Author: Iola Goulton

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | June 2024

I know I say this almost every month, but I can’t believe it’s June already. The last six months have absolutely whizzed by!

Here are the new releases in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers. What’s on your to-read list?

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

Biblical

Petra: An Unbroken Legacy by Lisa L. Dorsey — Embark on a journey through time and faith. Witness as the survival of a family’s faith intertwines with pivotal moments in history to build a spiritual legacy anchored in God’s steadfast Love, timeless Word, and infinite Wisdom. (Biblical Adventure from hope*books)

Contemporary Romance

The Triplets’ Summer Adventure by Laurel M. Blount — Back home for the summer, adventure-seeking Nick Marshall thinks his park ranger gig will be easy—until the children’s camp he’s overseeing is left without a cook. Desperate to fill the position, he offers his high school nemesis, Cara Andrews, the job. As the two work together, Nick can’t help but fall for the single mom and her triplet sons. But convincing her to take a chance on him might be Nick’s toughest challenge yet… (Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])


Mary’s Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne — Mary finds courage to face her fears about pursuing further treatment for serious injuries sustained as a child, and she and Reuben find a way to be together, with God’s help. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Love’s True Home by Lori DeJong — Born and raised on the foreign mission field, all Allyson Kincaid wants is home and hearth on American soil. Too bad the first guy who’s made her pulse skip dreams of a life spent in foreign missions. Although she supports him in his calling, knows his choice means she’ll be laying more broken dreams, and a newly shattered heart, at the feet of Jesus.

When Zane Carpenter relocates to Arlington, Texas, his seventh move in thirteen years, his only thought is to meet his obligation with Becker Ministries in a few months then take a foreign mission assignment. But working so closely with Ally in student ministry has him feeling things he’s never experienced. He’s ready for a future with her, until he accepts an opportunity to work on foreign soil and Ally stays behind. He knows God put him at the mission for a reason, although his heart still longs for the girl back home. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)


When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess — Weeks before the Ultimate Fighting World Championship, Keane “The Golden Lion” Temple lands in Japan for the battle of his professional life, primed to take the win. But when his path collides with an intriguing woman, he gives in to impulse and asks her to spend his day off from training with him. Ami Ono cannot pass on the invitation but also hides her full identity. As their extraordinary day bleeds into night, both realize one day won’t be enough.

Then the excursion ends in disaster when Keane discovers who Ami is. They part ways, but compelling circumstances and an undeniable attraction draw them back together. As the forbidden romance threatens to take down his principles, he struggles to honor his beliefs. Will The Golden Lion surrender his heart? Will Ami defy the domineering men in her life and accept it? Do they stand a chance against nature? (Contemporary Romance from Iron Stream Media)


A Midsummer Romance by Alyssa Schwarz — The meddling mothers of Wild Rose Ridge will do anything to match up friends Caleb Weaver and Jessica Daniels. Real life begins to mirror Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream a little too much when they are strategically cast as the main couple in the town’s summer play. Will the course of true love end in tragedy? With a touch of summer magic, anything can happen. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])


Cole and Laila Are Just Friends by Bethany Turner — Cole and Laila have been inseparable since they could crawl. And they’ve never thought about each other that way. Except for when they have. Rarely. Once in a while, sure. But seriously . . . hardly ever. If When Harry Met Sally had a quippy literary love child with Gilmore Girls’ Luke and Lorelai, you’d get Cole and Laila. Just . . . don’t tell them that. (Contemporary Romance from Thomas Nelson Fiction [Harper Collins])

Western

Toward the Dawn by Mary Connealy — Two people marry for convenience then strike out to find happiness…and find danger instead. Together, they must confront the perils from their pasts to forge a future with hope and the promise of love. (Western from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])

Historical Romance


Rocky Mountain Journey by Misty M Beller — To fulfill a dying wish, Faith Collins masquerades as a man to find the woman who once saved her father’s life. On her journey through the Rockies, she teams up with a man in search of his brother, and together they must navigate the treacherous terrain while keeping Faith’s identity a secret and their growing affection at bay. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)


When Plans Go Awry by Denise M Colby Olivia Carmichael escapes her past to be the next schoolmarm in a small ranching community in California. Her plan? Live a quiet spinster life, alone, never to depend on anyone ever again. Luke Taylor selected a mail-order bride, a necessity to help raise his two younger sisters, and the only way he knew to protect his heart. His plans don’t include being responsible for the beautiful new schoolmarm, who threatens his resolve between his need to stay away and his need to be near to make sure she stays safe. Along the way, neither feel much in control of their circumstances. Olivia’s carefully laid-out plans are challenged at every turn. Luke’s mail-order bride is not what he expected. Will Luke and Olivia learn to trust God’s plan for their lives? (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)


