First Line Friday

First Line Friday #370 | Always In My Heart (Trinity Lakes #14) by Iola Goulton

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I admit: this isn’t actually the book I’m reading today. But it is the book I’ve read over and over this year, because it’s my second book, and it’s releasing on Christmas Eve!

You can preorder from Amazon for 99 cents (the price will go up to the regular $3.99 right after release).

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Trent Thomas took a seat in the reception area of Stirling, Wright and Noble, one of the most respected—and expensive—law firms in Seattle.

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

 

About Always In My Heart

Sparks fly when an aspiring attorney comes face to face with his past mistakes.

Always In My Heart by Iola GoultonBroke solo mother Maya Allen is raising her daughter, Sarah, as well as her dead best friend’s daughter … who just happens to be her own daughter’s half sister (thanks, cheating college boyfriend). When her lowlife landlord doubles her rent, she realizes it’s time to make a new plan and return to New Zealand with her children. First she has to do the make contact with her ex and compel him to relinquish his parental rights so they can legally leave the country … and not let her still-strong feelings for Trent get in the way.

Trent Thomas is an intern competing for a role in a prestigious Seattle law firm known for their family values. He figures he’s got the job sewn up when Sterling, Noble and Wright send him to his hometown of Trinity Lakes to research a dodgy property deal under the guise of offering the townsfolk pro bono legal services. After all, no one will know the ins and outs of small-town Trinity Lakes gossip better than a lifelong resident.

But he hadn’t bargained on Maya, Sarah, and Kacey stealing his chance to get his dream job, stealing his opportunity to leave Trinity Lakes behind forever, or stealing his heart.

A second-chance small town contemporary Christian romance.

Find Always In My Heart 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!

What were your top five (or ten) books for 2024?

Bookish Question #362 | What are your top 10 books for 2024?

by Iola Goulton

Ten? You want me to pick just ten?

In past years, I’ve focused on my list (and my reading) on contemporary Christian romance. This year, I’ve branched out with my reading, so my list includes a combination of fiction and nonfiction from Christian and general market authors.

So here are ten of the most memorable books I’ve read this year, in no particular order:

  1. Broker of Lies (Travis Brock #1) by Steven James, for the unique and intriguing hero.
  2. Across the Ages by  Gabrielle Meyer, for yet another installment in this fabulous dual-timeline series with a deep faith thread.
  3. An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M White, for her fascinating characters (and I especially loved her crossover characters)
  4. So Into You by Kathleen Fuller, a unique Christian romance featuring an introverted YouTube influencer and an ex-con.
  5. Dead Ahead by Susan J Bruce, an enjoyable cozy mystery set in South Australia.
  6. The Mapmaker’s Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan, a fascinating World War II romance.
  7. Trust and Trickery by Christine Dillon, for bringing a lesser-known Old Testament story to life.
  8. Always and Forever, Elizabeth by Emily Dana Boutrous, for a second-chance romance that deals with the sensitive topic of spousal abuse.
  9. Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, a book I wish I’d read years ago because prevention is better than cure.
  10. You Had Me At Halo by Amanda Ashby, a general market clean rom-com in which the afterlife seems to be run by the English civil service (no, this one isn’t Christian but it gave me a good laugh).

Do you make a top 10 (or top 5) list each year? What books are on your list?

You saw what the town needed, not just what we asked for.

Book Review | A Louisiana Christmas to Remember (Anthology)

by Iola Goulton

A Louisiana Christmas to Remember is a collection of three interconnected romances set in the fictional Louisiana town of Moreau, which is loosely based on Natchitoches, the oldest European settlement in Louisiana

A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith

This is the story of Mattie Hayes, small-town journalist and organiser extraordinaire, who is organising the Christmas market to raise funds to restore the local chapel after it was damaged in a recent hurricane. This means working with Paul Ammons, her long-time rival since he beat her to become high school valedictorian and won a coveted scholarship to Paris.

Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant

This is the story of Jolene, Mattie’s artist cousin, who is hired at the last minute to repaint the town mural, and Cameron, Jolene’s new boss.

A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth

This is the story of Mattie’s aunt … and I dont’ want to say too much more about it, because that will ruin the surprise.

My favourite story was Mattie’s, perhaps because she is the character I related to best, and perhaps because I’m a big fan of friends/frenemies to more stories. My least favourite story was Adala’s, because even though I know these are made-up stories, I’m not a fan of controlling parents who go out of their way to do what they want rather than seeking what’s best for their child (as God does for us).

I loved the way the three stories were separate but intertwined.

Even though they are all standalone stories and all set at the same time it’s best to read them in order, as each story introduces situations and characters that become more relevant in the next story.

It’s also fun to see the came characters from different points of view. In the first story, Mattie has definite opinions about Jolene and whether she can be trusted, but Jolene’s story explains why she is how she is.. I enjoyed seeing Granny Eloise in all three stories as well, as the mentor figure able to give advice whether it’s wanted or not.

The three stories combine to provide a heart-warming Christmas set of Christian romances, even if the Louisiana snow is a far cry from the sunshine I am used to at Christmas.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About A Louisiana Christmas to Remember

A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember

Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family?

In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places…

In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home…

In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again…

And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.

Find A Louisiana Christmas to Remember online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

About the authors

Morgan Tarpley Smith

Morgan Tarpley Smith is a bestselling author and world traveler who weaves stories of history and heart. She loves to write inspirational fiction that transports readers to faraway places and intertwines past and present to explore questions of truth and faith. Morgan is an award-winning journalist who works as a freelance writer and publishing assistant. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and son. For more information, visit her website by searching her name online.

Betsy St. Amant

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an impressive stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored to truth. When she’s not composing her next book or baby-talking her dog, Betsy can be found somewhere in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She writes frequently for iBelieve, a devotional site for women, and offers author coaching and editing services through Storyside LLC.

Lenora Worth

Lenora Worth is an ACFW Honor Roll member. She writes inspirational fiction for Harlequin’s Love Inspired and sweet romance for Tule Publishing. She also writes for Kensington Books. She helped launch the Rodeo Knights Western Romance imprint. Her LIS Body of Evidence made the NY Times Bestseller list and she is also a USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling author. In 2016, she received a Romantic Times Pioneers of Fiction Award. Three of her books have been nominated for the ACFW Carol Award and she is an RWA RITA finalist. Lenora has written 80+ books and has an estimated 3 million books in print. She loves cheesecake, shoe shopping, walking on the beach and reading.

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #369 | The Cowboy’s Christmas Decision by Evangeline Kelly

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m starting to embrace the Christmas season, so here’s a short Christmas story that looks like it will be a fun read. It’s got cowboys, Christmas, and a secret crush. What more could I want?

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

There was a saying that Christmas was a time for hope, but as I pulled up to the parking lot in front of the old Thompson barn, I was pretty sure it would take divine intervention for Luke to see me as more than just a good friend.

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

 

About The Cowboy’s Christmas Decision

The Cowboy's Christmas DecisionA Christmas charity event, a cozy barn, and two best friends. Will this holiday season be the one that changes everything?

Every year, Cortney Turner volunteers at the Christmas Bonanza, a charity event held in a barn in the small town of Copper Creek. As she and her best friend, Luke Fletcher, hang decorations, she can’t help but notice the way her heart races whenever he flashes that crooked smile. Convinced he’ll never see her as anything more than a friend, she reluctantly agrees to a blind date with another man—hoping it will help her move on from Luke.

Luke Fletcher may be known around town for his successful ranch and cowboy charm, but he’s spent years keeping his true feelings for Cortney buried deep, fearing the loss of their treasured friendship. When her blind date cancels last minute, leaving her dateless for the evening’s festivities, Luke playfully offers to step in as her escort, secretly thrilled at the chance to pretend they’re something more.

