Charlotte Simpson had never stalked a man before.

Book Review | Wildflower Falls (Riverbend Romance #4) by Denise Hunter

by Iola Goulton

Charlotte Simpson has never known the identity of her biological father.

After her mother died, she discovered newspaper clippings that gave her a clue: she’s related to the Robinson family. She hires Gavin Dawson to build her a new barn, both because she wants to turn the family ranch back into a profitable business, and so she can get to know her half-brother. She’s torn between wanting to connect with her newfound family, and worrying about their reaction to a half-sibling who is obviously the result of an extra-marital affair.

Gunner Dawson takes a six-month job as a horse trainer at the Simpson ranch but has no plans to stay.

Charlotte tells him the truth about her relationship with the Robinsons after he catches her spying on Gavin then Cooper Robinson. He’s relieved, because he’s attracted to Charlotte … which is awkward, because she’s his boss. And (predictably) he’s hiding his own insecurities and secrets.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Charlotte and Gunner unfold against the backdrop of Charlotte’s desire to rebuild the ranch, her relationship with her stepsister, and her growing friendship with the Robinson family. As such, I think it’s one of Denise Hunter’s better stories. However, I would have liked to see more of a Christian thread in the story.

Wildflower Falls is the fourth book in the Riverbend Romance series but is a standalone romance.

I read the first in the series (Riverbend Gap) and didn’t much like the underlying premise, so didn’t read the next two. While Riverbend Gap and Wildflower Falls both centre around lies (or withholding the full truth), the difference was the source of the lies. In Riverbend Gap, the characters caused their own problems (which annoyed me and other reviewers).

In Wildflower Falls, Charlotte’s parents caused the problem, leaving Charlotte the unenviable task of determining the right time to reveal the secret. There’s never a right time to spill the beans a father’s infidelity, so there was always going to be a degree of tension and uncertainty about that.

Overall, I enjoyed Wildflower Falls.

Charlotte and her predicament engaged me from the beginning and I read it in almost one sitting. I loved Gunner. After all, what’s not to love about a wounded hero who’s great with children and animals, especially emotionally wounded animals?

Wildflower Falls by Denise Hunter is a strong contemporary romance, recommended for fans of authors such as Carla Laureano and Becky Wade. #ChristianRomance #BookReview Share on X

Recommended for fans of clean contemporary romance from authors such as Carla Laureano, Becky Wade, and Courtney Walsh.

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

About Denise Hunter

Denise HunterDenise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 30 books, including “The Convenient Groom” and “A December Bride” which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest.

Find Denise Hunter online at:

Website | Facebook

About Wildflower Falls

He’s here to train her horses, and then he’s moving on. She’s keeping her true identity a secret. But their spark complicates both of their plans.

When her mother’s death leaves Charlotte Simpson bereft, she hopes the Robinson clan will accept her as one of their own and help fill the void. But a startling discovery dashes her hopes and leaves her wondering if she will ever know the father she’s always longed for.

Horse trainer Gunner Dawson has experienced profound loss and intends to avoid it. So he lives on the move without forming close bonds or putting down roots. When Charlotte hires him to work with her horses and help expand her ranch, he commits to staying for a few months. But he doesn’t count on getting caught up in Charlotte’s search for her biological father. Or on falling in love—with Riverbend Gap or with Charlotte. This time, he’s not sure if he’ll be able to move on—or if he even wants to.

The queen of heartwarming, small-town love stories returns to Riverbend Gap with a deeply satisfying tale of love’s healing power.

Find Wildflower Falls online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

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

Do you pay attention to sponsored bookish posts on Facebook?

Bookish Question #301 | Do you pay attention to sponsored bookish posts on Facebook?

by Iola Goulton

Do I pay attention to sponsored bookish posts on Facebook?

Honestly, no.

There are two reasons for this.

One is because I don’t get a lot of bookish sponsored posts. I don’t know how authors target their Facebook ads, but I simply don’t see many.

