Do you subscribe to email lists with ebook deals?

Bookish Question #291 | Do you subscribe to email lists with ebook deals?

Yes. The two main newsletters I subscribe to are BookBub and FaithBooks.

BookBub is the granddaddy of all email newsletters. Authors pay for the advertisements, and it offers one or two free or on-sale books each day for each genre the reader selects. I use it to follow Christian fiction and nonfiction.

I have found I’m not buying as many books as I used to from the BookBub newsletter. I click through to Amazon, but then find one of two things:

  • I already own the book, probably having bought it during a previous BookBub promotion
  • The sale is a Kindle Countdown deal, which means it might be advertised at 99 cents or 2.99, but it’s full price for me (because Kindle Countdown deals are only available to readers in the USA and UK).

FaithBooks is a newer newsletter focusing on Christian fiction. It’s free for authors to advertise, and promotes new releaes, 99 cent ebooks, and sale books. If you like Christian fiction, I do recommend signing up for the FaithBooks newsletter.

I also get emails advertising multi-author giveaways from sites like BookFunnel and Story Origin.

These can be hit and miss—I downloaded half a dozen free books from the last promotion I saw, but didn’t even get through the first chapter on half of them. The plots sounded great, but the writing (and editing) took all the enjoyment out of reading. My initial reaction was that they’d been written by AI, but I also wonder if they might have been ghostwritten. Either way, they show the importance of having an actual human read and edit the output before publishing to ensure the dialgoue sounds something like human speech.

I also subscribe to a lot of individual newsletters—often because I signed up as part of a BookFunnel or similar deal. I probably subscribe to more than I should because I feel guilty for downloading a free ebook then immediately unsubscribing, even if I deleted the ebook after the first chapter.

What about you? Do you subscribe to email lists with ebook deals? If so, what’s your favourite?

I’ve been trying so hard to remember, I never thought about the repercussions when I do. Will it all be worth it?

Book Review | With Every Memory by Janine Rosch

I am a sucker for amnesia plots, and this is one of the best I’ve read. While amnesia is serious, many of the novels I’ve read have taken more of a rom-com approach, literary equivalents of Fifty First Dates. With Every Memory is more serious, although there are humorous moments.

Lori lost her memory ten months ago in the car accident that killed her teenage son.

Now she’s heading home after rehab to a sterile house she doesn’t remember, a distant husband, a rebellious teen daughter, and friends she no longer knows. What she does know is that the happy marriage she remembers has disappeared, and she has no idea why.

Avery lost her twin brother in the accident and has been lost ever since.

She’s flunking school and now the principal has threatened that she won’t be able to graduate with her class. He suggests a tutor—the annoying Xander, her brother’s best friend and the guy who put gum in her hair as well as a bunch of other stuff.

With Every Memory is written in first person point of view from Lori and Avery’s points of view. Two characters in first person does take a little getting used to and turns the story into a mix of women’s fiction (Lori’s story) and YA romance (Avery’s story).

Both women’s voices are equally strong in their own way, which is great.

I often find I prefer one character over another in stories like this. Lori’s story is strong, because it’s the amnesia story, and we get to see her gradually recovering her memories and rediscovering herself. Avery’s story is poignant, but also has touches of needed humour.

My favourite character was Xander, Austin’s best friend and Avery’s unwanted tutor, the guy who’s had a crush on her for half of forever. He sticks by Avery even when she’s pushing him away with her words and her actions. I admired him even while I felt sorry for him, because he understood (perhaps better than Avery) that her actions were borne out of grief. Xander wears his heart on his sleeve and is just plain wonderful—the guy any mom would want for their daughter.

Michael, on the hand, is more reserved, and is a workaholic. He justifies himself by saying he’s providing for his family, but Lori can’t help wonder if there’s something more, especially given what her friends say. that adds a tension to their relationship that kept me reading and made the book impossible to put down.

Overall, I loved With Every Memory, and it’s one of those books I’ll enjoy even more the second time through because I’ll know the ending so I’ll be reading with a different mindset.

However, it won’t be right for everyone. It is written in first person, and that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Also, Lori’s grief over losing her son (and Avery’s grief over losing her twin brother) is a big part of the story, and some people won’t want to read that. There is also a reference to sexual assault.

