is convinced he shouldn’t be a husband or father, so Daisy decides to take matters into her own hands. If he won’t court her, she’ll court him.

Until Will’s past catches up with him, and threatens to tear them apart forever. A Match to Call Ours
by Merrillee Whren

​Brittany Gorman needs a job, but nanny to six-year-old twin girls isn’t exactly what she’s looking for. Their single father, Parker Watson, isn’t sure hiring Brittany is the right move, but he’s desperate for help.

Soon Brittany is charming the twins and their father as well. But Parker still clings to the bitterness of his past, a past that has made him a recluse on his isolated Montana ranch, distanced him from God, and kept him from finding love.

Can Brittany’s prayers and two little matchmakers soften Parker’s heart and help him find love with his perfect Montana match? January 23rd Dumplings and Dynamite
​by Shanna Hatfield

​ That infuriating woman is about to blow his cover!
Or does the danger rest in the fact she’s stolen his heart?

Widow Hollin Hughes doesn’t care how long it takes or the depths of deception required to discover how her husband really died. She’s determined to unearth the truth and unravel the mystery surrounding his death. Then a new dynamite man arrives at the mine and throws all her plans off kilter.

With a smile that makes females of any age swoon, Deputy Seth Harter can charm his way into or out of almost anything. When he’s sent undercover to Crescent Creek Mine, even the cranky cook seems entirely immune to his rugged appeal, making him wonder if he’s losing his touch. Eager to get to the bottom of a series of unexplained deaths, Seth counts on catching the criminals. He just didn’t anticipate a tempestuous woman claiming his heart in the process.

Brimming with humor, tidbits from history, and a sweet, unexpected love, don’t miss out on a heartwarming romance packed with adventure.
January 31st The Cake List
by Dianne J. Wilson

Do Something Brave.
Do Something Selfless.
Do Something Kind.
Break a Never.
Stop an Always.
Figure out God.

“Some people write a bucket list, you know… things they want to do and tick off before they die. Honestly? Dying doesn’t seem half as scary as the big-O birthday that’s hunting me down. So I’ve made my own list. Things I want to do and tick off before I eat that birthday cake. So far, it’s not going too well.”

~*~

Fresh from a spectacular break-up and faced with a looming big-O birthday, Meg throws her cautious nature aside and signs up for dance classes. Little does she know that Ballroom will stretch more than just her muscles.
Between the charming dance instructor and his secrets, her grumpy neighbour and a fish that can’t swim straight, Meg’s list seems doomed from the start.

~*~

Heart-felt and funny, Meg’s list-crossing quest takes her so far out of her comfort zone, she may never find her way back.
Check out these new releases from authors involved with  American Christian Fiction Writers . You're sure to find a new favorite! Contemporary Romance:
A Rancher to Trust  by Laurel Blount — After learning his ex-wife isn’t so ex after all, rebel turned rancher Dan Whitlock is determined to prove he’s a changed man…but Bailey Quinn is just as set on finally ending their marriage. When tragedy makes Dan the guardian of little orphaned twins, he and Bailey are drawn back together. But can she forgive the past and open her heart to the family she’s always wanted? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

Star Rising  by Janet W. Ferguson — Star Youngblood tries to protect her employer, Mrs. Priscilla Kelly, from the woman’s neglectful son, an aspiring flight instructor who has issues with religion, but finds her own heart is at the greatest risk. (Contemporary Romanc, Independently Published)

A Promise to Keep  by Melony Teague — Savannah, a widowed research librarian, goes to her twenty year class reunion and gets reacquainted with Michael, a former troublemaker who is now a professional technical rescuer. Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero? (Contemporary Romance from Anaiah Press)

General Contemporary:
A Long Time Comin  by Robin W. Pearson — To hear Beatrice Agnew tell it, she entered the world with her mouth tightly shut. Just because she finds out she’s dying doesn’t mean she can’t keep it that way. If any of her children have questions about their daddy and the choices she made after he abandoned them, they’d best take it up with Jesus. There’s no room in Granny B’s house for regrets or hand-holding. Or so she thinks. Her granddaughter, Evelyn Lester, shows up on Beatrice’s doorstep anyway, burdened with her own secret baggage. Determined to help her Granny B mend fences with her far-flung brood, Evelyn turns her grandmother’s heart and home inside out. Evelyn’s meddling uncovers a tucked-away box of old letters, forcing the two women to wrestle with their past and present pain as they confront the truth Beatrice has worked a lifetime to hide. (General Contemporary from Tyndale House)

Historical Romance:
Freedom in the Mountain Wind  by Misty M. Beller — A young woman faces overwhelming odds to make her father’s dream come true before he dies of lung cancer, but paddling upriver through fierce rapids and fighting hungry grizzlies to follow the Lewis and Clark trail isn’t what terrifies her the most. Beaver Tail endured more than he can stand from the women in his Blackfoot camp, but the last disaster gave him the final shove he needed to join this band of brothers searching for one of their group who’s gone missing. The last thing he expected was to find a white woman and her sick father stranded at the base of a massive waterfall. His plan is to help them carry their oversize canoe and supplies, then leave them to their strange mission. Yet, the more he learns about the pair, the more he realizes his life is about to be derailed—again. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Uncharted Promises  by Keely Brooke Keith — Sybil Roberts uses the warmth of delicious meals to lift the spirits of road-weary travelers at The Inn at Falls Creek. Her life at the inn would be perfect if she could just get her brothers and mother to move back home. And if she could see Isaac Owens again. He visited the inn once when he interviewed for the farm manager job, and she’s dreamed of his return to Falls Creek ever since. Isaac Owens knows how to run a farm. His family might not have faith in him, but if he succeeds at Falls Creek, he’ll prove them wrong. He arrives at the inn thinking the job is his, but the inn’s senile owner offered the position to another man too. Isaac must spend the winter competing if he wants to win the job… and Sybil’s heart. It will take more than warm meals on cold nights for Sybil and Isaac to find love while working at the isolated inn. (Historical Romance from Edenbrooke Press)

Forever Hidden  by Kimberley Woodhouse, Tracie Peterson — Sybil Roberts uses the warmth of delicious meals to lift the spirits of road-weary travelers at The Inn at Falls Creek. Her life at the inn would be perfect if she could just get her brothers and mother to move back home. And if she could see Isaac Owens again. He visited the inn once when he interviewed for the farm manager job, and she’s dreamed of his return to Falls Creek ever since. Isaac Owens knows how to run a farm. His family might not have faith in him, but if he succeeds at Falls Creek, he’ll prove them wrong. He arrives at the inn thinking the job is his, but the inn’s senile owner offered the position to another man too. Isaac must spend the winter competing if he wants to win the job… and Sybil’s heart. It will take more than warm meals on cold nights for Sybil and Isaac to find love while working at the isolated inn. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])


The Gray Chamber  by Grace Hitchcock — On Blackwell Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving. With her late father’s fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Foster does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. Do any of Edyth’s friends care that she disappeared? At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:
Secret Mountain Hideout  by Terri Reed — Staying hidden has kept her alive… But now she’s been found. A remote Colorado mountain town and a fake identity have been Ashley Willis’s safe haven since fleeing after she witnessed a murder—but now the killer has found her trail. Desperate and terrified, she’s prepared to run again…but Deputy Sheriff Chase Fredrick won’t let her. With the lawman by her side, can she face danger head-on…and live long enough to bring a murderer to justice? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

New Book Releases: December 2019

It's the holiday season. Treat yourself - or a loved one - to some fabulous books to read! Check out the new releases below and have a blessed Christmas!  December 1st The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
​by Bree Livingston

​A cowboy afraid of risking his heart, a broke chef with a dream, and a business arrangement that changes everything.

After the last four years, Bear West is tired of being the fifth wheel during his family’s yearly holiday get togethers—but he’s not ready to put his heart on the line. It’s safer to hire someone to be his girlfriend. Except when he meets Winnie Fordham, his heart’s beating a different tune.

Winnie Fordham is on borrowed time. She made a deal with her dad that if her dream of opening a restaurant didn’t happen within two years, she’d hang up her apron to join his law firm. When her best friend and partner cleans out the bank account, she’s gotta think outside the box to make her dream come true—like pretending to be Bear West’s girlfriend.

It’s a short-term business arrangement until they realize they might just have all the ingredients to make it forever.
Doctor Millionaire
​by Elle Rush

Twelve friends.
Ten-year reunion.
One $50,000,000 lottery ticket.

The only reason Dr. Doug Little returned to work in his dying hometown was to keep a promise. Two years and he’s gone. The only things getting him through his first couple months are his ten-year reunion and working with his old high-school crush.

Although Jackie Dunn loves her quiet world, her small-town life gets even harder when her part-time hospital job is in peril. If not for her friends’ encouragement, she’d head to the city for better opportunities for herself.

At the reunion, all the returning graduates chip in for a lottery ticket, but nobody expects to win the fifty-million-dollar jackpot. Doug’s share should be more than enough to buy his freedom, but the town doesn’t want to let their new doctor go. Jackie is the only thing that makes Hopewell bearable; the problem is the more time he spends with her, the more he forgets how much he wants to leave.

When he finally finds a way to escape, Doug realizes he’ll be doing it alone. Jackie doesn’t have much time to show him the life he accidentally created for himself in Hopewell is far better than anything his millions could buy him anywhere else. Rules are made to be Broken
​by Mylissa Demeyere

​ I've loved Will Henderson from the first day I laid eyes on him. But I made a solemn promise that same day. I would never, ever date Will Henderson. 
 
For almost a decade,Charlotte Dubois has loved Will Henderson from afar, squelching her heart's silent yearnings. But no way could she date her best friend Kelsey's brother.Their whole friendship is based on one rule: No friend of Kelsey can ever date Will.Instead, Charlotte has watched him date and break more hearts than should be legal. 
 
Will Henderson never got over that stolen kiss he shared with Charlotte years ago--though he's tried valiantly to rid his system of his sister's best friend. 
 
When circumstances bring the two into each other's arms again, Will wants to convince Charlotte to break the rules and take a chance on him. But to do so, they will have to hide their relationship from the ones they love most. Can true love triumph, or will they both end up losing? December 2nd The Blue Moon Caper
​By Phyllis Entis

Another coast-to-coast challenge for the Dickens Detective Agency.

When Bruno Caravaggio confesses to a murder he didn’t commit, Damien returns to Atlantic City to find the killer and clear his friend’s name. His task is complicated by Bruno’s desire to protect his mother, and her equally strong instinct to defend her son.

While Damien is away, Millie agrees to look into the claim of an eccentric Carmel-by-the-Sea resident that her children are trying to poison her. Her investigation leads her to Rancho Luna Azul, which sells its meat at several farmers markets in the area.

As she explores the connection between Rancho Luna Azul and the poisoning claim of her client, Millie becomes enmeshed in the FBI’s probe of a drug distribution ring operating out of the same premises. Risking capture - and possible death - at the hands of the drug ring, Millie bluffs her way inside and collects the evidence the FBI needs to complete its case.
December 3rd The Truth that Lies Between
​by W.D. McComb

​Three adventurous teenagers, yearning for manhood.
Two mysterious disappearances.
One Mississippi farm at the center of it all.

When he’s not busy trying to win over the girl of his dreams, Case Reynolds fishes, camps, and races three-wheelers on a local farm with his best friends, the carefree Jack Masterson and brilliant Jet Townsend. But Case’s life changes forever when he finds the murdered remains of a local drifter in a barn, the beloved farm comes up for sale, and Jack’s abusive stepfather Stone disappears without a trace.

The evidence points to all three events being connected. And when the boys discover that not only are they prime suspects in the drifter’s death, but the future of the farm depends on exposing the truth, they set out to find Stone and catch the killer on their own.

Their secret quest takes them on a journey of danger and self-discovery that they never could have imagined. Because Stone had dark secrets, killers will kill again, and the truth isn’t always what it seems, even between best friends.

Can Case and his friends execute their plan to bring justice to those who deserve it and find a bit of redemption for Stone—and themselves—in the process? 

Loyalties will be tested.
Unyielding courage will be required
And a little ingenuity never hurts... Not in the Plans
​by Jessica Marie Holt

Two neighbors, on a quiet street, in a cozy Southern town. Jackson is a once-jilted bachelor looking for a way to patch up his broken dreams. Emory is a struggling single mom determined to hold things together on her own.

When Emory's little boy brings them together unexpectedly, they find a new source of hope in each other, just in time for Christmas.

But then Emory's past threatens to derail her little family's future, and her new relationship with Jackson. Will hope be enough to save them? Fatal Heir
​by L.C. Ireland

​ Aldrin’s greatest hope carries a pitchfork.

On the brink of destruction at the hands of the undead, the kingdom of Aldrin needs a hero…

With the ability to see spirits, immunity from the mind-bending mists, and royal blood running through his veins, an illiterate farm boy from the outlands may just be the hero everybody needs.

But there are others who foresee a different future for the young prince; one of chaos and death. And they will stop at nothing to keep him from claiming his birthright.

The key to saving the future of his people is buried in the past.

And the dead have started talking. The Holiday Hunting Lodge
​by Jennifer Griffith

​ Snow, a hunting lodge, and a flight—both to and from—love.

Music composer Jesse Parrish has a dream contract! He’s been signed to write the soundtrack for a film with award potential. This one job could make his whole career. Twelve themes, all due to the producer at Christmas—but he’s completely blocked. He doesn’t have a single theme, let alone twelve.

He needs to get out of Vancouver and somewhere he can think.

Aspiring private pilot Mattie Daines has been crushing on Jesse since before he started dating Mattie’s older sister. His music makes her heart sing—but what kind of creep-o falls in love with her sister’s boyfriend? That’s half the reason she’s been working as an outdoors guide anywhere but Vancouver for the past couple of years.

When Mattie hears that Jesse is desperate for a private plane to take him to a friend’s mountain lodge, she leaps at the chance, if only to prove that she can be around him without her knees going weak.

Mattie whisks Jesse off to the mountains in her plane, but when bad weather threatens the flight, will this dangerous plane ride also threaten Mattie’s firm resolve not to let feelings for Jesse back into her life?
December 4th Hope is Born
​by Multiple Authors

Nine stories. Nine pasts to overcome. Nine futures hang in the balance.

Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but what happens when the past threatens to destroy the peace and joy of the season?

When the men and women in these stories face overwhelming challenges in their lives, can hope be restored this Christmas?

Mountaintop Christmas by Stacy Monson
Wilderness camp leaders Mikayla Gordon and Dawson Dunne have planned their perfect mountaintop Christmas wedding, but nature seems to have other plans. Mikayla will have to face the one thing that has terrified her since childhood or her hopes of a magical mountain wedding to the man of her dreams will be buried deep under the fresh coating of snow.