The other reason I don’t pay attention is that when I do see bookish posts, they tend to be in genres I’m not actually interested in. Again, I’m not sure how authors target their Facebook ads, but I rarely see sponsored posts for books I’m interested in reading.

What about you? Do you pay attention to sponsored bookish posts on Facebook?

Shame. Like cancer, unseen from the world, it can eat away at the good. It spreads and ruins everything in its path.

Book Review | Not Quite Mr Darcy by Kim Griffin

by Iola Goulton

Grieving widow Kate Thomas has moved from her US home to Kent, England, to take a role as an in-home nurse for a lady with Alzheimer’s. Kate thinks she’s a Christian when she arrives in England, but soon realises there’s a difference between the faith she’s grown up with and Margaret’s faith.

I enjoyed seeing Kate’s journey to Christian faith, as that’s something I don’t think we see enough of in Christian fiction.

I also enjoyed seeing Kate’s faith develop as she was faced with some difficult situations and calls to forgiveness. This spiritual depth was one of the strengths of the novel. Kate is put in some difficult situations and has to call on her newfound faith to guide her.

There are shades of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs Kip in Not Quite Mr Darcy, although Mr Darcy doesn’t have the same level of polish. In particular, I found some of the dialogue overly formal to the point of being awkward, and not at all how people from London or Kent speak. I did enjoy reading about the location, as my grandmother was born only a few miles up the road.

Not Quite Mr Darcy is Kim Griffin’s first published novel, which she describes as women’s fiction with romance.

That fits the story well. It certainly starts as women’s fiction, as Kate arrives in England and settles into her new role. The romance was also present from early on, but I was less impressed with the romantic aspects. I am not a fan of the “other woman” plotline, particularly as it seemed like it was an issue that could have been solved with a simple conversation. (It was, but far too late in the plot for my taste.) I had the same misunderstanding as Kate (not surprising, as the whole story was told from her point of view). That meant I misjudged one of the characters, to the detriment of my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, Not Quite Mr Darcy was a solid first novel, recommended for readers looking for Christian women’s fiction which considers tough issues like infidelity and Alzheimer’s.

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

About Kim Griffin

Kim GriffinKim Griffin is a former interior designer and homeschool mom who has been leading Bible studies for over 35 years and working in Women’s Ministry for over 25.  Several years ago, God led her to begin writing words of hope.  She writes Christian women’s fiction with clean romance. Her desire is that her books will draw readers closer to the God who sees all of their imperfections and loves them still.

Find Kim Griffin online at:

Website | Instagram

About Not Quite Mr Darcy

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Mr. Darcy does not exist.”

Many a young woman has spent years looking for her perfect Mr. Darcy, but Kate Thomas knows better. A 29-year-old recently widowed southerner, Kate sets off to find herself on the other side of the ocean in the very country where Mr. Darcy’s life was penned. Looking only to escape reminders of her heartache, Kate journeys to places she never thought she’d go—finding faith, love, and family along the way.

Not Quite Mr. Darcy is not a P&P retelling but the story of a woman’s journey to discover what real love is.

An ocean … it’s vast and powerful. The water that fills it can bring death, or offer life. Kate Thomas moves her life across an ocean to conquer the hold of her past and find new life for her future.

Not Quite Mr. Darcy is women’s fiction with clean romance (kisses only). It tackles forgiving the seemingly unforgivable and the disillusionment many a woman has faced upon realizing that the perfect husband they’ve been raised to look for doesn’t exist. Kate, a recent widow, leaves her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Seeking distance from her past she takes a job in Kingsdown, England, working with a dementia patient in a cottage overlooking the English Channel. What she finds there is much more than she anticipated. Kate learns to find joy even in the hardest circumstances.

Find Not Quite Mr Darcy online at:

Amazon | 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 #308 | Her Second Chance Billionaire Sweetheart by Bree Livingston

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’ve recently been bingeing on billionaire stories. Pure escapism, perhaps. But they’ve been so much fun! I’m currently working my way through Bree Livingstone’s romances, and enjoying them all. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One of my latest read:

Grayson Matthews groaned. He didn't want to go home to Kansas.