Dreams on the Horizon by Penny Zeller — Mae Shepherdson’s dream of a school for the deaf has finally come to fruition. All is going well until she receives devastating news: the railroad wants to build a spur through the property where the Horizon School for the Deaf is located. Landon Bennick is accustomed to obeying his father’s orders and has assisted with the building of many railroad spurs, and the newest in Horizon should be no exception. However, things grow complicated when he falls in love with Mae, a soft-spoken teacher at the Horizon School for the Deaf—the same school blocking the railroad’s progress. When nefarious characters bent on seeing the railroad project succeed begin to threaten innocent lives, will Landon intervene and save the woman who has claimed his heart? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Romantic Suspense

Hidden in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard — At the behest of her ailing mother, former FBI special agent Ivy Elliott arrives in Alaska to secure an unpublished Jack London manuscript kept secreted away for decades. But when she arrives, she learns the manuscript is gone–taken by the granddaughter of the woman who possessed it. Ivy sets off in pursuit, not just to save the manuscript but to save the vulnerable girl, who was previously trafficked and has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Joining forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, Ivy must battle a blizzard, sabotage, and the worst of an Alaskan winter as the search goes on. But every answer they find only raises more questions–and the danger to their lives and to the missing girl may only be the tip of the iceberg. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)


Suspicious Homicide by Elizabeth Goddard — When Finnley Wilbanks is run off a mountainside road, it confirms her worst fears—her father was murdered. With her life hanging in the balance, she turns to bodyguard and investigator Caine Honor for protection. As they work together to solve the mystery behind her father’s death, danger stalks their every move. And keeping Finnley alive long enough to find answers might be Caine’s hardest mission yet. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Celebrity Pastor by Creston Mapes — Pastor Neil Gentry embarked on his ministry with genuine intentions, unwavering passion, and undeniable charisma. As his influence grew, so did his fame. Vine & Branches Church became one of the fastest growing in the world. Soon, Pastor Gentry and his wife Becky resembled royalty, enjoying fame and power—and basking in the adoration of their devoted followers.

Beneath the glitz and glamor, however, whispers of misconduct began to surface. As the allure of popularity and power consume the Gentrys, they find themselves plummeting into the abyss of moral compromise. With the weight of their actions threatening to shatter everything they’ve built, one dire question remains: can anything or anyone break the spell before the unthinkable happens? (Suspense from Rooftop Press)

Colorado Mountain Kidnapping by Cate Nolan — A cryptic phone call sends Isabelle Weaver running from armed intruders—with her daughter and best friend’s baby under her care. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted…except former army ranger Adam Dalton. Together, they must uncover a kidnapper’s motives while protecting the children. But as danger tracks them through the mountains, can they outwit a criminal mastermind before they all lose their lives? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Children’s Picture Books

Would You Rather: Bible Water Adventures by Jerah Alvarado — Would you rather cruise on Noah’s Ark with stinky animals? Or would you rather be in a huge storm with Jesus asleep in your boat? Choose from fourteen different Bible water adventures the one you would rather experience! (Children’s Picture Books from Mt Zion Ridge Press)

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

The Filbert Ridge Miracle by Tamelia Aday — It was October 7, 1967. The festival in Filbert Ridge, Oregon came early. Town history and the lives of its citizens changed forever. That was the day little Stephen McMillan disappeared. (Literary Contemporary)

The Elder by Roger E Bruner — How can an elderly man regain his sense of worth once his one big success fades and God doesn’t seem to have other plans for him? (Contemporary General)

Bright Lights by Lisa Phillips, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy and Andrea Christenson — Four Christian Fiction Romance novels
from Christian fiction’s hottest contemporary romance authors. (Contemporary Romance)

Visible by Darlene M. Corbett — Rachel Karem, a 55-year-old widowed therapist, runs a group for five “stuck” professionals, and along the way, she explores obstacles interfering in life’s journey, ventures out to a Tango Dance Studio, and encounters an older, attractive gentleman. (Contemporary Romance)

Flat Deception by Paige Edwards — Falsely accused of equine doping, Lady Sophie Henderson must prove her innocence. In a world where people are willing to do anything to win, it’s impossible to know who to trust. (Romantic Suspense)

Justice Delayed by Sarah Hamaker — After serving her time, a convicted murderer tries to clear her name with the help of a washed-up investigative reporter. (Romantic Suspense)

Billionaire Sheriff on the Move by Bonita Y. McCoy — Bernadette has known Wade for years. Shoot, he even saved her life, once. So, when Wade moves back to town and wants more than just a simple friendship, Bernadette must face a new decision and an old fear. Can she overcome her past and open her heart to a new kind of love? (Contemporary Romance)

Disappearance in Pinecraft by Lenora Worth — Her sister has disappeared…and now her life is on the line. (Amish Romance)

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #340 | Between You and Us by Kendra Broekhuis

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m reading Between You and Us, the debut novel from Kendra Broekhuis.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

“Bartolotta’s, please,” Leona said as she settled into the back seat of the taxi.

