When Rance Shepherd takes a job stocking cattle for a local rodeo, he’s shocked that his new client is his ex-sweetheart, Larae Collins. Now he’s determined to prove to the single mother that he isn’t the restless cowboy she remembers. But when he discovers her little girl is his, they both must forgive past mistakes for a second shot at a future together.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Hill Country Redemption and exploring the ranch setting in Texas. Rance worked as a ranch hand for Larae’s daddy when he was in high school. Larae and Rance also dated, and Larae was devastated when Rance unexpectedly broke up with her and started dated other girls. When Larae discovered she was pregnant, her daddy arranged for her to move to the city and hide her teen pregnancy. Larae eventually moved into a marketing role in the rodeo industry and Rance became a cowboy on the rodeo circuit.
Eight years later, Larae’s daddy has passed away and she inherits the ranch that’s now struggling financially. Larae returns to the ranch with her seven year old daughter, Jayda, and has big plans to build a year round rodeo on the ranch. Rance has retired from the rodeo circuit and is building his stock supply business. He agrees to work with Larae by supplying stock for her rodeo, and he soon discovers he’s also the daddy of Larae’s adorable daughter.
Rance and Larae are drawn to each other, but Rance doesn’t want Larae to learn why he broke up with her all those years ago. Larae has trust issues with Rance, and she worries that Jayda will become attached to him, and then he’ll let them down.
A fun romance develops with Jayda doing her best to reunite her parents. Larae and Rance are now Christians, and they have faith issues to untangle as they work together to make the rodeo launch a success and get used to a new family dynamic. I recommend Hill Country Redemption to contemporary romance readers who like secret baby and second chances cowboy romance stories.
Rocky Mountain Restoration by Lisa J. Flickinger — Josephine Thorebourne doesn’t deserve happiness. Not after the mess she’s made. Mid-voyage, on the steamship Jameson, she learns of the tragic loss of her family’s money. Money she stole with the hopes of turning a profit. What should be a delightful voyage up the Canadian coast turns into a journey of regret. Josephine seeks the solace of the man she loves, only to find out he’s an imposter. Left with no other choice, she must return to her home town of Stony Creek and face the anger of those she’s betrayed. Owen Kelly was given the opportunity of a lifetime to steward on the SS Jameson. The work meant he could escape his difficult upbringing along the wharves of Chicago. When his heart falls for the woman in cabin eight, Owen must decide if he will continue his work on the ship or follow the love of his life to her Rocky Mountain home. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Rescuing Her Heart by Cindy Ervin Huff — On visitation rounds as a lay preacher, the last thing rancher Jed Holt expects is to be shot at from the barn next to a burned-down homestead. But the soot-covered woman hiding inside needs protecting, and Jed is the man to do it whether she likes it or not. Delilah James’s nightmares began when she came to Kansas as a mail-order bride. Her husband was nothing like his letters. Now that he is dead, she can’t shake his abuse from her heart. Trusting men tops her never-again list, and taking a job on the Holt ranch as a housekeeper is a means to save money and bring her parents west. But her attraction to the compassionate former chaplain both angers and confuses her. Jed has his own nightmares from a POW camp and understands Delilah better than she knows. Can two broken people form a forever bond? (Historical Romance from Iron Stream Media)
Gold Rush Bride Caroline by Linda Shenton Matchett — Scarred in a childhood accident, Caroline Vogel has yet to find a man willing to marry her, so she heads to the Pike’s Peak goldfields to pan enough ore to become a woman of means. When she and the handsome assistant trail boss hit it off, she begins to hope her future may not be spent alone. Then she catches wind of dark secrets from the man’s past, and she’s not sure what or who to believe. Orphaned as a teenager, Oliver Llewellyn stole to survive, then used his skills for the army during the war. Nowadays, he applies his knowledge to catch dangerous thieves for the Pinkerton Agency, so guarding a young woman during a wagon train journey should be easy. But he didn’t count on the fact she’d angered a man bent on revenge. He also didn’t count on losing his heart. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Hollywood is Not Home by Annmarie M. Roberts — Would you trade fame for privacy? Movie star Maggie Malone has a glamorous lifestyle with everything money can buy―except privacy. Hounded by the paparazzi and ridiculed for her faith, Maggie secretly struggles with severe anxiety and loneliness. All she desires is to be herself–southern girl by birth, ranch lover by heart. When an anonymous benefactor invites Maggie to participate in a secret project, will her hopelessness find a new direction? Or will she become another celebrity travesty? What if she discovers Hollywood is not Home? Her faith, family, love, and future hang in the balance . (General Romance from Ambassador International)