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

 

About Her Second Chance Billionaire Sweetheart

Young love destroyed. Secrets hidden. Can a painful truth mend a broken heart?

Grayson Matthews thought his girlfriend’s father would be thrilled when he asked for his blessing to marry her. That wasn’t the case for the starry-eyed couple who had yet to graduate high school. Instead, following his heart landed Grayson with a crushing ultimatum. To shield himself and Emma from unnecessary anguish, he left. Ten years later, circumstance has dragged him back to his hometown. One glance at Emma and he knows he’s not over her. Yet with the secret he harbors still hanging between them, keeping his distance is the only way to shield her from the painful truth.

The love of Emma’s life left without a word. They talked about a future together… then he vanished like she meant nothing to him. For a decade, she’s tried to figure out why. Now, Grayson’s returned, and she is determined to get her answers.

Emma is willing to toe the thin line between love and hate to uncover the truth. But will what she discovers provide the closure she needs? Or tempt her with a second chance at a fresh start?

Find Her Second Chance Billionaire Sweetheart 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!

Do you prefer to wait until a full series is out, or read the novels as they release?

Bookish Question #300 | Do you prefer to wait until a full series is released?

by Iola Goulton

Do you prefer to wait until a full series is released, or read the individual novels as they release?

I mostly read related series i.e. a romance trilogy where each book is about a different couple, and the characters are related in some way e.g. siblings or friends or co-workers.

In these cases, I tend to read the books as they release.

The beauty of these kinds of series is that they don’t have to be read in order … although I do prefer to read in order.

Some series are related, in that each book in the series follows on from the previous book with the same characters and a linked plot. These series need to be read in order … and we need to read the whole series to get the full plot arc.

This has come back to bite me a couple of times, where a publisher has published the first two books in a related series, but not the third.

In these cases, I wish I’d waited until the full series had been published.

But that’s a bit chicken and egg, because if no one buys the first book in a series, a publisher (or author) might decide not to publish the rest of the series …

Which means I end up buying books as they interest me, even if they’re part of an incomplete series.

So what’s your view? Do you read individual books in a series as they release, or wait until the full series is out?

 

The more time he spent at the palace, the more he lost sight of who he really was.

Book Review | The Cost of the Crown by Joy Crain

by Iola Goulton

Melissa Hanson has been living with her aunt in Los Angeles for the last ten years, since her mother died and her father’s short trip to the small Asian island Kingdom of Andelar turned into a permanent role as US ambassador. She’s shocked when her father invites her to spend the summer in Andelar as a guest of the royal family while her father negotiates a new trade deal.

Missy accepts both to reestablish her relationship with her father, and to hopefully connect with the Chinese part of her heritage. She meets Aiden Waverly on the flight to Andelar, and they bond over the challenges of growing up in a biracial family.

But Aiden has a secret.

He’s actually Rupert Spencer, the unknown Crown Prince of Andelar. Now it’s time for him to make a choice: take on the mantle or royalty, or abdicate the throne so he can continue traveling and volunteering for charities around the world.

Royalty romances can feel contrived at times.

The reader has to be prepared to suspend disbelief and allow for an imagined constitutional monarchy that meets most of our expectations for a modern monarchy while still having the history and flexibility to allow for a story that probably wouldn’t happen in a real-life monarchy. While I was willing to suspend disbelief and accept a created Asian kingdom in the South Pacific, it was a little harder to believe no one outside the Royal Family knew of Rupert/Aiden’s existence. (But I got over that.)

I enjoyed the developing relationship between Missy and Aiden as they explored Andelar, and I especially enjoyed the way both Missy and Aiden genuinely prayed about their problems. Their relationship developed in a natural way, which made for an easy and enjoyable read. I did find the last quarter didn’t match up to the promise of the first three-quarters. It was a little slow, and a little too predictable … which was a shame, given the original setup.

The Cost of the Crown is both a romance and a search for identity.