As the day progresses, neither can ignore the magnetic pull between them. Can one special afternoon transform best friends into something more, or will their fear of rejection keep them trapped in the friend zone?

Find The Cowboy’s Christmas Decision 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 audiobook narrators do you like to listen to?

Bookish Question #361 | What audiobook narrators do you like to listen to?

by Iola Goulton

That’s easy: Peter Jones, as The Book in the original version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. However, that’s really a recording of a radio play rather than an audiobook …

If we’re going for pure audiobooks, then my children loved Miranda Harcourt’s narrations of the Horrid Henry books. She did a great job with all the character voices, just like when she played Queen Elizabeth in Blackadder II.

As for real audiobooks for adults … I’m not a big audiobook listener, so I don’t have a favourite narrator, although I will admit to preferring British narrators over American (but that would only work where the characters are British).

I have come across a couple of narrators I haven’t enjoyed, usually because their monotone narrations.

I like narrators who can act well enough that I can hear the difference between the characters, rather than having to guess who is the point of view character in each successive scene. It’s hard to like a book if I don’t like the narration.

So I don’t really have an answer to this question.

What about you? Do you have a favourite audiobook narrator? Are there any romance or rom-com narrators you particularly recommend?

The type of women he was interested in weren’t eager to go out with a thirty-year-old entry level warehouse worker with a GED.

Book Review | So Into You by Kathleen Fuller

by Iola Goulton

Artist Brittany Branch is a YouTube influencer with almost half a million followers … the perfect occupation for someone with chronic social anxiety because it means she doesn’t have to leave the house except to visit her favourite local art supplies store.

Warehouse worker Hunter Pickett is trying to turn his life around after becoming a Christian in prison. He wants to reconcile with his parents, and also wants to get to know the cute YouTube artist better … especially after he runs into her at the local art supplies store.

Teacher Amy Branch is wondering if it’s time to start dating again given it’s close to two decades since she divorced her alcoholic husband and her daughter seems to be coping with her anxiety.

Daniel Branch is out of jail, off alcohol, and thanking God he has a solid job as a chauffeur for the wealthy Pickett family and is reconciling with his estranged daughter.

Given each of the four main characters are keeping secrets about who they know and how they’re related to the other characters, it’s pretty obvious there is going to be a show-down at some point and all the secrets are going to come out.

And they do come out (of course).

I’m always a little apprehensive when I can see a scene like this coming, in case it gets awkward. I’m happy to say it didn’t go at all how I thought it would—it was so much better.

So Into You is primarily a romance, but it’s also a powerful and moving story that touches on a lot of social issues including anxiety, alcoholism, prisoner rehabilitation, and family dynamics in general. It’s well-written, with realistic characters making realistic decisions that drive plenty of relatable conflict and kept me reading.

Recommended for fans of Christian romance with depth.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller

With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, the Amish Letters series, the Brides of Birch Creek series, the upcoming Mail Order Brides of Birch Creek, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. She has also contributed to numerous novella collections.

She and her husband James live in Arkansas and have three adult children. When she’s not writing, Kathleen is avidly crocheting, reading, and traveling, sometimes all at the same time. She runs the Facebook group Books & Hooks, which combines her love of books, crochet, and collecting recipes that she’ll never have enough time to make.

Find Kathleen Fuller online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

About So Into You

Opposites attract when an introverted vlogger and a reformed party boy exchange lessons on art, confidence, and yacht rock.

Artist Britt Branch has a successful online channel where she teaches a variety of art lessons. Obsessed with the 1970s, she has a style all her own. But she also has a huge problem–severe social anxiety. She lives with her mom, and while she pays her own bills, she wonders if she’ll ever have the courage to move out and move on. When her best friend announces she’s getting married, Britt decides it’s time to make a change.

