Book Recommendation – The One Who Got Away by Tara Grace Ericson

Book Description:

The relationship is fake. But the sparks are real.
Can these best friends rekindle a second chance at first love? Or will they both end up burned?

Right here at the Minden Fire Department is exactly where I belong. But when I became Captain Storm, apparently it meant I needed a wife. Or at least, that’s what my mom’s friends think.

When Krystal comes back to town, I don’t know what to think. She was my best friend in high school. The truth is I loved her–as much as any eighteen-year-old kid could have. I think she loved me, too.

But she left, anyway.

I really do understand why. She had dreams to chase in Hollywood. How could I deny her that?

She’s here now, though. For eight weeks. And she’s taking over the fire department charity auction while her mom recovers from her fall, which means working with me.

I know we’re just friends. She’s going back to LA after the auction, but maybe her presence could get my mom’s friends off my back for a minute. We’ll just let people assume there is more to our friendship… No harm, no foul. I really could use the break from my personal matchmakers’ attention.

And I won’t say no to a little extra time with Krystal. I’m probably torturing myself. Friends is all we’ll ever be. Even a fake relationship can’t change the fact that she was The One Who Got Away.

Visit Second Chance Fire Station and discover the small town stories of faith, friendships, and forever happy endings that Tara Grace Ericson is known for.

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading The One Who Got Away, set in the fictional small town of Minden, Indiana. Bryce is a firefighter who grew up in Minden and always loved Krystal. He was heartbroken when Krystal graduated high school and left town for the bright lights of Hollywood.

Fast forward fifteen years, and Krystal is temporarily back in Minden to help her mother recuperate after a nasty fall. Bryce accidentally stumbles into a fake relationship with Krystal, and he sees the advantages in stopping the town folk from playing matchmaker. Krystal is on the cusp of scoring her first leading role in a faith based movie. She reignites her old friendship with Bryce but she believes they can’t have a future together.

I loved journeying with Bryce and Krystal as they overcame obstacles in the story on their path to a second chance at love. I gained intriguing insights into Bryce’s firefighter working life and the unique job challenges he faced. The side characters are fun and I appreciated the story connections with The Bloom Sisters series.

I’m looking forward to reading Jake and Monica’s romance story in the next book in the Second Chance Fire Station series. I recommend The One Who Got Away to contemporary romance readers who like second chance and fake relationship romances with a firefighter hero and a relevant faith element in the story.

Christian Fiction New Releases: February 2024

Over the Rainbow by Meredith Resce

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, Arianne Rayne was playing college basketball and looking forward to a permanent future with her boyfriend.

This year, she is learning to live with disability.
After walking away from an accident he’d caused by reckless driving, her boyfriend walked away from her. The uncertainty of how life would look now that she had lost mobility was enough for him to break the relationship, and her heart.

Coming to Trinity Lakes to live with her stable, unflappable grandparents is hope for a new beginning and a chance to heal her heart. Away from her parents’ cloistered, cotton-wool approach, she hopes to learn how to live independently with the help of physiotherapist and trainers at the local gym.

Until she meets Matthew Kennedy. He might be buff and good looking, but he has no idea about how to relate to someone living with disability. He’s eligible, and he is certainly accessible, given he is one of her personal trainers, but will he ever see beyond her wheelchair? Arianne’s heart tells her it’s unlikely.

Until she is stranded, and Matthew is her only hope of getting home.

Book #8 of the Trinity Lakes Romance series (can be read as a standalone)
An enemies to lovers, small town, contemporary Christian romance.
Visit Trinity Lakes and meet the fun and quirky characters who value family, faith, and happily-ever-after.

Drive You Crazy by Jessica Kate

Fans of Emily Henry and Gilmore Girls will adore this swoon-worthy enemies-to-love romance about how faith, family and small towns are never as simple as they seem.

Bubbly newspaper editor Ashley Anderson is ecstatic to finally call this small town in Washington State ‘home’—until she accidentally angers her newspaper’s biggest advertisers, and they boycott. Her neighbor Justin has the family connections to get the town back on her side—but asking for help from the man she’s nicknamed ‘Dracula’ is a last resort.

Living next door, rebel-with-a-cause teacher Justin Hastings can’t escape Amity Creek fast enough. But when a good deed goes awry, it’s his fault that Ashley’s car is out of action, and they’re forced to carpool until he can make things right.

Thrust into one another’s daily lives, Ashley and Justin learn that little is black-and-white—not small town life, not family, and not each other. But there’s a fork in the road, and these two are destined for separate paths. Can the road less travelled ever lead them back to love?

Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in this must-read inspirational romance about the complexities—and the beauty—of true love in all its forms.

Rocky Road by Becky Wade

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy “fake romance”! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.

After the Frost by Milla Holt

He’s a widower who has lost the perfect wife. So, why is he drawn to a woman who’s not the marrying kind?

Steinar is adjusting to life as a single dad of seven-year-old twins. He hoped that moving back to his home country would bring healing to his little family, but settling into their new home in a small Norwegian town is proving harder than he thought. His children struggle with the language and miss their life in England. Getting involved in the community might be the answer, and he’s happy to volunteer in the town’s Christmas festival.

Reidun bucks traditional roles and never thought of herself as wife material, nor the mothering type. But now that she’s the only single woman left in her friend group, she’s spending a lot more time alone than she’d like. She needs a new project to keep herself busy, and planning her small town’s first ever Christmas festival sounds perfect.

Amid the twinkling lights and festive preparations, Reidun doesn’t expect the single dad and his feisty twins to find the soft spot in her heart. They’re used to the perfect homemaking wife and mom, and she’s anything but.

This Christmas, they’re all about to learn that sometimes God’s perfect gifts come in the most unlikely packaging.

After the Frost is Book 5 in Milla Holt’s Seasons of Faith Christian romance series. Five friends were in the same wedding in a small Norwegian town over twenty years ago. Four bridesmaids, one bride. Now, two decades on, each woman learns that God’s timing is perfect as they find forever love later in life.

Finally Forever by Karin Beery

Former competitive dancer Caroline Novak dreams of leaving the corporate world to work with special needs women at the Pathways nonprofit, but the organization can’t afford a fulltime director.

All-American defensive end Ben Allen was on his way to the NFL when a knee injury sent him home and into the same office as Caroline, his best friend’s older sister. When Pathways participates in a Dancing with the Stars-inspired fundraiser, Caroline quickly volunteers, and Ben joins her as the local “star.”

It doesn’t take long for Ben to realize it’s more than a dance competition, and Caroline is more than his best friend’s sister, but after two failed engagements, she’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man. When the NFL calls Ben, it looks like his dream might finally come true—but it could cost them the championship and Caroline her heart.

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

Finding Courage…Finding New Love
A reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, Nick Sheridan is determined to turn over a new leaf. That pledge includes no dating for a year. It’s not a difficult promise to keep—until a car dangling over a cliff leads him to Kate Darby. The daredevil in him snaps into action and he saves her. But at what cost? With Kate in his life, keeping his pledge is going to be far more difficult than he ever imagined.

Kate Darby has no intention of staying in the mountain town of Meadows any longer than it takes for her grandmother to recover from a stroke. Her Los Angeles advertising career is her passion. But when she swerves to avoid hitting a California condor and nearly dies, she breathes a prayer that changes her life. If God is real, she wants to know. She also finds herself falling for new Christian Nick Sheridan. That’s a problem for a woman caught between her old world and a new one.

Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone

Can they find her son in time?

Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts.

Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch.

Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them.

Seashells Tell No Tales by Amanda Tru

A remote island with secrets that the waves and seashells don’t even dare whisper about.

Faith Marlowe never breaks a promise. Especially not a promise she made to her dying brother. Easier said than done when the promise includes taking care of an injured and embittered war vet. Not to mention having to hide who she truly is in order to keep her vow.

Army Ranger Vet, Gideon Sundquist (Sunny) doesn’t want help. He’s exiled on an island in the middle of the South Pacific and hiding from the world for a reason. However, losing both his legs forces him to accept care from a nurse. But if she—or anyone else for that matter—finds out about the black ops mission where he was injured, it could put all their lives at risk.

On a beautiful, remote island in the Pacific, Faith will try to teach Sunny to live again. But if the tales of their secrets are told, neither will see the sun rise in the Suamalie Islands again.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Much Ado about Romance by Susan Page Davis, Shannon Sue Dunlap & Linda Fulkerson

A collection of three novellas inspired by Shakespearean romantic comedies.

The Marry Wives of Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlap—Mrs. Augusta Page knows best—for her daughter, Anne, and the whole town of Sweetheart, Texas. When Anne’s former boyfriend, Conner Fenton, returns after many years of absence, it’s a rocky road to reconciliation. Joshua attempts to rekindle their romance, but Anne’s wounded heart never forgave him when he left her behind for the big city.

Augusta enlists the help of her longtime buddy Veronica “Ronnie” Ford to do a little matchmaking, but obstacles abound. Her husband is against the romance, and foolish friend-of-the-family John Falstaff has taken a shine to Anne and asked for assistance. But the biggest obstacle is her daughter’s stubborn heart. Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford have their work cut out to inspire Anne Page to join the ranks of the “marry” wives of Sweetheart.

The Tempest in the Bay by Susan Page Davis—A famous writer has retreated to an island home with only his daughter. For ten years, he’s hidden away and not sent his publisher any new manuscripts. His daughter Violet is now 20 and wondering if it’s time for her to see more of the world since her contact with the mainland is only through Darrell, a rather sluggish man from the shore community who brings out supplies once a month.

Paul’s brother Barney and the CEO of his publisher’s company set out on a yacht to track him down. But a storm intervenes, and when the sailing party lands on his island, Paul isn’t sure he wants to go back.

