Author: Iola Goulton

23 August 2024

First Line Friday #352 | The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay. It’s not advertised as Christian fiction, but her first few novels were Christian romance so I’m hopeful.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About The Berlin Letters

From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II.

Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.

As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived, for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.

Find The Berlin Letters online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

20 August 2024

Bookish Question #345 | Do you use physical bookmarks?

Since moving to Wellington I’ve been making use of the local library. Borrowing and reading physical books means using physical bookmarks again.

I do have a collection of “real” bookmarks, including souvenirs from writing conferences and bookmarks I’ve bought or been given over the years.

However, I don’t have any of my “real” bookmarks in the apartment, so I’m mostly using either library checkout receipts (which make handy bookmarks because they serve the added function of reminding me of the due date), or junk mail flyers.

So I guess that’s a yes … kind of.

What about you? Do you use physical bookmarks?

19 August 2024

Book Review | Dead Ahead (Ruthless the Killer #1) by Susan J Bruce

Dead Ahead is the first book in The Ruthless the Killer Mystery series.

I thought the series name was a typo when I first saw it, but it’s not: Ruth Smythe’s unfortunate nickname is Ruthless the Killer. It’s inaccurate (as she—and we—will learn). But, as Ruth says, logic rarely stands a chance against the ghosts of the past.

Ruth has returned to Australia from the USA to the stone cottage she has recently inherited from her father. She’s looking for peace and quiet, but events get in the way: she’s barely moved in before someone is murdered in her barn. And things basically go downhill from there.

Dead Ahead is the first book in what promises to be an enjoyable cozy mystery series. Sure, it has the inevitable “problem” of all cozy mystery series: the unrealistic ratio of murderers (and victims) to regular people (is there anyone still alive in Midsomer?). But let’s be honest—that’s why we read cozy mysteries.

Dead Ahead has everything cozy mystery readers want.

A small town setting, complete with quirky townsfolk. A slow-burn not-there-yet promise of romance between Ruth and the local hunk. The ex-girlfriend. A whole cast of characters who could have motive for murder (or who could be future victims).

And it’s got the plucky and likeable amateur sleuth who may or may not solve the mystery (because to tell you would be a spoiler),but who certainly gets involved to the point she annoys the real investigators.

The story is set in Australia, and the setting definitely adds to the story. Dead Ahead does use Australian spelling and vocabulary, and the “Aussie lingo” defined at the beginning. The lingo isn’t forced into the story in a cliche stone-the-crows way, but in a way that reads as authentic to the characters and which doesn’t distract from the story.

Overall, Dead Ahead is an enjoyable read, recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Susan J Bruce

Susan J Bruce is a former veterinarian turned award-winning author, professional copywriter and animal artist. Susan’s veterinary background invades her writing and animals run, fly, or crawl into nearly all of her tales. When Susan’s writing group challenged her to write a story that didn’t mention any animals—she failed! Susan lives in sunny South Australia with her husband, Marc, and their furred and feathered family. This currently includes a fat tortoiseshell cat, a rescue cockatiel, and an irrepressible ShiChi (Shih Tzu x Chihuahua) who thinks her mission in life is to stop Susan writing.

Running Scared is Susan’s first novel and was awarded the 2018 Caleb Prize for an unpublished manuscript.

Find Susan J Bruce online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

About Dead Ahead

A deliciously twisty Aussie cozy mystery with a side of rom-com!

Ruth is desperate for a fresh start, but a body in her shed, an inconvenient romantic attraction, and a secret childhood reputation as a ‘harbinger of death’ get in the way.

As they do…

Murder and mayhem mingle with matters of the heart as Ruth soon discovers the town holds buried secrets and scandals—some of which may even involve her own late father.

But when a close friend goes missing, and the police fear the worst, all Ruth can think about is unravelling the mystery and finding her friend.

Can Ruth solve the crime in time to save her friend? Will she succeed or will bad luck be the death of her?

Dead Ahead has slow-burn romance, heaps of heart, murder and mayhem, small town vibes, friends who care, a grumpy cat and a mysterious meta plot. The final HEA of the romantic subplot will be at the end of the series—but there will be lots of fun in-between.