Gorgeous Hunter Pickett has always skated by on his model looks, applying very little effort to anything except sports, and even that was iffy at times. The third son of extremely wealthy and successful parents, he dealt with being the black sheep of the family by drinking and using drugs. By his third year of sobriety, he’s still dealing with aimlessness. Late one night he catches Britt’s channel and ends up watching her videos. He’s not interested in art . . . at first. And when he sends her an online message, he’s surprised she responds. Before long they are chatting every day, and once they start meeting in person, a spark-filled friendship begins.

But both of them are keeping secrets. Big ones. When all truths are revealed in one pivotal moment, Britt and Hunter are at a crossroads. Will he fight for the happiness he’s worked so hard to obtain? And will she continue to hide from life, or can she finally step out of her own shadow?

Find So Into You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #368 | A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m sharing from A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, which is the first story in A Louisiana Christmas to Remember. I got a review copy of this anthology last year … but just didn’t get around to reading it before Christmas, and I’m not one of those people who reads Christmas stories all year round.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Mattie Hayes froze, her fingers warm around a latte, and stared at the flurries of white outside the window of Le Petit French Press coffee shop.

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

 

About A Louisiana Christmas to Remember

A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember

Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family?

In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places…

In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home…

In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again…

And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.

Find A Louisiana Christmas to Remember 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!

What authors are an automatic buy for you?

Bookish Question #360 | What author (or authors) are an automatic buy for you?

by Iola Goulton

Auto-buy authors …

These are the authors we love so much that we click on the “buy” button as soon as we see the preorder on Amazon. Or we frequent our local bookstore, asking when they expect the book to arrive and remind them to put a copy aside for us …

[True story: my local Christian bookstore used to unpack new stock after closing. I’d often get a call during dinner to say a book I’d ordered had arrived. Sometimes he’d just call because he’d unpacked something he thought I would be interested in. He was usually right. I haven’t bought nearly as many paperbacks since he closed the shop and retired.]

Anyway, here is a selection of my must-buy authors:

  • Becky Wade
  • Carla Laureano
  • Christine Dillon
  • Courtney Walsh
  • Elizabeth Maddrey
  • Emily Conrad
  • Emily Dana Botrous
  • Gabrielle Meyer
  • Kara Isaac

Note that I don’t buy all the books by these authors. I enjoy Carla Laureano’s contemporary romances, but don’t read her fantasy releases. I love Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series, but haven’t read her earlier books.

What about you? What author (or authors) are an automatic buy for you?

This was crazy. People didn’t get married for medical insurance. Not sane people, that is.

Book Review | Always and Forever, Elizabeth (Scripted Love #4) by Emily Dana Botrous

by Iola Goulton

Elizabeth O’Toole dated Vincent Halverson in high school, but he broke up with her the day after they went against their Christian beliefs and slept together. She married Danny O’Toole shortly after the breakup, a decision she has regretted for years. Now she’s a widow with three children to support and another on the way, and in desperate need of a job.

No, the start doesn’t show Vincent in a good light. However, that was close to twenty years ago, so there’s been plenty of time for him to improve. Which he has done.

Vincent lost his wife three years ago, and needs a nanny. His sister recommends Elizabeth, and Vincent hires her against his better judgement because he has no other reasonable option. She, unsurprisingly, turns out to be a wonderful nanny and mother. This is a romance, which, of course, means the two reconnect and have to work through their combined and separate histories to create a family.

That’s a lot harder for Vincent.

The more he hears about Elizabeth’s marriage, the more he blames himself for having put her in that situation. I liked that. While aspects of Elizabeth’s past (and present) were difficult to read, it was important to include it in the story. As a reader, I needed to see that Vincent understood the consequences of his actions and repented. It would have been a weaker story without this.

That’s not to say Vincent is the “baddie” and Elizabeth is the “goodie”. Life isn’t that simple. Elizabeth does have her own faults and insecurities, and it was good to see her triumph over them with love and encouragement from Vincent and his family … all of whom (correctly) pointed toward God as the answer.

This book does come with trigger warnings, including domestic violence and the death of a child.