Much Ado about Matrimony by Linda Fulkerson—Tricia Waters has resigned herself to the fact she’ll never have a happily ever after, so she focuses on making her cousin’s upcoming wedding a memorable one. But when she discovers her ex-fiancé is the best man, she vows to evade him. That is, until the two must work together to prevent the happy couple from breaking up.

Reeling from a personal tragedy, Dr. Ben McIntyre travels to serve as his buddy’s best man only to discover the maid of honor is the love of his life. Or she was, until she ended their engagement six years earlier. He plans to keep his distance from Tricia. When circumstances keep pushing them to work together, Ben learns that avoidance is futile.

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

Taunting riddles.
A deadly string of heists.
Two broken hearts trapped in a killer’s game.

Christian O’Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until her career was destroyed. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

Unexpected Amish Protectors by Jo Ann Brown

She wasn’t interested in love…

Until she got to know the real him

When Aveline Lampel’s wayward calf goes missing, she reluctantly accepts the help of notorious flirt Lucas Kuepfer. Shockingly, their search leads them to a kidnapped child, and in keeping the girl safe, Aveline and Lucas are plunged into the limelight. To dodge intrusive reporters they must work together. And these unlikely allies soon discover that everything they thought they knew about each other is wrong…

A Mommy for Easter by Linda Goodnight

She’d do anything to be a mother…

But is she ready to face the past?

Back in his hometown after a decade, Jake Colter and his adorable toddler are a reminder of everything Rachel Hamby lost. And working on the same Easter committee with her ex-husband makes avoidance impossible. Throw in a small town’s matchmaking scheme and Jake’s sweet dog, and soon Rachel’s falling for the little girl…and her father. But will Rachel risk a second chance with the painful secret she’s keeping?

United by the Twins by Jill Kemerer

They can’t agree on anything…

Except how to care for his twin nieces

After inheriting a building from her great-aunt, Reagan Mayer moves to Wyoming to open the small-town shop she’s always dreamed of. There’s just one problem: rancher Marc Young wants the storefront for his mother. But when a family emergency puts a pause on their dispute, leaving them to care for his twin nieces, can Reagan and Marc find a way to communicate, to trust…and to love?

The Amish Beekeeper’s Dilemma by Patrice Lewis

She loves her job…

How far will she go to keep it?

After her fiancé abandons her, Rebecca Hilty finds herself beekeeping in Montana and dreaming of inheriting Caleb Graber’s farm. But Caleb’s great-nephew and heir, Jacob, wants the land all to himself. Forced to work together, Rebecca and Jacob are determined to prove their worth, until Caleb declares an inheritance requirement that shocks them both! Now Rebecca is faced with an impossible choice—marry Jacob or lose the farm for good…

The Cowboy’s Secret Past by Tina Radcliffe

He’s not the same man he was

But maybe now he’s ready to be a father

Since leaving his wild rodeo days behind, rancher Trevor Morgan has sobered up and built a faith-filled life. So he’s shocked when the woman caring for his grandfather intrudes on that solitude. Nurse Hope Burke has hidden motives for coming to the Lazy M Ranch—she believes Trevor is the father of her orphaned nephew. Can a loving aunt and a wary cowboy change a little boy’s life forever?

Recapturing Her Heart by Jennifer Slattery

What she’s always wished for…

Might be right here at home.

When she loses her job, professional dancer Harper Moore returns to her Texas hometown with one goal in mind—leaving again. But first she needs money for her big move, even if that means working for her ex-boyfriend. CJ Jenkins is certain he can help the single mom and keep his still-bruised heart intact. But as old feelings resurface, can they let go of the past for a new dream together?

Undercover Colorado Conspiracy by Jodie Bailey

An undercover mission

turns into a fight for survival

To expose a crooked adoption agency, military investigators Thalia Renner and Phillip Campbell pose as a married couple at a mountain resort. But when they become the target of unknown enemies and deadly assaults, they wonder if their cover has been blown. As they investigate, they learn the truth is far more sinister…and the consequences could cost them their lives.

Lethal Mountain Pursuit by Christy Barritt

Hunted by a killer…

with a K-9 standing guard.

After witnessing several murders, Natalie Pearson narrowly dodges death but knows the killer is still out there—searching for her. And even her sister’s remote cabin in the Smoky Mountains can’t keep her safe. After fleeing into the woods, she runs into former detective Andrew Moore and his K-9. Trusting Andrew is Natalie’s only chance for survival, but together they must outwit a relentless villain…before they become his final victims.

Protecting the Littlest Witness by Jaycee Bullard

Can he save a child…

from an unknown threat?

After her brother-in-law is imprisoned for murdering her sister, Etta Mitchell will do anything to keep her five-year-old niece—a potential witness—safe. But when their home is broken into, resulting in the assailant’s death, Etta has no choice but to accept help from her ex-fiancé, Steven Hunt. Can they bring a criminal to justice and protect her niece…before hit men track them down?

Kidnapping Cold Case by Laura Scott

The key to staying alive

lies buried in forgotten memories

Ten years ago, forensic artist Jacy Urban escaped her abductor with no memory of that night. Now two teenage girls are missing, and all signs indicate that the same kidnapper is back on the hunt. When Jacy is attacked, it’s clear she’s the assailant’s next target. Only Detective Cash Rawson is there to rescue her—again. Can Cash help Jacy recover her memories before she’s silenced for good?

Deadly Treasure Hunt by Sommer Smith

A search for a murderer

…and a hunt for buried treasure.

Sheriff Caldwell Thorpe is investigating his wife’s homicide when her cousin, Jayde Cambrey, arrives on the island of Deadman’s Cay looking for the same answers. Only, her arrival draws the attention of the killer, leaving Caldwell to protect Jayde. Someone doesn’t want them discovering what happened—or the connection to a legendary lost treasure. And the only thing more dangerous than buried secrets is a murderer hiding the truth…

Missing in Montana by Amity Steffen

Attempted abductions. Missing teens.

Unraveling the truth could be fatal.

After being forced off the road while biking, forensic accountant Holly Nichols is sure of one thing: someone wants her dead. Injured and terrified, she runs into the last person she expects to see—her high school sweetheart, Seth Montgomery. Vowing to protect her, Seth takes Holly and her daughter back to his family ranch. But with danger stalking them, untangling the mystery behind the attacks could be the last thing they do…

Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink

The ground in still-icy Yosemite National Park isn’t stable, and K-9 handler Von Sharpe fears the worst. But his worries are pushed aside when he sees an SUV viciously forced off the road…with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. It’s only when Stella Rivers steps out of the vehicle that the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake. 

When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child.

Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time to get to safety. And every fissure reveals a new secret that will shake them to their foundation…

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

As a child, artist and potter Dani Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents. With no memory of the incident or her true identity, she was forced to take on a new name and a new life, hidden away in Montana for the past 25 years.

Mae Richmond has spent the same stretch of time searching for her granddaughter, who went missing the night her daughter and son-in-law were murdered. Convinced the woman she saw in a pottery magazine feature is the woman she’s been searching for, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks Dani down.

Skeptical but curious, Dani sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and reclaim her true identity. But someone close to her is determined to keep the truth of what happened all those years ago hidden.

One Final Target by Janice Cantore

Two wounded heroes shattered by tragedy and paralyzed by guilt and must find their footing and work together to catch a killer.

A warrant service in the San Bernardino Mountains goes horribly wrong when an IED blast kills four police officers. Devastated by the loss of her team, the lone survivor, Long Beach sergeant Jodie King, struggles with her guilt and grief, especially as the case remains open with no clear leads or suspects. Weeks after the explosion, Jodie retires from the police department and returns to the mountain bomb site seeking peace and resolution . . . only to find herself in the crosshairs once again.

Sam Gresham just happens to be in the right place at the right time when shots are fired at Jodie. The newest detective for the county sheriff’s department, Sam is assigned to work the IED, his first case back after his own traumatic loss. While Sam sees an opportunity to help Jodie heal from her lingering scars, Jodie hopes fresh eyes will bring new insight to the investigation. Because after this latest shooting, one thing seems clear: Jodie has always been the intended target—and the threat may be much closer to her than anyone wants to admit.

Janice Cantore delivers another pulse-pounding contemporary romantic suspense novel about overcoming grief and learning to trust again.

Rebuilding Joy by Regina Rudd Merrick

Previously published as Rebuilding Joy by Bellville Street Books.

Single mom Darcy Emerson Sloan has enough to do raising twins and running a restaurant. She’s doing fine on her own and doesn’t need the complications of a man in her life. But when her café turns into a crime scene, putting her and her children in danger, she begins to take interest in the handsome young FBI agent that comes on the scene.

Contractor Del Reno is as even-keeled as they come, but even he has his limits. And Darcy Sloan has pushed him too far. Every time he tries to help, it backfires. But now that Darcy and her kids are in trouble, he has no choice but to come to her aid and to protect her. She’s just going to have to deal with it. Secret tunnels, organized crime, adorable children, and a wedding.

Just another day in Clementville.

Long Road Home by Lisa Phillips

Kenna’s in the crosshairs of a serial murderer.

Or is she?

Does it count as avoiding Jax’s mother if Kenna spent the winter in Wisconsin on a case instead of visiting her sort-of-boyfriend in San Diego?
Kenna is still wrestling with the question weeks later. She uncovers a cold case suspect and the answer to decades old questions, all with the help of her new trusty sidekick. What starts as a convenient place to park her RV out of the snow gifts Kenna with a new ally, and weeks spent in this northern peninsula community brings yet more friendships she isn’t expecting.

The truth will out if she has anything to do with it.

Kenna discovers the location of a mass grave site and is co-opted into helping the local sheriff with a covert mission. Everyone seems to have their own motive—even the guy she’s falling for. But when Jax’s boots hit the ground things immediately go sideways in more than one way. Loyalty could cost her the new friendship she’s found, but the course of justice never runs smoothly. Especially when there is more than one case at play here. Kenna leans hard on her new faith to answer this one.