Find Dead Ahead online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

16 August 2024

First Line Friday #351 | The Larkspur House by Carla Laureano

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Larkspur House, the third (and hopefully not final) book in Carla Laureano’s Haven Ridge series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About The Larkspur House

Rose Cameron holds the record for bad decisions. Not only did she drop out of grad school to get married, but her husband wasn’t who he pretended to be—and his shady business dealings threatened both her reputation and her freedom.

With no job, no friends, and her bank account nearing zero, an online job posting offers a place to escape from her shattered life: house assistant in a historic manor in the tiny town of Haven Ridge, Colorado.

But the Larkspur House isn’t the refuge she expected. For one thing, it’s not just a house, but a derelict, honest-to-goodness American castle. For another, the co-inheritor of the house—the brusque, uptight Will Parker—makes no secret of his desire to see her gone.

He’s more interested in selling the place before it crumbles into the Colorado landscape or bankrupts the trust that maintains it.Just when Rose is convinced she’s made yet another terrible decision, she stumbles upon hidden secrets within Larkspur House’s storied history—ones that could bridge the gap between her and Will, making Haven Ridge her forever home.

But try as she might, Rose can’t escape her past…and her own secrets just might destroy the new life she’s begun building.

Find The Larkspur House online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

13 August 2024

Bookish Question #344 | Have you ever been disappointed by a book everyone else seemed to love?

There have been a few books from authors I’ve previously read and enjoyed that just haven’t captured my attention.

For example, I bought and Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream by Francine Rivers. I read the first and while it was well-written, I found the story depressing (which shouldn’t be a surprise: it was set in the 1930s Depression, and ended just as the USA entered World War II). I never even read the second book.

I loaned both books to a friend who loved them, as did most online reviewers.

I’m glad she enjoyed them, even if I didn’t.

There are other authors (more than a few)I’ve tried to read based on reviews and the recommendations of multiple other Christian readers, but I haven’t been able to get into their stories.

One of the culprits might be the attitude of Christians toward book reviews. There’s a view that if reviewers can’t give a glowing five-star review, then they shouldn’t review the book at all (a variation of Thumper’s rule, perhaps?).

So perhaps I’m not the only person disappointed by certain books. Perhaps we’re all ignoring Matthew 7:5, John 8:32, and similar verses because we’re following the Bambi rule, not the Bible.

What about you? Have you ever been disappointed by a book everyone else seemed to love?

9 August 2024

First Line Friday #350 | Home Town Melody by Milla Holt

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Home Town Melody, the new release from Milla Holt, which has some of my favourite tropes: rock star romance, reunion romance, and secret baby.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Home Town Melody

Everything is at stake when a Christian recording artist learns he fathered a child during a one-night stand.

It was just one lapse in self-control, one poor decision, one night when he was in a dark place.

Since then, Levi Falconer has done his best to move past that almost-forgotten illicit encounter. No one knows what he did, and he and his brothers are bringing their contemporary Christian music band back together for a long-awaited reunion album. But he’s about to learn that his night of forbidden passion resulted in a little boy.

Highschool dropout Adria Baines got her real education from the school of hard knocks. After aging out of foster care, she’s no stranger to struggles. She planned on making her own way, even after a surprise pregnancy. But when she runs out of options, she realizes she’ll have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: get help from the father of her child.

Levi and Adria never should have met. But their lives are on a collision course once again as they learn how God can transpose the broken chords of their mistakes into a beautiful melody.

Find Home Town Melody online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

6 August 2024

Bookish Question #343 | What was your favourite teenage read?

I read prolifically as a teenager (surprise!).

I spent most afternoons in the school library (not least because it was a warm and dry place to wait for the school bus), and the librarian would often recommend titles to me.

But I didn’t track what I read back then, so don’t remember a lot of what I read.

A lot of the books I read were library books, so I didn’t get the opportunity to re-read them.

One series I read and re-read was the Trebizon series by Anne Digby, which were set in a girls’ boarding school in England but which were new books so were contemporary to my era (unlike the Mallory towers books by Enid Blyton, which were written and set in the 1950s).

I’d always been fascinated by Enid Blyton’s English boarding school stories, and thoroughly enjoyed reading about Rebecca, Tish, and Sue and their adventures in Cornwall.

What about you? What was your favourite teenage read?