Like Wool by Eleanor Bertin
Young David Fawcett is all duded up for a night of punk rock with his buddies when the past butts into his plans, thrusting him out into the cold of a snowy Christmas Eve to face his worst enemy.

Ever Greening by Deb Elkink
Thirty-year-old anti-Advent Holly, who’d abandoned Montana as a pregnant teen, faces another Christmas—and this time the meaning of the Incarnation—in the barren desert of Nevada far from the evergreen forest of home.

A Beautiful Christ-mess by Brenda S. Anderson
When prodigal son Zachary Belden returns home at Christmas to surprise his family with news, he’s surprised with other news that turns his surprise into a big mess and challenges his newfound faith.

The Christmas Sweater by Janice L. Dick
Jeanne, a retired librarian and one-year widow, is dreading her first Christmas without Sam. However, when her childhood friend moves in next door, Jeanne wonders if alone might be better. Spunky Debbie McCormick won’t allow Jeanne to wallow in her grief, and seems intent on pushing her into decisions she’s not ready to make.

Taste of Heaven by Sara Davison
When Shawn and Daphne Cook’s hopes for their future are crushed, it takes a chaotic Christmas Eve service to remind Daphne that she has been putting her hope in the wrong things. Her plan is to get to her husband and share that revelation with him, but whoever has been watching them from the shadows just may have a plan of his own.

The Jukebox Cafe by Angela D. Meyer
Retired Marine Mike Thompson is struggling as the new pastor at Hillside Community Church in Preston Hill. Can one special Christmas Eve help him move beyond a past that’s holding him back?

The Caretaker’s Christmas by Johnnie Alexander
Mac never means to eavesdrop, but when the reclusive cemetery caretaker learns that two mourners will be alone for the holidays, he plans a Christmas Eve party for the recent widow and the foster teen. In seeking to ease their loneliness, will Mac find peace for his own grieving heart?

Reno-Vating Christmas by Regina Rudd Merrick
Steve Reno lost his wife two years ago and has two grown children, while Roxy Emerson has been alone for over ten years and is a grandmother. They’re not looking for romance, but when the contractor and restaurant-owner are thrown together at Christmastime, they realize that God does indeed have a hope and a future for them.
December 6th Sweet Treats: Recipes
​by Deborah Garner

​Delicious recipes from the Moonglow Christmas Series, including:

Glazed Cinnamon Nuts
Cherry Pecan Holiday Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Cranberry Drop Cookies
White Christmas Fudge
Molasses Sugar Cookies
Lemon Crinkles
Swedish Coconut Cookies
Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies
Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
Cocoa Kisses
Angel Crisp Cookies
Gingerbread Eggnog Trifle
Spiced Apple Cookies
Divinity Puffs
Mint Chocolate Macarons
Santa's Whiskers Cookies
Pecan Pie Cobbler
Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Dutch Sour Cream Cookies
Grandma's Opera Fudge
Peanut Blossoms
Mocha Candied Nuts
Peppermint Candy Canes
Ginger Crackle Cookies
and more! December 10th Christmas Coins
​by Kristy Tate

​It was the future...and she lost it.
For more than a hundred years, Zoe Hart's family has been buying keepsake gold coins and banking them in a small wooden box for inheritance and posterity. When Zoe loses the box, she is heart-sick.
It was hope...and she found it.
When Ethan and his daughter Hannah face a crisis, Hannah prays for help. When she finds the coin box, she truly believes she has received an answer.
But prayers aren't always fulfilled in expected ways. And sometimes, the miracles hoped for are so much less than what God has in store.
Book four in the popular Canterbury Romance series. All books can easily be enjoyed in any order. The Light Thief
​by David Webb

​THE SUN IS DEAD.
Humanity has moved deep underground.
The Lightbringers have reinvented electricity.
Their presence offers reassurance.
But some believe it's safer in the shadows.

Aniya Lyons has never forgiven the Lightbringers for the abduction of her brother. She’s overjoyed when he escapes and returns three years later, but he comes bearing a dark secret. Before he can share it with her, the Lightbringers steal him away again and murder their parents. Aniya is devastated, and she knows that she’s next.

So Aniya plunges into the dark tunnels of the Web, where savages and mutated beasts lie in wait. She despairs that there is no safe place to hide, that she will be running for the rest of her life. But there is a glimmer of hope. If she can make it to the Lightbringers’ Hub before they hunt her down, she may be able to sneak in and rescue her brother.

But the closer Aniya gets to the Hub, the closer she gets to discovering the horrible truth that led to the destruction of her family. The dark secret the Lightbringers would do anything to protect. And if she chooses to use this secret against them, it may carry unimaginable consequences and a great cost that Aniya may never be ready to pay. December 12th A Little Christmas Pretense
​by Rachel Andersen

​All she wants for Christmas is a little respect, but fate has a little something more in mind...

Cindy Ash is looking for the right time to quit her job as a personal assistant to the acting head of Fortescue Publishing. That is, until Richard Prince walks into her life. Between their instant chemistry and the office upheaval created by announced leadership changes, Cindy's life is turned upside down. She’s just not sure she wants it to turn right side up again.

Richard Prince has every intention to fly into Kansas City, help his boss pick the next president of Fortescue Publishing, and get back to his normal life. But that’s before he gets paired with the enchanting and opinionated Cindy Ash. Now, he's not sure he ever wants to go back to the way things were before...

Will Cindy and Richard find a new love before the New Year? Or will the stress of finding Fortescue Publishing’s new leadership end their relationship before it even begins? Lady in Red
​by Stacy Claflin

She appears only at night, watching and waiting…

When local children begin to vanish, Officer Alex Mercer is positive the cases are tied to recent threats against his family—especially since the first girl to go missing is his best friend’s daughter.

It all ties back to Alex. He’s sure of it.

The only solid link to the missing kids is a mysterious woman in a red dress. But that isn’t enough to go on, and Alex has orders to focus on another case. As if that will stop him.

While working off the clock, he stumbles upon something so chilling it finally provides the proof that he was right all along: the kidnappings are part of an elaborate worldwide scheme.

Alex will stop at nothing to take down the dangerous criminal empire… if they don’t end him first. Gift of Grace
​by Shanna Hatfield

​ Sometimes the best gifts
Are those freely given from the heart . . .

Ready to begin a new life far away from the sad memories of the Civil War, J.B. and Nora Nash head west on the Oregon Trail. They settle into the small community of Pendleton, Oregon, on a piece of land where they’re excited to build a future and their dreams together.

A devastating tragedy leaves them both reeling as they draw further and further apart. Nora blames J.B. for her unhappiness while he struggles through his own challenges. Only a miracle can bring them through their trials and reunite them for Christmas.

Together, will they discover the gift of grace in this sweet holiday romance brimming with hope, history, and abiding love?
December 19th A Home for Christmas
​by Julia Ridgmont

They’re willing to risk everything for a new life together. But are they ready to take a chance on love?

1881 Oregon

The only way of life that spinster Leah Ackerman has known for the past several years is one of poverty and servitude. When a chance encounter with a woman looking for a bride for her brother thrusts Leah into an entirely different world out west, she knows she’ll either have to either buck up or back down. If only she didn’t feel so inferior to everyone else around her, including her betrothed…

As a fairly young pastor of the congregation in Hope Hollow, Oregon, Blake Jefferies has his hands full. And now that he’s a widower with a four-year-old daughter, he has more than he can handle. He’s tired of depending on the good graces of the women in town to take care of her, especially when it seems all the single females want is a chance to win his heart in return. What he needs is a good, hard-working woman who can be a mother to his daughter and provide a way for him to care for his parishioners. When he meets his mail-order bride, Leah, for the first time, he’s not only struck by her beauty, but by her charm. But she’s hiding something that may cause the tenuous relationship they’re forming to totally unravel.

Will Leah and Blake learn to trust each other? Can they break the social barriers before them? Will they find a love worth fighting for, or will they turn from each other when things get hard?

Enjoy this companion novella to Julia Ridgmont’s new series, Brides of Hope Hollow as well as each standalone story in the Spinster Mail-Order Brides multi-author series! Each of them is sweet historical romance at its finest!
Gift of Hope
by Shanna Hatfield

​A tender gift given
Can warm even the coldest heart . . .

When his affections are spurned by the girl he plans to wed, Graydon Gaffney rides off in the swirling snow, determined to stay far away from fickle females. Then a voice in the storm draws him to a woman and her two sweet children. Despite his intentions to guard his emotions, all three members of the DeVille family threaten to capture his heart.

Giavanna DeVille holds the last frayed edges of her composure in a tenuous grasp. In a moment of desperation, she leaves her sleeping children in her cabin and ventures out into a storm to release her pent-up frustrations where no one can hear her cries. Much to her surprise, a man appears through the blinding snow. He gives her a shoulder to cry on and something even more precious. . . hope.

Can the two of them move beyond past heartaches to accept the gift of hope for their future?
December 18th The Sentimental Journey 
​by Tammy Sinclair

Kara Michaels could have gone on living her simple, solitary life if it wasn't for her insatiable curiosity. And of course, the old trunk in the attic. When an antique watch catches her eye, she is suddenly thrust back in time - and onto the homefront of WWII.

Kara is terrified until the family residing in her home takes her under their wing. Soon, their enlisted son returns for a visit and she finds herself instantly drawn toward him. But their time together can't last.

While she and Jerry face being parted by war, she has to decide where she belongs. Although she's learning to feel at home in this new world, she knows it's not truly hers. Is she willing to stay, even if Jerry can never return?

As Kara wrestles with uncertainty, she longs for the same faith she sees in Jerry and his family, but with so many questions, it's hard to completely trust.
​
Especially when she has to hold tight to her strange secret alone.
December 23rd Vestige of Hope
​by Sara Blackard

Does his future lie in the past?
 
Thrown out of his element into a time not his own, he must overcome his doubts to save the life he never knew he wanted.
 
Soldier, Hunter Bennet, is always in control…
…control of his missions.
…control of his life.
…control of his emotions.
Until he hesitates on an important mission, leaving a child orphaned. Chased by the demons of failure, he finds himself thrown back in time. Why has God called him here?
 
Viola Thomas’s idyllic life in the new state of Colorado is shattered when her father fails to return from his winter trapping trip in the Rocky Mountains and a man tumbles into her life from the future. Threats from an unwanted suitor who has pestered her for years jeopardize all she holds dear. Now she must trust a man from a world far from her own.
 
Hunter must reach through the shadows of doubt to save his future but in doing so will he fail in the most important mission of all?
Midnight Shift
​by Linda Rawlins

When two patients of respected surgeon, Dr. Elizabeth Brooks, die under odd circumstances, she is threatened with loss of medical privileges, a malpractice suit and financial ruin. Elizabeth is determined to discover why her patients are having unexpected complications but her anxiety only escalates when handsome Detective Jake Wagner shows up in her office looking for information as part of a criminal investigation. Distressed, she begins to dream about her dead patients. Elizabeth has dreamt of the dead before, something she experienced after being hit by a drunk driver when she was young. For years after the accident, Elizabeth resisted the dreams and kept the dead away. But now, the dead are reaching out again. Realizing she needs help to save herself and her career, Elizabeth has no choice but to welcome them back and hope that sometimes the dead can protect the living.
December 25th One Daughter at a Time
 by Deb Graham

Weak-willed Julie finds herself alone with four daughters and one on the way. She panics and moves to Glyth House, an old mansion in MInnesota. She’d always relied on Dan, but he’s gone, leaving her to raise their daughters alone. With the help of their new community, can Julie grow a backbone and teach the girls all they need to know, one daughter at a time? By the author of the Jerria Danson series and the best-selling Cruise Tips books.
December 26th Gift of Faith
by Shanna Hatfield

When their faith is tested
Will Christmas bring a miracle?

Handsome and engaging, Marc Rawlings could have his choice of girls, but he only has eyes for gentle Amy Madsen. Ready to begin a future with her, he instead asks her to wait for him while he heads off to war. Bound by his duty to his country, Marc leaves his heart with her, counting on the day they’ll be reunited.

Amy Madsen spends her days working in her family’s bakery and her nights gazing up at the sky, hoping her fiancé knows she’s thinking of him. When tragic news arrives, Amy refuses to believe it, clinging to her promises to Marc and her faith that he’ll return to her.

It will take a miracle and a unique gift of faith to bring a happy holiday during a wartime Christmas in 1942.
December 27th Impassioned Grief
by Angelique Conger

The passion of love …
And the sorrow of grief …
Comes to us all.

For Lisyl and Firoz in the ancient land of Nod, life brings enough troubles to challenge any family.

Each devastating trial is worse than the last. Each tugs at their love, attempting to unravel the bonds that hold them together.

Can their love, and their trust in Jehovah, withstand the final test?
​
Impassioned Grief, by Angelique Conger, is the 9th of the 12-book series, Lost Children of the Prophet. Read this installment of Lost Children of the Prophet and join with Lisyl and Firoz in their struggle to conquer grief and find joy.

New Releases: October 2018

​It's a new month, and there are some great new releases for you to chose from. Fill up your Kindle today! October 1st Chasing Someday by Crystal Walton
A country boy looking to win his best friend’s heart. A waitress afraid of giving hers away. And one crazy, impromptu dating plan that’s about to change everything.

Ex-model Livy Hensley has exactly three talents: making coffee, landing herself in the most awkward moments known to man, and failing miserably at relationships. But when the sweetest southern boy on the planet offers to be your dating coach, who could say no? Between struggling to open a café and trying to atone for a consequence of her past, Livy can use all the help she can get. Besides, what could possibly go wrong on a few practice dates with your best friend?

Chase Thompson’s no stranger to hard work. If that’s what it takes to prove to Livy they should be together, then he’s all in. He can handle pretending he’s not hopelessly in love with her. Sort of. Almost. 
Okay, nowhere close. But with a conflicting solution to his family’s greatest trial on the line, the stakes of keeping his dating coach plan from backfiring have never been higher.

Up against the countdown of choices, Chase and Livy must find the courage to risk what they fear most for the someday they’ve always hoped for.
The Bodyguard's Fake Marriage by Bree Livingston
A woman whose life is in danger, the bodyguard sworn to protect her, and a race against time to get her to safety…

Medical student Lexi Maheras has one goal—get matched to a top hospital so she can complete her residency. When her father calls, telling her he’s arranged for her to marry a man she barely knows, Lexi is positive something is wrong. In an effort to give herself some time to figure out what’s going on, she decides the only way to slow things down is to arrange her own marriage.

Ex-Army Ranger Jake Maverick promised Basil Maheras that he’d keep Lexi safe at all costs—he just never thought the cost would include his bachelor status. but when Lexi tells him her father is forcing her to marry the man he was hired to protect her from in the first place, he feels the only way to keep her safe is to marry her in an attempt to get her father from Greece to the states so he can figure out what’s going on.