But forewarned is forearmed, and it’s definitely worth reading for a story of enduring love even in the most difficult times.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Janine Rosche

Janine Rosche - author photo
Janine Rosche is the author of the Madison River Romance and Whisper Canyon series of novels. Prone to wander, she finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her stories. When she isn’t traveling or writing novels, she teaches family life education courses, produces The Love Wander Read Journal, and takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs.

Find Janine Rosche online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest |Twitter

About With Every Memory

Is the Life She Can’t Remember One She’d Rather Forget?

One year after her family was in a tragic car accident that killed her teenage son, Lori Mendenhall returns home with a traumatic brain injury that has stolen the last eight years of memories from her. She is shocked to find that the life she was leading before the accident is unrecognizable. Her once-loving husband, Michael, is a distant workaholic she isn’t sure she can trust and her once-bubbly daughter, Avery, has spent the last year hidden away in her room.

For Avery, life stopped when she lost her twin. Now, if she wants to graduate high school, she’ll have to accept help from Xander Dixon, her brother’s best friend and the boy who relentlessly teased her for years. And if Lori wants to reconnect with her husband, she’ll have to grapple with information her brain is trying to keep secret. With every memory that returns, she can’t help but wonder if the life she can’t remember is one she’d rather forget.

Find With Every Memory 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!

 

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #298 | The Fault in Firelight by Emily Dana Botrous

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I recently bought The Fault in Firelight by Emily Dana Botrous on sale based on the recommendation of one of my newsletter subscribers. I’m a trivia fan, so this first line has definitely got me hooked:

“Next question. What company makes Twinkies?”

Have you read any novels by Emily Dana Botrous? What did you think?

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

 

About The Fault in Firelight

He knows the pain of betrayal. She has a past that could ruin her future. What can heal their brokenness?

Tony Coniglio loves being single again and the freedom that comes with it. But when he’s pressured to ask out the next available woman, he agrees, just to get his family off his back—even though she’s the town’s all-too-serious cop.

Officer Stacy Kallisto is by the book. Maybe it’s because she once broke the rules and has regretted it ever since. When trouble around town leaves Stacy searching for the culprit, she keeps running into Tony, the one man who wants to know more about her than she wants to share.

As sparks fly and secrets are revealed, Stacy wonders if there’s room in her heart for a man so different from herself—and for the God she wrote off long ago.

Find The Fault in Firelight 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!

For a long time, she had refused to accept and feel her emotions. Self-control and goodness had been her protection.

Book Review | Where Our Hearts Lie (Trinity Lakes #6) by Jenny Glazebrook

Where Our Hearts Lie is the sixth novel in the Trinity Lakes Romance series, and it’s my favourite so far—I inhaled the entire story in one sitting.

Hallie is an easy character to like, and many readers will relate to her.

She grew up as “the genius missionary kid”, and has never felt like she fit in. The older I get, the more I realise I even the teens in the “cool crowd” sometimes felt like they didn’t fit in. I could relate to Hallie and I’m sure many other readers will as well.

Josh is a little harder to relate to.

He suffered a head injury which left him unable to read. As a reader, that’s something I’m happy I can’t relate to, but which I can sympathise with. Even if I wasn’t a keen reader, I would sympathise, because the ability to read is so central to modern life.

Josh, understandably, tries to hide his disability. He works a minimum wage job in a grocery store, which means a lot of people look down on him because they think he should be doing something better (like being a preacher, like his father). But Josh is hiding other secrets that remind us that God measures using a different standard to man (or woman).

A bad relationship causes Hallie to lose trust in herself, in her judgement, and in men in general. She wants openness and honesty in relationships, not secrets. That, of course, puts her on a collision course with Josh and his secrets. But Hallie has secrets of her own …

I loved the way Jenny Glazebrook has combined two hurting characters and brought them together into the Biblical threefold cord.

Where Our Hearts Lie reminds us that God needs to be at the centre of our relationships, and that all things are possible with Him in charge.

Recommended for fans of small-town contemporary Christian romance with a strong Christian message.

About Where Our Hearts Lie

Can two hurting hearts find where they belong?

Hallie Hollaway is the daughter of missionaries and a child prodigy who desperately wants to fit in. When her first meeting with an internet boyfriend goes horribly wrong, she escapes to her childhood home of Trinity Lakes. The only place she has ever felt safe and loved.

Josh Ladan is the pastor’s kid who once dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps. Until one tragic summer in Australia changed everything. Now Hallie, his clever childhood friend, is back in Trinity Lakes. Josh is closely guarding a secret that he fears will disappoint Hallie, but he is determined to prove himself to her.