5 August 2024

Book Review | The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence by Scott Allender

I’ve read several books on the Enneagram, so the early part of this book didn’t really add anything to my previous knowledge. Anyone with even basic familiarity of the Enneagram could probably skip this section.

For those who are unfamiliar, here is the potted version: there are nine Enneagram “types”, numbered one to nine. Each type has a motivation and a wound. We each have a dominant type, and will gravitate toward another type when we are in healthy growth patterns, but will gravitate toward a different type when we are in an unhealthy stress pattern.

My biggest issue with the Enneagram as a principle isn’t that we can never expect to reach perfection on Earth (which lines up with Jesus’s teaching and—if we’re honest—with what we know about ourselves), but that the whole premise is circular: a healthy One will become a Seven, and an unhealthy Seven will become a One. That implies One is better than Seven, right? But no. A healthy Seven becomes a Five. A healthy Five becomes an Eight. A healthy Eight becomes a Two, a healthy Two becomes a Four, and a healthy Four becomes a One. And you’re back at the beginning.

All this reads like humanity striving toward evolution rather than seeking God-driven transformation (which makes sense, given the author apparently has a podcast called The Evolving Leader). As I read through my notes, I realised the author might have been trying to say that an emotionally healthy person won’t have a single Enneagram type: they will exhibit strengths from all the types. I guess that means they have evolved? Either way, this idea was not explored in this book, or even mentioned in any of the previous Enneagram titles I’ve read.

I didn’t think the book made sufficient case for why we should change.

It assumed the reader wanted to change, wanted to become a “better” person, but spent more time using the Enneagram to explain how someone can move from Type A to Type B rather than asking why someone might want to change. Perhaps the author felt that was unnecessary.

Perhaps they assumed someone reading a self-help book already wants to change?

In contrast, the next book I picked up was Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. This immediately tackled the “why” of change:

Comer’s one short paragraph did more to explain the “why” we should seek to change than this entire book.

After introducing the concept of the Enneagram, the author then introduces emotional intelligence, a concept popularised (but not invented by) psychologist and writer Daniel Goleman. The premise of emotional intelligence (aka EI) is that EI is the best predictor of success, not “regular” intelligence.

There are five essential skills of emotional intelligence:

Self-perception
Self-expression
Interpersonal relationships
Decision-making
Stress management

Scott Allender does a good job of explaining each of these essential skills from both a personal and professional context, making the valuable point that an emotionally intelligent organisation creates better working conditions that allow people do to their best work.

However, the book then got bogged down by Allender trying to explain how each of the nine Enneagram Types might react in growth and in stress with each of these five essential skills. Five times nine is forty-five, which meant there was lots of information but insufficient detail on any specific skill or type. This discourse also assumed the reader knew their Enneagram type and their EI strengths or growth areas.

Despite the fact this book is published by Baker Books (an imprint of evangelical publisher Baker Publishing Group), the underlying message seemed to imply we’re all aiming for self-awareness but can never achieve it, and that we’re all doing it under our own efforts, as if there is no Jesus, no saviour.

It all felt more Buddhist than Christian.

For example, Allender says:

Fours, for example, are prone to feelings of shame because of the false belief that they are flawed in some way (emphasis mine).

Yes, we are flawed. John 3:16 teaches us that we are all sinners. Allender also says:

I believe that somewhere in each of us is a sense that something’s not quite right.

Isn’t that the Jesus-shaped hole in each of us that the Holy Spirit wants to fill?

And:

The Enneagram has been my vehicle for releasing my false narratives and stepping into a truer story.

Really? I suggest he try reading the Bible.

Despite these issues, The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence was a worthwhile read: it has convinced me there is nothing even vaguely Christian about the Enneagram, despite its growing popularity in parts of the church. It has also convinced me that I need to read Daniel Goleman’s original book on Emotional Intelligence if I want to understand the topic.

Thanks to Baker Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is one of the biggest predictors of personal and professional success, and the key to effectively developing your EQ is tying it to your own personality type. In this book, certified EQ coach and Enneagram teacher Scott Allender helps you chart a personality-specific path toward lasting emotional intelligence and health.

