Julie Arduini's Blog, page 33
April 7, 2021
Fiction Finder: April 2021 New Releases
April 2021 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website
Contemporary Romance:
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter — It’s finally time for Sophie Lawson to follow her own pursuits. Brother Seth has a new job, and sister Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance. When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
Surviving Carmelita by Susan Miura — When Josie Caruso accidentally kills her best friend’s young daughter, she runs to the Florida Keys, unaware that a trailer park pastor, a battered horse, a pregnant teen, and a mysterious beachcomber might set her on the path toward inconceivable hope and redemption. (Contemporary Womens Fiction from Crossriver Media Group)
The Amish Teacher’s Wish by Tracey Lyons — She wants her own happily-ever-after… As an Amish bachelor repairs her school… can she heal his heart? With the school damaged during a storm, teacher Sadie Fischer needs Levi Byler’s help repairing it. Levi has one condition—he won’t become a part of her search for a husband. He’s been hurt before, and love and marriage aren’t part of his plans. But Sadie might just be the perfect woman to mend his heart…and convince him forever isn’t just for fairy tales. (Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
General Contemporary:
Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli — A contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women, readers will fall in love with the Martin family—Maggie, Josie, Lizzie, Bronson, Amie, and their mother Hannah—each trying to find their own way in the world and each discovering that love, home, and hope are closer than they appear. (General Contemporary from Hope Creek Publishers)
Second Helpings by Linda Wood Rondeau — Can her marriage be saved? Today is Jocelyn Johnson’s forty-fifth birthday. Unhappy with her marriage of twenty-two years, she has planned a noonday tryst with her talk-show cohost. A phone call from her college daughter, a peek into her teenaged son’s journal, a sick preschooler, a Goth daughter’s identity crisis, a middle-school son’s prank, and her husband’s inflamed suspicions, not only interfere with her hopeful birthday plans but throw her family into more chaos than a circus on steroids. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)
Every Window Filled with Light by Shelia W. Stovall — Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way.
Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)
General Historical:
The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard — World War I rages in Europe, and now the United States joins in. Peter Bloch heads to France with the Wisconsin National Guard, but his wife Maren is the one under attack. She’s German born, and anti-German hysteria is running high. Simple suggestions for coping with wartime measures lead Maren into an active role in the community, but her service doesn’t help deflect suspicion from her. Zealous patriots target her with a vengeance. Peter caught the eye of a major who seems intent on using him as a spy. He’s been fortunate to avoid injury so far, but these activities are likely to get him killed. (General Historical, Independently Published)
Historical Romance:
Biltmore Girl by Dawn Klinge — New York City, 1968. Elka Hansen, a former teen cover girl, is done with modeling. Now she’s a hostess for the Palm Court restaurant in the beautiful Biltmore Hotel. As she sees it, Elka’s other job is to watch out for her younger sister, Colleen, an idealistic but reckless college student at Barnard. With her sister, Elka attends her first civil-rights protest, and there, she runs into Jacob Lewis, a co-worker from the Biltmore. He’s a student at Columbia University and a friend of Colleen’s. Jacob becomes an unexpected ally when rescuing her sister from trouble becomes more than Elka can handle independently. Out of this turmoil, a romance grows between Jacob and Elka, but can it last? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Bent Tree Bride by Denise Weimer — Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Lieutenant Sam Hicks, he’s leading a string of prisoners into a frontier fort, and he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman. As both Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. He wants a better match for Susanna—like the stuffy doctor who escorted her to Creek Territory. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
Rekindling Trust by Sandra Ardoin — Abandonment. Betrayal. Injustice. Two broken hearts given a second chance to mend. Widow Edythe Westin yearns for a peaceful home and independence from her controlling father. The goal seems within reach until her rebellious young son is suspected of arson and assault. With nowhere else to turn, she defies her father and appeals for help from the only man she ever loved—the man who once deserted her when she needed him most. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Mystery:
Spring Betrayal by Sally Jo Pitts — t was supposed to be a routine investigation—catch the cheatin’ spouse of a client. And the perks weren’t bad either—set up shop at a luxury resort. So yes, Robert Grey and Jane Carson from Grey Investigations are on the job. But when they discover the suspect is a princess wrongfully accused of abdicating and her companion dies under suspicious circumstances, the investigators find themselves in the middle of a Caribbean conspiracy to overthrow a monarchy. Suddenly Jane must take the place of the princess to secure the throne of an island nation. Can Grey Investigations untangle a royal mess before a revolution overtakes paradise? (Mystery/Crime from Winged Publications)
Blue Plate Special by Susan Page Davis — Campbell McBride drives to her father’s house in Murray, Kentucky, dreading telling him she’s lost her job as an English professor. Her father, Bill McBride, isn’t there or at his office in town. His brash young employee, Nick Emerson, says Bill hasn’t come in this morning, but he did call the night before with news that he had a new case. When her dad doesn’t show up by late afternoon, Campbell and Nick decide to follow up on a phone number he’d jotted on a memo sheet. They learn who last spoke to her father, but they also find a dead body. The next day, Campbell files a missing persons report. When Bill’s car is found, locked and empty in a secluded spot, she and Nick must get past their differences and work together to find him. (Mystery from Scrivenings Press LLC)
Speculative Fiction:
Traitor: Tales of the Mystics, Book 2 by Laurie Lucking — Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes-if only it didn’t require betraying her new fiancé. She has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept. Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger. (Speculative Fiction/Romantic Fantasy from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing)
Thriller/Suspense:
Long Shadows by Cathe Swanson — Mona Vickers isn’t running. Not hiding. She and the girls are just keeping a low profile until she’s done with school and gets a good job. She doesn’t need charity, especially not from Roy Strough and the Unity Plenkiss Community Center, either. But when the past catches up with her, she needs to decide who she can trust. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard — Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors. When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.
(Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Fifty Days by Katie Vorreiter — Three days ago, Maggie Lehman’s beloved mentor and friend, Jarrett Adams, was murdered on live television. Grief stricken, Maggie traverses a Washington DC under curfew, but when she arrives at the morgue, the body is missing—and her presence is recorded on the security video. As dawn breaks over the city, Maggie encounters Jarrett on the street—and he’s very much alive. Either she’s gone mad—again—or Jarrett really is back. While the US loses its grip on democracy, government thugs eager to contain what Maggie knows hound her every step, and the good intentions of a man from her past only tighten the noose. The powerless and bewildered Maggie seeks Jarrett and the return to how things were, but finds she must give up what she wants most to gain what she can hardly imagine. (Supernatural Suspense from Elk Lake Publishing)
Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford — Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson, After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth. (Historical Mystery)
Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot, But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood. (Historical Romance)
Amish Midwives by Amy Clipson, Shelley Shepherd Gray, and Kelly Long, From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance. (Amish Romance)
Hunt for Grace by Andrew Huff, First he left the CIA. Then he left pastoral ministry. Now John Cross has been imprisoned in one of Great Britain’s most infamous prisons. Has he reached the end of his rope? Or is this another move in a dangerous spy game? (Thriller/Suspense)
Right Cross by Andrew Huff, Heart-pounding action meets spiritual choices in this thrilling finale to John Cross’s saga. (Thriller/Suspense)
Smashing the Friend Zone: Natasha by Barbara James, She had no idea what he was feeling. (Romance/Contemporary)
Reconciled from Heartache by Cindy M. Amos, Aley Halstead laterals out of a harassment situation at work, but peril soon follows her relocation, leaving rookie rancher Hake Warren her only hope for a last-minute rescue. (Romance/Contemporary)
Inheritance by Colleen K. Snyder, Three hundred MILLION dollars. Your inheritance. Buy anything you want, go anywhere you want, do anything you want. All yours. Except… (Thriller/Suspense)
Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello, The stakes are high, secrets prevail, and treason is just a kiss away. (Historical Romance)
Love and Joy by Elsie Davis, Can these two put their differences aside long enough to discover what’s really important? (Contemporary Romance)
Secondhand Sunsets by Gail Kittleson, The day’s warmth still hovered, and with it, a sense that all was well. The sky flamed for several more minutes. This beauty and my love for you are one. She hugged the message close. “Perhaps, after all, I am loved.” (Historical Romance)
The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar by KD Holmberg, Torn between the silent gods of Egypt and the powerful presence that surrounds Sarai, Hagar’s world falls apart around her. She must acknowledge the terrible price of truth, and decide for herself who she will serve. (General Historical)
Dandelion Floofums by Kristen Joy Wilks, A bold chicken must save her human from kidnappers and rogue forest creatures! (Children’s/Middle-grade/Chapter Books)
Deadly Heartbreak by Marissa Shrock, Georgia discovers a limerick scrawled on the wall of her kitchen that dares her to solve a mystery designed specifically for her. A mystery that promises to be quite deadly. For her. For Cal. And for anyone who gets in the murderer’s way. (Cozy Mystery)
Amish Country Murder by Mary Alford, An Amish woman targeted by a serial killer is the only living witness… (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)
The Secret of the 14th Room by Rebecca Hemlock, You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Or until someone wants to kill you for it. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)
Both Sides of the Border by Terry Overton, Two women, half a world apart, will have their lives changed for ever when a series of tragedies cause the Texas-Mexico border to vanish. (General/Contemporary)
April 5, 2021
A Song for Her Enemies by Sherri Stewart
A Song for Her Enemies
Historical Romance
Release: March 1, 2021 on Amazon
By Sherri Stewart
Our Story before the Story
By Tamar Kaplan and Neelie Visser
Hallo. That’s hello in the Nederlands language, but a lot of people call it Dutch. My name is Tamar Kaplan. I really don’t like to say my name. It seems to evoke the most puzzling reactions. The worst was the time my so-called friends at school burst out laughing at some private joke when someone called out, “Tamar.” I asked my mother about it later that night while she was doing dishes. I said, “Eema, what’s wrong with my name?”