Her brand of justice won’t quit. Ever.

Cold Silence by Susan Sleeman

When his country needs him…
For Green Beret Travis Chapman, special operations and covert missions are his life. When his country calls, he reports without question. Until now. Until he’s tasked with protecting a woman he’d once loved and sent him packing. He’d rather go AWOL than spend time with civilian researcher Claire Reed. Even when he learns that her vital research project is stolen, he thinks twice about seeing her again.

Will he heed the call if it means seeing the woman who’d once broken his heart?
But everything changes when he hears that the prototype and specs for the Army’s latest virtual training program are worthless without knowledge only Claire possesses, making her a target for abduction by the clever thief. Despite their past, Travis won’t let anything happen to Claire and puts aside his feelings to go undercover to keep her safe. Can he convince Claire to rely on him to keep the training program out of the hands of subversive military groups and keep Claire alive?

A Day Ago by Luana Ehrlich

The world of Attorney Mylas Grey changes forever one Saturday morning in May.
Unfortunately, he isn’t prepared for the situation, the consequences, or the danger, and he sure isn’t prepared for the female distraction.

He isn’t prepared for the situation . . .
Mylas always thought the owner of the McKinney Law Firm, where he’s employed, would outlive him, so when the owner suffers a fatal heart attack, Mylas suddenly faces an uncertain future, his hope of a partnership shattered.

He isn’t prepared for the consequences . . .
When Mylas learns he’s mentioned in the will, he expects to receive a small token of appreciation for his years of service to the firm, but then, when everyone assembles to hear the reading of the will, things take a bizarre turn with unexpected consequences.

He isn’t prepared for the danger . . .
Before his world started spinning out of control, Mylas was searching for a killer, the person who strangled the wife of his client. As he gets closer to identifying the murderer, he suddenly realizes his investigation has put his own life in danger.

And then, there’s the distraction . . .
While Mylas is searching for the killer, an old friend shows up, someone Mylas hopes will be the special lady who completes his life and breaks his cycle of bad relationships.

How will Mylas deal with these life-changing events? Will he follow Mac’s advice and trust God for his future, or will he depend on his own strength to get him through?

A Day Ago is the prequel to One Day Gone, Book I in the best-selling Mylas Grey Mystery Series, and tells the story of Mylas Grey before he became a private investigator, before he became a man of faith, before he met the woman who set his heart on fire.

8 Down by Kimberly Woodhouse

8 bodies down.

8 more lives at stake.

Investigator Carrie Kintz is new blood with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation in Anchorage. But with a serial killer on the loose, there’s no easing into the job. It’s sink or swim. The only clues to help law enforcement stop this madman are the taunts he drops into crossword puzzles across the country–always in the same 8 DOWN position.

Carrie is desperate to prove her worth to the force and the community by catching the killer. But when she discovers signs that these deaths are just the tip of the iceberg in a frighteningly elaborate cyberattack, it’s time to admit she needs help.

Calling in security specialist Scott Patteson for his expertise seems like the right move–until Carrie realizes that he may be a dangerous distraction for her heart. With her faith fading in the face of horror and uncertainty and her career in danger of ending, this is no time for flirtation.

But with a killer who is determined to prove that he’s smarter than everyone else, it may be impossible to fight both the madman and their feelings for each other . . .

Birds Alive! by Jen Dodrill

Peg—widow, mom blogger, and empty nester—is desperate for a new hobby. After a late-night blog post leaves her dedicated Mamma Birds followers fearful that she’s closing her blog, she adopts a reader’s suggestion and forms the Empty Nesters Birding Group. On their first outing overlooking beautiful Pensacola Bay, a birder dies from an allergic reaction to peanuts in the birdseed. Seed that should be peanut-free.

A hurricane barrels toward the Gulf Coast, and Peg’s overbearing, animal-collecting, but well-meaning mother-in-law crashes Peg’s empty nest. After the hurricane passes, Peg checks on her new birder friends and finds one wounded and dying. The assailant is still there and knocks Peg down a steep staircase. Stuck in a boot with a broken foot and still reeling from the two murders, Peg recruits a fellow birder and her mother-in-law to help solve the crime. She even teams up with the detective investigating the case, whose dimples draw her in a way she hasn’t experienced in years.

A Reluctant Melody by Sandra Ardoin

Romance. Secrets. Second Chances.

Kit Barnes’ drinking ruined more lives than his own. Now sober, he wants to make amends by opening a mission for drunkards. The most suitable location belongs to Joanna Cranston Stewart, a love from his sordid past and the person he hurt the most.

A pariah among her peers, Joanna is all too eager to sell her property and flee the rumors that she sent her late husband to an early grave. But she will let the gossips talk and the walls of her rundown property crumble around her before she’ll allow Kit back into her
life.

When a blackmailer threatens to reveal her long-held secret, she must choose between trusting Kit or seeing her best friend trapped in an abusive marriage.

Will Joanna risk another betrayal? Or will she find a way through the pain of the past to love again?

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

Miss Clara Marie Stanton’s family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren’t insane.

London, England, 1860
When Clara’s ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it’s all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society’s prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara’s Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.

Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara’s dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer’s trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself–at any cost.

Protecting the Mountain Man’s Treasure by Misty M. Beller

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, loyalty, a hidden fortune…and a bride he can’t remember marrying.

Jude Coulter is far more comfortable in his family’s sapphire mine tucked in the Montana mountains than on the bustling streets of New York City, where he’s been sent to deliver a shipment of gems. His relief at boarding the train for the first leg of his journey home is short-lived when an accident renders him unconscious.

Angela Larkin worked hard to earn this assignment for the Treasury—an undercover mission to determine the source of the sapphires brought each year for auction in the city. When an accident causes her target to lose his recent memory, Angela jumps at the opportunity to create the ideal ruse. Jude seems surprised to learn the two of them had married and were returning from a glorious wedding trip, but his severe head injury keeps him from protesting…for now.

But the accident is far from the worst threat they face. When enemies close in, Angela and Jude must depend on each other to survive the treacherous journey home. As the danger mounts, so too does an attraction neither of them anticipated. But can their love withstand the revelation of their tangled beginnings?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with a pretend marriage, amnesia, undercover agents, and a love worth treasuring far more than riches.

While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden

Amid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.

Katherine Schneider’s life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar.

Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps his deepest secrets hidden at all costs.

Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy

Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father’s malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives–and their hearts–when danger threatens their every step?

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love–and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne’s son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker’s failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man–and for herself!

Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it’s not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker–who clearly has eyes for someone else.

Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?

An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey

A female auto racer, a mechanic determined to walk away from the sport, and the race of a lifetime…

When young widow Flora Montfort returns to America, she’s determined to use her training in auto racing to support herself and her French mother-in-law—even if female drivers are rare in 1905. So when the owner of a successful sporting goods store hires her to drive in the Glidden Tour, a ten-day race through New England, she jumps at the opportunity.

Jensen Gable must be convinced that joining the team as the ride-along mechanic is worth the risk. After losing his best friend in a tragic racing accident, Jensen has vowed never to participate in the sport again. But his promise to protect that friend’s younger brother, also on the tour, is the only thing that outweighs his fear of the dangers.

As they race through New England, Flora and Jensen find common ground that ignites their interest in each other, but doubts and old enemies come between them. Hazardous road conditions, meddling locals, and competitors who’ll stop at nothing to win—they all conspire to prevent Flora and Jensen from reaching the finish line. As the race of a lifetime heats up, one question rises above all others…can their love find the road that leads to forever?

Relying on the Enemy by Danielle Grandinetti

She’s protecting her children. He’s redeeming his past.
But there’s nothing convenient about saving their patchwork family.

Wisconsin, 1931—All widowed mother Marian Ward wants is to provide for her girls. However, she faces the dead of winter with no income and dwindling resources. Then she overhears a nefarious conversation, putting her life and that of her children in immediate danger.

Aiming to make amends to the Wards, Gilbert steps in when the threat to Marian escalates. It costs him dearly. Either lose his career or marry her, and be tied to his past until death do them part.

He leaves the decision to Marian, who will do anything to protect her girls, even marry the son of the man who ruined her family. How will their fledgling trust prove strong enough to fulfill their vows as winter tightens its grip and desperation stalks at the door?

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

To Marry An English Lord by Robin Lee Hatcher

Sometimes love is a risk worth taking.

Sebastian Whitcombe, Viscount Willowthorpe, comes to America to experience the great Wild West for himself before it disappears for good. The adventure comes with a convenient bonus—it postpones his father’s edict that he take a wife from the British aristocracy. Sebastian isn’t so much against marriage as he is an arranged marriage to the wrong woman.

Jocelyn Overstreet hasn’t returned to her family’s eastern Idaho cattle ranch in six years. She’s far too busy managing the New York City offices of Overstreet Shipping. But when her older brother has a serious run-in with a bison, she returns to the ranch only to find the Overstreet home invaded by visitors from England, one of them a disturbingly handsome viscount who disarms her defenses at every turn.

Sebastian’s future lies in England where the Earl of Hooke is determined to choose his son a wife. New York City holds Jocelyn’s future with scant time for romance, much less marriage. The attraction between her and Sebastian seems doomed to fail.

Amidst the clash of their worlds, Sebastian and Jocelyn find that the risk of love, against all odds, might just be a risk worth taking.

Finally His Bride by Jody Hedlund

A new world. A new hope. An unexpected love.
What life awaits these brides?

With the cotton mills closed and hunger rampant in Manchester, England, Willow Rhodes’s family encourages her to join the bride ship bound for the Pacific Northwest, where she is assured of employment. Willow agrees to go with the hope that eventually she can save enough money for her family to join her.