Hallie is drawn to Josh, but holds herself back, believing she is unworthy of love. Can Hallie and Josh allow God to work in their hearts and lives to restore trust and hope for a future together?

Find Where Our Hearts Lie online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

About Jenny Glazebrook

Jenny GlazebrookJenny Glazebrook is an Australian author of inspirational Christian fiction for young adults. She and her husband Rob have four children and live in the country town of Gundagai with their many pets.

Jenny had a difficult childhood struggling with medical issues (including a cleft lip and palate and type 1 diabetes) and she came to a point of complete brokenness when she was 13. It was at this point God reached in, showed His love for her through Jesus, and gave her a reason to live. Jenny is now passionate about helping people understand what it means to have a deep and real relationship with God and sees writing fiction as an enjoyable way to show others how to live with joy and purpose in this broken world.

Several of Jenny’s novels have been finalists in the CALEB awards for faith inspired writing.

Find Jenny Glazebrook online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #297 | Hope for the Cowboy by Hannah Jo Abbott

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I recently asked my newsletter subscribers for some book recommendations, and someone suggested Hannah Jo Abbott. I’ve downloaded Hope for the Cowboy, which is the first novel in her Whispering Oaks Ranch series, and here’s the first line:"Dad, I have to disagree." Sawyer Macklin pulled his cowboy hat off as he stood in front of his father's desk.

 

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

 

About Hope for the Cowboy

He’s committed to the ranch he loves, she’s just here for a job, but they just might find each other too.

Katie Wadford is devastated after being fired from her job as an account manager. When no other large firms in town will hire her, she’s desperate to find a place to prove herself. Reluctantly she returns to her hometown in hopes of working for a small business to boost her resume.

Sawyer Macklin is certain that his family ranch doesn’t need a business manager. When his father hires one anyway, Sawyer agrees to get along. But the woman who shows up in high heels isn’t anything like what he expected.

When Katie offers the ranch as the location for a church fundraiser, Sawyer volunteers to help, but only so he can tell her it’s a bad idea and put an end to it. He finds out Katie is a hard person to say no to.

As they learn to work together, will Sawyer’s fears of his past mistakes keep them apart, or will they both find a future they didn’t expect?

Find Hope for the Cowboy 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!

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | August 2023

Here are the new releases in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers (which includes Christian fiction writers from around the world!). More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

What are you reading this month?

I’ve already read an advance copy of The Love Script by Toni Shiloh, and it’s a fun contemporary BIPOC romance featuring a movie star hero and a hair stylist heroine.

I’m looking forward to reading Her Cowboy Blind Date by Narelle Atkins, the final book in the Easter in Gilead series, because I loved the other three in the series.

I’ve also pre-ordered Muskoka Spotlight by Carolyn Miller because I am enjoying my virtual visits to Muskoka 🙂

Amish Romance:

The Heart’s Bidding by Kelly S. Irvin — Together, schoolteacher Rachelle Lapp and auctioneer Toby Miller must face their hardest battle yet: trusting God’s plan for their uncertain future. As their families matchmake, Toby and Rachelle realize their jobs may not be all that’s holding them back from a future together. They both must learn not only to trust each other, but also trust God’s plans for them. But do those plans involve a lifetime together or them going their separate ways? (Amish Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Children’s:


Bold and Brave
by K.A. Cummins — Sometimes courage is loud like an elephant, and sometimes it’s quiet like a llama. Lily, a young autistic girl with a vivid imagination, wants to sing the solo in the school’s choir show, but the thought of standing at center stage turns her heart a gloomy grey. School is overwhelming enough. Now all eyes will be on her, and she can’t wear the red polka dots she needs to be bold and brave. (Children’s/Picture Book from Eleonora Press)

Contemporary Romance:

Window of the Heart by Amy R. Anguish — Lennox Malone may not believe in love, but she’s determined to do the best job she can as her friend Sara Beth’s maid of honor. Problem is, the man in charge of fixing up the chapel doesn’t match her determination. Fighting against preconceived notions, a past that catches up to her, and an attraction she wants nothing to do with, this wedding is turning into more than she can handle. Ty Dunne might be laid back and easy-going, but he’s determined to make sure the chapel is ready for his cousin’s wedding. Not only is it his duty as best man, but he wants to preserve the family’s history in the building. If only he could live up to his family’s other expectations—or those of Lennox Malone, the fiery redhead he can’t stop thinking about. Before he can go any further with her, though, he has to convince her that love is real and worth the risk. Lennox has built her walls high and sturdy, but Ty is determined to find a way in—even if it’s a window. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivening’s Press)