She dried off her hands on a dish towel and took off her apron. “Nothing, sweetie. It’s a lovely name from the Bible.” When I pressed for more information, she waved a dismissive hand and said we’d talk about it when I was older.
Well, I’m older. And I’m facing the biggest challenge of my life in less than an hour. As the understudy for La Traviata’s Violetta, I’ll be playing the lead soprano role, since Margot huffed out of rehearsal when the producer made a comment about her weight.
I’ve been waiting for this night forever. Nerves invade every part of me. The producer doesn’t think I’ve experienced enough angst in my twenty-one years to play the role of a middle-aged courtesan. Angst? Sure I’m young and still live with my parents and brother, Seth, above the family’s jewelry shop in Haarlem, but there’s something about my religion that makes people back away. And I’ve seen the word, Juden, written across shop windows as if it were a terrible thing. And there’s those Nazi soldiers standing on street corners. Papa says not to worry about them. They mean no harm.
Fifteen minutes to curtain. I need to focus on playing Violetta, and I should pray, though it seems God is so distant. Maybe He doesn’t care about Nederland. Still, I will pray for angst, and maybe He will answer my prayer.
—
My name is Neelie Visser. Ever since Frans died last year, I’ve been wandering aimlessly around our house on the canal, wishing I had someone to talk to, something worthy to do with my free time. I still chat with Frans as if he were in the room, but my words seem to echo off the walls. Jan comes home once in a while. He’s always in such a rush, but I make him sit for a meal because he’d getting much too thin for a nineteen-year-old college student.
Jan is involved in something dangerous. Mothers know things like that. I’d bet a plate of boterkoeken he’s involved with the Resistance. It doesn’t surprise me since he always had a heart for the underdog, even if he got in trouble for defending them.
There’s talk among the other violinists at the opera that things are going to get worse here in our country. How could they get any worse? The ration card is depleted in a month. And neighbors are afraid to stop for a chat—they just hurry past with their heads down. I’ve seen the debris outside looted shops on the Barteljorisstraat, and nobody does anything. Haarlem has always been a proud and tidy town. Well, I will do something. But what can a forty-two-year-old second-chair violinist do? Maybe Jan will have some ideas when he comes for tea.
Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food and visiting the sites. Sadly, her trip to Wales and London was cancelled due to COVID, but she did visit Atlanta, and she’s still learning Welsh for a future visit. A recent widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her lazy dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who can fix anything. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9
Links to Sherri Stewart
https://www.amazon.com/author/sherristewart/
https://www.facebook.com/sherristewartauthor/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/758893.Sherri_Stewart
Sherri Stewart: A Song for Her Enemies
Sherri Stewart, author of A Song for Her Enemies, presents:
Our Story before the Story
By Tamar Kaplan and Neelie Visser
Hallo. That’s hello in the Nederlands language, but a lot of people call it Dutch. My name is Tamar Kaplan. I really don’t like to say my name. It seems to evoke the most puzzling reactions. The worst was the time my so-called friends at school burst out laughing at some private joke when someone called out, “Tamar.” I asked my mother about it later that night while she was doing dishes. I said, “Eema, what’s wrong with my name?”
She dried off her hands on a dish towel and took off her apron. “Nothing, sweetie. It’s a lovely name from the Bible.” When I pressed for more information, she waved a dismissive hand and said we’d talk about it when I was older.
Well, I’m older. And I’m facing the biggest challenge of my life in less than an hour. As the understudy for La Traviata’s Violetta, I’ll be playing the lead soprano role, since Margot huffed out of rehearsal when the producer made a comment about her weight.
I’ve been waiting for this night forever. Nerves invade every part of me. The producer doesn’t think I’ve experienced enough angst in my twenty-one years to play the role of a middle-aged courtesan. Angst? Sure I’m young and still live with my parents and brother, Seth, above the family’s jewelry shop in Haarlem, but there’s something about my religion that makes people back away. And I’ve seen the word, Juden, written across shop windows as if it were a terrible thing. And there’s those Nazi soldiers standing on street corners. Papa says not to worry about them. They mean no harm.
Fifteen minutes to curtain. I need to focus on playing Violetta, and I should pray, though it seems God is so distant. Maybe He doesn’t care about Nederland. Still, I will pray for angst, and maybe He will answer my prayer.
—
My name is Neelie Visser. Ever since Frans died last year, I’ve been wandering aimlessly around our house on the canal, wishing I had someone to talk to, something worthy to do with my free time. I still chat with Frans as if he were in the room, but my words seem to echo off the walls. Jan comes home once in a while. He’s always in such a rush, but I make him sit for a meal because he’d getting much too thin for a nineteen-year-old college student.