Allender uses the popular Enneagram framework to illuminate how each of the nine personality types aligns with the five essential skills of emotional intelligence: self-perception, self-expression, interpersonal relationships, decision making, and stress management. You’ll discover how to:

break free from the hidden fears that dictate your choices
make more intentional decisions
better understand the emotional dynamics of colleagues, friends, and family
and more.

In this journey toward radical self-awareness, you’ll learn how to combat the self-limiting beliefs that keep you from living the life you were meant to live all along.

Find The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

2 August 2024

First Line Friday #349 | Dead Ahead (Ruthless #1) by Susan J Bruce

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Dead Ahead by Australian author Susan J Bruce, which is the first book in her new mystery-meets-rom com series, Ruthless the Killer.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Dead Ahead

A deliciously twisty Aussie cozy mystery with a side of rom-com!

Ruth is desperate for a fresh start, but a body in her shed, an inconvenient romantic attraction, and a secret childhood reputation as a ‘harbinger of death’ get in the way.

As they do…

Murder and mayhem mingle with matters of the heart as Ruth soon discovers the town holds buried secrets and scandals—some of which may even involve her own late father.

But when a close friend goes missing, and the police fear the worst, all Ruth can think about is unravelling the mystery and finding her friend.

Can Ruth solve the crime in time to save her friend? Will she succeed or will bad luck be the death of her?

Dead Ahead has slow-burn romance, heaps of heart, murder and mayhem, small town vibes, friends who care, a grumpy cat and a mysterious meta plot. The final HEA of the romantic subplot will be at the end of the series—but there will be lots of fun in-between.

Find Dead Ahead online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

1 August 2024

New Releases in Christian Fiction | August 2024

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

Biblical

A Certain Man by Linda Dindzans — Mara is a young Samaritan beginning to discover her love for Samuel—and his for her. Soon she will be deemed mature enough to marry. Her hopes are dashed when her greedy father brokers a match with the cruel son of the wealthy High Priest of Shechem. When her loathsome betrothed is killed, her beloved Samuel must run for his life. Mara and Samuel struggle to survive and reunite during the treacherous and scandalous times of the Bible under the merciless rule of Rome. (Biblical/Historical from Scrivenings Press)

Contemporary

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox — Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn’t mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.

As the work begins, “Joey” discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls–pages torn from a lighthouse keeper’s log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there’s never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name. When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story–one that’s not over yet. (Contemporary from Revell)

Contemporary Romance

One Glance of Your Eyes by Myra Johnson — With a heart for lifting men out of homelessness, Carl Anderson is a dedicated counselor-in-residence in a transitional home. When recent setbacks threaten the program’s continuation, he proposes an innovative plan to increase success by pairing at-risk residents with shelter dogs. One glance from Carl’s stunning new supervisor, and he’s convinced his proposal doesn’t stand a chance.

Rae Caldwell admires Carl’s passion, but for her, every canine encounter is a heart-rending reminder of her late daughter’s final months and the loyal service dog who never left her side . . . and the tragic end of a marriage too shattered by grief to heal. As they collaborate on the pilot program, Carl catches glimpses of the vulnerable woman beneath Rae’s chilly façade. Reluctant smiles turn to stolen glances and unspoken hopes for something more—until their carefully guarded pasts intrude and everything goes awry. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Bonding with the Cowboy’s Daughter by Lisa Jordan — After a broken engagement, Callie Morgan decides to move to Aspen Ridge, Colorado, to fix up her late grandmother’s gift shop. But the shop is in bad shape and Callie runs out of money faster than expected. Old childhood friend and single dad Wyatt Stone comes to the rescue, offering her a job at his family’s ranch, Stone River Ranch. While their friendship is rekindled, will Callie ever risk loving again…even as Wyatt’s little girl is already stealing her heart? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Her Loyal Companion by Heidi Main — Training service dogs is Autumn McCaw’s passion. She won’t let anything jeopardize her business’s chance of success, including her former love Wyatt Nelson. But with a looming deadline to prove herself capable, she has no choice but to hire the one man who hurt her years ago. Relying on the single dad is tough—especially since he has trust issues of his own. But can Autumn and Wyatt overcome their past to save her business…and open their hearts to love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Hidden Secrets Between Them by Mindy Obenhaus — In Hope Crossing, Texas, nurse practitioner Kirsten Reynolds has found her dream job. The only problem is that the tiny town also has Deputy Brady James…the father of her four-year-old sons. And he doesn’t know the boys are his. But as he steps into this new role he never planned for, Brady gets a hopeful glimpse into a life with children. Will he let the fear of the unknown keep him from a future he never imagined…or will an adorable pair of twins—and their mother—change his mind? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Historical