Her Cowboy Blind Date
by Narelle Atkins — He’s a small-town guy, a cowboy at heart. She’s a city girl from the other side of the world. Will a blind date lead to a love that lasts a lifetime? Since Becky is only in Gilead until June, a blind date with a suitable plus-one before the wedding seems like the perfect solution for Sam. No strings and no commitment. But the blind date turns into a not-so-fake relationship when Sam and Becky must work together on the passion play. Can they overcome past emotional wounds and geographical distance to create a future together? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy by Valerie Comer — Everything hit all at once. Tate Sullivan became the guardian of his young nephew after his brother’s death, and now Grandfather has bought a failing guest ranch in Montana. Tate’s used to handling Fortune 1000 companies, but moving halfway across the country and learning an entirely new, rural business is a challenge, especially with a toddler in tow. Nice girls finish last… or that’s what it seems like to Stephanie Simpson when her ex-boyfriend, a pastor, proposes to a former bad girl. It’s not that Stephanie wants her ex to rethink his life choices, but would it be so wrong to move on as quickly as he has? A quick wedding to that cute but faltering cowboy with the adorable toddler might get her what she wants. After all, it’s clear Tate needs a helping hand. He’s a Christian, just like she is. What could possibly go wrong? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

To Protect His Brother’s Baby
by Linda Goodnight A stranger in his house…Could be the family he never knew he needed? After he spent six months on the road, the last thing cowboy Wilder Littlefield expects to come home to is a pregnant woman living on his ranch. Taylor Matheson not only believes the house is hers, but she’s carrying his estranged late brother’s child. Tied together by blood, Wilder lets Taylor stay as his housekeeper. But as they learn how to be a family, could obligation turn to love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

His Heart Renewed by Cynthia Herron — Three choices. Two dreams. One path. A girl from his past. The woman who holds his future. Will a wrong detour lead to the right destination? As the couple navigates blunders and heartaches, a new season emerges—one that taps into Erin’s and Mike’s deepest longings and desires—the spring that holds their future. At last, it seems their happily-ever-after is within reach…
But in the bat of an eyelash, a memory from Mike’s past emerges in an unexpected way. Will this change in circumstance hinder what he has with Erin or will truth prevail by way of a divine appointment? (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Muskoka Spotlight
by Carolyn Miller — Jackie O’Halloran never expected her actions at a friend’s wedding in Muskoka to go viral. Even less did she expect to gain the notice of a famous actor, Lincoln Cash, and all the temptation his handsome presence provides. But she’s a good Christian girl, so a man like him has to be out of the picture. Or so she thinks. Linc’s visit to see his ailing grandfather was supposed to be a quick visit to Muskoka. He hadn’t counted on meeting a forthright young lady whose courage made headlines around the world. But as he gets to know her he’s tempted to stay, which just might prove dangerous for his agent’s peace of mind, and for Linc’s own heart. Can these two opposites push past mere attraction to find real love? And what does faith have to do with it at all? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Friendly Disaster
by Dineen Miller — He waited too long to admit how he feels and now she’s found a perfect match. Will this triangle of passion end in calamity or kisses? As Calen’s plan to attract visitors to Emma’s show pales in comparison to her new boyfriend’s connections, the besotted man fears he’ll never be enough. But when Emma’s eyes are opened to her platonic pal’s extreme efforts, she wonders if it’s wrong to keep him in the friend zone. Can a bashful barista prove to a struggling artist that he’s soulmate material? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Cowboy Bargain by Tina Radcliffe — A little competition…Brings a change of heart. Sam Morgan never thought he’d see his ex-fiancée again after she skipped town days before their wedding. He certainly didn’t expect to find her opening a restaurant on his property—in the building he’d intended to sell his crafts from. This time Olivia’s sticking around, forcing Sam to strike a deal: work together and see whose products sell best. Could their business venture lead to a surprising reunion? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

The Love Script by Toni Shiloh — Hollywood hair stylist Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood heartthrob Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic. Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years. With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems? (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House)