When their secret is leaked, and Lexi’s life is put in danger, they have no choice but to run. Now, they’re stuck together, and the more they learn about each other, the less pretend their marriage feels.
Cat's Got Your Arsenic by Tara Meyers
Water and ravines run deep in Sanctuary -- so do the secrets.

When a traveling salesman dies under suspicious circumstances, the implications span decades of hidden truths. Veterinarian Ember Burns is no stranger to the long shadows of the small mountain town. But as winter settles into the rugged terrain, and a veil of snow descends, ghosts from the past begin to surface.

As old friends, foes, and lovers collide in a bid to discover who's been keeping the biggest secret of all, will Ember solve the mystery of disappearing animals? Or will she find herself in the path of a killer with a personal agenda?
Cat's Gambit by Kimberly A. Rogers
Trusting a talking cat was perhaps the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard of . . .

Helena Sheppard always prided herself on keeping a level head. But when she gives up the flock of sheep meant to be her dowry to preserve her younger sister’s happiness, she accepts a cat to appease her family despite the impracticality. When the cat starts talking and insisting on an adventure, Helena finds her path taking rather unexpected turns.

Cursed by a dragoness nearly a century ago, Reed hasn’t spoken to a human in nearly as long. When Helena proves herself worthy, he grows determined to see the former shepherdess properly rewarded even if it means leading her to Carabas and encouraging her to accept the attentions of a nice knight. 

But when they discover a dragon in Carabas, what will it cost to save the people and the kingdom? October 2nd A Christmas to Remember by Various Authors
Laugh, cry, and fall in love as you savor these brand-new Christmas romances from some of your favorite authors. Pair with a peppermint chai, hot chocolate, or your favorite wintry flavors, then snuggle down in front of the fireplace with a quilt over your lap... and maybe a purring cat!

Eight authors have joined together in this Christian romance collection that will leave you celebrating the gift of Christmas. 

Until I Met You by award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson
After a difficult breakup, Brandi Prescott is taking a hiatus from men and focusing on her career, the Lord, and getting to know herself. Everything is going according to plan until one fateful, rainy morning in Seattle when a passing car drenches her and everything changes.

The Cowboy’s Christmas Reunion by USA Today bestselling author Valerie Comer
The Cowboy Santa program is supposed to be a chance to help his neighbors. When Kade Delgado’s ex-fiancée, now a single mom, shows up on his list, neither of them are thrilled. Is there any hope for a second chance at love?

Hope for Christmas by Elizabeth Maddrey
When he arrived at the ranch, he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. She wasn’t looking for anything beyond stability for her son. Christmas might be a season of hope, but do they dare risk everything for love?

Can’t Live without You by Ginger Solomon
Clarissa Harding’s fiancé’s betrayal doesn’t hurt as much as learning her best friend, Sawyer Chasin, knew his brother’s secret and didn’t tell her. The marriage would have been fake, but her feelings for Sawyer aren’t.

Beautiful Heart of His by Lindi Peterson
Two wrongs don’t make a right has never been more true. Will Mason’s past wrongs push Scarlett away or help her fall in love with him?

Restoring Christmas by Julie Arduini
Filled with grief and regret, Holly Christmas returns to Geneseo Valley and the family business, The Christmas Mansion. Can Kevin Holt restore her love for the season and the memories she left behind?

The Cowgirl’s Christmas Gift by Publishers Weekly bestselling author Deb Kastner
Cowgirl Maisey Gray knows horses, not six-year-olds. But when her socially-awkward, VR glasses-wearing neighbor needs help creating the perfect Christmas for his nephews, it’s up to Maisey to make sure Cam and the boys have a Christmas they’ll never forget.

Falling for Grace by Janet W. Ferguson
Grace Logan needs a place to pick herself up now that her ex is marrying her former best friend. Grief drives Seth Gibbs to his family’s vacation home, and three years later, he has no plans to leave. Until Grace falls into his life.
October 4th Serendipity, Indiana Bundle 2 by Magdalena Scott
THE BLANK BOOK
~ Alice’s life was hijacked by a story she wrote in an antique blank book. In movie star Robert’s recurring dream, Alice has the lead role. Does she dare write a new future for them both? ~

A year ago her husband died suddenly, and Alice Williams’s calm, predictable world changed in an instant. Most everybody in the small town of Serendipity, Indiana has rallied around her, and Alice’s new life is beginning to take shape. But something is very wrong.

A girls’ night out results in an unusual writing project, for which Alice chooses an antique leather-bound blank book. The story she’s begun to pen starts to alter her reality, and that of the man she has met only in her dreams.

Movie star Robert Diamond doesn’t want anything to do with Alice, or with her little hometown. His only reason for coming to Serendipity is to put an end to the life-altering dreams he’s having. Dreams that feature a woman who looks just like Alice…

Only by working together can they uncover the secret behind the Blank Book, and create the future each of them wants.

Writer’s block can be maddening when you’re literally writing the story of your life.

THE RING 
~ Carla makes wishes come true for everyone but herself. Widower Jared and his kids have won her heart. But is the future possible without forgiving the past? ~

Carla Standish is the go-to person for whatever her friends and family need, and is world-renowned for creating one-of-a-kind, swoon worthy dresses. She’s even surprising herself and the folks in town by dating a decent guy these days. If one missing piece would fall into the jigsaw puzzle of her life, everything would be perfect. But she ruined that possibility long ago, didn’t she?

It’s been a couple of years since widower Jared Barnett and his kids moved to Serendipity for a much-needed new start. They were settling in, but now he’s getting some confusing signals from the vivacious shop owner he’s dating, and the small town “good old boy” network seems determined to treat the Barnetts as outsiders. An offer he shouldn’t refuse would mean pulling up stakes again, but Jared will do whatever is required to take care of his family, and to protect his own heart.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN 
Francie and husband Brad are spending Christmas in her hometown. There are marital problems, career decisions, and a major change on the horizon for the Standish family Christmas tree farm.

Can Francie find a way through all this, to a happy ending for anyone? October 8th Spindle by Kimberly A. Rogers
What happens when the sleeper wakes to a changed world?

In the aftermath of the dragon wars, Celena Geraint expects peace to return to the Kingdom of Aneirin. Instead, she is cursed by a dragoness to an enchanted sleep. When she wakes, a century has passed and everything she knew has vanished in a war of succession whose only hope for an end now lies in her hands.

He went on a quest to find the Sleeping Duchess, never expecting legend to come to life. Now Brand finds his plans of escaping the war-torn kingdom on hold for the sake of a woman with silver eyes. Staying by her side as she works to save their kingdom, he knows he can never reveal he feels more than protection toward the duchess.
​
Will she need to sacrifice her own chance at love to win the throne? October 9th Bittersweet by Krista Noorman
He owns a food truck. She owns a bakery. He walked out on her four years ago without a word. Will his return bring them a second chance or is it a recipe for disaster?

Harper Hensley’s greatest joy is baking. She’s co-owner of a cute little bake shop, creating delicious treats to her heart’s content, and happily dating a successful lawyer. Life seems perfect. Until Logan Riggs, the man who walked out on her without a word four years ago, rolls into town in his new coffee food truck, living the dream they were supposed to share together.

The last thing Logan ever wanted was to leave Harper, but unforeseen circumstances forced him to make that choice. He never meant to hurt her or ruin their plans of starting a food truck. Now he’s back to make things right, hoping to convince her to work with him, and longing for a second chance with the woman he loved from the start.

Coffee and cupcakes belong together. But is the truth about Logan’s disappearing act too much to forgive? Can Harper move past the bitter to get to the sweet?
October 16th Love Renewed by Lorana Hoopes
Do soul mates really exist?

Kaitlyn Bell thought she was going to marry Dillon Fields until he decided he needed to see the world. She waited for him to return, but when the communication stopped, she married another. Unfortunately, that marriage wasn't a good fit. When she is asked to redecorate the Fields' winter lodge, she is hesitant at first, but after being assured Dillon won't be there, she takes the job.

Dillon Fields thought he wanted to see the world, but ten years after leaving his hometown, he finds himself unable to commit to his relationship. After a bit of soul searching, he realizes it's because he's never gotten over his high school sweetheart, Kaitlyn. Unfortunately, he has no idea where she is now. He decides to spend the Christmas holiday with his mother at their lodge, but he gets more than he bargained for.

Will Kaitlyn and Dillon get their second chance or will the past keep them apart? Find out by clicking above.
October 18th The Christmas Window by Melissa McClone
A matchmaking aunt wants her nephew to find love under the mistletoe...

All doggy daycare owner Callie Andrews wants for Christmas is to win first prize this year. The annual window display competition is a huge event in Silver Falls, and she’s determined to showcase her success when her family visits her small town. It's time for her parents and three older brothers to realize the "baby" of the family is thriving on her own.

The last thing Brandt Winslow wants to do is rehash the past, but returning home to Silver Falls means confronting the reason he left. His vacation, however, takes an unexpected turn when his well-meaning aunt meddles in his love life, and he finds himself caught up in her misguided efforts at matchmaking. 

Despite their reluctance at being paired up, Callie and Brandt discover the holidays are full of surprises...and romance. But is the magic of Christmas strong enough to keep the couple together through the new year? October 23rd Not in the Plan by Rachel John
You can plan anything, except how you feel.

Rebecca Scott can’t wait to start her new job as an assistant wedding planner, until she comes face to face with her new boss, and former best friend, Jay. Ten years ago, she dropped him because her fiancé asked her to. Now, he’s looking at her like she’s the worst person in the world, and maybe she is. Because Jay was right all along. She picked the wrong guy.

Jay Kendrick had no idea his new assistant would be his former best friend, Rebecca. He’d give anything to get over his feelings for her, especially since they have to work so closely. Friendship is not an option anymore. Not for him, anyway. Jay’s determined to keep things professional and be just her boss, but the more he’s around her, the more he remembers why he fell so hard for her in the first place. The Enemy Next Door and Other Misunderstandings by Crissy Sharp 
Jocelyn Kross always imagined her life differently—more loft in Upper Eastside Manhattan, less burned down house in small town Montana. Her temporary digs aren’t much better, a tiny apartment off the side of someone’s house. When the owner turns out to be her sworn enemy, Cade Warner, it’s just the rotten cherry on her terrible day. 

Strange things are happening in Strawberry Lake Estates. Cade cannot afford to be distracted by his new neighbor, someone he’s known his whole life, and yet doesn’t really know at all. When Cade’s employee turns up dead, solving the sudden crime wave in their town turns a lot more personal. 
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As Jocelyn and Cade work together to solve the murder and help their town, they look pasts old grudges and see each other in a new light. When the investigation puts their lives in jeopardy, they find love sometimes comes in the most inconvenient ways.  October 25th Starr Witness by Susette Williams
Because of circumstances beyond her control, Beth Starr’s life has become one big lie. She hates keeping secrets, especially from the handsome officer who attends her church, but telling the truth could put her in danger.

Mason Montgomery feels drawn to Beth, even though she isn’t the easiest person to get to know. He feels she may have some interest in him, but her standoffishness has his police instincts on overdrive and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding.
October 26th Resonance by Dianne J. Wilson
Kai was born with the ability to see brokenness and to fix it. This ability has a name: Affinity. Saved from death and freed from the spiritual realm, all Kai wants is a chance to go back for the friend he left behind. But his simple rescue mission is sabotaged and all the broken, homeless kids from the OS are sent back into the spiritual realm with him to be recruited, marked and re-purposed by the enemy. Cut off from the source of his ability, Kai is plunged into a desperate struggle against time to rescue them all before their blood is on his hands.
October 30th Returned to You by Emma St. Clair
Can you get a second chance on a first date? 

Nate Billings spent a semester winning over Colby Martin. But when he didn't show up for their first date, it impacts both of them in ways they wouldn't expect. Four years later, Nate is on the cusp of launching a blind-dating app that he hopes will make him millions. To keep things funded in the meantime, he's making tough choices, like taking an part-time job as a mail carrier. He never expected that this would bring him right to Colby's front door. 

Colby should have moved on, but instead stayed in Houston after graduating college. Flitting from job to job and relationship to relationship, she's stuck in a holding pattern. When she gets the chance to try out a blind-dating app, she finally hits it off with someone--at least digitally. Will Nate coming back into her life help her find closure? Or will it disrupt the peace she's worked so hard to find?
Soldier On by Vanessa Rasanen
He's fighting for his country. She’s praying for his safety. When tragedy strikes, can their marriage and faith survive?

Charlie and Meg Winters are no strangers to the military life and the challenges it brings. But when an IED rips through his convoy killing his friends, the loss proves almost too much to bear.

Meg finds her trust in Christ wavering, and secrets she's been keeping for years drive a wedge between her and her husband.