It is all handled tastefully with nothing shown in detail, but it’s also not hidden in euphemisms. Despite the unpleasantness, these issues are central to the story and show the strength of Elizabeth’s quiet and enduring faith.

Yes, this is Christian fiction with an emphasis on the “Christian”.

I was especially impressed with Elizabeth’s faith, and the faith she had managed to pass onto her children, despite their family difficulties. I was particularly taken with Martin, Elizabeth’s fifteen-year-old son, who had a maturity and practicality beyond his years. This brought some much-needed touches of humour into the story, which I appreciated.

Always and Forever, Elizabeth is part of the Scripted Love series. Each story in this series features one of the Halverson siblings, and some kind of written communication between the hero and heroine. In this case, the communication is via the Post-It notes that Vincent initially shares to give Elizabeth instructions in her role as nanny, but which soon become more personal.

This story wasn’t always an easy read.

I imagine parts must have been very difficult to write. But it’s definitely worth reading if you’re looking for an inspiring contemporary Christian romance that deals with some heavy issues in a realistic way, yet which is ultimately positive and uplifting.

Recommended.

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

About Emily Dana Botrous

Emily Dana BotrousEmily Dana Botrous lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their four children. She lived in 10 states before she settled on the West Coast where she plans to stay for awhile. She started writing short stories at age 10 and studied English in college. The only thing she enjoys more than writing is motherhood.

While there are a lot of things that matter to Emily, nothing is more important to her than Jesus Christ. It is her goal to point anyone who reads her writing toward Him. When Emily isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, long walks, music, and playing with her kids.

Find Emily Dana Botrous online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

About Always and Forever, Elizabeth

Their wounds run deeper than either could have imagined. Will they let God have final say about their future?

Elizabeth O’Toole never expected to be a widow with three children to support. She’ll do what it takes to survive, though, since her adoptive parents are no help—even if it means taking a job from the man who shattered her heart in high school. All she has to do is keep her distance.

Widower Victor Halverson has his hands full juggling a career as a doctor, raising three small children, and drowning in guilt over his wife’s death. He’s desperate for a nanny, but can he handle facing his worst regret on a daily basis when she applies?

When Victor discovers a life-altering secret about Elizabeth, he knows what he must do. Marrying her ought to atone for the past. And maybe it would if Elizabeth had stopped loving him the first time he broke her heart. The last thing she needs now is marriage to another man who doesn’t love her. Too bad he’s her only option, for better or for worse.

Find Always and Forever, Elizabeth online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | December 2024

by Iola Goulton

It’s December! How is your Christmas shopping going?

Here are some new releases in Christian fiction that might give you some ideas …

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

Contemporary Romance

Always In My Heart by Iola Goulton — Broke solo mother Maya Allen is raising her daughter, Sarah, as well as her dead best friend’s daughter … who just happens to be her own daughter’s half sister (thanks, cheating college boyfriend).

When her lowlife landlord doubles her rent, she realizes it’s time to make a new plan and return to New Zealand with her children. First she has to do the unthinkable: make contact with her ex and compel him to relinquish his parental rights so they can legally leave the country … and not let her still-strong feelings for Trent get in the way.

Trent Thomas is an intern competing for a role in a prestigious Seattle law firm known for their family values. He figures he’s got the job sewn up when his firm sends him to his hometown of Trinity Lakes to research a dodgy property deal under the guise of offering the townsfolk pro bono legal services.

After all, no one will know the ins and outs of small-town Trinity Lakes gossip better than a lifelong resident. But he hadn’t bargained on Maya, Sarah, and Kacey stealing his chance to get his dream job, stealing his opportunity to leave Trinity Lakes behind forever, or stealing his heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Always In My Heart is currently on sale for 99 cents, so click here to preorder now on Amazon!