An Unexpected Gift
by Melissa Wardwell — Cruising around the island on a Moped in a business suit may seem incongruous, but wedding planner Kiana knows how to blend practicality and professionalism, a strong work ethic and relaxation. With no time for mistakes or changes in plans, she’s also decided to forgo romance (for herself). There just isn’t enough time in the day. That is until the early arrival of one of the groomsmen of Something Suamalie’s first booking throws everything off balance, including her thoughts on long distance dating.
Beau was perfectly content with his job and the growing attraction to a girl back home; however, he hadn’t figured in the sassy and sometimes unprofessional wedding planner. Seeing her world begin to unravel while she and her partners fumble with their first weddings tugs at his heart strings and leaves him second guessing his choices in the romance department. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)

General Contemporary:

Where the Wings Rise by Ashlyn McKayla Ohm — After years of disastrous choices, Addisyn Miles has a second chance with the person she once betrayed—her older sister, Avery. Moving from Whistler, Canada, to Avery’s home in the Colorado Rockies seems like the perfect opportunity to not only rebuild her fragile relationship with her sister but also distance herself from the past she can’t forget. But adjusting to Avery’s life is harder than she expected, especially with her heart drawing her back to the chance at love that she left behind in Canada. When she begins helping her sister care for an injured hawk, Addisyn is forced to confront the fears that have left her just as wounded—or to allow her darkest enemy to sabotage her future. The second book in the Climbing Higher series, Where the Wings Rise is a story of the scars that keep us earthbound, the choices that lead to healing, and most importantly, the faith that allows us to always fly free. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

General Historical:

The Girl From the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright — Beatrice Carraway has dreams. Although she’s aged out of the childhood pageant circuit, she’s intent on carrying her talents all the way to the big screen―if only she can escape the poverty of West Dallas first. But as the Great Depression drags the working class further and further under, Beatrice struggles just to keep herself, her mother, and her younger sister afloat. And then in walks Jack Turner. Though Beatrice is determined to pull herself up by her bootstraps, Jack has decided on a different path out of the gutters. It isn’t long before Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime beside the man she loves. Keeping one step ahead of the law, she sees her dreams of fame come true when her name and picture are plastered in newspapers across the country. Yet as their infamy grows, the distance between them widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts and publicity, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul. But when the danger of Jack’s schemes ratchets up, Beatrice fears her dreams―and her future―will end up going down in a hail of bullets (General Historical from Tyndale House)

Historical Romance:

Beryl’s Bounty Hunter by Linda Shenton Matchett — Orphaned as a child, Beryl Atherton has lived on the streets of London for as long as she can remember. Reduced to stealing for survival, she is arrested. During her incarceration, one of her cellmates shows her a newspaper ad for an American mail-order bride agency. But all is not as it seems, and moments after landing in Boston, she must run for her life. Will things be no different for her in the New World? Working as a bounty hunter since The War Between the States, Lucas Wolf just needs a few more cases before he can hang up his gun, purchase a ranch out West, and apply for a mail-order bride from the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency. While staking out the docks in Boston, he sees a woman fleeing from the man he’s been tailing. Saving her risks his job. Not saving her risks his heart. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Hunting the Witness by Kate Angelo — Attacked in the mountains with no memory of why…She’s the only witness to see the face of a killer, but a deadly attack leaves Belinda Lewis unable to remember even her own name. She’ll have to rely on her rescuer, FBI special agent Jonah Phillips, to survive repeated attempts on her life—but she doesn’t know he’s in hiding because his description matches the killer’s. Can they unmask the true criminal to clear Jonah’s name and save both of their lives? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Mountain Abduction Rescue
by Darlene L. Turner A wildfire threat…
becomes a missing person search.

A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive… (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

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

The Gunslinger Next Door by Susan Page Davis, Is he really just a harmless old fellow? (Romance/Mystery)

The Mailboat by Susan Page Davis, When Robyn and Mike meet again, things begin to happen. (Contemporary Romance)

The Spinsters Next Door by Susan Page Davis, Can the schoolmaster persuade Rachel to defy her aunts and open a locked box–or will she remain alone with a tangle of unanswered questions? (Historical Mystery)

The Yuletide Angel by Sandra Ardoin , Who is the mysterious Yuletide Angel? (Historical Romance)

Do you look at authors' Pinterest boards?

Bookish Question #289 | Do you Look at Authors’ Pinterest boards?

As I said last week, I’m not a big Pinterest user.

I’ll often look at a new-to-me author’s Pinterest account to see if I want to follow it.

  • If it’s posting bookish information such as character portraits or pictures of the book’s setting, then I might follow.
  • I might follow if they’re posting about their hobbies … if our hobbies are similar.
  • But if their account is mostly repining things I’m not interested in, then I’m unlikely to follow them.