What if everything Meg believes is a lie?
What if Charlie finds out what she's done?
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Can Meg and Charlie save their marriage or will the horrors of war and the ghosts of their past tear them apart and forever shipwreck her faith? Check out these new releases from authors involved with  American Christian Fiction Writers . You're sure to find a new favorite! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Contemporary Romance:
A Christmas to Remember  by Julie Arduini, Valerie Comer, Janet W. Ferguson, Kimberly Rose Johnson, Deb Kastner, Elizabeth Maddrey, Lindi Peterson, and Ginger Solomon — Eight authors from the popular blog Inspy Romance each share a Christmas-themed novella to put you in the mood for the season. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Their Family Legacy  by Lorraine Beatty — Annie’s inheritance will provide a home for her twins and all she had to do is keep a man paying for his mistake forever. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

The Return  by Marianne Evans — A prodigal who never wanted to return home must repair his family farm and rush back to the big city before an old love convinces him to stay. (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

A Harvest of Blessings  by June Foster — When Nadia accidentally sits on a stranger’s lap in the graveyard where her late husband is buried, she’s horrified to learn the good-looking guy with salt and pepper hair is her new boss. Jared is intrigued by this beautiful woman who puts God first in her life, but his daughter isn’t ready for him to move on after his wife’s death. As Nadia and Jared try to cultivate a relationship, will they reap a Harvest of Blessings, or a season of drought? (Contemporary Romance from Forget Me Not Romance [Winged Publication])

A Sparkle of Silver  by Liz Johnson — Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan’s great-grandmother was a guest at banker Howard Dawkins’ palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie’s great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage–and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up . . . (Contemporary Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Reason to Breathe  by Deborah Raney — At twenty-nine, Phylicia Chandler put her life on hold to care for her dying mother with her sisters, Joanna and Britt. Now Mom is gone and their father has run off with a woman young enough to be their sister. Phylicia feels stuck–until her father’s protégé, Quinn Mitchell, presents her and her two sisters with an intriguing business opportunity to purchase a trio of cottages just outside of Langhorne, Missouri. But Phylicia is skeptical. Quinn soon finds himself falling hard for Phylicia. But how can he pursue this beautiful, talented woman twelve years his junior when she’s still reeling over her father’s hasty engagement to a younger woman? Quinn is determined to give Phylicia her happily-ever-after. But first, he must help her come to terms with her discovery of long-held family secrets and persuade her that true love can transcend their differences. (Contemporary Romance from Gilead Publishing)

General/Women’s Fiction
An Amish Homecoming  by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller , Shelley Shepard Gray, and Beth Wiseman — A collection of four new Amish stories of coming home. (General from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Miles from Where We Started  by Cynthia Ruchti — These no-longer-newlyweds want out of this road trip–and their marriage. Too bad they can’t find the off-ramp. (General Contemporary from Gilead Publishing)

Historical:
When the Heart Sings  by Liz Tolsma — In 1943 Poland, the Nazis have forced Natia and Teodor from their peaceful farm to the harsh confines of a labor camp. When the couple is separated, Natia risks everything to send him messages through song as she passes Teodor’s dormitory. The stakes get higher when Natia finds a Jewish orphan on the doorstep where she works. She is determined to protect the boy and raise him as the child she and her husband were unable to bear—but if her German captors discover how much she’s hiding, both she and Teodor may pay the ultimate price. (Historical from Gilead Publishing)

Historical Romance:
This Courageous Journey  by Misty M. Beller — When Noelle Grant sets off to visit her brother in the Canadian Rockies, the prospect of making a name for herself as a news correspondent finally seems within reach. But when the dangers become more than she bargained for, she finds herself—and the mountain man she’s come to love—in a situation more hazardous than any story her imagination could conjure. (Historical Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

The Reluctant Warrior  by Mary Connealy — Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He’s come to Lake Tahoe to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Enchanting Nicholette  by Dawn Crandall — As she acclimates to life in Back Bay again, Nicholette Everstone meets someone she can’t help but fall for. But when she learns of the danger and sacrifices Cal Hawthorne takes on for the safety of others, will her heart be strong enough to keep her fears of “what if” at bay? (Historical Romance from Whitaker House)

The Christmas Heirloom  by Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Becky Wade, and Karen Witemeyer — A family heirloom brings true love to its bearers through the generations as it is handed down from mother to daughter. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

A Heart for Freedom  by Janet Grunst — Life was better than she dreamed, now the conflict between the British and the colonists threatened the loss of everything dear, even her husband. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Romancing the Bride  by Melissa Jagears — Marrying a stranger to save a ranch is one thing; losing the land on their wedding day is another. Desperate to keep the ranch where three of her children and a husband lie buried, Annie Gephart must marry or sell. Which of the few bachelors in town would consider a surprise proposal to wed a plain widow with a rebellious daughter, a spirited boy, and unpaid taxes—without laughing in her face? (Historical Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

The Cumberland Bride  by Shannon McNear — Thomas Bledsoe and Kate Gruener are traveling the Wilderness Road when conflicts between natives and settlers reach a peak that will require each of them to tap into a well of courage. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Mist O’er the Voyageur  by Naomi Musch — Desperate to flee a cruel suitor, Metis woman Brigitte Marchal flees into the wilderness to find her long-lost, fur-trader father, but who will save her from the dangers of being a woman among a voyageurs’ brigade? (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Romantic Suspense:
Five Years In Yemen  by Luana Ehrlich — When the President issues a memorandum to bring home a military scientist who went missing in Iraq, CIA operative Titus Ray has been given the assignment. However, when the mission takes an unexpected turn after his contact is murdered in Riyadh, Titus is forced to make changes in the mission’s protocols, changes that endanger his operational team and have lasting consequences for his future. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Hidden Peril  by Irene Hannon — A woman who owns a fair trade shop and a police detective find themselves plunged into international intrigue—and danger—when people connected with her shop begin dying. (Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Burden of Proof  by DiAnn Mills — A hostage negotiator is thrust into danger and betrayal when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. (Romantic Suspense from Tyndale House)

Supernatural Thriller:
Surrounded by Darkness  by Rachel Dylan — When attorney Olivia Murray opens a legal clinic for victims of domestic violence in Windy Ridge, she knows she will face legal and spiritual opposition. The New Age presence has grown stronger as alliances form between groups hoping to spread their destructive way of life and gain a stronghold in the community. While the forces of evil target Olivia’s new clinic, her legal partner Grant Baxter, and her relationships, she refuses to let them stop her quest for justice. Will Olivia’s and Grant’s faith be strong enough—in God and each other—to prevail in the battle that threatens to bring darkness to the entire town? (Supernatural Thriller, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Speculative:
A Dance of Shadows  by Erica Marie Hogan — Ten days have passed since Sundragon blood was shed for a sacrifice by Raphaela Kael. Ten days since Lathan and Maxx Jandry fled the city in search of Princess Damari Kael and their niece, Noelle. Brecken Jandry, Brae’s loyal husband, remains a tortured prisoner in the Kael dungeons and no one in Sunkai is safe from Roderick and Raphaela’s wrath. Damari Kael flees Sunkai with little Noelle Jandry, determined to deliver the child to the safety of the Shadow Lands, even as her own power emerges within her. The Eventide Sisters embark on a mission to join the Winter Queen. Across the land, Clea Jandry arrives in her birthplace of Molderëin where she is met with a savagery she thought long dead. Afra Malaki seeks the Creator’s will and the Queen of the Woodlands prepares for battle. In the peaceful city of Quintaria, the Winter Queen grieves. But the shadows are coming for her. They carry a message for Adlae Sundragon, and they will not rest until all is revealed. (Fantasy from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.)

Body By Blood  by Dr. Patrick Johnston — In the not-too-distant future, where cloned bodies are marketable commodities among the super-rich, leaving graveyards of trampled dehumanized classes in science’s wake, the richest man in the world who pioneered the breakthrough technologies learns the meaning of true love from a disabled granddaughter. (Speculative Action Adventure from Ambassador International)

Mercury Rising  by Tim and Gail Sattler — Four ordinary people are thrown into an extraordinary situation when they are thrown into a diabolical plot hidden under the guise of global warming. (Contemporary Fantasy from Mantle Rock Publishing)

The Awakened  by Richard Spillman — If Lazarus didn’t die a second time what would he be up to today? (Speculative from Mountain Brook Ink)

Christmas in Romance

Join us for Christmas in Romance! Between odd animals, lost loves, second chances, hidden identities, a secret Santa, and bickering senior citizens, it might just take a miracle to bring everyone a happily-ever-after for the holidays.
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Settle in a chair by the fire, sip a cup of hot cocoa, and immerse yourself in the friendly town of Romance with this series of six sweet Christmas novellas from bestselling and award-winning authors. Sleigh Bells Ring in Romance
by Shanna Hatfield
Releasing: November 1st You’re never too old to fall in love . . .
​Will two over-the-hill neighbors embrace a holiday romance?

Rancher Jess Milne lost his wife years ago, but he’s finally ready to give love a second chance. It’s a shame the one woman in Romance who captures his interest is a prickly, wasp-tongued she-devil. She used to be one of his closest friends until he asked her out. Her vocal, vehement refusal made her thoughts on dating him crystal clear. Despite her animosity, Jess can’t help but be attracted to her fire and spirit.

Widowed more than ten years, Doris Grundy tries to convince herself she’s content with her life. Her recently married grandson and his wife bring her joy. The ranch she’s lived on since she was a young bride gives her purpose. She’s an active member of their close-knit community. But the old coot who lives down the road continually invades her thoughts, keeping her from having any peace. Doris will be the last to admit she longs for the love and affection of her handsome neighbor.
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When the two of them are unexpectedly thrown together, will they find a little holiday spirit and allow the love of the season to ring in their hearts? Pre-Order Now! A Merry Miracle in Romance
by Melanie D. Snitker
Releasing: November 2nd It’ll take a Christmas miracle to turn a grudging friendship into true love.

Baxter Reid returns to his hometown of Romance, eager to see his childhood crush. Unfortunately, Savannah hasn’t forgotten all the ways he used to tease her back then. He’s got his work cut out for him if he’s going to get a second chance.

When Savannah Miller learns her former arch enemy is back in town, she dreads running into him. Baxter is at the center of some of her most embarrassing childhood memories. She’s more than happy to avoid Baxter until he apologizes and suggests a truce. Now what is she supposed to do?
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Only time will tell whether the spirit of Christmas in Romance is enough to transform a grudging relationship into true love. Pre-Order Now! Holding Onto Love in Romance
by Liwen Y. Ho
Releasing: November 3rd She’s a small town inn owner learning how to trust.
He’s a big time singer struggling to protect the woman he loves.
Together, they must fight to keep their romance alive.

Being engaged to America’s hottest pop star brings Izzy Sutton’s insecurities to the surface, making her question if she can handle life in the public eye. Complications multiply when her ex shows up on her doorstep two weeks before the wedding, with nowhere to live.

Through hard work and determination, Chase Lockhart climbed the Top 40 charts and won the hand of the only woman he’s ever loved. Helping Izzy overcome her cold feet, however, proves to be more challenging than expected, especially when he’s away on tour days before their wedding.
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With their Christmas Eve wedding fast approaching, Izzy and Chase face the biggest decision of their relationship. Will they allow their circumstances to divide them or will they find enough reasons to keep holding onto love? Pre-Order Now! A Reel Christmas in Romance
by J.J. DiBenedetto
Releasing: November 4th Owner of the lone movie theater in Romance, Marianne Carter loves the old movies she shows on the big screen. She’s just struck up an email friendship with a newcomer to town. Unaware of his identity but feeling loyal to him, she fights her attraction to a handsome man she keeps bumping into around town.

Under a false identity, Jack Nelson comes to Romance to investigate the historic movie theater and decide if it should receive the status of a historical landmark. Little does he know the woman sending him charming emails is the same one who owns the theater.
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While Marianne’s theater plays the old classic film The Shop Around the Corner, Marianne and Jack unknowingly play out the same story in real life. Will they figure it out in time to write their own happy ending? Pre-Order Now! A Christmas Carol in Romance
by Franky A. Brown
Releasing: November 5th Christmas is coming to Romance, Oregon…but for Andy McKay, it’s only a reminder of the day the love of his life walked away. Guilted into playing Scrooge as a young man in the town’s production of A Christmas Carol, Andy unexpectedly finds himself acting alongside his girlfriend of romance past.

Cassie Winston has spent the past year traveling, writing, and regretting that she left the man she loved behind her. She’s afraid the old adage about how you can never go home again might be true. It’s hard enough to convince Andy to consider giving them a second chance, and acting with him in Scrooge and Belle’s breakup scene certainly doesn’t help.
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As ghosts from the past resurface, can they find a way to create a new future together? Pre-Order Now! Santa's Visit in Romance
by Jessica L. Elliott
Releasing: November 6th Santa’s got his work cut out for him to help a reluctant couple find love during the holidays.

Marshall Duncan swore off women when his wife ran away, leaving him with an infant to raise alone. But a newcomer to Romance might just change his mind, with some help from a mysterious friend and his precocious daughter, Savannah.

Latiesha Harris lost everything when her fiance left her in Denver. Hoping to escape her mother’s judgment, Latiesha goes to Romance to stay with an old sorority sister. But when she meets Katie’s childhood friend, there’s no denying the sparks between them.
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When Nick Klauss gets a Santa letter by mistake, he can’t help but try to make the little girl’s wish come true. But how can a retired cowboy give Savannah a mommy by Christmas? Pre-Order Now! Join the authors of the Christmas in Romance series for a celebration on Facebook! There will be giveaways and holiday fun! Trust me, you won't want to miss it! RSVP TODAY!

New Releases: September 2018

Check out these great new releases this month. September 1st Anonymously Yours by Rachel John
Unrequited love is playing havoc with their friendship…

Ashley Parker’s in an office full of eligible men but there’s no way she’s dating again, not after her worst breakup yet. Except one day, a secret admirer starts leaving gifts on her desk: small, thoughtful tokens that make her take a closer look at everyone around her.

Chase Reynolds knows he’s firmly in the friendzone with his coworker, Ashley. He’s been her listening ear after every breakup, including the last one, a guy security had to be warned not to let in the building. And after walking her out to her car every night for more than a year, it’s time to accept that things will never change. But after hearing their department’s about to be eliminated, Chase comes up with a bold plan to win Ashley over before they’re all fired and he never sees her again. The Star's Fake Marriage by Bree Livingston
A reporter desperate to prove herself, a country music singer with a chip on his shoulder, and a second chance at love.

Callie Chapman is tired of hiding behind a pen name and lying to her family. Out of the blue, her editor gives her the ultimate opportunity—marry country superstar Tucker Hawk and get the inside scoop for her magazine.  There’s only one problem. They dated before he made it big, and she’s never gotten over him.
Tucker Hawk’s been America’s favorite country music star until the past year when a nasty breakup sent him spiraling. The CEO of his label has the perfect plan to get him back in the good graces of the public—a fake wife for the self-professed eternal bachelor. When he finds out the woman they’ve chosen is a love that got away, good memories resurface. But he’s been used too many times since then and trust isn’t something he gives away for free anymore.

When fate brings them together again, they wonder if they should take a chance on love or just play their parts.
Abandoned Hope by Angelique Conger
A string of beads. A forbidden book. An unexpected love.

Young, innocent, trader Daphne, from the family of Adam, travels to the forbidden city of Nod searching for the Lost Children. After her father is abducted, she struggles to free him. The son of one of the Lost Children assists her in every way he can, falling in love with her. When it comes to a choice of her copy of the Book of Commandments, or her father, she chooses the sacred book. If her father isn’t freed she will be stranded in a wicked city.
September 8th Trail to Clear Creek by Kit Morgan
​Honoria Sayer and her husband Benedict had a dream. Go to America with their three sons, travel west, and start a cattle ranch. Unfortunately, Benedict only made it as far as Independence, Missouri. Her husband gone, Honoria must choose. Go West and fulfill his dream, or go back to England? She chooses the dream. And, as luck would have it, to make it a reality, she must do the unthinkable. Get married.

Jefferson Cooke wasn't looking for a wife. Heck, he and his two sons were heading West to make a fresh start. Then along came Honoria Sayer. Beautiful, refined, a real lady. Not to mention a disaster on the Oregon Trail. So why was he considering the unthinkable?