Jan is involved in something dangerous. Mothers know things like that. I’d bet a plate of boterkoeken he’s involved with the Resistance. It doesn’t surprise me since he always had a heart for the underdog, even if he got in trouble for defending them.
There’s talk among the other violinists at the opera that things are going to get worse here in our country. How could they get any worse? The ration card is depleted in a month. And neighbors are afraid to stop for a chat—they just hurry past with their heads down. I’ve seen the debris outside looted shops on the Barteljorisstraat, and nobody does anything. Haarlem has always been a proud and tidy town. Well, I will do something. But what can a forty-two-year-old second-chair violinist do? Maybe Jan will have some ideas when he comes for tea.
Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She loves the Netherlands, and she’s still learning Dutch, although she doesn’t need to since everyone seems to speak perfect English. A recent widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her lazy dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who can fix anything. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9
A Song for Her Enemies https://amzn.to/2YJBkRn
After Nazi soldiers close the opera and destroy Tamar Kaplan’s dream of becoming a professional singer, she joins the Dutch Resistance, her fair coloring concealing her Jewish heritage. Tamar partners with Dr. Daniel Feldman, and they risk their lives to help escaping refugees. When they are forced to flee themselves, violinist Neelie Visser takes them into hiding.
Tamar’s love for Daniel flowers in hardship, but she struggles with the paradox that a loving God would allow the atrocities around her. When Tamar resists the advances of a Third Reich officer, he exacts his revenge by betraying the secrets hidden behind the walls of Neelie’s house. From a prison hospital to a Nazi celebration to a concentration camp, will the three of them survive to tell the world the secrets behind barbed wire?
A Song for Her Enemies is the story of a talented young opera singer and the bittersweet love that grows amid the tyranny and fear of World War II. Set against the backdrop of neighbors willing to risk their lives in the German-occupied, war-torn Netherlands, A Song for Her Enemies is an inspiring and beautiful novel celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the determination of Christians in the face of persecution. It is a novel for everyone seeking to understand the pain of the past and be inspired to embrace hope for the future.
https://www.amazon.com/author/sherristewart/
https://www.facebook.com/sherristewartauthor/
Tweets by macherehttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/758893.Sherri_Stewart
March 29, 2021
Sara Beth Williams: Anchor My Heart
Anchor My Heart: A second chance novel #3
By Sara Beth Williams
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release Date: 03/16/2021
Amazon / Goodreads / Print / Bookbub
About the book
In the aftermath of tragic loss, worship leader Matt Lawson is grappling debilitating anxiety. The blessings he’d taken for granted—a dream job, a woman he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with, and his God-given musical talent—have crumbled at his feet, leaving him reeling in despair, unable to face the wreckage of the life he’d envisioned for himself.
Tara Pierce is ready to put past hurts behind her as she prepares to graduate college and take a leap of faith in her career. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.
Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. But Matt’s not ready to give himself away again. Can Tara risk her heart and their friendship and let God step in to heal where she can’t?
PRE ORDER PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY AVAILABLE
ANCHOR MY HEART
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About Sara Beth Williams
Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. She is all about connecting with readers! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Bookbub.
Receive a FREE short story when you sign up for her newsletter.
Where to find Sara Beth Williams
Amazon / Goodreads / Bookbub / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Excerpt
Matt stepped through the door behind Tara, with three grocery bags in his hands. The intimacy of being at her place—just the two of them—caused his pulse to race. Nervous energy coursed through his veins. Come on, it’s just Tara. No big deal.
But not once in all the years he’d known her had he ventured inside her apartment. She flipped on the lights to reveal a pint-sized kitchen, and a small front room with one couch and a small flat screen TV. Two bookshelves and a standing lamp flanked the TV.
Has she always lived in such a small space?
Somehow, it suited her with its cozy, simplistic layout.
“Where would you like these?” He lifted his bags.
“In here on the table is fine.” She walked into the kitchen. He followed and set down her groceries.
Her body, in such close proximity, radiated heat as she moved eggs and milk from the bags on the table into the refrigerator.
He emptied a bag of dry goods and stepped forward. “Can I help?”
She nodded and directed him to the upper cabinets.
While she focused on the refrigerated goods, he placed the dry boxed and canned goods up high above the stove. A soft flowered scent wafted through the heated air, teasing his nostrils.
“Would you like a drink?” she offered as he placed the last of the groceries into the cupboard above the fridge.
He brushed against her arm; a rush of electricity passed between them. He stepped back with deliberate nonchalance, and waited for her to remove a pair of mugs from the cupboard.
He scratched his chin. Hmm. First, she’d invited him inside, and now she was inviting him to stay longer?
Not like he had anything else to do. Except return to an empty home and try to find ways to distract himself from his crushing grief.