I usually find their Pinterest accounts as links from their author website. If I put my marketing had on, I think the content an author pins (or posts) should be relevant to their readers. It shouldn’t be dominated by their own hobbies or interests, especially if those things are not interesting or relevant to their readers (*cough* US politics *cough*).

It may be the way I’ve trained the algorithm, but I find Pinterest is mostly links to blog posts. On that basis, I prefer Instagram (which is more visual, as Pinterest was originally intended to be), or Facebook (where it’s much easier to follow the link).

What about you? Do you follow authors on Pinterest?

Who are your favourite Christian authors to follow?

Rachel was judging the book by its cover, she’d admit, but she’d seen a lot of books like Dominic in her time and the covers tended to match the story inside.

Book Review | Until I Met You by Lara Van Hulzen

Until I Met You is part of The Endicotts of Silver Bay series. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, which must be Chet and Meg’s story, but didn’t feel I was missing any information. That’s always a plus when reading a series out of order—there can be a fine balance between boring readers by rehashing the first/previous books, vs. ignoring them and leaving the reader feeling like they’ve gatecrashed a private party.

I loved the initial meeting between Rachel and Dominic.

So did Dominic … more than Rachel did, at least. There’s an initial attraction between the two (not my favourite trope), so I was happy to see their relationship was built on a growing friendship rather than on the initial attraction. I loved the dialogue and banter between the two as they work together on a fundraiser for the town community centre, where Rachel works.

Rachel also had a role as a volunteer chaplain for the local fire department and hospital. That sounded fascinating, and I would have liked to have seen more of her chaplaincy role—it’s not something I can recall seeing in Christian fiction, which feels like a gap.

Until I Met You is a fairly slow burn romance (my favourite kind) that hits all the right notes for a sweet, easy small-town romance read.

Recommended for small-town contemporary romance fans, especially those who like opposites attract or billionaire tropes.

Thanks to Tule Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.

About Until I Met You

When his parents move to Silver Bay, California, Dominic Endicott, ever the dutiful son, packs up his life and heads to the small town. He sees it as temporary, appeasing his mother and making sure his dad’s health is stable while Dominic keeps the family business running. Dominic planned on keeping his head down, focused only on working and spending time with his family. Until a beautiful brunette forces him to look up.

Local Chaplain and community center employee Rachel Anderson loves her little town that she’s called home for the past year. Silver Bay is a far cry from her life growing up in LA, and that’s perfectly fine with her. When she mistakes newcomer Dominic for her friend, Chet, her simple, curated life becomes complicated.

Thrown together to work on raising money for the town’s community center, the sparks between Rachel and Dominic are too strong to ignore. But Dominic represents everything Rachel has been running from, while Rachel has Dominic rethinking his entire life plan. Can these two bridge the gap between their worlds and give love a chance?

Find Until I Met You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

About Lara Van Hulzen

Lara Van HulzenWriting stories since she was a young girl, Lara’s dream of being a novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor series. An avid reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with various organizations. She has a BA in Journalism and a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy. Lara loves tea, baseball and living in Idaho with her husband and Great Dane.

Find Lara Van Hulzen online at:

Website | BookBub | Goodreads

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #296 | Where Our Hearts Lie by Jenny Glazebrook

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. The sixth book in the Trinity Lakes Romance series released this week, so that’s what I’m reading and sharing: Where Our Hearts Lie by Jenny Glazebrook. I think this is my favourite book of the series so far.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Why couldn't she stop shaking? Hallie took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

 

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

 

About Where Our Hearts Lie

Can two hurting hearts find where they belong?

Hallie Hollaway is the daughter of missionaries and a child prodigy who desperately wants to fit in. When her first meeting with an internet boyfriend goes horribly wrong, she escapes to her childhood home of Trinity Lakes. The only place she has ever felt safe and loved.

Josh Ladan is the pastor’s kid who once dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps. Until one tragic summer in Australia changed everything. Now Hallie, his clever childhood friend, is back in Trinity Lakes. Josh is closely guarding a secret that he fears will disappoint Hallie, but he is determined to prove himself to her.

Hallie is drawn to Josh, but holds herself back, believing she is unworthy of love. Can Hallie and Josh allow God to work in their hearts and lives to restore trust and hope for a future together?

Find Where Our Hearts Lie 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!

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