Enjoy this sweet, clean, western romance set against the backdrop of the Oregon Trail! And check out the rest of the books in the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection One Series. Winter in the Mitten: A Collection of Writings
Winter in the Mitten is filled with writings of humor, reflection, and perhaps some that might stir your memory and emotions. Each story is unique, just as the wonderful individuals who wrote them. The winter themed diverse anthology features fiction, memoirs, and poetry highlighting the best aspects of this season. You don’t want to miss some of the personal miracles shared or the vivid imagination of our fiction and poetry writers. For many of Shiawassee Area Writers, these are their first publications. They’ve worked diligently with rewrites, edits, deadlines, and revisions. They’ve gained knowledge about guidelines, formatting, and grammar. Each member dedicated to master the skills of writing for publication, seeking to make their stories the best they can be. For SAW’s seasoned authors, this is a special way to give back. We would like to share this blessing with you, our readers. This winter season and always; may your hearts be filled with forgiveness, joy, gratitude, hope, and the greatest of these, love. Because…everyone has a story, but few have the courage to share them.
September 9th That Song in Patagonia by Kristy Tate
When Adrienne discovers her husband, Seb, has been unfaithful, the illusion of her perfect life is indelibly shattered and she flees.

Nick, a shop owner who suddenly finds himself the center of media attention, follows.

They both escape to Latin America for different reasons. Adrienne is tired turning a blind eye to her husband’s affairs. Nick trails after her, not only because he’s become an overnight YouTube sensation and he doesn’t know how to handle it, but also because he’s secretly been in love with Adrienne, his cousin’s wife, for years.

Two people with hurting hearts and unrealized dreams explore the streets of Buenos Aires and the South American countryside, and it changes them both forever. And what they find in each other is something that might just heal them both.
Autumn's Embrace by Laura D. Bastian
The last thing Abby wants to do is clean out her great-aunt’s house that she just inherited, but she needs to get it ready to sell. It doesn’t help that the arrogant man she met in town happens to be her new neighbor.

Luke can’t believe the little girl who’d followed him around when she’d stayed with his mother’s old neighbor has grown up to be such a beautiful and feisty woman. 

As Luke helps Abby remodel the old home to get it ready to sell, he comes to realize she might just be what he was missing from his life. Can the two of them give up their dreams to build something better together?
September 10th Selkie's Song by Kimberly A. Rogers
A selkie’s song can enchant a man and tame the sea . . .

Naia’s unusual love for human things led her to become the sole artisan in her clan. But when this passion leads to her abduction, she loses more than contact with the sea when her pelt is taken. Unable to shift forms or return to the sea without it, she knows she will die if she cannot recover the pelt soon. Cut off from her family, Naia must appease the human king while persuading his lovesick son to honor past arrangements.

Malik has loved and lost before, an experience leading him to shy away from love. When Naia is stranded, however, he risks everything to find her. Together they uncover a plot that would sweep up humans and selkies alike in a war that would destroy the Five Kingdoms and possibly all of Sonera.

When the enemy acts, can they save sea and land . . . and each other?
Common Ground by Alicia Best
When Maddie Lee is forced to deal with a businessman she despises from the get-go, she is determined to stand her ground.

Adrian Knight has always had a high opinion of himself, for the simple reason that in the mirror, he only sees perfection, unaware of how unattractive this makes him to all but the most superficial of women.

But he starts to wonder if he's met his match when he comes up against Maddie, as they are thrown into a collaboration against a new threat in Shady Piers.

Are there the beginnings of a grudging appreciating of each other, and even more surprising, the rumblings of a much deeper relationship?
September 12th  The Billionaire's Reckless Marriage by Tamie Dearen 
The one man Laurie Fields would most like to avoid just became her boss.
A thousand women would love to be in her shoes, working up-close-and-personal with billionaire philanthropist, Finn Anderson. Though alluring at first glance, he’s less than charming around Laurie. She’s not about to cut him any slack, even if her job depends on it.

Cystic fibrosis is an ever-present enemy for Finn Anderson. He may look healthy, but chances are he won’t live to collect Social Security. That’s why he has to be careful never to fall in love. So far, he’s been pretty safe, since he drives away every woman who gets close. 

When unforeseen circumstances force Laurie and Finn to work together, Finn finds his walls crumbling, and Laurie begins to care more than she will admit for this secretly thoughtful man. But his rejection has her on the run.

Can he catch her in time?
Eubeltic Descent by Nadine C. Keels
Your soul will remember...
As a woman who wasn't born to wealth or privilege, Abigaia has mastered the art of thievery. And she's come to hate it. Not only is she plagued by guilt, but her shadowed upbringing and silent ways cause most of her town to question her sanity.

Yet, Abigaia's eccentric father always taught her to be proud of her heritage. Her ancestry lies across the sea, in a prominent realm she's read about but has never seen.

The man who desires Abigaia's hand in marriage doesn't share her hope of seeing the Eubeltic Realm. But disaster erupts in their path, and Abigaia's dream may have a greater purpose—if that famed domain of her ancestors is now in crucial need of her.
Shelter from the Storm by Kristen Ethridge
ONLY THE FORCE OF A HURRICANE COULD BRING THESE TWO RIVALS TOGETHER... 

As the director of the Port Provident Animal Shelter, Becca Collins had devoted her life to helping the furriest residents of Port Provident. When a special Labrador retriever needs her help on the eve of Hurricane Hope, Becca can't say no--even if it means she'll have to ride out the hurricane on Provident Island. She doesn't have the supplies to properly take care of a geriatric dog with specific medical needs, but she knows who does--her greatest opposition for a new town animal shelter, local veterinarian Dr. Ross Reeder. With the storm looming only hours away, Becca has no other choice but to show up on his doorstep, throwing a wrench into Ross' plans to evacuate himself and his combat-weary former Army dog.

Ross and Becca are used to disagreeing with one another, but they soon realize the only way they're going to survive the wrath of Hurricane Hope is to put their differences aside and work for the good of the animals who depend totally on them. As they discover they have more in common than they thought, they work to rebuild the Texas beach town where they've both put down roots. But then Becca learns secrets about her past that threaten to change the whole direction of her life.

As she struggles with love, faith, and lies, will she still need the shelter she's found in Ross' arms or will the aftermath of the storm take away everything they've worked to build?
The Billionaire Land Baron by Emma St. Clair
Jake is the big-city billionaire. Shelby is the small-town sweetheart. Opposites attract, but there's one little problem: her home is the final land he needs for his new development.

When Jake travels to Lucky, Texas to finalize the details of his billion-dollar development, falling in love was not a part of the plan. But the feisty and beautiful Shelby has him questioning everything--especially when he realizes that her land is an integral to the success of his project. 

Shelby feels trapped in Lucky. After her mother has run off, she's left caring for her disabled veteran father. Jake gives her a glimpse of all that she's missing and makes her wonder if love might be possible for her after all. 

When she finds out that Jake is the reason she's losing her land, can she find it in her heart to forgive? Or is this the proof that a happy-ever-after is just out of reach? 
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With plenty of sass, a few shakes of humor, and an alligator named T-Ball, you'll laugh and cry along with these one-of-a-kind characters in this clean romance.  September 14th The Mourning Rose by Morgan Smith
Manners meet magic in this tale, where curses mix with curtseys, and Charm takes on a whole new dimension Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen fans will love this romantic fantasy, set in a Regency that never was.

Eglantine Mayland is this Season’s Reigning Toast, and seems destined to make a good marriage. When the wealthy Lord Valremer, a confirmed bachelor, begins to court her seriously, Eglantine’s cousin Polyantha senses that not all is well. Too many of his actions seem to be part of a web of evil that twines itself around the Mayland family.

And why is a well-known rogue and smuggler so interested in their plight?
September 15th The Hourglass by Hannah Ross
Times are changing inside and outside the Boundary. Many citizens are becoming restless, moving out to resettle the wilderness. Those already outside, especially the once-abandoned children who are now young adults, find having more neighbors brings both blessings and problems.

Within the Boundary, President Dahl has renewed his quest for the life-extension formula as he faces reelection. Confident of victory, he is unaware his youngest daughter, Priscilla, is determined to sabotage his campaign and end his evil reign. When she runs away and slips across the Boundary, she discovers people and lives that are nothing like what she imagined and was taught, and soon finds herself in the company of the Wild Children.

Aided by illegally born Benjamin Grey and others, she eludes the government agents searching for her and bides her time, knowing every day of her absence worsens the scandal she hopes will destroy her father's popularity. And as Ben shows her more and more of his wild, untamed world, she finds herself facing a choice between freedom and forbidden love, and a return to a cloistered life of luxury, privilege, and power.

Will Dahl sacrifice his daughter to his ambitions? Will Priscilla be able to elude capture and turn the course of the election? And how will the Wild Children deal with the unexpected return of an old enemy? Discover the answers and more in The Hourglass, Book Two of the Wild Children series.
September 18th Relic of His Heart by Jane Lebak
A midwife has a chance to right a seventy-year-old wrong.

Tessa delivers babies at night and raises five sons by day. When an angel appears after a birth and asks for help on a quest, her first response is, “Angels don’t even exist,” followed by a swift, “No.”

Even after he proves he exists (and lets her call him Martin) she wants nothing to do with his quest: Martin wants to find a relic stolen at the end of World War II, when the town of Barlassina was torched and its church destroyed. The relic went into the pocket of a long-dead soldier and hasn’t been seen since. 

Without the relic, the church won’t be rebuilt; without the church, Barlassina will die. It's been gone for eight decades, but Martin senses the relic is about to be “birthed back into time.” He wants Tessa there when it happens. There's only one chance to make it right, and he’s desperate.

Tessa’s family comes from that town, but really? Still no.

When a bill threatens to end midwifery in Massachusetts, Tessa offers Martin a deal: she’ll hunt for the relic if he’ll help kill that legislation. An unlikely team, they start sifting through the past and the present, the lives of soldiers and the deaths of innocents, guilty consciences and a few consciences that aren’t nearly guilty enough. 

The further they delve into the mystery, though, the more obvious it becomes that there’s more to Martin’s story. And the key to uncovering the relic may lie in whatever it is he's trying to keep hidden.
September 20th Heart Captivated by Lindsay Bergman
Two sisters. One prince. A complicated love triangle that could ruin everything.

Twenty-one-year-old Brielle Parker no longer believes in fairytales—not when her life in the country has led to nothing but heartache. When she first meets the second-born prince of Coradova, she refuses to be dazzled by his teasing smile and inviting blue eyes. 

After all, she’s not looking for her happily-ever-after. But the charming Prince Ashton is impossible to resist. 

During their summer together in Coradova, the sparks continue to fly until Brielle can no longer deny her growing feelings for him. When her twin sister gives her heart to Ashton as well, Brielle must choose between her twin, or the prince who made her believe that love is worth the risk.
September 26th He Leadeth Me by Faith Blum
Love can be complicated
Thirteen years ago, Gage Wilhelm, his brother, and sisters lost their parents and moved away to his uncle’s ranch in Leavenworth, leaving the farm in Topeka. On his twenty-first birthday, Gage receives the deed to his father’s farm with his uncle’s blessing to go make it his own.

Once at the farm, Gage reconnects with his childhood friend, Danny and his family, including their newly adopted daughter, Laura. As he settles into life on the farm, he visits Danny and his family often, considering them a family away from his family.

A few months later, a mysterious man shows up, claiming Gage’s father owed a large sum of money that has accrued thirteen years of interest. Gage is confused and unsure of what to do and Danny convinces him to go to the ranch to talk to his uncle.

What will Gage do when he learns of his father’s past? Will he let God lead him no matter what happens?
September 27th Dream of Her Heart by Shanna Hatfield
Is there room for love in a time of war?
​
Days before he must ship out to prepare for a dangerous mission in the Pacific, Lieutenant Zane West crosses Oregon to see a good friend who has been wounded in action. He arrives at the veteran’s hospital, only to discover the army captain has disappeared without a trace. As Zane searches for answers, he finds himself captivated by a beautiful and spunky nurse who offers her help. Is she the key to his future, or an unwelcome distraction from his important wartime mission?

Nurse Billie Brighton puts her heart and boundless energy into caring for wounded soldiers, but she vowed long ago never to let one of the dashing rogues turn her head. That is, until a handsome lieutenant arrives seeking his missing friend. Thoroughly enchanted, she can’t help but break her own rules. Has she finally found the love she secretly longs for, or is she headed for heartbreak?
​
Step back in time to 1942 with a sweet, charming World War II romance full of history, heart, and a happily ever after. The Green Princess Trilogy: Fallow by H.L. Burke
Joined by magic. Separated by kings. United in love.

Two years ago, Kit's blossoming plant magic put a target on her back and forced her to flee for her life, leaving her beloved Prince Bryce behind. Now established as the leader of the rebel flora magi, she clings to hope that they can be reunited. However, the arrival of the charming and persistent Regyn, heir to the supposedly extinct quickened magi, challenges her fidelity.

The events surrounding Kit's flight broke Bryce's heart and damaged his faith in his family. Now he buries himself in his work as a Keeper, hunting bandits in the wilds. He longs to find Kit again, though his uncle's magic prevents him from seeking her. Then his manipulative cousin, Crown Prince Langstyn, offers him a chance at a truce, but only if Bryce agrees to a political marriage. Angering Langstyn could cost Bryce everything, but how can he betray the vows he made to Kit?