Rebellious knuckle-boxing champion Caleb Edwards loves Willow more than life itself. But Willow has been adamant that she sees him as a friend and nothing more. Unable to watch her sail away, Caleb uses his prize money to pay for passage to Vancouver Island to be with Willow.

After arriving, Willow finds work as a maid and Caleb is a farmhand on the same property. As Caleb struggles to keep his feelings for Willow from growing, he’ll do anything for her, even take the blame for a theft to keep her safe. As the crime catches up to them, they’re forced to make choices that could finally rip them apart forever.

Love’s Grand Sweet Song by Jennifer Lamont Leo

In 1915, waitress Francie Forrester has a voice like an angel, but few people in her small Midwestern town have ever heard it, except in church. Between working and keeping an eye on her irresponsible mother and younger brother, who has time for music? Her misty daydream of becoming an opera singer must remain exactly that—a dream—until a new friend unexpectedly sets her on a rocky path leading to Chicago’s glittering opera stage. To rise from slinging spaghetti to singing grand opera takes a lot of courage and hard work, but Francie’s up to the challenge. At least, she hopes she is.

Law student Henry Jasper is torn between his strong feelings for Francie and his sense of duty toward his family. After caving to his father’s unreasonable demands, he despairs of ruining his one shot at real happiness. But just when a chance meeting reignites his hope, the dark winds of the Great War threaten to blow it out again.

Filled with Jennifer Lamont Leo’s signature charm and masterful storytelling, this heartwarming historical novel will leave your heart singing Love’s Grand Sweet Song.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

Bestselling author Lynn Austin returns with a luminous work of historical fiction set amid the opulence of Gilded Age New York, where three generations of women in one family must reckon with the choices they have made and their hopes for the future.

New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company—and most of the vast fortune that goes with it—to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.

Under a Desert Sky by DiAnn Mills

A race from danger…straight into the arms of love.

In 1935, socialite Eva Fortier witnesses her grandfather’s murder and must flee New York to ensure her safety. Leaving behind a life of wealth, she seeks refuge in the secluded high desert area of Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.

Navajo doctor Tahoma Benally has his hands full caring for his people’s medical needs. He certainly doesn’t have time to fall in love. But when Tahoma’s father asks him to help fulfill a vow he’d made to Eva’s father, Tahoma has no choice but to oblige his father’s request. In the process he finds himself drawn to the woman he’s promised to protect.

With an elusive killer stalking Eva, and barriers of race and culture standing between her and Tahoma, does love stand a chance of blooming in the desert?

What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma

A Family’s History Is Lost to the Ravages of WWII in Southwest France
 
1942
Noémie Treves, a young, pregnant Jewish woman, had her entire world shattered when she is arrested and taken to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. No sooner does she arrive, though, than she assists in helping two young girls scheduled for transport escape to a nearby maternity hospital. The matron there befriends her and changes her name to help hide her. But nothing goes according to plan, and Hannah finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life.
 
2022
Caitlyn Laurant is haunted by recent events in her life and hopes becoming a nurse on the mission field will help her forget. While in training, she and her friends travel to France where her grandfather was born. What should have been an easy search for his birthplace turns into anything but and reveals secrets that no one alive has ever heard.

Trust and Trickery by Christine Dillon

Everyone he loves is about to be annihilated.

When Danel is suddenly orphaned, his childhood dream of becoming a warrior is lost in the relentless grind of running the family bakery. To make matters worse, his grandfather’s mind has fled and he keeps disturbing the peace with prophecies of doom. Prophecies that seem destined to come true when a vast army encamps on the borders of their lands. Who are these people and why does their god command them to wipe out everyone in Canaan?

The men of Danel’s city are proud of their fighting ability but it soon becomes clear that no battle can succeed against the god who conquered Pharaoh’s armies. Seeking reassurance, Danel turns to a famous fortune teller but she only confirms the terrifying future of his grandfather’s vision. Yet Danel can’t just give up and accept his fate.

But what can a mere baker do to save his family, his city, and his people?

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith

Zara and Noah have walked together with the Creator for their entire lives, and they have done their best in an increasingly wicked and defiant world to raise their three sons to follow in their footsteps. It has been a challenge–and it’s about to get much, much harder.

When the Creator tells her husband to build an ark to escape the coming wrath against the sins of humankind, Zara steps out with him in faith. But the derision and sabotage directed their way from both friends and extended family are difficult to bear, as is knowing that everyone she interacts with beyond her husband, her sons, and their wives is doomed to destruction. And when the ark is finally finished and the animals have been shut up inside, Zara and her family embark on an adventure that will test their patience and their faith as they await deliverance and dry ground.

Experience the story of Noah and the flood like you never have before. With bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith as your guide, you’ll never look at a rainbow the same way again.

The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who’s calling her back to him?

When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh’s shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He’s too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.

Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he’s fascinated with the restoration process–and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.

As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.

On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell’s family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father’s prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she’d resigned herself to a spinster’s life. But Levi Martinson’s gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love–and Deborah’s shaky faith–to the ultimate test.

Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God’s healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

Writer on the Wall by Joanne Bischof

An uplifting series for women who come for the friendships and stay for the views.

Ever since training for her first indoor rock climbing competition, writer and editor, Sadie McGillis has embraced a new love of the sport and the confidence of trying something new. And now that this Colorado book-lover is writing her first novel about these adventures on the wall, and in the single life—the pressure is on!

So begins the second book in the Suddenly Sadie series, where a single woman continues her quest for joy. Along the way, she’ll discover new-found friends, unexpected challenges, a rugged and kind rock climbing instructor, and the faith to make sense of it all. A light-hearted inspirational read about overcoming our fears, and embracing the challenges God has placed before us. Both in life . . . and in the pages. A celebration of adventures for Christian single women, the Suddenly Sadie series is great for women of all ages and walks of life!

Dysfunction Junction by Robin W. Pearson

When three women receive an unexpected phone call that leaves them reeling, they have no other choice but to reckon with a lifetime of memories they’ve long tried to bury. Only in facing the past will they find their path forward.

Frances Mae Livingston’s firm grip of her family’s destructive history makes her hold her husband and four children even closer. But she’s losing bits of herself while proving to everybody and her mama that she’s enough. There’s no way she’ll repeat her mama’s mistakes, even if it kills her.

Annabelle McMillan didn’t have trouble kicking the Eastern North Carolina dust off her feet. The tough part was replanting herself in familiar soil. Now she’s blending her old life with her new husband, stepson, and unborn child. And battling old memories of abandonment and new fears of rejection.

Dr. Charlotte Winters has built a career around helping others sort through their emotional baggage. She’s also spent a lifetime refusing to unpack her own. So what if Charlotte doesn’t recall all that her mama did to her and what her daddy didn’t do for her? Her only mission is to help others help themselves…until the women from her past and the man in her future undo her well-sewn life.

At the junction of healed and hurting, broken and whole, and past and present, three women wrestle with their inability to forgive and forget in this riveting Southern family drama about sisterhood from award-winning author Robin W. Pearson.

Why the Sparrow Cries by Hope Bolinger

Harper hates crowds and has a strong distaste for humanity in general. A summer spent in the bustling city of London was not on her bucket list—especially not tagging along behind her nagging mother.

But when a teen from the Greek Dark Ages mysteriously appears in the very crowded British Museum, Harper decides to rescue the boy who’s even more out of place—and time—than she is. With the help of her uncle, they’ll need to keep Homer away from the British authorities, evade a tomb-robbing ex-archeologist, and figure out how to get this Palikari man back to his own time before he’s captured.

As they escape near-kidnappings, terrible yogurt drinks, and Harper’s mother’s lectures, Harper finds herself warming up to Homer. Something that hasn’t happened with anyone since the incident with her father back in Arizona.

Will she learn to love again? Or will an ex-archeologist snag the historical find of the millennium—and the only person she’s felt safe around in years?

Guardian by Cathy McCrumb

The Recorder’s fate has been sealed, but the Consortium is not the only enemy.

Labeled an aberration by the Consortium, the Recorder is not yet free. Time is running out as an engineered bioweapon wreaks havoc on friend and foe alike.

Stopping both the biological agent and the people who created it is no easy task, especially since the Recorder and her friends are trapped on a research station infested with behemoth insects. Without Consortium technology, the probability of neutralizing the threat falls to nothing. In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name.

Book Recommendation – Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

Book Description:

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven’s guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family’s business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can’t bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger–but because of whom? Despite his best efforts to remain unattached and uninvolved, Cal knows Landry needs him–and he fears he needs her just as much.

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Never Fall Again, the first book in Lynn H. Blackburn’s Gossamer Falls series set in a fictional North Carolina mountain town. Landry is a widow and single mother with a five year old daughter, Eliza, who moved to Gossamer Falls from Arizona to start over. Landry lives at The Haven, an exclusive private resort where she creates and sells her pottery.

Bronwyn Pierce is The Haven’s CEO and Landry’s close friend from Arizona. There’s a long standing feud between the Pierce’s, Quinn’s and Shaw’s who are the three founding families of Gossamer Falls.

Cal Shaw is also a Quinn via his mother and he has been a longtime friend of Bronwyn’s despite their family issues. Landry is saving her hard earned money from The Haven to build a house, and she contracts Cal to build it.

An unexpected fire at The Haven, and the uncertainty surrounding how and why it happened, draws Landry and Cal closer together as more things happen to threaten Landry’s personal safety.

Landry and Cal’s romance is sweet and Landry’s daughter, Eliza, is adorable. I was intrigued by the town dynamics and the complexity of relationships among the side characters. I recommend Never Fall Again to romantic suspense readers who like small town romances where the suspense builds to a nail biting crescendo, and a relevant faith element in the story.

Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Book Recommendation – Rocky Road by Becky Wade

Book Description:

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy “fake romance”! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Rocky Road, the second book in Becky Wade’s Sons of Scandal Romance series set in Maine. Jude Camden is a FBI agent who does his best to avoid the public spotlight that’s always on his famous family. He’s assigned to a case that involves working undercover with Gemma Clare and posing as her boyfriend.

Gemma is a talented perfume creator who has a perfume store in her Maine home town. Her French relatives own the centuries old secret recipe for the magnificent Rhapsodie perfume. Gemma is wary of the FBI due to her French cousin’s illegal business dealings that led to Gemma’s father taking the fall and serving time in prison.

The meet cute between Gemma and Jude at her perfume store is hilarious and adorable. Jude arranges their fake relationship and sets up a sting operation to arrest Gemma’s French cousin. What should be a simple business relationship becomes complicated when Jude and Gemma develop feelings that are against the rules and could compromise the FBI operation.

There are so many things to love about Rocky Road. Jude is a strong protector hero who is torn between duty and love. There are real world consequences if the fake relationship tips into real relationship territory. Gemma’s mother, grandmother, and her 103 year old great grandmother Gracie are all red heads who share a close family bond. I was intrigued by the historical mystery connected to Gracie and her life during WW2.

The series story thread involving Jude’s mother, Fiona, and past family scandals that’s introduced in Memory Lane (book 1) is explored further in the story. I recommend Rocky Road to contemporary romance readers who like law enforcement fake relationship romances with suspense and mystery story threads and a relevant faith element in the story.

Many thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy.

Book Recommendation – One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

Book Description:

Taunting riddles.
A deadly string of heists.
Two broken hearts trapped in a killer’s game.

Christian O’Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until one of her colleagues destroyed her career, blaming her for mishandling evidence. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading One Wrong Move, and I read it quickly (despite struggling with migraine symptoms) because I was hooked into the story and didn’t want to stop reading.

Andi is an insurance investigator who has the job of investigating an art galley heist in Jeopardy Falls, New Mexico. She previously worked for the FBI as a forensic analyst of crime scene evidence. Andi lost her FBI career when she was unfairly set up to take the fall for botched DNA evidence in a crime scene investigation. Andi knows she’s innocent and didn’t make a mistake, but she can’t prove it.

Christian had a rough upbringing with parents who were neglectful and con-artist criminals. The lack of parental guidance led Christian on his own criminal path to juvenile detention where he met Jesus and started turning his life around. Christian is a security expert who designs security systems, and the Jeopardy Falls art gallery is one of the properties he secured. He knows that the thieves are either experts at cracking sophisticated security systems, or there was insider involvement in the heist.

Andi and Christian’s romance was sweet and included many obstacles to overcome as they challenged each other to deal with past emotional baggage. I loved meeting Christian’s siblings and visiting their New Mexico ranch. I appreciated how Harper, Andi’s best friend from her FBI days, was loyal to Andi and prepared to take risks in seeking justice. I recommend One Wrong Move to romantic suspense readers who like action packed suspense with high stakes mixed with a compelling romance and a relevant faith element in the story.

Many thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Christian Fiction New Releases: January 2024

A Genuine Disguise by Rose Fresquez

When love blossoms between a hotel maid and a billionaire in disguise, will the unveiling of his secret identity unite them or break them apart?
Whitney never imagined working at a hotel would be her dream job, but it helps her support her recovering addict mother and sister while saving for her much-needed heart valve replacement. Her mundane routine takes an unexpected turn when a charming new employee joins her team, bringing fresh enthusiasm to her days.

Theo Stone, a self-made billionaire, has come a long way since his humble beginnings as a South American baby adopted by a family in the States. When he unexpectedly inherits a struggling hotel from a long-lost uncle, selling the property seems like the logical choice. However, his brother persuades him to go undercover as an employee to better understand the hotel’s issues. Theo agrees, not expecting to fall for the captivating team leader, Whitney.

As Whitney and Theo grow closer with each room they clean, the secret he’s concealing begins to feel more like a betrayal. But when the truth about Theo is finally revealed, can their love survive the shock, and will they both find the strength to overcome the challenges that lie ahead?

The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan L. Tuttle

In her search for a rare gem, will Everleigh end up uncovering the true treasure of her heart?

Personal care nurse Everleigh Wheaton knows it only takes a few well-placed lies to ruin a reputation. She’s experienced it time and time again. But there’s a silver lining to repeatedly proving herself: she’s confident and self-reliant.

When she loses yet another job and an enigmatic stranger offers her a potential way out, she’s game. After all, she loves a good mystery, and an invitation to visit the legendary Halstead Manor is irresistible. But she’s not about to let her guard down–especially with the other women who received the same invitation.

A strange voice on the phone tells them he’s gathered the three of them to work together as treasure hunters. The first assignment requires Everleigh to be a traveling nurse for retired FBI agent Gertrude Levine, who has one cold case she just can’t let go of: the Florentine diamond that went missing when the Austrian Empire fell.

With Everleigh’s keen ability to solve puzzles, Natalie Daughtry’s vast knowledge of history, and Brooke Sumner’s connections to the antiques world, they’re bound to track down the diamond. Except that Gertie’s nephew, Niles Butler, doesn’t trust Everleigh’s innocent act . . . even if he finds himself falling for her. Worse, Everleigh’s walls of self-preservation may doom the entire team.

Hints of real-life historical events combined with contemporary characters make this first book in the Treasures of Halstead Manor series a masterful blend of romance, mystery, and strong female friendships. Readers of authors like Denise Hunter and Nicole Deese who enjoy unfolding relationships and the organic discovery of God’s love will relish this new series.

Love in the Storm by Mandi Blake

When she’s snowed in with the handsome man who doesn’t remember arresting her, she might get a second chance at a first impression.

Lyric Woods has been sober for years now, but nothing about picking herself up from rock bottom has been easy. She’s behind on bills and on the verge of getting evicted, still paying for the mistakes of her past. When she is stranded with the police officer who doesn’t remember her, she’s afraid to reveal her secret.

Asa Scott isn’t complaining about being stranded with the beautiful Lyric. The kind woman tending his wounds after a wreck in the storm is the first to make him think he could move on after his wife’s death. But when he finds out about her record, he can’t reconcile the woman from the past with the woman who cared for him at the cabin.

When Lyric needs his help after they’re rescued, Asa hopes they’ll both get a chance to mend the wounds of the past.

Despite his fears, Asa can’t fight the way he feels about the resilient woman who helped him. But when it looks like Lyric has fallen back into her old ways, will Asa trust the evidence or believe the woman he’s falling for and fight to clear her name?

If you loved the Blackwater Ranch series and the Wolf Creek Ranch series, get ready to fall in love all over again in Blackwater, Wyoming.

Marrying Noel by Melanie D. Snitker

For Noel Echolls, planners and schedules are essential to keeping her anxiety at bay. So when a co-worker leaves without notice, and Noel is thrown into heading up two of the town’s biggest events of the year, it’s no wonder she has a panic attack. Too bad it’s in front of Cooper Meyers, the handsome new business owner she has a scheduled meeting with.

Opening a bookstore is what Cooper has been working toward for the last two years. His goal is to have a safe place for his disabled younger brother to work alongside him. The upcoming Christmas event would be a perfect time to open the doors if he can get everything together by the deadline. He’s in the middle of going through inventory when a beautiful woman ducks into his bookstore looking panicked. He offers her a quiet corner to recover, and quickly learns of her skills in organizing.

Cooper surprises himself by offering her a job in the evenings to help him get the bookstore stocked, and Noel is even more shocked when she agrees. As they work together, they both discover an undeniable connection. But between Noel’s judgmental parents and Cooper eventually becoming his brother’s full-time guardian, will it be too much for them to overcome?

The Way You Love Me by Michelle Sass Aleckson

Oliver Fox never thought he’d step foot in Deep Haven again—not with the ghosts he left behind. But when the custody battle for his beloved daughter hinges on his ability to face his past, he returns to Deep Haven and dives back into the fray of his mistakes…starting with the girl next door.

Veterinarian Lena Larson has her hands full with the town’s pets, including a shelter for lost animals. The last thing she needs is the arrival of the man who once shattered her heart. But back he is, and with an adorable daughter…and the need to start over. She has no intention of letting him back into her life. But when her shelter is destroyed, Lena finds herself with a garage full of homeless animals—and an unlikely ally in Oliver. Together, they embark on a mission to find homes for the abandoned animals, and help Oliver make peace with his past.

But it’s not easy to come home. Not everyone believes Oliver has changed, and their doubt could keep him from retaining custody of his daughter. More, Lena has ghosts of her own, and they’ve returned to haunt her. If she isn’t careful, they might even have the power to destroy the surprising happy ending she never saw coming.

Discover this captivating story of healing, forgiveness, and the transformative power of second chances.

The Love Penalty by Carolyn Miller

Sometimes there’s a hefty price to pay when two opposites attract…
With her fondness for tattoos and spider jewelry Sylvie Miles is used to being pre-judged and misunderstood. She has friends and connections but she still feels alone, and works several jobs while daydreaming about finding a guy who sees further than skin deep and won’t shy away from her battered heart. So when a hot pro hockey player with a smile as vast as his skills takes a shine to her what’s a poor girl to do but fall in love?

Ryan Guillemette sure wasn’t looking for romance in a bookstore in his hometown but quickly becomes intrigued by the sassy Goth-like assistant with a snarky way with words. When an accidental kiss proves dangerously addictive she soon becomes embedded in his heart. But even as the romance heats up he’s torn as she’s not following God. Can these two opposites make a match or should he call a permanent time out?

These two are about to learn that those who play with fire get burned, and there’s a hefty price to pay for forbidden attraction. 

A Cowboy’s Forever Faithful by Jessie Gussman

After almost a decade away from Sweet Water, North Dakota, Travis Baker is back in town, but his arrival is anything but smooth.