The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik — Enjoy a tale of true but forgotten history of an 19th Century serial killer whose silver-tongued ways almost trap a young woman into a nightmarish marriage. In 1876, Emma Draycott is charmed into a quick engagement with childhood friend Stephen Dee Richards after reconnecting with him at a church event in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. But within the week, Stephen leaves to “make his fame and fortune.” The heartbroken Emma gives him a special pen to write to her, and he does with tales of grand adventures. Secret Service agent Clay Timmons arrives in Mount Pleasant to track purchases made with fake currency. Every trail leads back to Stephen—and therefore, Emma. Can he convince the naïve woman she is engaged to a charlatan who is being linked a string of deaths in Nebraska? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
General Historical:
If it Rains by Jennifer L. Wright — It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Then Kathryn’s father decides to relocate to Indianapolis, and only the promise of a surgery to finally make her “normal” convinces Kathryn to leave Oklahoma behind. But disaster strikes along the way, and Kathryn must rely on her grit and the ragged companions she meets on the road if she is to complete her journey.Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband―and her new social class―expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed. Melissa covers her bruises with expensive new makeup and struggles to reconcile her affluent life with that of her starving neighbors. Haunted by the injustice and broken by Henry’s refusal to help, Melissa secretly defies her husband, risking her life to follow God’s leading. (General Historical from Tyndale House)
Romance Contemporary:
Make You Feel My Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — In 1895, Cora Anderson jumps on a cross-country train to escape New York society and her domineering father. She leaves with only some spare clothing, jewelry that once belonged to her grandmother, her cherished violin, and hopes for an uncertain future. The tiny town of Chickadee Creek is idyllic and welcoming, but it’s only a matter of time before Cora’s new friends discover the secrets of her past. More than a hundred years later, Chelsea Spencer is fleeing a dangerous situation of her own when her great aunt’s antique shop in Chickadee Creek becomes the perfect haven. At the same time, up-and-coming Hollywood star Liam Chandler has returned to the town of his ancestors to grieve some painful family losses and ponder the direction of his career. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
A Future to Fight For by Mindy Obenhaus — Widow Paisley Wainwright’s so close to taking her Texas event-planning business to the next level by turning Renwick Castle into a wedding venue. Only one thing stands in the way: her longtime rival, Crockett Devereaux, who wants the building to become a museum. When the building’s owners insist they collaborate to implement both plans, can Paisley and Crockett put their differences aside…and fight for their dreams together? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
The Cowgirl’s Sacrifice by Tina Radcliffe — Needing time to heal after a rodeo injury, Kate Rainbolt heads to her family ranch to accept the foreman job her brothers offered her months ago. But the position’s already been filled by her ex-boyfriend, Jess McNally, and the only open job reports to him. With Jess as her temporary boss—and turning into something more—might he finally convince Kate to put down roots? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
The Yes Dare by Kathleen Y’Barbo — After spending most of her adult life as a football wife and mother to twin sons, fashionista Coco Sutton is learning how to be single and fabulous. Emphasis on Fabulous. The sports trophies, memorabilia, and heavy masculine wood furniture in the home she used to share with Ryan have been banished to the attic, and her home is now a cozy haven of plush candle-scented comfort. She’s got big plans that include owning a boutique or maybe an art gallery, but she never planned to take on the biggest challenge of her life: staying single. Then her best friend gives her a copy of a book called The Yes Dare, and all her plans are turned upside down. (Contemporary Romance from White Glove Publishing)