March 22, 2021
Susan Aken: Unshakable Unbreakable Joy
1. How long have you been writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing my thoughts and for years kept them mostly private. I began collecting and keeping my writing when I was in college in the early seventies. The first time I shared openly was when I self-published a book of poetry in 1997. Before that I mainly shared with individuals. I’ve continued to share through self-publishing, my blog, online devotions, and in recent years for Wholly Loved Ministries through articles, devotions, and contributions to Bible studies and devotional books.
2. When did you first begin writing study content?
The first time I contributed to a Bible study was when Jennifer Slattery of Wholly Loved Ministries asked me to write for the study, Becoming His Princess, published in 2018. Earlier I wrote a few studies over the years for personal use in studies I led.
3. What do you enjoy most about writing Bible studies?
What I enjoy most is writing a Bible study causes me to go deeper into Scripture and learn for myself first. I have to learn and grow myself before I can offer it to someone else.
4. What do you find most challenging about writing Bible studies?
Most challenging is knowing I can’t write truth if I’m not living it or seeking to live it myself. So, it often involves personal reflection and repentance. In terms of the mechanics, writing meaningful questions is the most difficult.
5. What would you say to someone wanting to get into Bible study writing?
Begin by studying the Bible for yourself. Read daily. Journal and write down your thoughts. Be willing to go deeper and use study aids to learn background and context. Read commentaries. Over all pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you and show you what to write. Consider writing a study for a group of friends and doing it together. See what works and ask for suggestions on making it better.
6. What fears or insecurities did you have to work through in order to embrace the call to write?
The biggest insecurity I continually face is the question, “Who am I to write for God?” I see all my weaknesses, failings, and sins and often feel like I’m not living up to what I’m writing. I have to continually remind myself or be reminded by those close to me that none of us are worthy and no one lives up to truth perfectly. We write what we aspire to become. The key is to be moving in the right direction.
7. What are some ways you remain motivated to write?
The biggest motivation for me is when someone tells me my writing helped them or they give me any kind of positive feedback. Not in terms of praising me but when I know it encouraged or helped them in some way.
Also, God’s call is the most powerful motivation. He always brings me back to writing. He opens doors and gives me the words. At one time when I felt like no one was listening or reading even though I wrote regularly, I prayed about it and asked God if this is what I was supposed to do. I felt He spoke to my heart to say, “If I’m the only one you’re writing for, will you write just for me?” So, I try to remember I mainly write for an audience of one—the One that truly matters.
I have also learned that having an editor or mentor is a great motivator. Jennifer Slattery has done so much to keep me motivated and growing as a writer. I’ve moved from dreading editing to appreciating it as essential.
Unshakable Unbreakable Joy: A 10-Week Bible study:
Joy. We all want it, and in Christ, we can all have it. Regardless of our circumstances, our blessings or challenges, we can have unshakable unbreakable joy in Christ. And this joy begins by understanding what true biblical joy is, where it comes from, and how we can best cultivate this precious spiritual gift.
We can experience unshakable, unbreakable joy no matter the situation because true biblical joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances. Joy is a gift God gives us come to know Him better and deepen our intimacy with Him. This study helps women experience the abiding joy of an ever-deepening relationship with Christ and reliance on His grace.
A ten-week study with:
Weekly video sessionsGroup discussion questionsTake-home lessonsPromo video link: https://vimeo.com/495012636
Buy it on Amazon HERE.
Find it on the Wholly Loved Website HERE.
An Oklahoma native who has lived in Nebraska since 1987, Susan has been in public education for over thirty years. She and her husband have one son and a daughter-in-law. She is a contributing writer to Wholly Loved Ministries. Besides writing she has a passion for sharing Jesus through special needs and prayer ministries. She enjoys time with family, reading, photography, movies, walking in nature, and a nice cup of tea.
Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or on Facebook
March 15, 2021
Linda Shenton Matchett: Rayne’s Redemption
Trumpet Tuesday: Rayne’s Redemption
By Linda Shenton Matchett
Twins run in my family, and I always wondered if my husband and I’d had children whether twins would have made an appearance. Instead, my sister was the sibling in our generation blessed with twins, beautiful fraternal twin girls. While thinking about my next story, my nieces celebrated their birthday, prompting me to write a mail-order bride story that featured twins.
Research into twins, especially in the 1800s, was challenging. Many women gave birth at home either alone or with the help of a midwife. Records and statistics are sparse from the time period, however I found a study from France that indicated approximately 15 births per 1000 in the early 1700s. A century later, the number was half that.
Currently, as many as one in thirty babies a twin. Scholars feel the increase may be due to the fact that more women over the age of 30 are having children and more are using fertility drugs which increase the likelihood of multiple gestation.