Aiming to turn his deep friendship with Ellen into something more, things don’t go as planned when his first day back involves a mix-up at an auction, a brawl, and suddenly, he’s a father.

Ellen, always his steadfast friend, is by his side, but as they navigate these unexpected challenges, including Ellen’s harrowing car hijacking, rumors about Travis’s loyalty surface. Amidst the chaos and in a town where everyone knows your name, a question lingers: can Travis prove his unwavering faithfulness and turn their friendship into a love story?

Forever Free by Hope Toler Dougherty

Phoebe Sinclair combines her love of flowers and teaching to nurture a cut flower business on her grandfather’s land. She has her hands full growing the farm, growing her customer base, and dealing with her growing attraction to the aloof man who volunteered to help make her farming dream come true.

Can she focus on her main job, or will a pair of yearning eyes and a hurting heart divert her worthy goals?

Heath Daniels has resigned himself to a life of singleness as he watches his siblings couple up and set wedding dates. Tracking their happiness, however, is more difficult than he expected. A real struggle, in fact.

Feeling old troubles—from the bad time when he dropped out of college to explore less-than-noble pursuits—creep back to tempt him, propelling him to volunteer for manual labor that leaves him exhausted at the end of every day—and out of trouble.

His additional hours of agri-business, however, lead to more struggles with an intriguing farmer. Does he have the strength to resist old temptations as well as a beautiful new one?

Sisters Ever After by Erin S. Quint

Can God work in the hearts of two single parents so their daughters can be Sisters Ever After?

Gianna Harper is living on borrowed time. Newly widowed, she’s struggling to hold things together at home and keep her business afloat while dealing with her late husband’s effects. But something’s not right, and now, Gianna is convinced he was involved in something a lot more sinister than questionable business dealings.

Brock Hennessey fled California to make a fresh start in northwestern Montana. He hopes he’s put enough miles between him and danger—banking on a promised job to give his family a new start in a safe place.
Circumstances pit Gianna and Brock against one another, and neither one is willing to give an inch. As their professional dealings grow more acrimonious, their daughters become best friends, and suddenly, the four of them are thrown into situations that have them acting, looking, and sounding like a real family.

But there are hurdles to overcome, and danger threatens. Can God work in the hearts of two single parents so their daughters can be Sisters Ever After?

Yellow Roses by Suzie Waltner

Mia Mason has always strived to meet others’ expectations. Her adoptive family, her fans, even her friends in the band. She works hard at pleasing everyone because she’s never felt like she truly belongs. After connecting with a cousin through a DNA website, she plans a covert road trip, hoping to find her biological mother and the answers she desires.

During a music awards ceremony, Levi Sinclair receives two messages that ruin his night. One is a breakup text from his girlfriend of six weeks. The other is from the father who abandoned his family seventeen years ago and wants to reconnect. Then Levi discovers Mia’s secret mission and insists on going along to keep her safe.

As the two friends pass the miles and see the sights, Levi’s true feelings for Mia rise to the surface. And her journey to the past might open the door to their future. Family issues and a shared career are just two of the hurdles they’ll have to jump if they want a shot at love. Could the end of the road lead these friends to a new beginning?

Her Chance at Family by Angie Dicken

She needs all the help she can get.

Will she accept it from him?

Getting left at the altar wasn’t in Elisa Hartley’s planner—but neither was gaining custody of her two orphaned nieces. Determined to be the best guardian possible, Elisa moves them into a newly renovated house. When landscape architect Sean Peters arrives to fix up her yard, he might just be able to heal her heart, too. Except Sean’s got a secret…and revealing it could throw a wrench in their happily-ever-after.

A Baby in Alaska by Heidi McCahan

He needs short-term help…

But will he find a lasting love?

Sam Frazier has three weeks in Alaska to acquire a small aviation company and serve as best man in a wedding—all with his infant nephew in tow. Thankfully, maid of honor and pilot Rylee Madden can’t resist helping the new guardian, even if the acquisition might eliminate her job. The arrangement is temporary, and romance isn’t an option. But will caring for baby Silas together change their minds?

A Valentine’s Day Return by Brenda Minton

They thought love was in their past…

But could it be their future?

After completing rehab, Mark Rivers returns to his hometown to make amends with his ex-wife, Kylie, and their daughter. But he doesn’t expect to stick around beyond seeking her forgiveness. So when helping Kylie run her coffee shop after a health crisis draws them closer together, Mark is forced to decide—a career in Nashville or a second chance with the family he thought he’d lost forever…

Their Inseparable Bond by Jill Weatherholt

They’re a mismatched family…

But their hearts line up just right

Training service dogs is single dad Jake Beckett’s calling. He’s determined to train rambunctious puppy Callie to help his ailing friend Myrna live independently with her growing blindness. Myrna’s granddaughter, Olivia Hart, isn’t easily convinced, but Jake, his twins and Callie are an incredibly persuasive team. If Olivia agrees to give Callie a chance, will working with Jake risk her lifelong dreams?

The Widow’s Bachelor Bargain by Marta Perry

Could restoring a family…

heal her own heart?

When Jacob Unger arrives to retrieve his runaway orphaned niece, Amish widow Dorcas Bitler sees the conflict between the pair and suggests an arrangement. The teenager will stay with her for a while to give them both a much-needed break. Only Jacob’s frequent visits—and Dorcas’s growing attraction—aren’t part of the plan. Now she’s faced with an even bigger challenge: mending a broken relationship…while keeping her own heart intact.

Their Forbidden Amish Match by Lucy Bayer

They shouldn’t be together…

But can they stay apart?

After discovering his long-lost brother lives in Hickory Hollow, big-city doctor Todd Barrett decides to take a short tenure in the small Amish community. Almost immediately he clashes with the beautiful midwife, Lena Hochstetler. Yet as they work together, frosty first impressions melt and yield growing feelings. But Todd’s stay is temporary, and an Amish midwife and Englischer doctor are far from a perfect match…

Deadly Mountain Escape by Mary Alford

Can this officer stop a trafficking ring?

Or will deadly criminals stop her first?

A search for a missing young woman becomes a nightmare for K-9 deputy Charlotte Walker when she stumbles on a trafficking ring and is captured. Death seems certain until she’s rescued by rancher Jonas Knowles. Together, they take shelter in the Amish community he left behind. But they can’t hide forever—not when the criminals are still after them and countless girls are at risk… 

Silencing the Witness by Laura Conaway

A protected witness is exposed…

the race is on to keep her alive.

When her photo is leaked in the local paper, Avery Sanford’s identity in witness protection is compromised. She’s the key witness to a murder, and a ruthless drug ring will stop at nothing to silence her. With attackers on her tail, Avery has no choice but to accept the help of former army commander Seth Brown. But keeping Avery alive long enough to testify could be the end for them both… 

Blizzard Showdown by Shirlee McCoy

A missing-person case…

turns into a rescue operation.

After months of searching for Violet James, Gabriel Runyon and his K-9 partner finally track her down—just in time to rescue her from her ex-fiancé. Now they must safeguard the single mother and her newborn daughter. Leaving Violet’s Alaskan hideout is the safest option, but with a winter storm rolling in, it’s not just a murderer they have to escape…

Targeted for Elimination by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Caught in a murderer’s crosshairs…

Secrets can be lethal.

After discovering a dead body in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Detective Jen Blackwell is ambushed—until federal park ranger Tyler Cade comes to the rescue. And when the culprit sets their sights on Jen’s father, it’s clear that someone is targeting them. She has no choice but to team up with her ex-boyfriend. Only Tyler’s hiding something…and old secrets could cost them their lives.  

Wyoming Abduction Threat by Elisabeth Rees

When a hideout is breached

is anywhere safe?

When his foster children’s biological father attempts to abduct them at gunpoint, Sheriff Brent Fox’s only priority is the kids’ safety. And now caseworker Carly Engelman is next on the man’s hit list, and it’s up to Brent to guard her, too. But when their location is compromised, can Brent protect Carly and the kids…before he loses his chance to become a father?

Alaskan Wilderness Rescue by Sarah Varland

A missing person rescue

is now a K-9 manhunt for a killer…

A missing person case sends search and rescue worker Elsie Montgomery and her K-9 to a remote Alaskan island…only to discover she’s got a target on her back. Now she must partner with pilot Wyatt Chandler, the one man she doesn’t trust, to stay alive while confronting her shadowy past. But can they capture a killer before their time together runs out for good?

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble

There’s only one thing more dangerous than family secrets.

Since her police-officer husband Eric’s mysterious murder, Carly Harris has been struggling to support herself and their infant son. Her career as an antique dealer isn’t sustainable, nor is her dream of becoming a novelist. So when her grandmother proposes she and her two sisters restore the family’s large Beaufort home and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast, she immediately gets to work clearing out the house. In the process, she uncovers a family secret that Eric kept hidden. And an heirloom that the wrong person wouldn’t hesitate to kill for.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennett isn’t his neighbor’s biggest fan, not since she broke his brother’s heart years ago. But when Carly turns to Lucas for help, believing she’s found a lost Fabergé egg that would be worth millions and that could put her family’s lives in danger, he can’t help but get involved. Soon, they’re entangled in a mystery with threads that lead all the way to the Russian mafia. Lucas has gotten in deep, and while he trusts his ability to keep Carly and her family safe, he begins to realize he’s vulnerable to an unexpected kind of danger. And he’s helpless to stop the freefall. As they continue working closely together, Carly and Lucas realize they may have found something more precious than gold. Yet it’s only a matter of time before Carly—or, worse, someone she loves—gets hurt.

Double Take by Lynette Eason

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he’s rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it’s not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.

A Nurse’s Revenge by Rebecca Hemlock

Could her twin sister, a decorated police officer, be a criminal mastermind?

When Travel nurse Michelle Blackburn’s twin has been murdered, she comes back to her hometown to find her killer. Things quickly turn complicated when she comes face to face with the man who shattered her heart.