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

About Between You and Us

Two possible lives to live. One impossible choice to make.

Between You and UsWhen Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived.

Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love?

Find Between You and Us online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | 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!

Bookish Question #332 | What’s the oldest book you own?

I have inherited my great-grandmother’s Book of Common Prayer, which was gifted to her by her mother over 100 years ago. This is definitely the oldest book I own.

I have also inherited my grandmother’s King James Bible and her copy of Mrs. Beeton’s cookbook, and my grandfather’s copy of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. All date from the 1940s, which feels old until I consider the Book of Common Prayer.

What about you? What’s the oldest book you own?

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #339 | Romance in a Land Down Under by Narelle Atkins

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Narelle Atkins has recently published a novella collection set in sunny Australia. Winter is on the way Down Under, so I’m looking forward to some virtual sunshine in these stories.

The collection includes:

  • Seaside Christmas
  • Solu Tu: Only You
  • His Perfect Catch

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One of Seaside Christmas:

Chelsea Somers walked down the steps leading to the exclusive yacht club, her overflowing pink canvas tote bag swinging from her shoulders.

 

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

 

About Romance in the Land Down Under

Three sweet and clean Christian contemporary romance novellas that will warm your heart and inspire you to explore the beauty of Australia. Perfect beach reads for lazy summer days.
SEASIDE CHRISTMAS

Chelsea Somers walked down the steps leading to the exclusive yacht club, her overflowing pink canvas tote bag swinging from her shoulders.

Chelsea Somers is the girl he never called back.

Six years later, former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea, but his past mistakes continue to haunt him. Gus is determined to prove he’s a changed man—prove it to his friends, his family, his father. And prove it to Chelsea.

Chelsea has embraced the faith she once mocked, and she’s focused on furthering her career in health promotion and staying away from politics. She’s drawn to Gus, although his busy role as an advisor for an Australian senator doesn’t impress her. When she’s forced to confront her fears and deal with a past family tragedy, can Gus convince her to trust him and take a chance on him?

A heartwarming and inspirational Christmas romance novella set in Sydney, Australia.

Seaside Christmas is a standalone novella that was available in An Aussie Summer Christmas ebook box set.

SOLO TU: ONLY YOU

Home means everything to Sienna Rossi.

Four years ago, Sienna defied her father by moving to Australia to obtain her teaching qualifications. Her grand plan is shaken by her father’s unexpected death and a trip back to Tuscany for her grandmother’s eightieth birthday where she renews her close bond with her sister, Alessa.

Teacher Dave Maxwell likes the freedom of his nomadic lifestyle. He works contract-to-contract, moving to different high schools around Australia. He’s in Sydney for a season, caring for his grandma while his aunt is on an extended overseas vacation.

Back in Sydney, Sienna moves in with her Aussie cousins and starts her first teaching job, torn between her dream for a future in Australia and her longing for home. Sienna and Dave work at the same school, attend the same church, and quickly become friends. They are drawn together by circumstances and an undeniable attraction.

But their idyllic time together is temporary. Can the girl from Tuscany and the boy from Australia risk everything for love?

Solo Tu is part of A Tuscan Legacy multi-author series and was available in the series ebook box set.
HIS PERFECT CATCH: A SAPPHIRE BAY NOVELLA

Sydney girl Mia Radcliffe borrows her cousin’s beach house in Sapphire Bay to escape the scandal surrounding her ex-fiancé. Her new neighbor is her secret crush from years ago… and she’s still captivated by the handsome builder who was a youth group leader at her church.

Living next door to Mia wasn’t part of Pete McCall’s plan when he started renovating his beach house. The blonde beauty inspires thoughts of settling down, despite her high maintenance ways and big-city dreams. Love kindles during their time together and Mia’s heart is set on returning to Sydney with Pete. When new opportunities arise, Pete and Mia must decide if their love is for keeps.

His Perfect Catch is a standalone novella that was included in SPLASH! and Love, Faith & Tender Kisses box sets.
Visit Sydney and the fictional town of Sapphire Bay in this fun and faith-filled romance novella collection of spin off stories connected to the Sydney Sweethearts series storyworld.

