Tag: Trinity Lakes

24 August 2024

It’s Aussie August!

… and a bunch of top Australian authors have teamed together to introduce you to some of the best of Aussie fiction. (And one Kiwi—me.)

So if you’re looking for something to read this winter/spring, click here to check out Aussie August, featuring:

Narelle Atkins
Liz Chapman
Amanda Deed
Christine Dillon
Jenny Glazebrook
Iola Goulton
Sheridan Lee
Carolyn Miller
Jennifer Mistmorgan
Meredith Resce
Jessica Wakefield

The novels in the promotion include all three finalists in the Adult Fiction category of the 2024 CALEB Awards from Omega Writers, Australia’s network for Christian writers. The finalists are:

Where Our Hearts Lie by Jenny Glazebrook
Broken Spirit by Sheridan Lee
Heart in the Clouds by Jennifer Mistmorgan

The Aussie August lineup also includes several other CALEB winners:

The Game by Amanda Deed (2010)
Grace in the Shadows by Christine Dillon (2019)
In Want of a Wife by Meredith Resce (2022)

I recently read a blog post by Australian book reviewer Jenny Blake where talked about how she prefers promotions that are all Christian stories, rather than a mix of Christian and clean fiction.

While I haven’t read all the novels in the promotion, I have read most of them and can confirm they are Christian fiction, not just fiction written by Christians or “clean reads”.

The two authors I haven’t read are Sheridan Lee and Liz Chapman, and I’m looking forward to reading Broken Spirit and Valerie Rose soon … just as soon as I get the draft of Always in My Heart off to my fellow Trinity Lakes authors to beta read.

Jenny also mentioned how much she’s enjoying her two-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited (aka KU), which is a good time to point out that all the Trinity Lakes novels are in KU …

So if you’re looking for something to read on Kindle, check out Aussie August. And if you prefer paper books, most of the titles are available from Koorong or Amazon.

31 March 2023

First Line Friday #278 | The Ocean Between Us by Meredith Resce

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 Ocean Between Us by Australian author Meredith Resce.

This is the second book in the new Trinity Lakes Romance series, set in the small Washington of Trinity Lakes, and featuring an Australian heroine.

Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

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

About The Ocean Between Us

Alanah has set off on a trip of a lifetime.

Her best friend from high school, Sasha Kennedy, has invited her to Trinity Lakes, Washington State, to be part of her wedding party.

South Australia to Trinity Lakes is literally the other side of the world, so Alanah has a full schedule of adventure planned while she’s away. A summer camp counsellor; a trip to Canada; Sight-seeing in New York and Boston; and avoiding Sasha’s twin-brother, Caleb.

But a silly accident puts Sasha out of commission for all the planned adventures, and Caleb is sent to retrieve his former high school sweetheart from the airport. Eleven years should be enough time to have cooled the love Alanah and Caleb once shared. Should be, but apparently not. This is not a great thing to acknowledge considering Caleb has just announced his engagement to someone else.

Six months of avoiding Caleb—worse—avoiding feelings about Caleb—is going to be a long time.

Find The Ocean Between Us 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!

27 February 2023

Book Review | Never Find Another You by Narelle Atkins

Never Find Another You is the first book in the new multi-author Trinity takes contemporary Christian romance series.

Here’s the series description:

Welcome to Trinity Lakes, the warm and welcoming small town in east Washington state filled with charm, family, and friends, where fresh starts, second chances, and romance abounds. You’ll meet cowboys and swoony bachelors, sweet and sassy ladies, and your new best friends. This series of sweet and clean standalone Christian romances will warm your heart, inspire your faith, and bring a smile to your soul.

Hannah is the owner of a lakefront rowing club, part of the trust set up by her father, ex-golf pro Wayne Gilbertson. Hannah is very much her father’s daughter—not least because she doesn’t get on with her mother. Then there is Hannah’s beloved and opinionated grandmother, who wants to set her up with the new Australian tradesman in town …

Joel Manning has come to Trinity Lakes to escape a bad relationship—and he’s not looking to start another. But perhaps God has other idea. Why else would he have met Hannah, who shares his faith, and so many of his hobbies. Unfortunately, her mother hates him.

While there is an almost instant attraction between Hannah and Joel, they both have several obstacles to overcome if they are to formalize their relationship—such as Joel’s life in Australia, Hannah’s mother, and a newly revealed family secret.

One of my favourite aspects of Never Find Another You was the faith aspect.

Hannah and Joel are both Christians who try to put God first in their decisions. That’s not to say they are perfect (who wants to read a novel about perfect people?) But they are trying, and they remind each other (and the reader) of several significant spiritual truths.

Never Find Another You is an excellent start to what promises to be a fun small-town Contemporary Christian Romance series, featuring a cast of characters from locations ranging from Washington to Australia and New Zealand. Contemporary Christian Romance is one of my favourite genres, and Never Find Another You ticks all the genre boxes—a loveable hero, an intelligent heroine, and a strong faith element.

Recommended for fans of small-town Contemporary Christian Romance.

About Narelle Atkins

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children.

A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle’s contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Find Narelle Atkins online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About Never Find Another You

Her heart belongs in Trinity Lakes.

Hannah Gilbertson has deep roots in her small East Washington home town, including a lake named after her family. Sporty and hard working, she loves running the rowing club and supporting the town’s water recreation tourism. She’s determined to avoid dating and becoming entangled in her mother’s matchmaking schemes, and she wants to prove to her successful father that she’s worthy of carrying on his legacy.

Joel Manning left behind his life in Sydney, Australia, and a broken heart, to start over in Trinity Lakes. A tiler by trade, he’s embarking on a year long working vacation adventure, and he’s not looking for love.

The handsome Aussie captures Hannah’s interest when she hires him to do repair work at her rowing club. Joel is drawn to the beautiful American, and values spending time with her. Their shared faith and love for kayaking lays the foundation for their friendship to become something more.

A shocking secret combined with family upheaval leads to more questions than answers, and threatens to push Joel and Hannah apart to faraway shores. Can their love overcome the miles between them?

A fish out of water, opposites attract, small town contemporary Christian romance. Visit Trinity Lakes and meet the fun and quirky characters who value family, faith, and happily-ever-after.

Find Never Find Another You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads