I’ve joined with 20 other contemporary Christian romance authors to offer a free books for Valentine’s Day only.
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 Only You Can Love Me by Carolyn Miller, which is the 15th book in the Trinity Lakes Romance series, and which releases next week. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:
Dr. Jess Martin–Doc Martin to her local community–might be used to solving the veterinary problems of rural south east Washington, but she can’t solve the problems of her lonely heart. When a dating app specializing in rural connections comes her way she figures she’s got nothing left to lose. Especially when she’s already lost the only guy who had touched her heart, who has made it clear his future lies in Silicon Valley and not in Trinity Lakes. It’s time to let go of the past, once and for all.
Cooper Reilly never pictured himself as finding his future or contentment on a ranch. His heart has always hankered for the finer things of life. But when a corporate reshuffle sees him kicked to the kerb, he finds himself right back where he started. And right back to trying to convince a certain pretty vet to give him a second chance. But she’s not playing, convinced she’s found her Dream Match already. But there’s something she doesn’t know…
Can these two friends look past previous mistakes and find a future? And what does a hunky fireman have to say about a perfect Dream Match?
And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.
I’ve just found out that Carolyn Miller’s first two Trinity Lakes books are onl sale for 99 cents each! Click below to buy …
If I look through my list of books to read on my Kindle, there is a pretty even split of fiction and nonfiction. My Kindle shows me that I have started reading most of them …
I suspect that is because I find I need to concentrate more on nonfiction.
Reading fiction is reading for entertainment, whereas reading nonfiction is reading to learn. While I love learning, there is only so much my brain can take in a day or a week before I have to put the book down.
When I read nonfiction, it tends to be the Bible (which shouldn’t be a surprise), or books about writing (or publishing or marketing).
Over the last year or so, I’ve also read a few books on time management and prioritising, mostly because I felt overwhelmed by all the things on my to-do list and figured there had to be more efficient way to get everything done.
My lesson from reading books by a range of productivity experts (and perhaps the unintended lesson) is simple:
Unless someone is wasting time on unproductive activities, the only way to do everything is to say no to something, which does mean understanding my personal and professional priorities, and focusing on them.
It’s time for a cover reveal for The One Who Risked it All, the 4th book in Tara Grace Ericson’s
Elijah Woods is trouble. He always has been. The kind of trouble that makes your heart race and your common sense disappear. Just ask all the girls in town throwing themselves at him. He broke my heart once—walked away like what we had meant nothing—and I swore I’d never let him get close enough to do it again.
I should’ve let him go a long time ago. He’s everything my family would hate—wild, reckless, and, worst of all, a Woods. The feud between our families has been going on for decades, and no good could ever come from crossing that line.
But now, thanks to his brother’s honeymoon, I’m stuck sharing a house with Eli for two weeks, chasing after three energetic boys and trying to pretend that old spark between us isn’t still burning. Two weeks of late nights, quiet conversations, and discovering a side of him I never expected.
He’s kind. Protective. He’s making it impossible to forget why I fell for him in the first place, or why I swore I’d never let him break my heart again.
But the way Eli looks at me makes me question everything. If we give in, we could lose everything. And yet, walking away from him this time might just break me for good. I’m just not sure I can be The One Who Risked it All.
I love the heart-shaped fire hose 🙂
I’ve read the earlier books in this series, and I’m looking forward to Elijah’s story!
Uneasy Street is the third and final story in Becky Wade’s Sons of Scandal series. I have to say this was my least favourite of the three. I found the conflict between Max and Sloane to be frustrating (even though it was also completely understandable).
The setup is simple: Sloane has offered to care for her teenage niece while Ivy’s parents are working overseas for a few months. They have rented out their house but want Ivy to continue going to her regular school, so have rented an apartment for Sloane and Ivy … an apartment owned by Sloane’s college friend and one-time business partner, Max.
Max may not be a full-on billionaire, but he has all the toys including the private jet (are you really even a billionaire if you don’t have access to a private jet?). But Uneasy Street wasn’t the regular billionaire-meets-poor-girl romance, because Max and Sloane were both involved in the app’s establishment which means Sloane should be as rich as Max, but isn’t. But that isn’t what she resents.
I didn’t exactly like Sloane at first but I did admire her. She resented Max for having pushed her out of Libri, the digital library app they founded in college, not for the millions and millions he’d earned since pushing her out. I did appreciate that Max and Sloan covered off the misunderstanding behind their falling-out fairly early in the book, so the story wasn’t bogged down by that mystery.
Sloan is an etiquette expert whose muse is “Princess Kate” aka the Princess of Wales. This did mean she came across as a bit prissy and perhaps false, because there were times when her manners felt more like how she behaved rather than who she was.
I did enjoy the banter between Sloane and Max, especially when she forgot her etiquette and told him what she really felt.
My favourite character was Ivy, who wasn’t afraid to tell it how she saw it, and who had the typical teenage enthusiasm (and occasional thoughtlessness).
Becky Wade fans, especially those who have rad the first two Sons of Scandal stories, will want to read Uneasy Street. If you haven’t read a Becky Wade romance before, I’d recommend starting with True to You or Stay With me.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Becky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of heartwarming, humorous, and swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.
During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.
These days, you’ll find Becky in Dallas, Texas failing to keep up with her housework, trying her best in yoga class, carting her three kids around town, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniel on her lap, hunched over her computer writing, or eating chocolate.
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Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.
Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.
Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.
They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.
It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m quoting from the upcoming release from contemporary Christian romance author Sarah Monzon, which features a librarian heroine and a tattoo-artist hero.
Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:
If the covers of every romance book ever published didn’t convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn’t heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what’s a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that’s what. Armed with library patrons’ check-out histories, she’s determined to make at least one love connection–even if it’s not her own.
Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn’t surprise him when the town’s quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can’t help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline’s secret matchmaking scheme, he’s not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can’t judge a book–or each other–by the cover.
Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads
And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.
I read a lot in summer, because that’s when I take my main holiday for the year. While I’m on holiday, I can often read a book a day (or more, if they are short).
I still read a couple of books a week during the rest of the year, but how many will depend on what else I’ve got on.
I read less when I’m actively writing and editing my own books – editing involves reading and rereading multiple times. That’s when I’m less likely to read for relaxation, and more likely to watch TV.
Right Before Their Eyes is the sequel to Emma’s Hero, which I really enjoyed (click here to read my review). Emma’s Hero was the story of Emma, the single mother of a baby born with significant health issues, and Ben, a first responder, and their romance. It also introduces Mason, an introverted high school student whose mother volunteers him to buy groceries for Emma once a week to help out.
He is now in his final year of pre-med, having been inspired to study medicine after meeting Theo, Emma’s son. Mason is still best friends with Clare, his high school friend and crush, who is dating lawyer and aspiring judge Aiden.
Clare is a social worker who is being pulled in all direction. She is the primary caregiver for her grandmother, who has dementia and can’t be left alone. She is also busy at work, trying to find a new home for Lucia, a teen needing a new foster home. And Aiden keeps wanting her to spend time attending fancy events with him to further his career.
It’s obvious from early on that Mason loves Clare. It’s equally obvious that she doesn’t have a clue. In her defence, she’s borderline overwhelmed and doesn’t have time to think …
Right Before Their Eyes is inspiring Christian fiction. The characters are excellent, the situations all too realistic, and it encourages readers to see through the eyes of those in difficult situations – especially in the case of Lucia, a teenager in foster care whose life has been dramatically changed yet again.
Like Emma’s Hero, Right Before Their Eyes is Christian fiction that deals with hard situations and shows we can rely on God to bring us through. It’s also a strong Christian romance that kept me gripped until the very last page.
Thanks to the author and Mountain Brook Ink for providing a free ebook for review.
Carrie Walker lives in Michigan with her husband and seven children. From her ten years serving as a high school youth minister, adventures around the globe, and raising a family, many stories have been knit within her heart.
As an avid reader she pens what she loves to read, contemporary stories that bring hope to a hurting world. Weaving romance among story lines of characters in struggle, she aims to show God working in all situations. When she’s not playing board games with her husband, shuttling kids in the Walker bus or wishing for snow, Carrie can be found at the keyboard bringing those stories to life.
Carrie’s writing has been recognized in many contests. Her debut novel, Emma’s Hero, placed in the ACFW Crown Award, Monroe Walton Center for the Arts Award, and won the 2020 ACFW First Impressions Contest.
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Clare Martin thought nothing of agreeing to live with her dementia-ridden grandmother when her parents left on mission. Balancing that with her job as a social worker and the expectations of her career-driven boyfriend proved doable—until Grandma started a house fire.
Mason Hughes has loved Clare for years, but the time was never right to tell her and now she’s dating someone else, fixing Mason firmly in the friend zone. He’s working to be a pediatric neurologist, a dream inspired by a special boy with a terminal brain condition, and must choose a medical school. Finances are so tight he’s forced to consider a program across the country, a troubling fact he’s kept secret.
Lucia Roberts, a seventeen-year-old on Clare’s caseload, loses her foster home and is placed in an unwelcoming group home. At every turn she’s met with rejection and becomes desperate for any proof she has value—enough to make choices that could affect the rest of her life.
When Grandma Dottie and Lucia’s paths take a dangerous turn, Clare frantically tries to save them. As their lives knit together, will they find the love that’s right before their eyes?