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Her Sanctuary, His Heart by Michelle Dykman — Five years ago, Braelyn Kane’s daughter died. Her marriage imploded, and Forest Hill became Braelyn’s sanctuary. She’s praying for her new life to start, but she doesn’t know where to find it. (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Ambassador International)
Lethal Cover-Up by Darlene L. Turner — Some secrets are dangerous…But uncovering the truth could be deadly. Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim? (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
Journey to ChiYah by Kimberly Russell — JADE PEPPERDINE HAS A PROBLEM: Her life is crumbling beneath the weight of the past, events of the present, and fears for her future. Things need to change, but she doesn’t know where to start. Answers come in the form of an unexpected opportunity when Jade finds herself stuck in a mythical land. She meets Mayor Dudley, who insinuates she is emotionally broken and in need of repair … a fact she’d just as soon ignore. He offers to help her get home if she is willing to face her issues through a process of restoration. Frightened and skeptical yet out of options, Jade grudgingly agrees. And soon figures out that change is a journey, not a destination. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)
Western:
A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy — Falcon Hunt awakens without a past, or at least not one he can recall. He’s got brothers he can’t remember, and he’s interested in the prettiest woman in the area, Cheyenne. Only trouble is, a few flashes of memory make Falcon wonder if he’s already married. He can’t imagine abandoning a wife. But his pa did just that–twice. When Falcon claims his inheritance in the West, Cheyenne is cut out of the ranch she was raised on, leaving her bitter and angry. And then Falcon kisses her, adding confusion and attraction to the mix. Soon it’s clear someone is gunning for the Hunt brothers. When one of his brothers is shot, Falcon and Cheyenne set out to find who attacked him. They encounter rustled cattle, traitorous cowhands, a missing woman, and outlaws that take all their savvy to overcome. Ajs love grows between these two independent people, Falcon must piece together his past if they’re to have any chance at a future. (Western from Bethany House (Baker) Publishing)
Young Adult:
You, Me and the Stars by Michelle Dykman — He thinks she’s shallow, she thinks he’s a nerd. What happens when they are forced to work together? (Young Adult from Ambassador International)
They have unfinished business. She just can’t remember what it is.
Camille Vanderbilt is headed back home to Wyoming with one goal: find her old best friend and give him a piece of her mind for ghosting her six years ago. She won’t let anyone stand in her way… until a deer runs into the road and causes her to wreck and forget almost everything.
Noah Harding lives a simple life as a firefighter and rancher until Camille crashes back into his life. When a call at the fire station sends him to save his old best friend’s life, he thinks he might get a second chance until her influential stepdad gives a reminder that his old threats still stand.
When Camille runs into Noah in town, she knows he’s important to her, but her memories are still fuzzy.
Noah is hesitant to get close to her when it means having to sacrifice everything to be with her.
She thinks it’s a new beginning, but he knows it shouldn’t have ever ended.
When the threats are carried out, who will be left hurting at Blackwater Ranch?
Remembering the Cowboy is the first book in the Christian Blackwater Ranch series.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Remembering The Cowboy, the first book in Mandi Blake’s Blackwater Ranch series. I read the story quickly because I kept turning the page to find out what happens next. The story opens with Camille returning to her hometown in Wyoming to visit with her mother and step father. Camille is an attorney in Portland, Oregon, but she has never gotten over the pain of losing contact with Noah. He was her high school best friend and her first love before she left for college in Oregon.
Noah is a cowboy who works on the family ranch, and he’s also a firefighter. He’s stunned when his team is called out to a car wreck and discovers Camille has been seriously injured.
Camille has memory loss from the accident and her recovery is slow. She stays in town and rekindles her friendship with Noah. Camille can’t remember a lot of things, including why they broke up, but Noah is aware that the stakes are high if he pursues a romantic relationship with Camille.
A charming romance develops as Camille remembers why she fell in love with Noah. I loved exploring the ranch with Noah and Camille, and meeting Noah’s large and tight knit family. When the going gets tough, they pray and fight for those they love, and trust that justice will prevail. I highly recommend Remembering the Cowboy to contemporary romance readers who like fun and exciting faith-filled cowboy romances that include amnesia and second chances story elements.
A heart attack reunites him with the one who got away. But is he too married to his job to invest in a second chance at love?
Joe Robinson made his first million in his twenties and has expanded that in the decades since. Now a billionaire and active in running of all five of his child corporations, he eats, breathes, and sleeps work.
Cynthia Mitchell is a top-tier heart surgeon. Moving to the DC area involved a calculated risk that she might run into Joe—but she didn’t expect to find him on her operating table.
When he awakens after surgery to find Cynthia is his doctor, all Joe’s feelings from their college romance return, and he persuades her to go out with him. But he still has his tech empire to run and she’s not willing to take second place to his job.
Will two driven, successful people make room in their lives for love? Or is their second chance dead on arrival?
About the So You Want to be a Billionaire series
Determined to pass his companies to people who won’t make the same mistakes he did, Joe Robinson undertakes some matchmaking cloaked as a competition. They think they’re vying for a top corporate spot and a chance to be a billionaire, but what they really need to find is love.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading So You Want A Second Chance, the first book in Elizabeth Maddrey’s new So You Want To Be A Billionaire series. The story is set in Washington D.C., and the main characters are in their fifties. Joe unexpectedly meets Cynthia when he has a heart attack and she is his cardiac surgeon. They broke up years ago when their career aspirations took them in different directions.
Joe works all the time. He’s a generous man, and he’s definitely not the stereotypical unlikeable and ruthless CEO. Joe treats his employees well, and he cares about their welfare. Looking back, he knows Cynthia is the one who got away three decades ago. His heart attack is a wake-up call, and he’s delighted to have an opportunity to reconnect with Cynthia. Old habits die hard, and Joe finds the idea of resting and rehabilitating from heart surgery clashes with his work-a-holic tendencies.
Cynthia’s millions don’t match Joe’s billion plus, but she has established herself in a successful career as a cardiac surgeon. She has climbed the ranks in a male dominated work environment, and she’s aware that the rules are different for women. She’s attracted to Joe, and their old friendship is rekindled.
Joe and Cynthia have both struggled over the years to maintain and nurture their faith around the demands of their careers. They have made mistakes in their personal lives, and have chosen to be single. Being set in their ways, they both question if they have the capacity to alter their lives and make a serious romantic relationship a priority.
I liked the dynamics in this second chance romance that are different to romances with younger couples. Cynthia and Joe’s dreams of romance, as they look toward retirement and beyond, are not the same as a younger couple who are establishing their careers and thinking about starting a family.
We also meet a number of interesting minor characters who will feature in future books in the series. Joe’s matchmaking ideas for his top executive employees are fun, and I’m looking forward to reading their romance stories. I recommend So You Want A Second Chance to readers who like contemporary romance stories with well-heeled mature characters in an urban setting.
Dear friends, I’m heartbroken that my dear author friend Marion Ueckermann from South Africa has passed away. I had the pleasure of meeting Marion in person in September 2015 at the ACFW Conference in Dallas, USA. I wasn’t planning on going to that particular conference, but Marion’s joyful enthusiasm and persuasive optimism changed my mind. I booked my flights from Australia, and shared a hotel room in Dallas with Marion, Heidi McCahan, and Janet Ferguson.