Read on for some intriguing facts about twins:
Identical twins do not have identical fingerprints. Fingerprints are not solely generated based on DNA.Massachusetts has the highest rate of twin births followed by Connecticut, then New Jersey. Something in the water? One researcher theorized that more multiple births occur in the Boston area because of a higher concentration of wealthier women who pursued careers, putting off having children to a later age then seeking reproductive assistance.Mirror image identical twins have reverse asymmetric features, meaning they become exact reflections of one another. This accounts for about twenty-five percent of identical twins.About forty percent of twins develop their own language called cryptophasia. Some scholars believe that twins use each other as models when developing language. The “language” consists of inverted words and onomatopoetic expressions.Kansas natives Leota Ruth Andrews Clogston and her sister Evelyn Marguerite Forren are the world’s oldest living twins at 107. As an aside, male twins rarely live as long as female twins.Unlike actresses-turned-fashion designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who are both well-known, many celebrities have less-than-famous twins such as Ashton Kutcher (Michael), Rami Malek (Sami), Kiefer Sutherland (Rachel), and Gisele Bundchen (Gabriela).Do you know any twins? Are you a twin?
About Rayne’s Redemption:
Will she have to lose her identity to find true love?
Twin sisters Rayne and Jessica Dalton have been swapping places their whole lives, so when Jessica dies on the eve of heading west to become a mail-order bride, Rayne decides to fill her sister’s shoes. The challenge will be faking Jessica’s faith in God. Can Rayne fool her prospective groom without losing her heart…or her soul?
Flynn Ward fled England to escape his parent’s attempts at marrying him off, but locating a woman to love in the Wyoming mountains is harder than finding a hackney in a rainstorm. Then the Westward Home & Hearts Agency offers him the perfect match. But when his prospective bride arrives, she’s nothing like she seemed in her letters. Is he destined to go through life alone?
Can two desperate people overcome their differences to find common ground…and love?
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WR9KL8S
Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is currently working with the museum curator on her first exhibit, Shaped By Conflict, which will be on display from May 1 to June 30, 2021. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life, and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
Social Media Links:
Website/Blog: http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett
YouTube Moments in History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b-o_6cD8HkHNyFP-wZwJg?view_as=subscriber
March 8, 2021
Judy DuCharme: Lainey of the Door Islands
Behind the Story: Lainey of the Door Islands
How did Lainey come to be? I live in lovely Door County, a jewel of a peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin. We are surrounded by a few islands embracing lighthouses full of history along with shipwrecks, many that can still be seen in the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan. I had six award winning books published in a variety of genre but sensed there was a story set in Door County that I needed to write. I considered several possibilities, but nothing settled. Then one day, after continued prayer and thought, the story of Lainey dropped into my spirit. I sat down to write and later said to my husband, “I’m writing, and I can’t stop.”
Over the next two years, I visited the lighthouses, listened to the docent’s historical stories, walked the perimeter of Rock Island, and took the boat trip to Pilot Island where the story begins. It is no longer possible to be on the tiny island, but the tour guide shared the history and pointed out the shipwreck remains. I talked with many who knew Door County history and maritime history. I studied books of shipwrecks and the indomitable people who forged victorious life in the islands.
Lainey grew in my heart and on the page. She became my friend as she became a light to those who knew her in the book. She was spunky and funny. She faced many hardships with spunk and grace and became a strong survivor.
The book released in late July, 2020. To help promote it, I created short videos that had a ‘chamber of commerce’ feel. I went to a dozen places that Lainey visited or lived in Door County, shared a teaser about the book and encouraged the viewers to visit those same places as they read the book. So, not only did I want to entertain the reader, build up faith for difficult times, and share the amazing history of Door County, I also wanted the reader to visit Door County and appreciate the beauty that so many enjoy.
If you love lighthouses, learning about shipwrecks, the history of beautiful places, and people who learn to survive well despite hardship, this is a book you’ll love.
Check out the trailer and videos about Lainey of the Door Islands at my website, https://www.judithducharme.com. There you’ll find trailers to two other books: Blood Moon Redemption, a suspenseful book about Israeli history, prophecy, and a terrorist plot, and Society of the L.A.M.B., which was written as a futuristic book, but now seems a manual for present day. It’s about learning to live strong in the days when having life within is considered a crime. You’ll find interviews, blogs, and info about my other books there as well.
Other social media: https://www.facebook.com/judy.ducharme.18, https://www.facebook.com/Judy-DuCharme-Author-1360359084069983, https://twitter.com/PackerJudy, https://www.instagram.com/leejudyducharme/, judyducharme7@gmail.com
Judy DuCharme grew up with Lake Huron next to her back yard and has always loved the water. She, her husband, daughter, and son moved to Door County in 1984. After teaching 5th Grade at Gibraltar School for 22 years, Judy followed the calling that tugged at her all her life to write. Lainey of the Door Islands is her 7th published book and she is the recipient of numerous awards. Her 8th book, a children’s story, I Want a Water Buffalo for Christmas, will be released this year. She also writes for Guideposts Magazine. If you visit Door County, you may find her hiking in the woods, jet skiing on the bay, worshipping at her church, teaching a Bible study, cheering for the Green Bay Packers, playing with her amazing grandson, or sitting outside enjoying the beauty around her.