Find Romance in the Land Down Under 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!

Bookish Question #331 | What’s the most recent book you’ve bought?

I often preorder ebooks, which means there are two possible answersto this question: the most recent book I’ve ordered, and the most recent book that has landed on my Kindle.

Funnily enough, both are from the same series: Trinity Lakes Romance.

The most recent book I’ve ordered is Blue Skies Dreaming by Amanda Deed, which releases at the end of May. It features Nick Gordon, an Australian skydiving instructor who travels to Trinity Lakes because he’s chasing a girl: online influencer Violet Reynolds.

And the newest release to land on my Kindle is In Truth and Love by Jenny Glazebrook, which brings together responsible pastor’s daughter Jodie and somewhat less responsible Brandon Taylor, son of Luke Mcaffrey, better known as the Junk Man.

Blue Skies Dreaming by Amanda Deed In Truth and Love by Jenny Glazebrook

And the most recent book I’ve downloaded  to review …

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter, an amnesia story I’m looking forward to reading.

What about you? What’s the most recent book you’ve bought? (Or borrowed. Or downloaded.)

How long’s it been since you shared a sermon only you could preach.

Book Review | A Surefire Love by Emily Conrad

Blaze Astley has raised her half-sister practically since birth, and certainly since their mother died four years ago. Now she’s volunteering to help out in youth groups after Mercy came home crying after the youth pastor told her off.

Anson Marsh is the youth pastor who has his own set of problems, not least of which is an elder who wants to see him fired.

While I do have some sympathy for an elder who wonders why the church employs a full-time paid youth pastor to run a youth group with only a dozen attendees, it’s not the youth pastor’s job to grow the entire church. I also felt the head pastor didn’t stand up for Anson as much as he could have, particularly since the elder seems more focused on growing a social club than a church.

So the story has been set up as a romance between Blaze and Anson, with some obvious issues for them to overcome … not least that Anson is currently dating someone else.

I’m not a big fan of romances where one of the main characters is dating someone else, even if they do break up. I also wasn’t keen on the reason for the breakup–because Anson and Sydney didn’t have “passion”. The foundation of a strong Christian marriage is a strong shared faith, not passion. Too often, passion burns and dies, and divorce ensues.

During the story, Blaze and her sister Mercy were both tested for and diagnosed with ADHD.

The story did a great job of showing how the disorder presents differently in females than in males, the difficulty in getting a formal diagnosis, but the difference a diagnosis can make.

All in all, while I thought A Surefire Love did a great job of showing a great redemption story and the challenges of ADHD (and it certainly had some thought-provoking lines), I didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as I enjoyed The Rhythms of Redemption Romances.

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

About Emily Conrad

Author Photo - Emily Conrad

Emily Conrad writes Christian fiction. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two 60+ pound rescue dogs. Some of her favorite things (other than Jesus and writing, of course) are coffee, walks, and road trips to the mountains.

Find Emily Conrad online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

About A Surefire Love

Small towns have long memories, and generations of dysfunction burned Blaze’s reputation before her own faults could.

A Surefire Love

Twenty-six and guardian to her preteen sister, Blaze is determined to give her sister the stability she never had. Her church is a big part of that plan, until a run-in with an uptight youth pastor derails their progress. Blaze goes toe-to-toe with a man who looked down on her back in high school—and volunteers for his team of youth leaders.

A survivor of the wreck that took his high school basketball coach, Anson sacrificed a promising athletic career to pick up Coach Voss’s legacy. Now a youth pastor, his mission to offer students real hope clashes with a leadership board that’s more concerned about numbers.

As his allies turn their backs and Blaze explores the impact of undiagnosed ADHD on the patterns of her life, Blaze and Anson find unexpected support in each other. Perhaps her preconceived ideas about him are as far off base as his are about her and her sister. When scandal ignites around them, will their love prove to be surefire—or crash and burn?

Fans of Nicole Deese and Melissa Tagg will fall in love with this opposites-attract romance about faith, second chances, and sacrificial love.

Find A Surefire Love online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #338 | Because of You by Hannah Currie

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 Because of You by Australian author Hannah Currie.

Because of You a Young Adult novel about a short-term mission trip to Thailand, which is a switch-up from her usual royalty romances. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

This would be the summer that changed my life forever.

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

 

About Because of You

Because of You by Hannah CurrieSixteen-year-old Chloe Gabriels has dreamed of going on an overseas mission trip for as long as she can remember, so when the opportunity arises for her to go to Thailand with Teen Missions International she jumps at the chance. Working at an orphanage, learning new skills, experiencing a different culture, making lifelong friends—what better way could there be to spend her summer vacation?