It’s February (already!), which means it’s time to share the new releases in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers.
There’s lots of new Contemporary Romances this month, including the next Trinity Lakes Romance: Only You Can Love Me by Carolyn Miller.
I’ve already read An Overdue Match and Uneasy Street and my reviews will post later this month.
I’m looking forward to reading the new releases from Milla Holt and Toni Shiloh.
And if you’re looking for something other than Contemporary Romance, I recommend Bronze and Brokenness by Christine Dillon, which is Biblical fiction centred around the Midianites.
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website
Small Town Harmony by Milla Holt — Faith, fame, and family collide as a Christian music power couple hides a secret discord. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Only You Can Love Me by Carolyn Miller — Dr. Jess Martin–Doc Martin to her local community–might be used to solving the veterinary problems of rural south east Washington, but she can’t solve the problems of her lonely heart. Cooper Reilly never pictured himself as finding his future or contentment on a ranch. But when a corporate reshuffle sees him kicked to the curb, he finds himself right back where he started. And right back to trying to convince a certain pretty vet to give him a second chance. But she’s not playing, convinced she’s found her Dream Match already. Can these two friends look past previous mistakes and find a future? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon — If the covers of every romance book ever published didn’t convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn’t heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what’s a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that’s what. Armed with library patrons’ check-out histories, she’s determined to make at least one love connection–even if it’s not her own. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House Publishers)
Winning the Twin’s Heart by Rebecca Reed — College rodeo roper Yoani Alliegro can’t stop looking over her shoulder despite, or maybe because of, her recent success. She longs for family––the one she lost, and the one she hopes to have. When rejection shatters Yoani’s sense of belonging and sends her running in search of truth, will it lead to the family she’s dreamed of and freedom from her past, or will she discover she’s left all that in Montana? Bull rider Chantz Nannenga is caught between following his dream of teaching and upholding tradition by managing the family ranch. Should he settle for less than his dream or push forward when conquering his regrets could prevent him from winning Yoani’s heart? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Where I Found You by Betsy St Amant — Will the treasure hunt lead them to find a prize worth more than gold, or will the longstanding family feud continue for yet another generation? (Contemporary Romance from Sunrise Publishing)
The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh — Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty, she’s achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she is feeling fractured. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds. Despite his passion for saving the planet, Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with. But as his friendship with Erykah begins to blossom, he finds himself falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces. With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])
Uneasy Street by Becky Wade — A wealthy, cynical CEO who has everything except love. An etiquette expert set on helping her niece solve the mystery of her birth. Equally matched in a battle of wills with their hearts on the line, they’ll have no choice but to confront their history – and the undeniable spark between them – while living side by side on uneasy street. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Pets Amore by Amy R Anguish, and Linda Fulkerson, and Heather Greery and Beth E Westcott — Four romantic comedy novellas with a bit of matchmaking help from the pets. (Contemporary Romance Novella from Scrivenings Press)
The Promise by Pat Nicols — For Erica, Wendy, And Amanda, there are old wounds, and new challenges. Will they have the courage to face them all? (General Contemporary from Armchair Press)
Dawn of Grace, Mary Magdalene’s Story by Jill Eileen Smith — Bound to the demons within her and incapable of freeing herself, Mary Magdalene walks in shadow–until one day she encounters a healer, a rabbi who is radically different from the religious leaders and family members who could do nothing to help her. One touch from Jesus and Mary is never the same. Now Mary’s one mission in life is to serve the one who freed her. She is determined never to leave his side, fearing that if she loses him, she’ll return to her former bondage. Even when the unthinkable happens and her savior is arrested and sentenced to execution, she cannot abandon him as so many others did. On the brink of despair, Mary is about to discover that while the life of faith is never perfect, perfect love casts out fear–and Jesus makes all things new. (Biblical from Revell)
Heart of Beauty by Danielle Grandinetti — Discover the origin of Crooked Tooth Ranch in this 1870s western retelling of Beauty and the Beast. (Historical Romance from Hearth Spot Press)
Tides of Healing by Sandra Merville Hart — A Southern belle fights to reclaim her home, but will her spying destroy the Union officer she never meant to love? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Mail-Order Hotelier by Edwina Kiernan — California, 1860. A disillusioned woman must gain a mail-order husband or lose her beloved hotel. (Historical Romance from Moliant Publishing)