Detective Aiden St. James is determined to solve Anne Blackburn’s murder, but too much about this case doesn’t add up. The Westview PD has had their hands full with a local drug ring and a new lead makes Anne their prime suspect. But Michelle is certain her twin wasn’t a criminal.

After someone attempts to kidnap Michelle, Aiden realizes she could be right about Anne being framed and vows to keep her safe for old times’ sake. Forced to accept the help and protection of the last person she feels she can trust, Michelle is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice, while discovering the importance of letting go of the past and understanding God’s timing.

Havoc by Ronie Kendig

A soldier, a Malinois, and a stuntwoman walk onto a TV set . . .

Former Special Forces operator Sergeant Crew Gatlin takes everything in stride, even the career-ending incident that separated him from the Army, half a leg, and his beloved working dog, Havoc K027. Putting his life back together and lying low, he takes a job with A Breed Apart and is unexpectedly reunited with Havoc. It’s too good to be true—and the proof is in their first assignment: to work as a K-9 team for a television drama in Los Angeles. Miffed at being relegated to TV fodder, he’s willing to pay the price when he sees the stuntwoman.

Being a stunt double allows Vienna Foxcroft to fulfill her acting dream—with a side of MMA—and stay out of the limelight. The same one that plagued her childhood and put her through a nightmare scenario. Now, her tight-knit stunt team are the only ones she trusts. 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.

Ticked as they head overseas for a location shoot in Turkey, Crew guts it up—after all, he has Havoc again. Okay, and yeah—Vienna is going, too. 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.

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl

Twenty years ago, several people were murdered in Des Moines, and the only evidence left behind was a snowman ornament hanging ominously on a tree in the victims’ front lawns. With a suspect behind bars, the killings have come to an end–or so everyone thought. But now crimes with a similar MO are happening in a small Iowa town, and a local detective believes the killer is back and ready to strike again.

With little time left on the clock before they have another murder on their hands, private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair must work alongside Tony’s detective father to find evidence that will uncover an evil that has survived far too long. As the danger mounts and the suspect closes in, it will take all they have to catch a killer–before he catches one of them.

Rescuing You by Robin Patchen

A heart-pounding tale of danger and devotion, the riveting second installment of the Wright Heroes of Maine series by a USA Today bestselling author.

CIA agent Michael Wright’s world crumbles when his girlfriend, Leila, is snatched off the street and later seen in the grasp of a terrorist he’s been tracking, Michael blames himself. Keeping his identity secret from her clearly didn’t protect her. Now he must defy the Agency and fly to Iraq to rescue her.

Leila Amato escaped Iraq a decade earlier, only returning in her worst nightmares. But those nightmares have come true when she finds herself captive and all alone, or so she thought until she sees her identical twin sister.

Michael tracks Leila to a desert compound, but his rescue mission goes awry when he discovers her sister needs to escape as well. His detailed strategy can only ensure one woman’s safety. Now they’re on the run, trying to get out of the country before their enemies track them down.

Nightfall by Lisa Phillips

BIG CITY CRIME. SMALL TOWN HEROES

A woman determined to save lives.
Violet Anderson fights for survival every day, as an EMT and volunteering at a center for teens. But nothing will erase the fallout of hitting rock bottom. Determined to keep going, Lettie has to juggle her callings and pray nothing falls out of her grasp. When her personal and professional lives crash into each other, she lands in the middle of a police investigation. Her carefully constructed boundaries are about to fall. But facing the path God puts in front of her head on means she could gain everything she’s ever wanted.

A cop looking for a place to call home.
Detective Blake Reed might be new to Intelligence, but he’s spent years training for this. All his skills will be put to the test when he’s given an assignment to sniff out drug deals at the Benson Teen Center. When he realizes who Lettie really is, the flimsy foundation of his career is shaken. Will the past come back to bite him and destroy the good he’s been able to do?

With a dangerous bomber on the loose, Violet and Blake have to figure out how to keep it all from burning down. This time the entire first responder community is on the line.

Each Benson First Responders story is a stand-alone Christian romantic suspense.

Deadly Evidence by Roxanne Rustand

A single mom. A teenage daughter. A ranch to protect. And danger growing in the dark of night.

Grace Remington is determined to hold onto her Texas ranch. But with her hired hands disappearing and even greater threats looming, she finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma. Stay and fight, or lose everything she has worked for?

But then a stranger arrives at her door and asks for a job. He’s lean, fit, and very, very capable. But who is he–and what does he really want?

Is he the answer to her prayers, or will his arrival lead to the loss of everything she and her daughter hold dear?

The books in this four-book Christian romantic suspense series can be read in any order.

Start reading now…and stay up all night!

Offshore Ambush by Sherri Wilson Johnson

Sometimes people aren’t who you think they are.

Gretchen Overton’s world is shattered when someone murders her brother on a remote offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. As medicolegal death investigator for Baldwin County, Alabama, she vows to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice. But little does she know, her path to finding answers requires the help of Everett Forrester, the rig’s Drilling Foreman and her ex-boyfriend.

While tensions rise and the body count increases, danger lurks around every corner…and it becomes clear that someone is determined to eliminate Gretchen and Everett before they uncover the truth.

Can they untangle the web of deception and expose the killer before everything rips them apart again?

Leave the Lights On by Christy Barritt

A killer with a penchant for the dark is haunting Anchorage.

The parents of one of the victims asks Andi and the gang for help. The true crime podcasters jump on the chance to find answers before the killer strikes again. But other trouble is brewing, and more danger is closing in. Every turn leaves them in the dark . . . and the dark is the last place they want to be.

Presumed Guilty by Tyora Moody

Controversial real estate developer Vic Meyers wants to hire private detective Serena Manchester. Despite warnings about Meyers’ shady associations, Serena agrees to take the case. She uncovers a startling revelation—a long-lost brother she never knew existed, may be involved in a brutal crime.

With her brother, now a prime suspect in a murder case, Serena embarks on a treacherous path to uncover the truth, risking everything for her newfound family. Will she bring the real killer to justice, or will her discoveries tear her world apart forever?

A Summer on Bellevue Avenue by Lorri Dudley

In the world of the elite, reputation is everything…

Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen—the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Then the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley’s oil company’s office in the middle of the night…and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.

Seeking solace from the growing scandal, Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows and sets about disproving the rumors while winning back the trust of Amanda. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As grievous events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive?

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada’s Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family–French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral–are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America’s borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William’s, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

Polly by Naomi Musch

One cookbook connects them all…
Polly ~ Book One in a string of heartfelt inspirational stories, featuring different women throughout the decades from 1920 to 2020.


The Great War has ended, but Polly Holloway’s heart is shattered when her fiancé finally returns home—with a French war bride. Now her future feels desolate, until she fastens onto the idea of using her skills and a special cookbook to turn her grandfather’s Victorian house into a fashionable ladies’ tea room. Yet, how will she endure the patronage of the woman who stole her sweetheart? Moreover, the suave tavern owner down the block is interfering in her business, personal and otherwise. Heaven only knows what goes on behind his doors.

Ross Dalton can no longer sell liquor in his establishment. With prohibition in force, it’s a mixed blessing. Ross met God on the battlefield, and he wants to start fresh, but he must earn a living. Converting his bar into a coffee house offers a partial solution. Still, bootleggers are pressing him to pedal their moonshine, and the girl up the street is convinced his place is a front for a speakeasy. She’s awfully cute when she turns up her pert little nose at his friendly overtures. How can he convince her he isn’t going to tarnish the neighborhood or ruin her business? And will she believe he’s a changed man when the bootleggers double down?

When the Waters Came by Candice Sue Patterson

An act of greed or an act of God?

Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic American disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Pastor Montgomery Childs has tended his flock in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for two years. While his pews are full every Sunday, he most desires to see a reckoning between God and the kings of industry who recreate on Lake Conemaugh. The pleasure grounds, flowing alcohol, and business dealings of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club taunts Monty as he works to heal the wounds inflicted from his own privileged childhood among Pittsburgh society. Like Noah, Monty prays against the evil surrounding him, but he never expects God to send a flood.

It takes five days for the Red Cross to respond to the Johnstown flood disaster, but when it does, Annamae Worthington is ready to help. Apprenticing under Clara Barton has prepared her for the job, but nothing can prepare her for the death and destruction that awaits. As if the survivors haven’t suffered enough, typhoid fever ravages the town, resurfacing suppressed emotions regarding her father’s death.

Narrowly surviving the flood and the horrifying things he’s witnessed, Monty’s faith is floundering. Then a Red Cross nurse puts him to work helping with the typhoid fever victims arriving at the hospital tents every hour. Monty and Annamae work together distributing disinfectants and supplies, housing orphans, and serving those left behind. Slowly, his faith resurfaces. A kinship forms between them neither can ignore. But when an investigation into the collapsed dam points to the South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, secrets emerge that may tear them apart.

A Season of Harvest by Lauraine Snelling and Kiersti Giron

Can her dreams for the future–and a budding romance–survive the trouble that comes calling?

Larkspur Nielsen is determined to keep her family homestead running and to fulfill their dream of starting a seed catalog, with or without her siblings’ help. With Isaac McTavish back in town, Lark finds herself at odds with her own heart and her determination to shoulder the burden of carrying her responsibilities alone. But Isaac is set on convincing her that he’s here to stay and she doesn’t have to carry everything by herself.

As a new romance blossoms between Lilac and an old schoolmate and the other Nielsen sisters are busy caring for their families, Lark bears more and more responsibility on the farm. When a long-feared threat returns and Lark approaches the breaking point, the life she has always dreamed of is in danger of disappearing forever.

A Cherished Betrothal by Denise Weimer

He rescued her once, but a chance at love will require the ultimate sacrifice.

Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. Forced by his dark past into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, Alexander joins the bordering South Carolina Rangers in their revolt against the Crown. When he’s posted to the fort erected to defend the community once decimated by the massacre, duty demands he court the loyalty of his sworn enemies, the fierce Cherokee warriors.

Elspeth Lawrence never forgot the boy who sacrificed himself for her at Long Canes—any more than she forgot the younger sister taken captive. She’s learned not only to forgive, but also to help minister to the Cherokees at her father’s mission. When Alex Morris arrives at nearby Fort Charlotte, Elspeth finds her memories—and her emotions—stirred. He doesn’t even remember her…or the long-ago attack. But the bitterness that simmers just beneath his stoic exterior—as well as her courtship by a local landowner—challenge their undeniable bond.

When Alex uncovers a long-held secret and a plot to sabotage patriot talks with the Cherokees, he must choose between his desire for revenge and his love for the girl he rescued long ago.

Independence Trail by Betty Woods

To escape an arranged marriage to benefit her father’s business, Heidi Schultz runs to the ranch owned by her sister, Lily, and brother-in-law, Toby. No one will ever run or ruin her life again. She’ll find a job in nearby San Antonio and fulfill her dream of living on her own. She’ll never surrender her independence to anyone, especially not to a man. But when her father finds her, Heidi agrees to Toby’s idea to postpone her plans for a new life and stay at the ranch a while longer just to be safe.

Jethro Bannister likes his life as foreman for Toby Grimes. Memories of the way his Georgia family turned on him don’t plague him while living on a secluded Texas ranch. With God’s help, he’s made peace with his painful past. Until Heidi interrupts his carefully arranged, placid world of quiet. The too talkative woman could worry the horns off an entire herd of longhorns. Plus her family problems remind him too much of what he left behind.

Watching Lily and Toby love and depend on each other chisels away at the wall of independence Heidi has built to protect herself from being betrayed again. Despite their misgivings, Heidi and Jethro form a tenuous friendship based on their common wish to be left alone. They understand each other better than anyone else around them does. Confiding in one another deepens their friendship more than either intends. Will Heidi and Jethro’s past wounds bond them together in an unexpected love or push them apart?

The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green

Based on true World War II stories of life in the USO variety shows, worlds collide when performers from around the United States come together to tour North Africa.

Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but her sharp tongue landed her in trouble, so an overseas adventure with the USO’s camp show promises a chance at a fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving.

The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers–a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician–but the harmony among their troupe is short-lived when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a coveted job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they’ll do whatever is necessary to claim it. As their troupe travels closer to the dangerous battlefront in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, putting not only their careers but also their lives on the line.

The Legacy of the Rocking K Ranch: Four Generations of Love, Loss, and Grace by Mary Connealy, D.J. Gudger, Becca Whitham, Kimberley Woodhouse

Six Decades of History Unfurls on a Wyoming Ranch
 
Journey to untamed Wyoming where four generations of women experience love, loss, grace, adoption, struggles with the law, relationships with natives, and through it all, family bonds.
 
Eleanor by Mary Connealy   
1850 – Wagon train guide, Ray “Wild Cat” Manning, can’t ignore the abandoned wagon stricken with smallpox. Eleanor Yates, now widowed with an ailing daughter, says yes to Wild Cat’s marriage of convenience. It is her only choice—but far from her romantic dreams.
 
Grace by D. J. Gudger   
1867 – Grace Manning abandons her journey east at Fort Laramie. The ranch is where she belongs. Unable to reach her father, Grace scrambles to find a way home. Captain Winfield Cooper is mustering out in a few short days. The gold fields at South Pass City are calling but a lonely laundress pleads to tag along with him and his motley men. Will this woman who refuses to unveil her face derail his dreams? 
 
Caroline by Becca Whitham       
1886 – Ray Cooper escaped reservation life by pursuing a degree from Harvard, but it hasn’t granted him the respect he craves in Washington, DC. Caroline Forrester longs to be more than a society hostess for her father. As the two fight against the Dawes Act, they also fight their growing attraction.
 
Penelope by Kimberley Woodhouse  
1910 – Penelope Cooper finally receives an offer to become a published author after pursuing her dream in New York City. But when she returns home, her family’s stories, the land of her heart, and photographer Jason Miller, cast doubt on her decision. Will rediscovering her past make Penelope reconsider her future?

Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman

Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings–quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.

Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

Shaken by her parents’ divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle’s farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She’ll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.

Among her late grandmother’s belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town’s history, her ancestors–and her estranged father.

What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured–with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.

The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs by Sharon J. Mondragon

A humorous, heartwarming tale of love, loss, and the power of community

Fair Meadows Retirement Community might as well be a country club for most of the retirees enjoying the pool, golf course, and book clubs. But for the caregivers whose family members reside upstairs in the special Memory Care Unit, vacation is over.

Comforting these caregivers is exactly why the Woolgatherers group has formed. They make prayer shawls to support those affected by the heartbreaking reality of not being recognized by a loved one-people like Sam Talbot, who has been barely existing since his wife moved into Memory Care. He finds that his life has lost all color and meaning without her.

That’s something the Woolgatherers can’t bear to see. Flirtatious Jenny Alderman, cranky crocheter Edna O’Brian, kind Rose Harker, and the rest of the prayer shawl group weave him into the circle. Sam has no idea how he got tangled up with them, and he’s no good at knitting. But when one member talks him into taking up his wife’s old crochet hooks, he discovers that this one small gesture might just have the power to heal his life–or even save it.

Full of Sharon Mondragon’s characteristic humor and heart, this book wrestles with the loneliness of being the forgotten spouse of a dementia patient, moving past the fear that the spouses often face into the love and compassion that can make all the difference.

Water’s Break by Sophia L. Hansen

What if fear itself is the deadliest undercurrent of all?

Nica would do anything to avoid the hassles of her sister’s bonding ceremony—the wrap fittings, hairstyles, and braided fire coral—but she never imagined that the waters covering her planet would be broken. As the heavens rained fire and stone, mountains erupted from the sea and dry ground was birthed on the Deep, dividing the water—and the Olomi people—for the first time in their history.

In the wake of her world’s violent re-formation, Nica’s family is shattered. When the rookie Guardian leaves the safety of the Deep to find her sister, she is abducted by strange landwalkers who possess strength and technology beyond her imagination. Nica realizes that the disaster from above was by their design—a calculated plan to terraform the water planet and conquer her people. All Nica wants to do is find her sister and swim home to safety, but with the landwalkers closing in, escape may not be possible. And if Nica can’t save herself, how can she hope to save her sister—or her people?

Book Recommendation – Meant To Be Mine by Becky Wade

Book Description:

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school–irresistible. When their paths cross again after college–still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia’s ready to be Ty’s wife, but Ty’s not ready to be her husband. He’s a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he’s long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he’s known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia’s buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty’s achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn’t forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia’s trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Meant To Be Mine, the second book in Becky Wade’s Porter Family series. Ty is a successful and wealthy professional bull rider with alpha personality traits. Five and a half years earlier in Vegas, Ty had a whirlwind four day romance with Celia who he’d known from their Texas high school days that culminated in an impulsive Vegas wedding and a harsh break up the next day.

Celia was devastated when she left Ty and Vegas as an unwanted wife. Not long after she discovered she was pregnant from her wedding night. She created a new life with her child in Oregon, anticipating that one day Ty would eventually contact her and request a divorce.

The secret baby trope always creates major complications and obstacles for the couple to overcome. A sweet romance unfolds as Ty and Celia navigate old feelings and the reality of raising a young child. I recommend Meant To Be Mine to contemporary romance readers who like small town cowboy romances combined with the secret baby trope and a relevant faith element that addresses trust and forgiveness issues.

Book Recommendation – Tropical Kiss or Miss by Liwen Y. Ho

Book Description:

Two friends-turned-lovers learn to give each other and their marriage a second chance.

Therapist Olivia Chan can’t wait to escape it all—a failed marriage, a struggling practice, and her son Micah’s recent health scare. The Hawaiian getaway she planned, however, gets rained on—quite literally—by a tropical storm and the unexpected arrival of her estranged husband Matthew, who’s determined to win her back.

Forced to confront the past, will Olivia and Matt learn to love again? The fear of rejection is great, but God’s grace is greater. With the help of their son’s prayers, this marriage might just weather life’s storms and come out for the better.

*Fans of split-time romance will enjoy this story that takes place in two timelines and highlights how decisions from the past can affect the future.

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Tropical Kiss or Miss, a split time romance novella set in the Bay Area, California, and Hawaii. Olivia is a marriage therapist who’s separated from her husband, Matt. He’s a journalist who was Olivia’s brother’s best friend when they first met. Matt is a workaholic with a history of prioritizing work over family.

The split time story structure unpacks the stages of Olivia and Matt’s relationship from first meeting through to the present day. Olivia is a massive fan of the tv series, Lost, which was filmed in Hawaii where her brother now lives. I recommend Tropical Kiss or Miss to contemporary romance readers who like split time married couple romances with redemption and forgiveness themes and a relevant faith element in the story.

Countdown to Christmas: Day 1 – Christmas Eve

It’s Christmas Eve and the final day that I’m posting my Countdown to Christmas Reading Journal. I hope you have a lovely and blessed Christmas and New Year. Happy Christmas reading. 🙂

Today I’m sharing my electronic journal entry for The Christmas Box by Jessica Wakefield.

My book recommendation for The Christmas Box can be found at the following link: https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-the-christmas-box-by-jessica-wakefield/

Countdown to Christmas: Day 2

It’s Day 2 in my Countdown to Christmas Reading Journal. Today I’m sharing my electronic journal entry for Christmas Ella by Angela Ruth Strong.

My book recommendation for Christmas Ella can be found at the following link: https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-christmas-ella-by-angela-ruth-strong/