As powers within the kingdom fight for dominance, Kit and Bryce are caught in the currents of schemes not of their making. Schemes that could bring them together, or tear them apart forever.
Check out these new releases from authors involved with  American Christian Fiction Writers . You're sure to find a new favorite! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Contemporary Romance:
A Baby for the Minister  by Laurel Blount — Jilted at the altar, Natalie Davis has no one she can turn to—until Jacob Stone steps in. The single minister’s drawn to the beautiful mommy-to-be and wants to help…even if it goes against his congregation’s wishes and could cost him his job. But when she refuses to accept charity, can he convince her she’s more than a ministry project? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Courting Her Secret Heart  by Mary Davis — Deborah Miller lives a double life as an Amish woman—and a fashion model! All photography is forbidden in her Plain community, so she must keep her job a secret. But when Amos Burkholder starts helping at her family’s farm, hiding the truth from him is impossible. And soon she must choose between the Englischer world of modeling and the Amish man she’s come to love. (Contemporary Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

12 Gifts of Christmas  by Lena Nelson Dooley — Can Malcolm MacGregor, a contemporary descendant of Scottish lairds, capture the heart of Brazilian-Italian beauty, Alanza Cantalamessa, in 12 days? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House)

All Made Up  by Kara Isaac — Katriona McLeod has never gotten over Caleb Murphy, the one guy she’s ever loved. When she accepts a job as a make up artist on the latest looking-for-love reality TV show, Falling for the Farmer, she discovers to her horror that Caleb is the leading man and she’s cast as one of his harem. But she hides a secret that means that even if she wanted a second chance with the guy who broke her heart she could never have it. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

An Amish Holiday Wedding  by Carrie Lighte — On the brink of losing her bakery, the last thing Faith Yoder’s interested in is courting—until Hunter Schwartz returns to Willow Creek. After hiring him to deliver her treats to a Christmas festival, Faith’s determined their relationship will stay strictly professional. But despite a secret that’s kept her single, Faith can’t help but wish she and Hunter could become husband and wife. (Contemporary Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Cozy Mystery:
Deadly Holiday  by Marissa Shrock — The Christmas season greets Georgia Winston with a new boyfriend (maybe), a Christmas program to run, and a man dying at her feet. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

General Contemporary/Women’s Fiction
  From the Lake to the River  by JPC Allen, Bettie Boswell, Carole Brown, Sandra Merville Hart, Tamera Lynn Kraft, Sharyn Kopf, Michelle Levigne, Cindy Thomson, and Rebecca Waters — Set in Ohio, in the past and present, these nine short stories and novellas by Ohio authors cover a wide range of genres, topics and locations. From Troy in the west to the North Coast and south-central Ohio. From Lake Erie to the Ohio River. From romance to YA adventure, with touches of mystery and humor. Dealing with historical events and situations, such as floods and the lasting effects of the Civil War. With characters involved in square dancing, theater, and music. Dealing with loss and danger, a second chance at love and taking a chance on love for the first time. Chances are good, no matter what you have a taste for reading, you’ll find something to like. Welcome to a taste of the Buckeye State! (General Contemporary from Mt Zion Ridge Press)

Place Called Home  by Brenda S. Anderson — While building his graphic design company, Nate Brooks is focused on the future he’s dreamed of: traveling around the country from the comfort of his renovated school bus. But when he picks up a wounded, mysterious hitchhiker, those well-laid plans take a backseat to protecting her. Hobbled by her injury, and unable to keep running from her controlling ex, Tessa fears she’ll never find freedom. Or has she found it with the family who graciously opens their home to her? And will Nate’s protection put his family–and his heart–at risk? (Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

Swimming in the Deep End  by Christina Suzann Nelson — Jillian Connors has big expectations for her teenage daughter, Gabby, an Olympic hopeful—until Gabby becomes pregnant with her boyfriend Travis’s child. Meanwhile, Margaret Owens is furious that Gabby’s condition jeopardizes her son’s baseball scholarship. In the midst of the family drama lies the fate of the unborn baby. What does the future hold for him? (General Contemporary from Kregel Publications)

Historical:
Hidden Among the Stars  by Melanie Dobson — A gripping time-slip novel about hidden treasure, a castle, and ordinary people who resisted the evils of the Hitler regime in their own extraordinary way. (Historical from Tyndale House)

Everything She Didn’t Say  by Jane Kirkpatrick — A Victorian woman who traveled 15,000 miles by stage between 1870-98 decides to tell the story behind her memoir believing her husband will never see it. (Historical from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Enya’s Son  by Cindy Thomson — This retelling of the early life of St. Columcille and his mother will usher readers on a fateful journey through ancient Ireland’s monastic centers, her wild coastline islands, and the land Columcille believed was filled with holy angels, a place where he felt safe … yet was destined to abandon. (Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:
Victorian Christmas Brides  by C.J. Chase, Susanne Dietze, Rita Gerlach, Kathleen L. Maher, Gabrielle Meyer, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Vanessa Riley, Lorna Seilstads, and Erica Vetsch — Faced with the daily extremes of gluttony and want in the Victorian Era, nine women seek to create the perfect Christmas celebrations. But will expectations and pride cause them to overlook imperfect men who offer true love? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Esther’s Temptation  by Lena Nelson Dooley — Saddle weary, former deputy US Marshal Jac Andrews rides into Denton, Texas hunting a swindler-and-daughter criminal team and finally feels he’s caught up to them. Unfortunately, he becomes distracted by the lovely redhead, Esther Brians. Esther, feeling like an old maid surrounded by all her close friends who are happy married couples, is drawn to the intense gaze, blue as the Texas sky, of an unknown cowboy. But several things cause her to become wary of his intentions—and his spiritual well-being. Has this unsaved lawman captured Esther’s heart or will the Lord deliver her from the temptation of Jac’s presence? What will it take for Jac to win this lovely lady and become Esther’s husband? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Sound of Distant Thunder  by Jan Drexler — Katie Stuckey and Jonas Weaver are both romantics. Seventeen-year-old Katie is starry-eyed, in love with the idea of being in love, and does not want to wait to marry Jonas until she is eighteen, despite her parents’ insistence. So much can happen in a year. Twenty-year-old Jonas is taken in by the romance of soldiering, especially in defense of anti-slavery, even though he knows war is at odds with the teachings of the church. When his married brother’s name comes up in the draft list, he volunteers to take his brother’s place. But can the commitment Katie and Jonas have made to each other survive the separation? (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Romantic Suspense:
Loving the Texas Negotiator  by Mary Connealy — Beth Garrison is the top hostage negotiator in Rocky Ridge Texas. She’s called in to a task force to investigate a killing that is a copy cat of her first bust as a rookie cop. The Valentine Killer.
Tate McCade, with the best arrest record on the force and a reputation for steamrolling anyone who gets in his way, heads the task force. He’s had a run-in with Beth and her oversized ego. He’s got a bruise on his face to prove it. Rather than have the pleasure of busting her back to walking a beat, he has to work with her. And the clock is ticking because there’s a woman and child missing and nothing about the crime adds up. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Speculative:
Guardian of Ajalon  by Joan Campbell — The poison tree path is Shara’s road home. . .if she and her companions can survive the journey. In the danger and darkness of the forest, her only respite is in the story unlocked in the Old Tongue book. In this vivid world, Shara finally discovers what she has longed for all her life: the key to the secrets of her past. Yet time is running out for Shara—and all of Tirragyl—as Lord Lucian, King Alexor, and the royal army attack the Guardian Grotto to claim the powerful Guardian Rock. Unwilling to sit idly by as her kingdom is destroyed, Queen Nyla leaves her hiding place to recruit a most unlikely army—the Charab. But how can she win over the infamous assassins who have been oppressed by her family for generations? (Speculative Allegory from Enclave Publishing)

New Releases: August 2018

August is a big month for new releases. Check them out below and find your next read!  August 1st Another June with You by Krista Noorman
Shannon McGregor never expected to run into her high school sweetheart, especially not as the best man of the wedding she’s photographing. But Micah’s back, as handsome and charming as she remembered, and pressing her for the truth about why she ended their relationship—a truth she’d rather keep to herself. 

Life is good. Micah Shaw has a job he loves, great friends, and a wonderful girl by his side. But seeing his first love again opens his eyes to the charade he’s been living without her. He never really got over Shannon or the dreams they had for their future—dreams she seemed to casually brush aside when she broke things off a decade ago without much explanation.

As wedding events unfold, avoiding Micah is impossible, and with their connection as strong as ever, Shannon finds herself battling the desire to tell him everything. How long will they circle the truth before Shannon admits defeat? And what does it matter when he’ll be gone by Sunday?

A sweet, clean second chance romance. The first book in the McGregor Family series. The Cowboy's Fake Marriage by Bree Livingston
A designer who’s lost her job, a cowboy with a crumbling home, and a business arrangement that’s mutually beneficial.

When Grace Maddox breaks down in Willow Valley, Texas, she finds herself suddenly jobless and staying at a rundown bed and breakfast. The only benefit, besides the handsome and rugged cowboy who owns it, is the gorgeous old house that's begging to be restored. But when she overhears his ex threatening to force him to sell the place, she can’t help but rush in to save the place by claiming to be his fiancée.

Jackson Bellamy’s ex-wife leaves nothing but trouble in her wake. When she shows up at his family’s 1800’s bed and breakfast and demands that he take her back or her father will foreclose on his property, he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. But when his mysterious and pretty guest jumps to his rescue, his ex gives him the bad news that he has three months to sell the place or pay it off.

Now, Jackson and Grace must keep the illusion going as they work together to save the family home and maybe, in the process, save each other.
Joe: A Novella by Jessica Marie Holt 
A poignant story of heartache, friendship, and second chances, this novella brings the Homecoming short story series to its compelling and emotional end. 

Outwardly, Joe Piper has a charmed existence. He lives in a small, picturesque coastal town, and spends his days tending his garden, hanging out on his boat, and running his restaurant. 
Inwardly, he is falling apart. A long-ago tragedy still casts a shadow over his life, and recent turn of events has brought him from despondency to the brink of despair.

That is, until two wayward strangers show up unexpectedly, bringing chaos, hope, and meaning into his static, lonely existence. Will he finally put the pieces of his life back together? Or will things fall apart on him yet again? ​ The Earl and His Lady by Sally Britton
Lady Virginia Macon, the recently widowed Baroness of Heatherton, has an impossible decision to make. Her late husband’s unscrupulous brother demands guardianship of her sons. The courts are on his side, unless she marries someone willing to stand in her late husband’s place. Locking her heart away and devoting herself to her children is the only way Virginia can countenance such a decision.

Wearied by the world, Lucas Calvert, Earl of Annesbury, is tired of being alone. His wife’s passing six years previous left his life gray and empty. His only recourse has been to make life better for those around him, using his considerable wealth and influence. When he learns of Virginia’s plight, he knows he can save her and her sons.

During one of the rainiest summers in England’s history, Virginia and her children bring light and color back into Lucas’s life. But will Virginia’s determination to protect her heart destroy their possibility of finding happiness together? Willow Wood by Sheri Richey
Nolan Ramsey thinks he wants to be alone. He leaves his life in the city, leaves his job as a news reporter, and buys a house in the middle of nowhere. He plans a life of complete isolation with just his dog, Scuba, for company.

Calinda Willow returns home to help her aging father at the end of his life. She copes with the loss by throwing herself into her work, rejects social invitations from her friend, Jackie, and thinks she is content with her solitary life.

They are both wrong.
In the Nick of Time by Susette Williams
Faith Tillerson loves her job as a school teacher but it doesn’t leave much opportunity to meet eligible bachelors—unless you count divorced fathers and perhaps a stalker.

Nick Claussen knows he’s a workaholic but what’s a guy to do when murder doesn’t take a holiday? Hopefully they’ll be able to get through the holidays alive.  August 4th Happiness is a Collage by Gita V. Reddy
This collection of fifteen stories leads the reader into a world that is at once Indian and universal. The stories explore love, life, loss, and relationships.

A painter derives inspiration from a long lost love. Every night after going to bed, a woman scours a vast desert for her missing husband. A young woman strides through two worlds. A son experiences the miracle of his father’s immense love. An actor’s wife struggles to keep her husband from slipping into his reel life. And a busy professional tries to factor in pregnancy and motherhood into her hectic life.

Among those traversing this space are a henpecked billionaire, a homeless boy, a middle-aged wife dealing with infidelity, and a seeker finding solace with a lion and a deer. August 6th Freedom's Kiss by Sarah Monzon
They were prisoners of the past. Could legacy be the key to set them free?

Olivia Arroyo knows who she is and where she’s going—her sense of family responsibility a stepping-stone to her dream of becoming a chef. When her employer refuses her the chance to move from server to the kitchen, she makes another opportunity for herself with the owner of a new food truck. But her life derails when a hidden piece of her past suddenly comes to light, and she discovers everything she thought she knew about herself has been a lie.

A single decision can have innumerable consequences—a truth that has changed Adam Carrington’s life. A criminal defense attorney turned food truck owner, he is haunted by his role in an unpardonable act and driven by his need to make restitution. Unexpected help comes in the form of a feisty, raven-haired beauty, but she soon begins challenging his kitchen as well as his heart.

Florida, 1816
Propelled by a fleeting hope of freedom, Winnie and her family escape slavery and find refuge and new life with the Seminole Indians of Florida. But their future is still uncertain as threats of war, a return to slavery, and removal to the West shake their tentative grasp on freedom. Will they ever step out of the shadow of fear to leave a legacy of deliverance? Claron by Katharine E. Hamilton
Tossing her belongings into a suitcase and escaping heartbreak seemed like the best idea for Rhea Conners. She’d simply travel across the ocean to visit her grandfather in Ireland and heal. Then she’d come back. Simple. But what she doesn’t expect is to find solace and healing in the form of the O’Rifcan family. One member in particular: Claron. Claron enjoyed his life farming the land his grandparents gifted him. He lived his life quietly and contentedly, until Rhea arrived. He’d steered clear of relationships and entanglements since his last heartbreak, but something about Roland’s granddaughter twists him up inside. Something about Rhea has him rethinking his life of solitude. Two hearts. One chance. Can Rhea and Claron overcome past hurts to make a new beginning?
August 7th Lawfully His by Natalie Middleton
Melissa Campbell was losing everything. She risked everything when she packed up and moved to Longview, Texas to Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She was a newbie K-9 Officer with her German Shepard Jimmy, and her colleagues made sure she knew it. Melissa's confidence was battered, even though she was still recovering from leaving an abusive ex. Some wounds just did not heal. 

Erik Flynn was a bestselling author. Not him, actually, his pen name, Pat Harrington was. After churning out dozens of mysteries that won acclaim, Erik stared at blank pages every day. To escape his frustration (and his publisher), he moved to a small town he randomly found on the map. He was belligerent, frustrated, and a recluse. But when he sees a brave police officer standing up to a drug addict, something changes for him. Her defeated eyes spoke to him, and even though he tried, he just couldn't let go. 

When Erik overhears some police officers giving Melissa trouble, all he wants to do is protect her. When a shaky friendship ensues, Erik finds peace he has not known before. Writing seems to flow faster, and Erik is in awe of the woman he is slowly falling in love with. Even Jimmy, the German Shepard seems to approve. Their "friendship" seems to steady Melissa as her performance at work improves. But when her abusive ex visits town, every strand of sanity that Melissa has threatens to collapse.

Erik may have considered their relationship as being friends, but for Melissa, his support means so much more. She starts to fall for the man with a rough exterior, only to find a gentle and considerate man behind the mask. But when her past collides with her present, it takes all her strength to hold on. When possibly the biggest case of her career lands in her lap, she needs to find a strength she does not have to lead Jimmy.

Can Melissa finally find her peace among her challenges? With Erik's help, can she truly set her past free? Can Erik let go of his hesitations and be with the woman he loves?
Beyond Broken Pencils by Julie C. Gilbert
He has a goal and a plan. 

If he carries through with the plan, his sister will die first. His ex will die next, and he will die last. In between, he’ll take out as many people as he can. 

Students. Security guards. Teachers. First responders. They are all fair game. 

Who will live, and who will die? How will those who live go on when their world is shattered by unthinkable tragedy?

*** Contains scenes of graphic violence. Reader discretion advised. *** August 12th Promise Me Forever by Natalie Middleton
Arianna Belmonte loved her life as a programmer. But an urgent SOS from her sister brings her back to her winery home in tranquil St. Helena. Things are not so calm when she learns her childhood home is going to be sold off and there are suspicious threats to her father. When she digs in, the mystery deepens, with no answers from her father. 