Both Missy and Aiden have to consider how their biracial heritage has impacted on the people they are, and consider how that will affect the choices they make about their future.

If you enjoy stories like The Princess Diaries or Toni Shiloh’s brilliant In Search of a Prince and To Win A Prince, then you’ll want to read The Cost of the Crown.

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

About Joy Crain

Joy CrainJoy Crain was adopted and raised in southern China by an American missionary couple. At an early age, her fondness for books and vivid imagination gave her a genuine love for storytelling. Joy started writing her own stories as a teenager and the journey has just continued from there.

Joy’s novels contain strong romantic elements with inspirational undertones which will make you fall in love if you’re not careful. And Joy feels that if a reader doesn’t walk away from her novels with a smile, she hasn’t done her job.

Currently, Joy lives with her sister and her toy poodle, Raisin. When she is not traveling internationally, she spends her time teaching English and pursuing her passion for writing.

You can find Joy Crain online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

About The Cost of the Crown

Missy Hanson never dreamed of falling in love and living happily ever after. In fact, she doesn’t know what she wants to do after she graduates from college; nevertheless, she’s content working as a journalist for her local newspaper and assisting at her aunt’s California bakery. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity emerges for her to visit the southeast Asian country of Andelar, Missy is thrown into the world of royalty as the special guest of the king and queen—and it’s clear she doesn’t belong, despite her family ties to the area. But the royal family isn’t without its mysteries. Rumors abound that a secret prince is hiding amid Andelar’s society, and Missy is determined to find out who he is.

Aiden Waverly never wanted a crown or a title. He craves a normal life, but being a secret prince of biracial background is difficult enough and would create chaos amid the tabloids if the press learned about his parentage. After years of traveling the world to help those in the greatest of need, he’s faced with a life-altering decision: take his place as crown prince or walk away as a commoner. With no clear path that will satisfy him and the royal family, the tug between following his heart and doing his duty to Andelar becomes harder every day.

When a chance encounter throws Missy and Aiden together, neither of them are prepared to challenge what they thought they knew about themselves. And when an ancient royal law threatens to tear them apart, they must decide how much they are willing to risk for love.

Find The Cost of the Crown online at:

Amazon | 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 #307 | Not Quite Mr Darcy by Kim Griffin

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 a long-time Pride and Prejudice fan, so I’m always up for a Christian romance with a P&P link, so I was thrilled to join the launch team for Not Quite Mr Darcy by Kim Griffin. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Mr Darcy does not exist.

About Not Quite Mr Darcy

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Mr. Darcy does not exist.”

Many a young woman has spent years looking for her perfect Mr. Darcy, but Kate Thomas knows better. A 29-year-old recently widowed southerner, Kate sets off to find herself on the other side of the ocean in the very country where Mr. Darcy’s life was penned. Looking only to escape reminders of her heartache, Kate journeys to places she never thought she’d go—finding faith, love, and family along the way.

Not Quite Mr. Darcy is not a P&P retelling but the story of a woman’s journey to discover what real love is.

An ocean … it’s vast and powerful. The water that fills it can bring death, or offer life. Kate Thomas moves her life across an ocean to conquer the hold of her past and find new life for her future.

Not Quite Mr. Darcy is women’s fiction with clean romance (kisses only). It tackles forgiving the seemingly unforgivable and the disillusionment many a woman has faced upon realizing that the perfect husband they’ve been raised to look for doesn’t exist. Kate, a recent widow, leaves her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Seeking distance from her past she takes a job in Kingsdown, England, working with a dementia patient in a cottage overlooking the English Channel. What she finds there is much more than she anticipated. Kate learns to find joy even in the hardest circumstances.

Find Not Quite Mr Darcy online at:

Amazon | 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 elements do you think a book needs to be compelling and impactful?

Bookish Question # 299 | What elements do you think a book needs to be compelling and impactful?

by Iola Goulton

Interesting question!

Let’s look at each factor separately, starting with what I think makes a compelling read:

Character

For me, story starts with character. Yes, there needs to be a plot, but I love character-driven stories. So I want to read about relatable and likeable characters.