Nutcracker Cottage by Stephanie Guerrero — Telling prima ballerina, Cynthia Andrews she could no longer dance haunted Dr. Zachary Newcomb, but when a surprise encounter pulls them together, her can-do attitude, hard work and faith in Christ cause him to lose his footing and his heart. (Contemporary Romance, BubbleBath Fiction)

A Very Chapel Falls Christmas by Amanda Lauer — An epic breakup finds a world-famous musician back in his hometown at the same time his ex-fiancée comes back home, making for a holiday with its share of surprises, calamity, laughter, and love—if the two of them can learn from the mistakes that drove them apart in the first place. (Contemporary Romance from Feminine Genius)

General Contemporary

Kept for Her by Joy L. Melville — Two people clinging to secrets and plans, unaware how God will use both to further His plans. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

General Historical

River of Life by Carol Ashby — When a young Roman and his Greek best friend travel up the Nile in pursuit of their dream career, a Christian Egyptian woman rescues them from certain death, and their time with her opens their eyes to more than they ever imagined. (General Historical from Cerrillo Press)

Even If We Cry by Terrie Todd — Nina’s one task is to keep her family together while a world war threatens to rip them apart. (General Historical from Mountain Brook Ink)

Historical Romance

Love in Store by Penny Zeller — In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)


Once Upon a Christmas by Penny Zeller — It’s Christmastime in Poplar Springs, Wyoming. Will Sheriff Ambrose Miller Eliason have the courage to ask the girl he’s always loved to court him? Take a break from the hustle and bustle and settle into this short heartwarming story. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Romantic Suspense

Tracking the Missing by Sami A. Abrams — A search for three abducted teens…and a K-9 on the case. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])


Corralling the Cowboy by Elle E. Kay — A widow placed into WITSEC gets to know a famous author while he masquerades as a cowboy to research his latest novel, but her past catches up with her endangering her newfound love. (Romantic Suspense from Faith Writes Publishing)

Ambush on the Ranch by Tina Wheeler — A cowboy deputy sheriff must safeguard an amnesia victim and her twin sister from an art thief who is murdering witnesses. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Young Adult

The Mysterium by Jerry Schultz — Arthur Gilchrist travels to a prestigious island school, only to discover that students are being trained to suppress an ancient order whose beliefs and powers he shares. (Young Adult, Independently Published)

 

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

Lewis: The Beloved by Lauren H. Brandenburg — Lewisia Anna has returned to the Amharclann with a new chapter in her Story—a chapter she doesn’t want the citizens to hear. As Lewis tries to figure out how to delay the writing of her Story, she realizes a lot happened in the Amharclann while she was in the Mines. (Middle Grade Chapter Book)

A Civil Murder by Joan Hetzler — Derek and Megan, a married couple with a knack for solving mysteries are on the case again. An elderly law school professor and his wife go missing, unintentionally leaving their little Snickerdoodle dog with Megan and Derek. (Cozy Mystery)

Cornered by Lynn H. Blackburn, Lynette Eason, and Natalie Walters — Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors! (Romantic Suspense)

Line of Fire by Taylor S. Newport — On the run from a relentless enemy, a mercenary must protect a life-saving narcotic coveted by a spy. (Military Suspense)

Who Touches that Mountains by Deborah Raney — How can you ever be sure if the one you’re falling in love with is the right one—the one God intends for you? (Contemporary Romance)

Powhatan’s Power by Ora Smith — From a friend helping Pocahontas establish peace to an indentured and orphaned nobody, Thomas Savage yearns to make his own way in the world. (General Historical)

Fragments by J.A. Webb — A thrilling Christian epic fantasy adventure- “They’d do anything to seek the truth . . . the Order will do anything to stop them.” (Speculative Fantasy)

An Amish Thanksgiving by Beth Wiseman — As two romances blossom, Catherine finds hope in her circumstances, and an opportunity to have the Thanksgiving she’s always wanted. (General Contemporary)

The Choice by DL Wood — When Sadie Miles receives a mysterious letter, she’s drawn into a high-stakes journey aboard a luxury yacht, where fortune and deadly secrets await—and she must survive the treacherous waters and dangerous company to uncover the truth about her past. (Psychological Suspense)

What will you be reading in December?