L-R: Narelle Atkins, Marion Ueckermann, Judith Robl
A group of us, including Judith Robl and her delightful friend, Sally, went out to dinner during the conference to celebrate Marion’s birthday. 2015 wasn’t an easy birthday for Marion. Both her parents had recently passed, and her beloved husband, Noel, and her family were thousands of miles away on the other side of the world. Marion shared with us her hopes and dreams to step out in faith and follow God’s calling to retire from her day job and write full time. Indie publishing was taking off, and the contemporary Christian romance (CCR) genre offered many opportunities for Marion to write her beautiful and inspiring romances grounded in Biblical truth.
L-R: Narelle Atkins, Lisa Harris, Marion Ueckermann
Marion and I attended the ACFW Zone breakfast, and we sat at the table for international members. I was excited to finally meet Lisa Harris in person, and we all had so much fun catching up with the wonderful writers from around the world who we’d known online for many years.
L-R: Narelle Atkins, Rose Dee, Marion Ueckermann
Back in 2015, I couldn’t have imagined that a global pandemic was around the corner, and that the pandemic would mean Marion only celebrated five more birthdays before Jesus called her home.
I first met Marion online in 2009 when a group of us from the ACFW Beyond the Borders Zone Group started the International Christian Fiction Writers group blog. I was thrilled for Marion when she published her first CCR novelette, Helsinki Sunrise, in the Passport to Romance series.
Marion also blogged for many years at Inspy Romance. Marion’s books are favourite reads that Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey, and I discuss often on our StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube. In Episode #13 – International Settings in CCR, we discussed many of Marion’s wonderful books set in exotic locations around the world.
A side note: We record the StoryChats episodes in advance, and the upcoming July episodes were recorded and scheduled before Marion became ill. This means we’re talking about Marion and her books in the July episodes in the present tense, and we apologise if this is confusing for our listeners. We will continue to talk about Marion’s books because we love her stories.
I have bought all of Marion’s books, reread a couple of favourites, and I’ve worked closely with Marion in writing A Tuscan Legacy multi-author series.
A Tuscan Legacy story world was created by Marion and our dear friend Autumn Macarthur. I was thrilled to be invited to write a book for the series that included stories by Alexa Verde, Elizabeth Maddrey, Heather Gray, and Clare Revell. Marion designed the gorgeous book covers for the series. My girl in Solo Tu (Book 7), Sienna, is the sister of Marion’s characters: Rafaele in That’s Amore (Book 1), and Alessa in Ti Amo (Book 4). Sienna spent time with Alessa in Rome in Ti Amo before flying to Australia and meeting her own Aussie hero, Dave, in Solo Tu.
I was honoured when Marion, Autumn, and Alexa invited me to write stories in their A Chapel CoveRomance story world. I’m currently writing my first story and, if everything goes according to plan, my book will release later this year.
Over the years I’ve posted a number of book recommendations for Marion’s books. When I reread Marion’s books, I’ll add more book recommendations here. It’s super-hard for me to pick a favourite Marion Ueckermann book because I love them all.
I obviously have a soft spot for Marion’s A Chapel Cove Romance books and A Tuscan Legacy books. Poles Apart and Orphaned Hearts are two of my favourites with international settings.
I’ve included links to my book recommendations below. Marion has also guest blogged for me when I was posting a travel blog series, and I’ve included the links for Marion’s posts below, plus a long list of Marion’s wonderful books.
We will all miss Marion. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends from around the globe who are coming to terms with life without her. We are blessed that Marion was a prolific and talented author who has left behind a lovely literary legacy. We can hold onto the promise that we will reunite in eternity. Love to all, Narelle xo
A mom ready to do anything for her son. A man determined to win the woman he loves.
Going on Love at First Glance had seemed like such a good idea. She didn’t care about finding Mr. Right. No, Mindy Murray chose the reality TV show for more mercenary reasons. A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do when it comes to feeding her son.
When Mindy returns to Elnora, the girl from the “wrong side of the island” just wants a chance to rebuild her reputation. Too bad the folks at church don’t practice what the preacher preaches.
Enter Dermott Reilly. The interim boss at Greener Gardens has always had a soft spot for Mindy and her son, but with his new responsibilities, an important garden competition, and a few other concerns, he finds it difficult to prove himself to her.
A tropical storm and a missing child prove that sometimes grace appears in the most unusual ways.
Regaining Mercy concludes the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series, featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Regaining Mercy and visiting the pretty and relaxing Independence Islands beach setting. Mindy is a single mom with low self esteem who can’t catch a break. Her most recent big mistake was her decision to participate in a reality tv dating show. Mindy believes she’ll never be respected or accepted in her home town.
The story opens at the grocery store where Mindy is working as a cashier. A snobbish church lady verbally harasses Mindy in the store and, when Mindy finally takes the bait and speaks up, the customer twists the situation to try and get Mindy fired.
Dermott is friends with Mindy and has worked at Greener Gardens with her brother. Dermott witnesses the grocery store incident, backs up Mindy’s version of events, and inadvertently makes Mindy’s work situation worse. He feels bad about what happened and talks with Callie, his boss, about creating a new job for Mindy at Greener Gardens doing their social media.
Life isn’t fair, and the customer abuse and harassment Mindy was subjected to in her workplace was unacceptable on so many levels. I also empathised with Mindy because she’s struggling to raise her son on her own without family support. Jon is an adorable little boy who’s having difficulties navigating social situations. Mindy is in denial that there might be a medical reason to explain Jon’s behaviour eg. autism spectrum disorder, and she doesn’t have the financial resources to seek medical help for Jon.
A lovely friends-to-more romance develops between Mindy and Dermott with many bumps along their path to happily-ever-after. They work together photographing garden projects, but Mindy doesn’t trust people easily, and Dermott questions whether Mindy shares his faith. I recommend Regaining Mercy to contemporary romance readers who like single mom romance stories that sensitively deal with family issues.
Many thanks to Celebrate Lit Publishing for the advanced reader ebook copy.
A sheltered dance teacher discovers how the less privileged live when she falls for a struggling college dropout trying to gain custody of his half-sisters in this opposites attract romance.
Dance and music teacher Ava Santoro has led a sheltered life, and she likes it that way. Now she’s ready for Mr. Right to come her way. He’ll be a kindred spirit, a gentle, bookish guy, and a life-long Christian. Not someone like the somewhat-reformed temporary worker in her favorite refuge this summer.
Seth Donahue is scrambling to gain permanent guardianship of his two half-sisters. Too bad he’s dropped out of college — twice — and is struggling to find flexible employment. When his new neighbor offers him a job in Bridgeview’s food forest, he’s surprised to discover he enjoys working with edible plants. He didn’t expect to meet a vivacious dancer who challenges him to choose joy over dulling the pain of his past.
When Ava discovers Seth’s background, it might be too late to guard her heart. How can Seth convince her he’s a changed man?
JOYS OF JUNIPER is the eleventh story in the Urban Farm Fresh Romance series, an off-shoot of the original Farm Fresh Romances. If you love Christian contemporary romance series that focus on engaging characters, strong communities, and deep faith — clean, wholesome, sweet, and inspirational romances — you’ve come to the right place!
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Joys of Juniper(Urban Farm Fresh Romance Book 11) and visiting with the characters in the fictional riverside suburb of Bridgeview in Spokane, Washington State. The story is standalone and, since it’s a later book in the series, we meet up with many characters from earlier books. It’s always fun to catch up with couples after their happily-ever-after story closes, and see what’s happening in their lives.
Ava thinks she has it all worked out. After dating a few guys who didn’t meet her expectations, she knows what she’s looking for in her future husband. When she first meets Seth, who’s a waiter at her cousin’s wedding, she’s surprised by their mutual attraction because he doesn’t seem to meet her future husband criteria.
Seth is blown away by Ava, but he believes she’s way too good for him. He has made many poor choices and doesn’t consider himself a good catch. Since he’s come to faith, he wants to finish his college degree in engineering around caring for his newly orphaned and much younger half sisters. He has nothing to offer Ava, and he needs a permanent job ASAP to keep a roof over his head.