Familiar

Fiction thrives on tropes i.e. authors using familiar plots and settings to entice readers. I’m not dissing tropes at all. I have my personal favourite tropes (and my pet hate tropes) and will often binge-read a certain trope such as billionaires or cowboys … because I find the tropes compelling and interesting.

Original

But while tropes can be a great way of hooking a reader, it can be difficult for authors to come up with an original spin on a familiar trope. If an author can find that unique hook, then I’m more likely to find the book compelling and memorable.

Writing

Interesting characters working through a familiar story with an original twist isn’t enough. The book also has to be good to read. That doesn’t mean the writing needs to be amazing – some of the most compelling and impactful novels I’ve read have had less-than-amazing writing. But the writing needs to be good enough to allow the story to shine though. And if the writing is amazing? So much the better.

What about impactful?

Lots of books are compelling when I’m reading them. But what additional elements enable a book to make that leap from merely compelling to actually impactful?

Memorable

I read a lot of books. For a book to have lasting impact, it has to be memorable for some reason (and that reason should be positive).

Inspiring

The best books should inspire me in some way. Perhaps to be a better writer, so I can write something equally impactful. Perhaps a book might inspire me to do something differently in live. Perhaps it might inspire me to think about a controversial topic from a different point of view. Perhaps it might teach me something … or inspire me to learn more about a topic.

What about you? What elements do you think a book needs to be compelling and impactful?

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #306 | Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet

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 quoting from Julia Monroe Begins Again, the debut novel from Rebekah Millet.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

I hope that’s setting the tone for the rest of the book!

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

 

About Julia Monroe Begins Again

Samuel was back. It seemed unfair to be blindsided. And in church no less. Shouldn’t there be a commandment about that? Thou shalt not step foot inside thy ex’s place of worship.

Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings–but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.

After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be impossible to resist.

Find Julia Monroe Begins Again online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

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!

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | October 2023

by Iola Goulton

It’s a new month, and somehow we’re three-quarters of the way through the year. That should mean putting away the winter woolies here in New Zealand, but the last few days have been cold and windy … perfect for sitting by the fire and reading a good book.

If you’re looking for something to read, check out this month’s new releases from members of American Christian Fiction Writers. More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Children’s:

Road Trip Rescue by Becca Wierwille — After spotting a photo of her lost dog, twelve-year-old Kimmy embarks on a wild road trip to bring him home with her pink-haired, adventure-hungry aunt who makes some unexpected detours. (Children’s/Middle Grade/Chapter Books from Beloved Chronicles LLC)

Contemporary Romance

A Christmas Romance by Annette M. Irby — A wannabe novelist with writer’s block. A best-selling children’s book author with a knack for story. And the romance they brainstorm together. Can they deny their attraction, or will they live their own Christmas romance? (Romance Novella from Prism Effect Publishing)

A Country Christmas by Lisa Carter — The rancher and the city girl have nothing in common…except the wedding that brings them together (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

A Deeper Love by Heidi Gray McGill — There’s no such thing as going “too deep” where spiritual things are concerned. But I’ll stay at the surface and snorkel rather than dive into the depths when it comes to relationships. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)

A Horseman’s Mission by Sandra Ardoin — A guilt-ridden horseman works to establish an equine therapy center for veterans with PTSD while attempting to ease the fears of an overprotective widow whose son suffers panic attacks. (Contemporary Romance from Corner Room Books)

Fields of Glass by Alyssa Schwarz — A rancher facing bankruptcy and a corporate sales rep who wants to buy his family land. Sparks fly when they are forced to work together toward a common goal, and discover what they’re willing to sacrifice to save those they care for most. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Mama Dated Santa by Amy R. Anguish — Trudy McNamara doesn’t do Christmas anymore. But Trudy finds herself tangled up with the toy store Santa and Christmas when she discovers her mom … dated Santa. Nick Russo, manager of Russos’ Toy Emporium, is at a loss as to how to save his family’s store. When Uncle Paul, the Santa and part-owner, hires Trudy to revamp their store, Nick’s life turns upside down. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivening’s Press)