Unfit to Serve by Sandra Bretting — When the United States military adopts a newfangled test from France called the “intelligence quotient test” during the first world war, no one expects the turmoil that follows. Thousands of immigrants fail it and are forced to return to homelands devastated by war, disease, and famine. For Josephine Pembrooke, the shy schoolmarm at Camp Travis in Texas, the problem quickly becomes apparent. How can soldiers pass a test they can’t even read? So, Jo labors in secret to create a better test. Knowing all along it can’t save the one soldier she’d hoped to help. (Historical from Elk Lake Publishing)

The Farmer and Mrs. Lombardi by Maryann Diorio — When a middle-aged mother of four delivers a child with Down syndrome, she faces the destruction of her marriage, her family, and her dream. (Historical, Independently Published)

Rise of the Outlander by Stephanie Guerrero — As hard as Magnus Stewart MacDonald works to be worthy, someone blocks his every move. Already the clan runt and disappointment to his family, his loss in the Highland Games pushes him to the brink of despair. In a twist of good fortune, Magnus rescues an Earl’s daughter giving him a path to compete for glory and the lady’s hand. Even an Earl can’t change the Stewart blood running through his veins. When his bloodline pits Magnus against the newly crowned King James Stewart, he’s forced to decide between safety or fighting for his birthright and his lady.

Will Magnus choose the refuge of the Glen or emerge to push back against a vengeful King after his Stewart blood? Surviving isn’t good enough anymore. It’s time to go beyond every obstacle and risk everything in a battle for the ages… (Historical from Winged Publications)

New Creations by Sarah Hanks — Floyd Douglas is a blundering barber who faces retirement wondering if the past sixty years of his life have been a waste. When he’s presented with the opportunity to go on a mission trip, it seems like the answer to his prayers and a way to finally make his life count for something.

Now with a series of obstacles standing in the way of his newfound dream, he must decide whether to push through or find contentment in being the faithful family man he’s always been. Emira has always looked up to her grandpa, especially since her parents’ marriage fractured and left her foundations shaken. Now, she scrambles to assure the man who taught her how to love what a deeply meaningful life he’s lived. (Historical from SonFlower Books)

Historical Romance

Redeeming the Rake by Lorri Dudley — A rogue spy is bent on destroying everything a vicar’s daughter values, stealing her heart in the process. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Convincing Lou by Jodie Wolfe — How hard can it be to round up one delinquent groom? Ellie Lou Williams will do just about anything to save her ranch, even going undercover as a man to round up a fella who is late to his own wedding. The reward will more than cover the money she owes the bank and solve all her problems. Caleb Martin agrees to one final job as a deputy U.S. Marshal before he starts his new life away from the trail and tracking criminals. What he isn’ t counting on is a mysterious bounty hunter who’ s determined to undermine his every step. Will one reach their goal first? Or will they learn to lean on God and work together? (Historical Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Romantic Mystery

Home at Last by Penny Frost McGinnis — Lucy Grayson grew up on Abbott Island. At fifteen she worked at the General Store then bought the business at age twenty-four. Now nearing thirty, she finds herself at a crossroads. Tired of the grind at work and missing her free time, she considers selling the store, but what then?

Owen Miller moved to the island after his short-lived professional baseball career ended. Now he wants to embrace his uncle’s farm and create a landscaping business. Bitter after his ex-girlfriend ditched him for someone with more money, he buries himself in his work.

When mysterious holes are discovered on Abbott Island, Lucy wants answers. She also longs for a special someone in her life. Owen helps Lucy solve the mystery. As they dig into the island history and gather clues, will they find more than hidden treasure? Perhaps they’ll discover love? (Romance Mystery from Mt Zion Ridge Press)

Romantic Suspense

Witness Escape by Sami A. Abrams — When witness Tabitha Wilson’s new identity is uncovered and she’s almost kidnapped, she finds herself on the run from a murderous drug lord. But her DEA contact has gone missing, forcing Tabitha to rely on Detective Doug Olsen—a man with his own secrets. It’s a race against time for Doug and Tabitha to uncover buried evidence before the cartel makes them disappear forever. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Fireline by Kate Angelo — As the niece of a legendary smokejumper, Nova Burns is tough as nails. When their crew chief Tucker Newman breaks his leg, Nova longs for the opportunity to helm the team, ready to take risks and prove herself. But there’s one risk she refuses to take-falling in love.