Bridgeview is a close knit community where the long term residents look out for each other and help their neighbors who are in need. Most of Ava’s extended family live in Bridgeview, and Ava reconnects with Seth at the food forest. They both start wondering if they could have a future together until big hurdles stall their developing relationship.
The faith element in the story is strong, and the characters are challenged to forgive and seek God’s will. I highly recommend Joys of Juniper to contemporary romance readers who like fun romance stories with adorable children that deal with complex family issues.
He needs a wife. She wants to belong. Nobody has to fall in love.
For five years, Tommy Russell’s ex-wife has controlled every aspect of his life, using his devotion to their daughter as a hammer. Now, she’s threatening to take him to court to get his partial custody revoked.
Jade Clarke didn’t expect the Hewitts to roll out the red carpet when she showed up at Hope Ranch. But they did. And they invited her to stay. As much as she craves their acceptance and love, she’s suspicious of anything that comes without strings.
When Tommy’s ex tries to use his unmarried status against him, he blurts out that he’s actually in a relationship with Jade. Jade agrees to go along with his fake relationship during his daughter’s next visit, but his daughter wants to be part of their wedding and is pushing for them to make it official while she’s in town. Tommy hesitates, but better alternatives are hard to find, and Jade is actually on board.
Theirs wouldn’t be the first marriage of convenience in history.
Will marrying Jade be the answer to Tommy’s prayers or a catastrophic complication?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Hope for Family, Book 5 in Elizabeth Maddrey’s Hope Ranch series. The Hope Ranch books are stand-alone romance stories. That said, since the stories have a sibling connection and they all live on a New Mexico ranch owned by their paternal grandparents, there are benefits from reading the earlier books and seeing how Tommy and Jade’s back story plays out on the page.
Tommy is a cowboy who works at Hope Ranch with the Hewitt family. He has struggled for many years with his lawyer to secure a workable custody arrangement that would enable Tommy to spend time with his daughter. Olivia is now thirteen years old, and her manipulative mother is making it super-difficult for Tommy to see Olivia.
Jade feels like the odd one out in the Hewitt family. She never knew her father, and she has landed at Hope Ranch with her paternal grandparents plus a bunch of half siblings. Jade has come to faith since arriving at Hope Ranch. Her experience of family with her new found grandparents and half siblings is very different to her experiences growing up with her manipulative mother.
Jade becomes friends with Tommy, and Jade’s heart breaks over Tommy’s estrangement from his daughter. Olivia’s mother reminds Jade of her own mother, and she empathises with Tommy and Olivia’s difficult situation.
When circumstances lead to Tommy needing a fake relationship to assist in his custody battle, Jade readily agrees to help him. Their developing feelings and simmering attraction complicate the situation and put them on a rocky path to happily-ever-after. I highly recommend Hope for Family to contemporary Christian romance readers who like single dad and fake relationship romance stories with a strong faith element that deal with real-to-life issues.
Whispered secrets about her parents’ past take on new urgency for Chariline as she pays one last visit to the land of her forefathers, the ancient kingdom of Cush.
Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents’ tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen’s court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ship of a merchant trusted by friends.
Theo is shocked to discover a stowaway on board his vessel and determines to be rid of her as soon as possible. But drawn in by Chariline’s story, he feels honor-bound to see her safely to shore, especially when it appears someone may be willing to kill for the truth she seeks.
In this transformative tale of historical fiction, bestselling author Tessa Afshar brings to life the kingdom of Cush and the Roman Empire, introducing readers to a fascinating world filled with gripping adventure, touching romance, and a host of lovable characters—including some they may recognize from the biblical book of Acts.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Jewel of the Nile and learning more about life during the era of Acts and the early church. I like learning about history through reading fiction, and I loved journeying with the characters in this story.