Their Holiday Secret by Betsy St Amant — Preston Green will do anything for a fake girlfriend—even bid on one at a charity auction. Sweet and quirky baker Lulu Boyd is the perfect choice to stop his mother’s constant matchmaking. And it’s just for one holiday family dinner—until his father’s failing health makes ending their ruse impossible. Soon it feels all too real…but another secret might make this their last Christmas together. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

General Contemporary

Secret Mercy by Lynn Waite Chapman — Talk to Liberty Cassell and you will hear her extoll all the advantages of living in her hometown of Twin Fawn. Little traffic. Easy parking. However, in this little town, when Harley Ottenweller failed to show up for dinner one day, most residents failed to notice. Those who did take note seemed grateful not to meet up with him on the street. His wife Willow and son Johnnie went on with life. No questions. No search. Does the tiny woman with wispy white hair and wild imagination know more about her husband’s disappearance than she’s telling? (General Contemporary from Winged Publications)

General Historical

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee — A young pregnant woman bonds with the midwives who take her into their Appalachian home. Decades later, a famous country singer heads to the Appalachian Mountains to search for the midwife who holds the truth about his past. (General Historical from Tyndale House)

The Kidnapped Groom by Susan Page Davis — Riding through the Flint Hills on his way to Dodge City, cowboy Sam Cayford finds himself the kidnapping victim of two children. When he meets their lovely mother, Maggie Piner—whom the kids insist he should marry—Sam starts to question God’s plans versus his own. (General Historical, Tea Tin Press)

Historical Romance

Abounding Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart — Poland’s looming defeat forces an American teacher to escape with children wanted by the Nazis. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Against the Wind by Amanda Cabot — When a female doctor-in-training saves a handsome stranger’s life, little does she know that he’ll bring both love and danger into her life. (Historical Romance from Revell)

Angelina’s Resolve by Cindy Ervin Huff — Architect Angelina DuBois isn’t looking for love as she builds a town run by businesswomen. Carpenter and Civil War veteran Edward Pritchard’s dream of building homes for Chicago’s elite must be put on hold until he gains references. Serving as a contractor under Angelina’s well-known DuBois name provides that opportunity. But can Angelina trust her handsome new carpenter to respect her as his boss? Will the project take Edward one step closer to his goals, or will it make him a laughingstock? Can these two strong-willed people find love amid such an unconventional experiment? (Historical Romance from Iron Stream Media)

Chiseled on the Heart by Kelly Goshorn, Elaine Marie Cooper, Cynthia Roemer, and Candace West — Four generations carve out a journey of faith. The Gift of a Lamb by Elaine Cooper; A Lasting Legacy by Cynthia Roemer; Healing within the Pieces by Candace West; The Christmas Carving by Kelly Goshorn (Historical Romance from Revell)

The Case of the Missing Detective by Rebecca Hemlock — A spin off series of The Granton House Mysteries. We follow sixteen-year-old Dorothy Corbin as the family secrets are passed to her. She’s ready to discover her grandfather’s past, but nothing could have prepared her for what she’d find there. (Historical Romance from Bluecap Publishing)

Military Suspense

Havoc by Ronie Kendig — Former Special Forces operator Sergeant Crew Gatlin is putting his life back together after a career-ending incident that separated him from the Army, half a leg, and his beloved working dog, Havoc K027. When he takes a job and is unexpectedly reunited with Havoc, it’s too good to be true. Their first assignment is to work as a K-9 team for a TV drama. Being a stunt double allows Vienna Foxcroft to fulfill her acting dream—with a side of MMA—and stay out of the limelight. Then in walks Mr. Mountain-of-Muscle and his tough-as-nails dog, and Vienna has a bad feeling her life is about to turn upside down as they head overseas for a location shoot in Turkey. When an attack sends the cast fleeing into the streets of Turkey, Vienna must face the demons of her past or be devoured by them. And Crew and Havoc are tested like never before. (Military Suspense from Sunrise Publishing)