Undercover Homeland agent Booth Wilder is seeking redemption. Scarred by a past explosion that took the life of his partner, Booth is hunting a rogue CIA faction known as the Brotherhood. Now, he’s determined to uncover their secrets and find a hidden nuclear weapon that could turn the world to ash. Only problem…summer sparks have ignited between Booth and Nova.

Then the wildfire threatens the home of the Jude County Firefighting team, and Nova doesn’t care what secrets Booth might be hiding-she needs everyone to save the town. But when the Brotherhood discovers Booth and his goals, the fight becomes personal. Now, Booth must choose between accomplishing his mission and saving the woman he’s come to love. (Romantic Suspense from Sunrise Publishing)

Sheltering You by Robin Patchen — In the sleepy town of Shadow Cove, Maine, a woman’s desperate flight becomes a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. Join the Wright Heroes of Maine for an edge-of-your-seat international romantic suspense that takes you on the run with a heroine in hiding, a secret baby, and unrequited love. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Speculative

Forged in Fire by A L Evans — When Light and Dark collide something explosive is destined to happen. Born into a world of heartache, Elizabeth cannot fathom a life beyond the rejection that she has always known. Then, one day a chance encounter in the ER begins the unraveling of threads. A humble man ignites a fire long held dormant. Little do they know that this is only the beginning. The supernatural world has been watching her.

Everything Elizabeth has ever known suddenly shifts, and she finds herself immersed in a fated supernatural prophecy. The armies of hell have been sent to destroy her. How can she survive if she doesn’t know who she was created to be? It will all come down to sacrifice–life & death. In the end someone will lose. Mystery, Betrayal, Angels, Demons, and a dash of Humor with a hint of Romance. (Speculative Fiction from A L Evans)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Rose by Another Name by Lee Carver — A Depression-era newspaper typesetter secretly creates the character she would like to be and dares to hope for the life she may have missed. (Contemporary)

Closer Than Brothers by Mary Connealy — Prequel to Trouble in Texas Series and Kincaid Brides Series. (Western)

Broken Trust by Jane Daly — Two women face unexpected challenges with the ones they trust the most, and must also learn to trust themselves and each other in order to find happiness and love amidst chaos. (Contemporary Women’s Fiction)

The Pastor’s Perfect Wife by Jane Daly — Former Mean Girl Mariah and Pastor Ethan Walsh shouldn’t have fallen in love. But they did. Together, they must weather the storms of their pasts and find strength in each other to overcome the challenges before them. (Contemporary Romance)

Rumors are Flying by Jeanette Hanscome — Plans to turn and historic Victorian home turning into a museum and upended when Janet and Debbie delve into WWII mysteries surrounding the Townsend family, revealing secrets that revive a Dennison landmark. (Cozy Mystery)

Molly by Shanna Hatfield — Their romance began while wearing gas masks and uniforms. Will their love survive returning to civilian life? Inspired by the Hello Girls, America’s first women soldiers who helped win World War I. (Historical Romance)

Matters of the Heart by Kelly S Irvin — He’s the community’s jokester auctioneer. She’s the serious caregiver for her siblings who also works at the local plant nursery. What future could they have together? (Amish Romance)

Stitched on My Heart: Delphina’s Story by Heidi Gray McGill — When a chance at love and a new life presents itself, will Delphina have the courage to seize it? (Historical Romance)

The Wise Guy and the Star by Shannon McNear — Can a chance encounter be the connection they have always needed? (Historical Romance)

Healer by Ava Murbarger — Old rivalries rise to the surface. Each of the planets has its own story to tell. Will the Phoenix remain silent? (Speculative Fiction)

Covering Grace by Davalynn Spencer — When her trick-riding ways put her in danger while filming a local flicker, he risks more than his time intervening. He risks his heart. (Western Romance)