Alex Garner knows one thing when he returns to St. Helena : He is not a cheater and he has done nothing wrong. Suspended from his Seattle firm for a leak he didn't cause, he meets his old flame Arianna Belmonte who consults him to set aside her childhood home's sale. There is only one problem; he can't help falling in love with her. The last time he fell in love with her, he promised her togetherness, only to have life come in between. 

When both their problems collide, can Alex and Arianna keep their wits together? What are the mysteries behind Arianna's father? And what does that have to do with Alex? Will this problem bring them together or tear them apart? August 14th When Love Is Lost by Kameo Monson
​Married to the same boring guy for twenty-seven years, Deb cleans her house, volunteers at the public library, and attends church. For decades, her only excitement has been her Saturday shopping trips with her friend, Betty. Then, one summer, Deb’s life changes. She meets new friends and questions her desires as a mysterious man, whom she calls Parks, finds his way into her heart. Now, she has to decide whether to forego her marriage or work to save it.

While Deb’s life spins with excitement, Betty’s life spins out of control as her darkest secret becomes her reality again. The friends risk life-long wounds if they refuse to share their confidences and lean on each other.

Filled with friendship, love, and hardship, WHEN LOVE IS LOST, is a women’s fiction novel that will tug at every woman’s heartstrings.

A Clean Read.

This book contains some 'PG-13' domestic abuse with some other related themes. It has no graphic sex scenes (implied between married couples), nudity, or swearing. Though appropriate for most teenagers, When Love Is Lost has been written with adults in mind. August 16th Love's Embrace by Heidi Peltier
Trouble comes to Love's Embrace, Texas in 1883, in the form of barbed wire...and a feisty girl named Hattie.

Hattie Sommerville’s father sent her off to Boston nine years ago to learn how to be a lady. Now, she wants to go back home where she belongs, and maybe, after all this time, her old childhood playmate, Simon, might finally see her as more than a friend. She only hopes nobody discovers the secret that sent her running home. 

Simon Caldwell lost both parents at a young age and has poured every ounce of his heart and energy into making his Texas ranch a success. Now, an unexpected nemesis in the shape of barbed wire threatens his home and his livelihood. He can’t afford to be distracted if he wants any hope of hanging on to everything he’s worked so hard for, but his old friend Hattie is back in town, turning his head and addling his mind. If he thinks the barbed wire is bad, he has no idea just how much trouble she brought along with her from Boston.
August 21st Heart Healed by Alexa Verde
Can a scarred man running from his past and a beautiful star running from her future survive a murderous attack and find healing in God's loving arms?

Country music sensation, Miriam Lizzaraga, thinks her world's crushed when she loses her voice. But that's before her first love decides to marry someone else and the man who nearly killed her sets out to get her again. In desperation, she accepts help from a stranger, Philip Barlow. But with a target on her back and pain in her heart, can she love again?

When Philip Barlow goes on a vacation, he doesn't expect to meet his celebrity crush. Realizing Miriam is in danger, he's ready to die to protect her. But scarred after an accident and struggling with anger issues, can he hope the gorgeous star will one day return his feelings?

As the day nears when their lives will be in danger and their courage tested, can they find strength in God?
The Kithseeker by M. K. Wiseman
France, 1680 A.D.

Liara’s defense of the Wizard Nagarath has rendered Anisthe incantate—bereft of all magick—but even this has failed to guarantee Liara’s safety. The death of the war mage would seal Liara’s own fate, and so the wizard and his bookminder must keep him in their sites and yet as far away from themselves as possible.

With nothing but a storybook and a hunch, Anisthe has set off on a journey across Europe, aided by his half-fey manservant, in search of a legendary mirror that contains the most powerful magick ever known. Although the stuff of fairytales, the merest possibility of its truth embarks Nagarath and Liara on a race to discover the mirror before it falls into the hands of Nagarath’s lifelong foe. Both know should he lay claim to that power, Liara would be at the mercy of her father-in-magick and his lust for power, and not even Nagarath could save her.

Thus, the pair find themselves at the court of the Sun King, a world hostile to magick users, hopelessly surrounded by agents whose sole purpose is destroy them. Uncertain whom is friend or foe, with Anisthe nipping at their heels, they must unearth the mirror before its evil is released, or worse, lays claim to Liara’s magick as well and brings doom upon them all. Contemporary Romance:
Out of Their Element  by Angela Breidenbach, Robin Lee Hatcher, Vickie McDonough, and Deborah Raney — They are totally out of their element! Four mismatched couples find unexpected romance. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Redemption Road  by Christa MacDonald — As Alex awaits retribution, he means to keep Annie safe at any cost, but she knows it’s redemption he needs and she’ll pay any price for him to find it. (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Scarlet Tears  by Laura Hervey — Caught in a romantic triangle with her brother’s best friend and a charming pastor, former call girl Carly Lawrence struggles to start a new life. (Contemporary Romance from Alabaster Box Press)

Historical Romance:
Rebecca’s Legacy  by Betty Thomason Owens — After a threat against her family, a spoiled heiress is sent to the country to work on her aunt’s produce farm and finds love. (Historical Romance from Write Integrity Press)

The Patriot Bride  by Kimberley Woodhouse — Faith Jackson is a wealthy widow, friend of George Washington, and staunch supporter of the Patriot cause. Matthew Weber is friends with both Ben Franklin and his son William, who increasingly differ in their political views; and Matthew finds himself privy to information on both sides of the conflict. When a message needs to get to a spy among the Loyalists, Faith bravely steps up and in turn meets Matthew Weber. Suddenly she believes she could love again. But someone else has his eye on the Faith she portrays in elite social circles. What will Matthew and Faith have to sacrifice for the sake of their fledgling country? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Cozy Mystery:
Deadly Harvest  by Marissa Shrock — Georgia’s biggest challenge in the farming town of Wildcat Springs, Indiana, is figuring out how to win Evan Beckworth’s heart. Until the day she discovers the body of a former student in the woods. When she starts to suspect this wasn’t an accident, memories stir of her father’s murder nine years earlier. A murder never solved. As Georgia works with the sheriff’s department’s newest detective, Cal Perkins, she finds her heart slipping into his hands. But her head is pummeled with conflicting evidence and anonymous threats of severe consequences if she digs any deeper. In the end, Georgia faces a paralyzing choice. Ignore the dark secrets inside the family and friends who surround her or be willing to risk her own life to uncover the truth. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

Unknown Enemy  by Janet Sketchley — A young woman with a traumatic past must discover the truth about who’s playing mind games with the Green Dory Inn’s owner. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:
Hiding in Plain Sight  by Mary Ellis — When a Charleston PI rents a room above an Italian restaurant owned by a handsome chef, she lands in the middle of a family feud with robbery, arson and murder for the daily specials. (Romantic Suspense from Severn House Publishers LTD)

Wildfire  by Gayla K. Hiss — A female wildfire scientist and a firefighter team up to solve the mystery behind the outbreak of wildfires in the Rockies and find themselves at the center of a firestorm. (Romantic Suspense from Mountain Brook Ink)

Amish Country Ambush  by Dana R. Lynn — A police officer and a dispatcher travel deep into Amish country to rescue her nephew and to escape a killer. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Imperfect Promises  by Elizabeth Noyes — When a homegrown terrorist threatens the woman he loves, former Special Forces soldier Jonas Cameron calls on old friends to help him eliminate the danger. (Romantic Suspense from Write Integrity Press)

Cold Fear  by Susan Sleeman — When a sniper’s ex-girlfriend, a musician, is framed for murder during her summer tour, he jumps to defend her from an imminent arrest and a killer’s deadly rage. But the evidence against her stacks higher as three bodies are found with her name tattooed on their wrist. (Romantic Suspense from Edge of Your Seat Books, Inc.)

Cold Case Cover-Up  by Virginia Vaughan — The first thrilling Covert Operatives tale An infant is believed to have been murdered thirty years ago—but investigative journalist Dana Lang is convinced she’s that baby. Now someone’s willing to kill to stop her investigation. And only secretive deputy Quinn Dawson, whose grandfather may have faked Dana’s death to protect her, can keep her safe. But a killer’s dead set on burying the past—and them—for good. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Thriller/Suspense:
​ Pretense  by John Di Frances — A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state just days apart. A diabolical plot appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there a sinister force working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? The team of investigators led by Interpol’s Marek Frakas, ‘The Wolf,’ moves quickly to track the perpetrators and uncover the identity of the unseen mastermind behind the conspiracy. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna, a young forensic weapons expert who can hold her own on the male-dominated international team of investigators. Together they seek to understand reality versus the shattered mirror-like reflections meant to obfuscate the truth and shroud the mastermind’s identity and ultimate purpose. (Political Thriller from Reliance Books Publishing, LLC)

Thirst of Steel  by Ronie Kendig — Dismantled centuries ago, the sword of Goliath is still rumored to thirst for its enemies’ blood. Cole “Tox” Russell wants only to put the dangers of his past behind him and begin his new life with Haven Cortes. First, though, he’s called to complete a final mission: retrieve the sword and destroy the deadly Arrow & Flame Order. The AFO, however, is determined to reunite the sword. With the Wraith team slowly being torn apart, things worsen when Mercy Maddox, a new operative, emerges with the stunning news that the artifact is tied to a string of unsolved serial murders. Tox and the others are forced to set aside fear and anger to target the true enemy. No matter the cost, Wraith must destroy the AFO . . . or join them in the flames. (Military Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])

New Releases: July 2018

Check out these fabulous new releases from my fellow authors!  June 28 Lightning and Lawmen by Shanna Hatfield
How did a simple hello turn into something so complicated?
​
Love is about to leave one lawman thunderstruck in this sweet historical romance!

Cultured and full of grace, Delilah Robbins agrees to accompany her meteorologist father to his new post in Baker City, Oregon. Expecting a primitive place, she’s delighted to discover an up-and-coming town with plenty of surprises as well as a place she can turn into a sanctuary for her beloved birds. As she settles into life in the western town, she unwittingly creates a riff between two deputies when they both fall for her charms.

Deputy Dugan Durfey only meant to extend a friendly welcome to a newcomer. But the moment he set eyes on the meteorologist’s delightful daughter, Dugan’s heart was no longer his own. Since his best friend and fellow deputy suffered the same fate, Dugan struggles to do what’s right. He’ll fight jealousy, outlaws, and a wily raccoon to keep Delilah safe, but the greater battle lies in overcoming his fears to profess his love.

June 30 Her Stranded Billionaire Mix-Up by Bree Livingston
A woman left at the altar, a billionaire who’s sworn off relationships, and a plane crash that traps them on a deserted island.

Just two months ago life was perfect for party planner Harley Wilson—marrying the love of her life and working with Houston’s most sought-after party planner. Now, she’s single, jobless, and desperate to return to her hometown and start her own business. Which is why it’s easy to make a split decision to accept a huge bonus—and travel to Jamaica—when the rich guy offers her the assistant’s position.

Since taking over the family business, Zachary Wolf has devoted himself and his money to helping people. When his assistant calls out sick at the last minute before a trip to Jamaica to drop off medical equipment, he puts out a call to a temp agency. He’s always used male assistants, but his sister is notorious for setting him up—so when a woman shows up instead, he is not surprised.
​
It’s not until they’re in the air they realize there’s been a terrible mix-up. They’re all set to go their separate ways once the plane sets down in Jamaica. But a hurricane changes everything and the plane goes down en route. To survive, they must now learn to rely on each other until they’re rescued.

July 2 Man's Best Alibi by Tara Meyers
Something strange is happening in the mountains of Sanctuary 

Veterinarian Ember Burns makes a grisly discovery and it leads authorities to the body of a man in the woods above her home. Although the circumstances are suspicious, the only witness is her dog and the death's ruled a suicide. 

But things aren't that simple. When Ember looks into the man's local connections, it creates more questions than answers. Including the source of an unusual rock, and what he was really doing in the mountains. 

As a mysterious illness sickens the local animals, Ember's battle to save them leads to a startling discovery. She races to prove both the cause of the animals' symptoms and how the man died, but will it be too late?
Diving for Love by Jenny Rabe
Seventeen-year-old Mariana Rodriguez is devastated when her best friend and long-time crush, Dennis, chooses to date her tormentor over her. She plunges into work at her uncle’s dive shop, determined to sink her feelings for Dennis. When the new employee, Sam, shows interest in her, Mariana feels like she’s found the perfect springboard to moving on.

After both the shop and her abuela's house are vandalized, Mariana can't help but suspect that the two events are connected. She reluctantly calls on the one person who can help her, but allowing Dennis back into her life only makes her feelings for Sam murky. To protect her family from financial ruin, Mariana must decide who to trust. And with any luck, she'll get her chance at true love along the way.
Collision of Wills by Evangeline Kelly
A snobby rich girl meets a rough around the edges artist. Can two people from completely different worlds come together?
Alexa Covington lived in a wealthy community in Malibu, California. She liked pretty boys, shopping, and trips to the spa with her posse of mean girls—in that order.

Dylan West wanted to be an artist, but he felt confined to a life painting houses instead. Despite the fact that he longed for something more, he was determined to follow the path his father set out for him.

Back in high school, Dylan had a crush on Alexa, but he moved on. When their paths crossed years later, she barely remembered him.

One night, after volunteering at a teen center, Alexa walked to her car alone and was nearly assaulted. Dylan came to her rescue, and the two were forced to spend time together in urgent care.

An unlikely friendship ensued and feelings grew despite their differences.

Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t walk away from each other.

Dylan made Alexa rethink everything about her life of privilege.

But when her mother threatened to cut her off if she didn’t leave Dylan, Alexa was forced to make a choice. Continue living the entitled existence she’d always known or choose another path, one that would change her world forever.

Maybe, just maybe, love would find a way. July 3 Kingdom of Ash and Soot by C.S. Johnson
In an age of political unrest and racial divide, one girl's search for truth will determine the future of her kingdom.
   Prague, 1870 
   For the last ten years, nineteen-year-old Eleanora Svobodová has worked as a servant in her stepmother's household, dreaming of the day she will be free to live life on her own terms. 
    But when her estranged grandmother, Lady Penelope, comes to Prague on behalf of Queen Victoria, everything changes. Throughout Bohemia, a string of murders and secret whispers hint at a larger coup, and Lady Penelope, as the leader of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, an ancient order of spies and soldiers that protect kingdoms and their rulers, is determined to discover the perpetrators. When she offers Eleanora the chance to help her prevent the kingdom from falling apart, she is hesitant to trust her. And while joining means freedom from her stepmother and protecting the people of Prague, Eleanora knows her life will never be the same--or her own. 
   Can she find a way to be free and still do the right thing? Or will joining the Order only lead to disaster? 
  With castle intrigue, true love, and family dysfunction, Cinderella meets Mission Impossible in this historical fiction spy adventure series by C. S. Johnson. 
Wanted: Preacher by Renea Westlyn 
Moving to Oregon as a Mail-Order Bride had never been Abigail’s plan, but when she is suddenly forced from the only home she has ever known, a marriage of convenience may just be the only thing that can protect her. However, the Lord works in mysterious ways, and shortly after Abigail has wed her new husband drowns while attempting to save the life of a child. Alone and afraid in a town full of lost women, Abigail must search for a new man to protect her from a horrid fate. Can she hope to find a husband that will cherish her? Or will she again be forced to marry for convenience alone?