March 3, 2021
Proverbs 9:10 Ministries (Includes Podcast)
We are Christine Paxson & Rose Spiller. Co-founders of Proverbs 9:10 Ministries, co-hosts of the Podcast, No Trash, Just Truth, and co-authors of books, No Half Truths Allowed – Understanding the Complete Gospel Message (book & study guide released on May 8, 2020) and The Bible Blueprint – A Guide to Better Understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation (due out Spring 2021)
We both come from different backgrounds, but in 2009, God brought us together by putting us both at the same church. The friendship was instantaneous; and out of that friendship has grown a partnership and passion to serve the Lord by learning, discipling, teaching, writing, and speaking.
About four years ago, we felt led to create Proverbs 9:10 Ministries. We chose that title because Proverbs 9:10 says, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The only way to grow in your faith and in wisdom is to know God! And the only way to truly know God is to study Scripture. We saw a deep need for Biblical literacy while we attended a church that had did not put a high priority on knowing Scripture, doctrine, or theology. Sermons and Bible Studies offered there were little more than moral lessons and self-help sessions. This ignited in us both, a passion to help women move away from the garbage that is being pedaled as “Women Bible Studies,” but is instead, false teaching that is dumbing women down with fluffy, often times heretical nonsense that is much more about the individual and her victories, than about learning the Bible or understanding and glorifying God. Our motto for our podcast says it all, “Taking out the trash of false teaching and replacing it with Biblical Truth.”
We had both been teaching Bible Studies for over 20 years, but it was at this time, that we felt God leading us to begin to write our own Bible Studies. It was out of one of those studies that the book, No Half Truths, was born. Along with need for deeper study and more knowledge of the Bible, is understanding and being able to articulate the complete Gospel message. The Gospel message is the life-saving, life-giving, life-transforming message that every human being of every age needs, and is the central message of the entire Bible! It’s crucial that we get it right so that we are not selling those we witness to, and more importantly God, short. Just like false teaching, there are a lot of false gospels out there and they are often used in Christian circles on a regular basis. In the book, we go through many of these false gospels, and point out why they are not the Gospel. Besides explaining every facet of the true Gospel message, the book also gives a solid foundational theology, with chapters on each of the three Persons of the Trinity and touching on a few essential doctrines.
No Half Truths Allowed – Understanding the Complete Gospel Message has recently won bronze in the “Illuminations” award for theology! We are very excited about this honor and pray our book continues to bless those who read it!
Next, in the very near future, is the release of our second book, The Bible Blueprint – A Guide to Better Understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The original release date was February, but with Covid, production was pushed back to this spring. The Bible Blueprint divides the entire Bible chronologically into six easy to read sections. It provides a basic understanding of Scripture as a complete story that links all the various books together. It gives an overview of each book, touching on highlights and some of the amazing and significant events in each, while helping with comprehension of the more difficult sections.
And everyone is always welcome to check out our podcast, No Trash, Just Truth, for weekly 20 to 30 minute episodes. The audio podcast is available on all major podcast platforms, while the video version is available on YouTube and Rumble.
May you all have a blessed day!
Chris & Rose are co-founders of Proverbs 9:10 Ministries and co-hosts of the No Trash, Just Truth Podcast. They have been teaching Bible Studies for over 20 years and have written many of their own studies. Along with teaching together, they also speak at conferences and retreats. Both have graduated from the “Dimensions of the Faith” Program from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary; and continue their seminary studies by taking online classes through Reformed Theological Seminary and through Biblical Training’s “Institute” Program.
Chris resides in Lancaster County with her husband of over 31 years, John. They have twin sons in the USAF. Rose and her husband, Ed, have recently sold their home and now live full-time in their RV to travel between their four children and eight grandchildren.
Besides their first book, No Half-Truths Allowed – Understanding the Complete Gospel Message, Chris and Rose have a second book, “The Bible Blueprint – A Guide to Better Understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, is due out in spring of 2021. They are in the process of writing their third book.