Of course, the trip will have its challenges—living in close quarters with seventeen other teens out of their comfort zones has a way of doing that—but it will be worth it. She’ll finally be serving God in a practical way.

But while the orphans and their stories break her heart, it’s someone unexpected who has the biggest impact on Chloe’s summer and leaves her wondering if maybe there are just as many people who need her love back home as there are overseas.

Find Because of You 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!

Which character would make the worst travel companion?

Bookish Question #330 | Which character would make the worst travel companion?

Last week, I looked at characters I’d like to go on holiday with. Wes and Sunny from The Billionaire’s Teacher by Elizabeth Maddrey won because of the location: the Caribbean.

But a great location doesn’t guarantee a great holiday.

For example, I wouldn’t go on holiday with journalist Callie Brown from Poison Bay and Venom Reef by Belinda Pollard.

They are great books and set in some of the best locations in Australia and New Zealand, but come with a significant body count that puts me off holidaying with them.

I really wouldn’t want to travel with any character from The Jewel of the Stars series by Adam Collings.

This isn’t the fault of any of the characters, nor is it any commentary on the quality of the stories. (Christian science fiction is a small genre, and i love the Jewel of the Stars series).

The reason these characters win my “worst travel companion” award is the situation the poor characters are in.

Imagine this …

You’re looking forward to a cruise through the stars on a spaceship with all the mod cons. Great, right?

You’re only a couple of days into your cruise when your entire planet and everyone you know and love is destroyed by aliens. Now you’re cruising the universe, looking for somewhere safe. Not fun.

What about you? Which fictional character do you think would make the worst travel companion?

Being adopted was a gift I'd never take for granted. But I was tired of letting it keep me from living life.

Book Review | A Run at Love (Love in the Spotlight #2) by Toni Shiloh

A Run At Love is another winner from Toni Shiloh.

At twenty-eight years old, Piper McKinney has finally gained her independence from her somewhat overprotective adoptive parents, and bought her own farm … and her own racehorse. She’s hired Tucker Hale, her best friend and secret crush, as her trainer, hoping to take Dream to the Kentucky Derby.

A Run At Love has all the things I most love in contemporary Christian romance.

Friends-to-more plot? Check.

It’s one of my favourite tropes, and A Run At Love is the perfect illustration of why I love it so much.

Christian romance where the characters live their faith? Check.

It’s a strength of Toni Shiloh’s writing in general, and I loved the way Piper and Tucker both had spiritual lessons to learn.

Unique characters? Check.

Piper is an orphan adopted from Oloro Ile (a nod to Toni Shiloh’s In Search of A Prince), and has spent a lifetime navigating being the only African American in white-dominated spaces.

Unique plotline? Check.

There are a lot of Christian novels about cowboys and ranchers and their horses, but this is the first novel I recall reading about the Kentucky Derby, horseracing in general, and the issues in the industry.

And, of course, romance.

The friends-to-more plotline is obvious from the opening chapter and Toni Shiloh does a great job of bringing Piper and Tucker together late enough to build tension, but early enough to make for happy readers.

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance, especially from BIPOC authors or with BIPOC characters.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Toni Shiloh

tonishiloh_highresToni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace of the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior.

She writes soulfully romantic novels to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

Before pursuing her dream as a writer, Toni served in the United States Air Force. It was there she met her husband. After countless moves, they ended up in Virginia, where they are raising their two boys.

When she’s not typing in imagination land, Toni enjoys reading, playing video games, ​making jewelry, and spending time with ​her family.

Find Toni Shiloh online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About A Run at Love

A CONTENDER RUNNING FOR THE ROSES

A Run at Love

As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse-racing world. Raised on a Thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer, Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.

A BEST FRIEND RACING FOR LOVE

In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.

A ROMANCE WORTH THE CHALLENGE

Find A Run at Love online at:

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Click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #337 | Her Part to Play by Jenny Erlingsson

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 Her Part to Play, the debut novel from Jenny Erlingsson, an American author of Nigerian descent who currently lives in Iceland. That’s a unique background!

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Sleep didn't come easily to the brokenhearted. Which was ridiculous.

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

About A Part to Play

Her Part to Play by Jenny ErlingssonDesperate for extra income after her mother’s passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She’s working to save her parents’ legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.

John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he’s ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set–and definitely not a fan.

Sparks of tension–and could that be attraction?–fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John’s scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what’s right in front of them?

Debut author Jenny Erlingsson’s diverse cast comes alive with faith, romance, and a touch of humor to create a story worthy of the big screen.

Find A Part to Play 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!