Reverend Akecheta James’ wedding day ended in a tragic death, leaving behind scars and pain. Ghosts of the past haunt him every step of the way to the small town of Silverpines. Called there by his blood-brother, Alexander, can Akecheta find his true future and perhaps love with the widow of the towns’ previous pastor?

Together, the two must fight to build a life from the ashes of their past, and conquer the trials of the life yet to come. Can they find much-needed solace in one another’s arms?
July 6 Becoming Me by Staci Stallings
Is there something greater than we know? Can we, through the talents God has given us, tap into a well-spring our mortal senses do not see? If so, how do we encourage each other to find that deeper “something,” or do we rationalize each other out of even searching for it?

Paige Grayson isn’t crushing on Nelson Samuels. Just ask her. She’ll tell you. After all, he is her sister’s best friend, “royalty” in her high school, a senior, and so talented he would never notice a nobody like her. So Paige resorts to pouring her non-existent feelings for Nelson into a very special notebook, a notebook of the words that cascade through her without her knowing how or where they come from. She’s always been like that, writing words that are poetic, ephemeral, and too precious to share with anyone else. But what happens when she loses the notebook that contains the words that are such a part of her? Worse, when Nelson starts to want to hang out, can she play it cool or will he learn all the secrets she’s been keeping from everyone, even herself? 

Nelson Samuels knows he’s always been a little weird. For as long as he can remember, he’s done his best to keep just how weird a secret from those closest to him. Yes, they know he writes music. What they don’t know is that he hears music in haunting melodies all the time. Having learned to capture some of them into notes on a page, he struggles to share just enough of his talent without risking anyone knowing all of it. It’s only when Nelson starts to notice his best friend’s younger sister that life is about to dare him to open the deepest secrets he holds about himself to someone else. Will he be brave enough to share the imagination side of him, or will he forever stay trapped in knowing he has this amazing gift but being too afraid to share it with anyone?
It Was Always You by Judy Corry
What's the first rule when pretending to date your brother's best friend? Don't let feelings get involved.

Sixteen-year-old Lexi Stevens has never been kissed--never even been asked on a date. So when she humiliates herself in front of her crush and her brother's best friend offers to be her fake boyfriend for the week to make her crush jealous, she doesn't know if it's the stupidest idea ever, or a dream come true.

When Noah Taylor's abusive stepdad kicks him out of the house, the last thing he needs is for anyone at school to find out--not even his best friend. But when his new "girlfriend" discovers he's homeless and lets him sleep in her closet, he starts to wonder if he's found someone he can confide in after all.

Soon Noah and Lexi are putting on a big show in front of the whole school while sneaking around behind her overprotective father's back. It isn't long before feelings develop, and it becomes harder and harder to discern between what's fake and what's real.
July 9 Skye by Heather Gray
Rainbow Falls…where life is lived in full color.

Skye Blue is tired. She’s worn out from days spent doing what’s expected of her while her heart longs for something else. It doesn’t help that the past has colored her every decision with guilt and fear. When Skye reaches her limit, she packs a bag and runs away from it all…and headlong into Sam.

Sam Madison is a battle-hardened former Marine who can face an enemy combatant without blinking. He is also a man dedicated to serving God by working with those military vets that society often rejects. Samaritan’s Reach, a place that houses and retrains homeless veterans, is the start of Sam’s dream — but an overreaching City Council threatens everything. 

How can love develop between a woman who hides from her problems and a man who has never considered backing down?
July 10 A Heart Realigned by Elizabeth Maddrey
She has no roots. He has no wings.

Repainting historic murals at Peacock Hill will pad Azure Hewitt’s bank account and allow her to drift where the wind takes her. If only the group of friends working at the old mansion weren’t so welcoming. Their immediate acceptance and inclusion reinforces one of the downsides of her footloose life. Add in the local car buff and mechanic? Putting down roots could almost be attractive.

The more Matt Patterson’s uncle pushes him to take over the family auto shop, the less Matt’s sure he wants to stay where he’s planted…but even as he contemplates spreading his wings, he can’t imagine a life like Azure’s with no fixed address. Even so, he’s positive a settled life isn’t something she sees in her future. 

With Azure’s project nearing completion and Matt’s uncle anxious for a decision, neither is sure where God is calling them to be. But if their hearts are aligned to His desire, surely their love will have a chance.
The Indentured Queen by Carol Moncado
King Benjamin is about to have control of his own home for the first time in his life. By evicting his uncle, he can finally become the ruler he was meant to be.

Finally live up to the legacy handed down to him, beginning with King Alfred the First, and embodied in his own father, King Alfred the Second.

But revenge is a dish best served cold - or at least lukewarm - and his uncle’s revenge comes just two days later when a press release announces Benjamin’s engagement.

To a modern-day scullery maid.

Katrín Jónsson took over her mother’s debt to the Eyjanian royal family as soon as she turned eighteen. Five years down. Only ten - or more - to go.
Until the king offers her a way out.

Marry him, in name only, for a year, then disappear. Her indenture will be paid off - and, more importantly, her mother and brother will be taken care of for life.
The wedding won’t change anything about her life because no one will know the truth of their arrangement.
​
A disconcerting incident softens Katrín’s heart toward the usually impassive king. But, even as she begins to fall for the man he could become, she wonders if she’ll ever be more than The Indentured Queen? July 13 Aerisian Refrain by Sarah Ashwood
​Following the prophesied Artan’s victory over the Dark Powers, the land of Aerisia is finally at rest, until ancient beings, long imprisoned, begin to stir…

Eight years after Annie Richards’ stellar voice and musical talents skyrocketed her from rural Oklahoma to international fame, haunting visions have begun threatening her sanity. While she’s returning to her childhood home to convalesce, creatures straight from her nightmares bring down her plane. Annie wakens in a parallel world, Aerisia. Here, she discovers her musical gifts translate into magical powers—the legacy of a banished race who have been invading her dreams.

Mistrusted by Aerisia’s most powerful factions because of her heritage, Annie finds allies are hard to come by. Supporting her are one Simathe warrior, Cole, who refuses to label her as evil, and one woman willing to stand against anything and anyone to help a friend: the Artan herself. Seizing control of her destiny will mean defying both her ancestors and the Aerisian leaders. Mastering her magic may mean making the greatest sacrifice of all…or risk becoming the reason Aerisia itself is torn apart.
July 16 The Songs of You and Me by Mylissa Demeyere
Jane Hartford fell head over heels for Jackson at the tender age of fifteen. She spent most of high school pining for him, until she realized he wasn't going to see her as anything more than his baby sister's best friend. Now she finds herself single with a daughter, a broken heart, and songs that remind her of a long lost love.

Jackson Wright is a man living with regret. His biggest one, never acting on his feelings for Jane. When he returns to Bellebrook, the town they grew up in, he literally runs into her and his world gets tossed upside down and sideways.

This time, Jackson isn't willing to give up. With a meddling sister eager to push both of them together, he believes things might actually work out. That is, if they can overcome the heavy baggage they both carry. Follow Jackson and Jane as they revisit their past, figuring out what went wrong so long ago.

Will they learn they have the power to make things right in the present? 
July 17 Lawfully Wanted by Jenna Brandt
Levi Emerson and his partner, Clyde Forester, have been undercover for over a year chasing the ring leader of the largest cattle rustling group. After months of pursuit, they are closing in on their target, and looking forward to bagging their bounty. A paid informant has told them the rustler's next target will be the Larsen Ranch in Rockwood Springs, Texas. When Levi arrives at the ranch, he poses as a cowboy in order to gain employment at the ranch and catch the cattle thief.

Abigail Larsen is the daughter of one of the largest cattle barons in all of Taylor, County Texas. She has just returned home from finishing school, with what is considered by society, dangerous ideas that she gained from secret women's suffrage meetings. Her father has plans for her to marry Andy Wilson, a local rancher and recent widower, in an attempt to expand the family's influence in the region. Though she wants to do her father's biding, the rumors of how Andy mistreated his first wife leaves Abigail worried about her future, especially knowing he isn't the type of man that would find her new mindset appealing. 

When Levi and Abigail accidently encounter each other, the connection is instant, but they both know a relationship between them can never be due to their circumstances. Yet, as the couple continue to spend time together through various circumstances, the connection only deepens. 

Will Levi catch his wanted thief and collect his bounty? Will he tell Abigail the truth about who he is? And will Abigail choose to go against her father in order to be with the man she wants? Find out if these two star-crossed lovers can find a way to be together in this epic 1880s historical romance. Secrets: Visible and Invisible by Carolyn Astfalk and Various
​Secrets: Visible and Invisible is a collection of short stories by seven CatholicTeenBooks.com authors. As described by Mark Hart of Life Teen International, who provides the foreword, "Each story reveals something different about the human heart and our constant (though, often veiled) desire for truth and virtue." 

Secret (n.) - something kept hidden from knowledge or view; a mystery.

In a dystopian future, an innocent picnic turns deadly!

Elijah knows nothing of the elderly stranger's secret past--until her disappearance changes everything.

A mysterious, ever-changing painting alarms a group of teens.

The cannonball took Dario's legs . . . Will he lose his soul too? 

The arrival of a mysterious girl challenges everything about Jason's life.

An unlicensed driver. His dad's truck. What could possibly go wrong?

An old tale of murder and forbidden love leads to a modern day treasure hunt.

For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. (Luke 8:17 RSV-CE)​ July 25 Romance Comes to Pemberley by Margaret Lynette Sharp
As this story begins, our favourite couple have been blessed with two wonderful children: Fitzwilliam, Jr and Juliette, who have blossomed into adulthood. Will these two bearers of the legacy of our favourite romantic couple find true love and happiness, or will the obstacles thrown in their paths by the unforeseen and unforeseeable vagaries of fate destroy their best and fondest hopes? 'Twill be a roller-coaster ride, navigating the twists and turns of Regency-era romance, in either case.
Check out these new releases from authors involved with  American Christian Fiction Writers . You're sure to find a new favorite! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Contemporary Romance:
A Widow’s Hope  by Vannetta Chapman — After tragedy claimed her husband’s life and her son’s ability to walk, Hannah King doesn’t want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Firestorm  by Laura V. Hilton — Bridget Behr can’t shake the guilt that it was her fault her family moved—and is too afraid to trust anyone, especially the flirtatious, overly-friendly Amish man who lives next door. Just as Bridget is finally settling into friendship, a new life, and maybe even love, a devastating forest fire ravages the county, destroying both land and the Behrs’ dreams. Now Bridget and her family must decide: will they leave behind the ashes and start anew in another Amish community? Or will they dare to fight for the future they’d hoped for in Mackinac County? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House)

General Contemporary:
Ride to the Altar  by Linda W. Yezak — Cattle are dying on the Circle Bar, putting the Texas ranch in financial jeopardy. Newly engaged Patricia Talbert and Talon Carlson must root out the cause before they can concentrate on wedding plans—which involves Patricia’s traveling to New York to patch things up with her domineering mother. While she is away, Talon discovers that the attacks on the ranch are connected to the murder of his first fiancée over eight years ago. Before they can move forward together, each have to resolve the past. Will they be able to start their new life with a clean slate? (General Contemporary from Canopy Books of Texas)

General Historical:
My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas  by Kathleen Y’Barbo — Dodging bullets takes a simple missing person case to a new level as Jonah Cahill, a Pinkerton agent, and Madeline Latour, an investigative reporter, form a tentative truce in Galveston, Texas, 1880. Are they on to a much bigger story when their best witness is suddenly kidnapped? (General Historical from Barbour Publishing)

Historical Mystery:
The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond  by Jaime Jo Wright — Two women, separated by a hundred years, must uncover the secrets within the borders of their own town before it’s too late and they lose their future–or their very souls. (Historical Mystery from Bethany House [Baker])

Historical Romance:
This Freedom Journey  by Misty M. Beller — Adrien Lockman left France to finally live life on his own terms, but when he discovers a half-starved and half-frozen woman in the treacherous Canadian mountains, the truth soon becomes clear—the only way they’ll survive is together. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Widow’s Plight  by Mary Davis — After moving to a new town and joining a quilting circle, a single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves? (Historical Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

River to Redemption  by Ann H. Gabhart — Orphaned during an early 19th century cholera epidemic and helped by a slave to find a new home, Adria Starr must now stand up for his freedom—and maybe find her own in the process. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])

A Rumored Fortune  by Joanna Davidson Politano — A young heiress is suddenly the poorest wealthy woman in all of England when her father dies without telling anyone where he put his money. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])

Mystery:
Shifting Sands  by Elizabeth Ludwig — A mysterious key hidden in the depths of an ancient lighthouse unlocks family secrets hidden for generations. (Cozy Mystery from Guideposts Publications)

Guarded Prognosis  by Richard L. Mabry — At first Dr. Caden Taggart feared for his freedom, then for his ability to cope, and eventually he feared for his life. (Medical Mystery, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:
Darkwater Secrets  by Robin Caroll — When Adelaide Fountaine, the general manager of a hotel in New Orleans, finds the body of a guest who was stabbed with a kitchen knife, her childhood friend Detective Beau Savoie is shocked to discover a connection between his friend–the woman he’s quietly loved for years—and the murdered guest. But Beau can’t press Adelaide too hard . . . because he’s keeping secrets of his own. Can Adelaide and Beau afford to hide from the truth with a killer on the loose? (Romantic Suspense from Gilead Publishing)

Camp Hope  by Sara L. Foust — Facing dehydration, starvation, and a convoluted kidnapper, will Amy succeed in recovering her precious foster daughter or get lost in a vast wilderness forever? (Romantic Suspense from Mantle Rock Publishing)

Dead Drift  by Dani Pettrey — Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to join an elite team of terrorist hunters. Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he’s back, asking her help to stop America’s newest terrorist threat—an attack that would shake the country to its core. Together they must navigate secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster. Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next mark? (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])

Young Adult:
Launch  by Jason C. Joyner — Teens with special abilities are invited to an exclusive conference where tech billionaire Simon Mazor is looking for those who can help him influence the world. (Young Adult from Little Lamb Books)