Snow and the Seven Brothers’ Circus by Megan Miles — Upon her twenty-first birthday, Catherine Penner is set to inherit her late parents’ vast estate and thriving coal mines, if she can make it to her birthday. An undiagnosed wasting disease threatens to steal her life, leaving her parents’ legacy in the hands of her cold guardian. As Catherine wrestles with the hopeless meaning of her short life and her fragile health, it becomes clear that something sinister is playing with her future. Will she find enough hope to push through to a promising future? Or will her life fade away like her beautiful memories? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Redeeming Rupert by Susan Pope Sloan — Hannah and Rupert must navigate the challenges of a marriage of convenience and learn to fight for each other as they protect their family legacies. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin — Desperate to escape the occupied Netherlands in 1941, Cilla van der Zee agrees to become a spy in Britain. But her plans to betray the Germans and work for the Allied cause are derailed when a suspicious Royal Navy officer finds her on the shores of his Scottish home. (Historical Romance from Revell)
The Bandit’s Redemption by KyLee Woodley — A holdup gone wrong, a reluctant outlaw, and the captive she’s sworn to guard. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Chilled to the Bone: A Jake Sledge Mystery by BD Lawrence — A prominent attorney is found murdered outside his River City office. Jake Sledge and his partner, Bobo Johnson, are drawn into a case that quickly spirals out of control. They uncover chilling connections to frozen evidence, shadowy underworld figures, notorious neo-Nazis, and a dangerous game involving the high-stakes casino industry. The lawyer’s death is only the beginning. (Crime Mystery, Independently Published)
Whispers of Fortune by Mary Connealy — In 1875 California, Brody MacKenzie arrives at Two Hearts Ranch on a mission to find his runaway brothers, worried they may have fallen into harm. Instead, he finds them thriving at the ranch’s school and orphanage under the care of Ellie Hart, a woman with a heart as resilient as the land she calls home. When the boys show him a mysterious journal that has been guiding their travels and may hold the key to a lost treasure, Brody and Ellie are captivated by the possibility of a thrilling adventure. With winter approaching, Brody and Ellie race against time to decipher cryptic clues and unearth the hidden fortune. (Western Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])
Whispers and Flame by Demi Griffin —
A new generation haunted by their parents’ legacy must find a way to save their world. A new generation was poised for leadership in Everlasting. Secrets kept by their parents hindered what should have been a seamless transition. When Everlasting faces destruction through a massive flood, the newly chosen Sentinels must decide how to respond. Would they transition into their destined roles or adapt to present circumstances? When the king of the water domain becomes a threat of epic proportions would the next generation be equipped to defend the foundations of Everlasting? (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)
A Hundred Magical Reasons by Laura DeNooyer — This split-time novel (early 1900s and 1980) is a whimsical and poignant story rooted in a girl’s childhood friendship with The Wizard of Oz Author, L. Frank Baum, and his influence across four generations. (Literary Historical)
For No Apparent Reason by SK Derban — A calloused murder, a chance discovery – two unplanned events become the catalyst that proves: “in all things, God works for good…” (Legal Mystery)
Bronze and Brokenness-Midianites by Christine Dillon — Reuel rejected all the gods, and Jael followed his lead. But is what she has all she’ll ever have? Why does her sister, Zura, find such hope in the God of Israel, even though she remains blind? All are broken, but can they, like bronze, be recast? (Biblical Historical)
The Seed’s Price by Erin Greneaux — A special seed might help Everly find her lost cat, but is she willing to pay the price? (Children’s/Middle-grade)
Uncovering the Truth by Carol J Post — When Alyssa Anderson stumbles upon her ex-boyfriend’s illegal art theft operation, she goes on the run—and narrowly escapes a drive-by shooting. With the help of her high school sweetheart, Spencer Cavanaugh, and his service dog, Apollo, Alyssa tries to stay one step ahead of her ex who will do anything to find her. (Romantic Suspense)
Mara: The Unseen Battle by Blossom Turner — Mara holds a secret she must bury…if she wants to survive. A story of faith and the power of the unseen.. (Supernatural Suspense)
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 Empowereds by Janette Rallison, an adult dystopian romantic suspense. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:
Twenty-one-year-old Charity Huntington has spent her life in hiding, dodging a government that hunts down Empowereds—those with forbidden abilities. Her father is one of the last remaining psychics, and their family lives as harvesters, working in isolation to avoid the authorities.
She knows the rules: keep their family secret, trust no one, and never draw attention.
Charity especially ought to be wary of the new hire, Enzo. The man is tall, dark, and a bit too cocky. He also has a mysterious past and some serious gun skills that don’t match his story.
Of course, knowing the rules and following them are two different things when a guy looks as good as Enzo. She’s in danger in more ways than one.
Enzo Valdez is a government officer tasked with a deadly mission: go undercover, locate the psychic hiding among the harvesters, and eliminate them with extreme prejudice.
But when he meets Charity—captivating, kind, and everything he didn’t expect—his loyalty begins to waver.
Falling for her could mean betraying everything he’s sworn to uphold…but resisting her may be impossible.
And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.