Romantic Suspense

Crime Scene Conspiracy by Jessica R. Patch — A string of staged deaths forces Texas Ranger Emily O’Connell on a covert mission to investigate a governor’s connection to the deceased women. She doesn’t trust anyone—including crime scene cleaner Stone Spencer. But when Emily’s questioning makes her the serial killer’s next target, she must turn to ex-ranger Stone for help. With threats at every turn, outrunning a merciless villain could be the last thing they do. (Romantic Suspense from Loved Inspired Suspense/Harlequin)

Christmas in the Crosshairs by Kate Angelo, Kelly Underwood, Sami A. Abrams — Christmas is about to get dangerous! Get ready for three brand new Elite Guardians romantic suspense stories from Sunrise Publishing in this exciting anthology. (Romantic Suspense from Sunrise Publishing)

Grave Secrets by Elle E. Kay — In the historic city of Philadelphia, a mystery begins to unfold that will lead to the tranquil beauty of Ricketts Glen State Park and the dark secrets hidden just beyond the park’s borders. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Holiday Menace by Jerusha Agen, Mary Alford, Lori Altebaumer, Danielle Grandinetti, Sarah Hamaker, Kendall Hoxsey, Karen Kirst, Pat O’Brien, Hope Welborn, and Terri Weldon — Will Christmas be merry and bright? Lives are in danger when menacing pressures threaten to derail Christmas in this heart-pounding suspense—plus a little romance—collection of 10 brand-new novellas from some of the genre’s most popular Christian romantic suspense authors! (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Running to You by Robin Patchen — She dumped him, ghosted him for five years…and then showed up on his doorstep with bruises and a head injury she can’t explain. She has no memory of the years since she left him–or their breakup. She also has no idea why men are chasing her. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard — A missing person. A murder victim. And two hurting people seeking justice, connected in ways they could never imagine. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)

Skye Fall by Paige Edwards — The dirty cop who left her for dead now lies in wait to silence her once and for all. (Romantic Suspense from Covenant Communications)

Snowbound Escape by Dana Mentink — After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense/Harlequin)

Western

Another Christmas Story by Susan Page Davis — Beryl’s father is badly injured, and the wagon train leaves her and her little brother behind and at the trading post. They are at the mercy of the trading post manager, his wife, and their adult son, James. Grieving after her father’s death, Beryl sees that James loves her young brother. Soon she comes to care for James too. Come spring, Beryl will have to decide whether she and her brother will continue on to Oregon or go back East. (Western from Tea Tin Press)

Young Adult

Royal & Ancient by Amanda Lauer — When a lightning strike transports a high school senior from modern-day America to 1600s Scotland, she must learn the ways of the Scots before a battle between England and Scotland decimates the land her true love is destined to rule. (Young Adult from Chrism Press/WhiteFire Publishing)

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

April’s Promise by Terrie Todd — As a world war wages across the globe, the Kimball family faces a different kind of conflict at home. Will their personal battles drag them down and tear their family apart? (General Historical)

Center Point by Nancy J. Farrier — Her husband is married to someone else — or is he? (Contemporary Romance)
Heart Restoration by Regina Rudd Merrick — A renovations expert and a contractor come across a corpse on the job site, along with a series of tunnels beneath the property. (Romantic Suspense)
Malia’s Courage by Pamela Harstad , A Native Hawaiian interior designer and her architect co-worker encounter murder and threats after a company plans to build illegally on Hawaiian sacred land. How will they uphold their relationship and others’ rights, while trying to survive? (Romantic Suspense)
Speaking Through the Silence by Linda Sammaritan , Will Debbie continue to keep quiet under the Mean Queen’s snarky abuse, or will she screw up the courage to speak through her self-imposed silence? (Young Adult)
Tipsy in Love by Anne Greene, A hilarious tale of love almost lost. (Contemporary Romance)

What are you looking forward to reading this month?