February 28, 2021
Fiction Finder: March 2021 New Releases
March 2021 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website
Biblical:
Miriam’s Song by Jill Eileen Smith — In her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection. (Biblical from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Contemporary Romance:
Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston — From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
A Brother’s Promise by Mindy Obenhaus — He didn’t realize he wanted a family… Until he suddenly became a single dad. After his sister’s death, rancher Mick Ashford’s determined to ensure his orphaned niece, Sadie, feels at home. And accepting guidance from Christa Slocum is his first step. But just as Christa and Sadie begin to settle into Mick’s heart, Sadie’s paternal grandparents sue for custody. Now Mick must fight to keep them together…or risk losing the makeshift family he’s come to love. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)
General Contemporary:
Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti — While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she’s supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun. (General Contemporary from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Historical:
A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy — Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women. When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. (General Historical from Bethany House)
The Rose Keeper by Jennifer Lamont Leo — July 1944. Chicago nurse Clara Janacek has spent her whole life taking care of other people. Grumpy yet loveable, all she wants now is to live out her life in peace, tending her roses and protecting her heart. But beneath the gruff exterior lies a story, and when new neighbors move in and shake up her quiet world, Clara must grapple with long-buried realities. (General Historical, Independently Published)
In the Dead of the Night by JP Robinson — Leila is forced back into the shadows when the leader of a German spy ring kidnaps her child, jeopardizing Europe’s fragile bid for peace. (General Historical from Logos Publications)
Historical Romance:
Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot — Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers — until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Sing in the Sunlight by Kathleen Denly — Richard Stevens isn’t who he thinks he is. Neither is the woman who now claims his last name. Disfiguring scars stole Clarinda Humphrey’s singing career, her home, and her family, but she refuses to let her appearance steal her future. While attending The Young Ladies Seminary in 1858 Benicia, California, she finds a man who promises to love and cherish her. Instead he betrays her, leaving her with child, and Clarinda must take drastic measures to ensure her child doesn’t suffer for her foolishness. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson — 1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding―and what she begins to uncover―could put them both in mortal danger. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)
My Dear MISS DUPRÉ by Grace Hitchcock — Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father’s unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan—find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the empire. Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society’s elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is expected to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus. (Historical Romance from Bethany House)
Rayne’s Redemption by Linda Shenton Matchett — Will she have to lose her identity to find true love? Twin sisters Rayne and Jessica Dalton have been swapping places their whole lives, so when Jessica dies on the eve of heading west to become a mail-order bride, Rayne decides to fill her sister’s shoes. The challenge will be faking Jessica’s faith in God. Can Rayne fool her prospective groom without losing her heart…or her soul? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn — US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He and his team are experts at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection. (Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman — Just as Homeland Security Agent Addison Leigh reaches the pinnacle of her cyber investigation into a firearms smuggling ring, she’s attacked and left for dead. Her estranged husband, ICE Agent Mack Jordan, is notified that she’s at the hospital in a coma. He may have let his past military trauma ruin their short marriage, but she never gave up on their relationship, and he remains her next of kin. hen a second attempt to take her life is made, it’s clear something very sinister is going on, and Mack and Addison are in for the ride of their lives. (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House)
Abducted in Alaska by Darlene L. Turner — Saving a boy who has escaped his captors puts Canadian border patrol officer Hannah Morgan right into the path of a ruthless child-smuggling ring. Now with help from police constable Layke Jackson, she must keep the child safe. But can they rescue the other abducted children and bring down the gang…all while protecting a little boy and keeping themselves alive? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)
Western:
Braced for Love by Mary Connealy — Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he’s inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half-brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin’s supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life. (Western from Bethany House)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
Seasons of Love by Joan Deppa, The beautiful, western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with snow covered hills in the winter; Lake Superior, as well as inland lakes and numerous waterfalls in the summer; and colorful leaves in Autumn, are the setting for three couples who discover new adventures and enjoy the nature that surrounds them. (Contemporary Romance)
Medicine, Murder and Small Town Scandal by KC Hart, When the meanest man in Skeeterville drops dead at his mailbox, no one suspects foul play until Katy Cross stumbles across a skeleton from his past… literally. (Cozy Mystery)
Hunt for Grace by Tammy F. Kirty, Can two people find peace in the present when faced daily with their pasts? (Historical Romance)
Kate’s Quest by Seralynn Lewis, Sparks fly in this opposites attract journey when a my way or the highway soldier collides with a determined woman on a mission to find her family. (Contemporary Romance)
Starstruck in Willow Falls by Pat Nichols, Heartwarming, emotionally charged saga of a small Southern town’s struggle for survival and two women’s challenge to balance family and career. (General Contemporary)
Matched Hearts by Cathe Swanson, She’s looking for one date. He’s looking for “Happily Ever After.” Is it a computer error or a match made in heaven? (Contemporary Romance)
A Texas Bond by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Learning he’s an uncle shocks Ross Lyles—but after years of handling his brother’s bombshells, at least this surprise is a blessing. A pair of five-year-old blessings Ross is determined to meet, if he can convince their aunt to give him a chance. (Contemporary Romance)
February 25, 2021
Official Average Boy Podcast
There’s always something fun and fullfilling going on with Focus on the Family/Adventures in Odyssey Club. Did you know there’s a podcast?
Engage your family’s faith as you enjoy a full year’s worth of weekly family devotions that your kids are sure to love. Laugh and learn about God by listening to the “Official Average Boy” podcast and going through the discussion questions. As a family you’ll dig into the truth about serving others, reading the Bible, setting goals, showing patience, overcoming fear, defending your faith and lots more! Hosted by Christian comedian Bob Smiley and Focus on the Family Clubhouse® editor Jesse Florea, every podcast is packed with biblical advice . . . and lots of laughs.
Learn more, including how to access FREE DEVOTIONS FOR SUPER AVERAGE FAMILIES.