Chariline’s mother died while birthing her, and Chariline was told she was an orphan. Her mother’s family were Roman, but her complexion revealed her Cushite heritage from her father. Chariline was raised by her widowed aunt and, over the years, they spent time with her grandparents in Cush where her grandfather was a high ranking Roman official.
Chariline has a strong faith, and she can’t shake her yearning and desire to learn more about her father’s identity and the truth behind her parents brief marriage. When clues are revealed and she’s provided with a lead in Rome, Chariline’s desperation drives her to throw caution and commonsense out the window. She formulates a crazy plan to stowaway on a merchant boat that is due to leave Cush and head north along the Nile toward Corinth.
Theo is stunned to discover the beautiful girl he met in Cush is hiding away on his boat. His faith and strong sense of responsibility and integrity demands he takes care of Chariline and provides safe passage to Rome. Danger is lurking and Chariline’s life is being threatened by an unknown assailant with unknown motives. The mystery unfolds and an unexpected romance develops as illness and danger draw Theo and Chariline closer together.
I loved journeying with Chariline and Theo and the cast of characters that included familiar names from the book of Acts. The mystery was engaging and I wanted Chariline to discover the truth and piece together the puzzle of her past. The satisfying resolution to the mystery and the ending of the story put a smile on my face. I highly recommend Jewel of the Nile for readers who enjoy Biblical fiction and learning more about first century life in the Roman Empire.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley.
A Chance for the Newcomer by Lisa Carter — She’s stirring things up…A big-city chef. A small-town single dad. And matchmakers with marriage in mind… Chef Kara Lockwood didn’t think changing a small-town diner’s menu would cause a boycott, but the locals sure do love their apple pie—especially fire chief Will MacKenzie. Kara’s not sure she and the single father can ever learn to live peacefully as neighbors. But even as they clash over pastries, local matchmakers and Will’s little boy are determined to bring their stubborn hearts together. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
His Secret Daughter by Laurie Larsen — he had the perfect life all on her own …Alyssa Stark works hard to make her life’s dreams come true … all on her own. She built her reputation as New York City’s top advertising executive, client by client. And when her ill-advised marriage didn’t work out, she knew she had to make her dream of becoming a mother happen by untraditional means. Now, she and her eight-year-old daughter Caroline are living the dream life in the Big Apple.He’d lost everything that meant anything until he made a discovery …Grant Fontaine is the widowed president of his father-in-law’s electronics company. Since the tragic death of his pregnant wife a decade ago, he’s become a high achieving businessman, but a social hermit. Several years ago, his lonely life took on new meaning when he discovered that the donation he’d made to a reproductive clinic long ago had sired a child. Through the services of a discreet private eye unafraid to push legal limits, he identifies his “daughter,” Caroline, and her mother, Alyssa. Could it be time to reveal his secret? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Always a Wedding Planner by Davalynn Spencer, R.L. Ashely, LeeAnn Betts, Toni Shiloh — Love Is Only Business for 4 Wedding Planners Discover how keeping secrets from each other threatens four women’s friendships, wedding business, and their own ability to find love in Loveland, Colorado. Business partners Felicity Anderson, the cake baker; Kiki Bell, the seamstress; Cassie Blackthorn, the coordinator; and Chef Saffron Delarosa are best of friends in a town that is a romantic wedding destination for many couples—who work together at Weddings by Design to make every bride’s special day perfect. Could each falling into their own romance be the key to working out their differences and learning to trust each other—and God—with their futures? (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Matched Hearts by Cathe Swanson — She’s looking for a “Plus One” for her parents’ anniversary party. He’s looking for “Happily Ever After.” When a matchmaking agency pairs them up, is it a computer error or a match made in heaven?Eleanor Nielson always wanted to follow in her distinguished parents’ footsteps, becoming a teacher and living a life of selfless community service – until she tried it. Now, she’s run away to find herself and decide what she wants to do with the rest of her life, but she can’t skip her parents’ anniversary party, and she needs a date. Can a matchmaking agency find her a fake boyfriend who will impress her parents? Mechanical engineer David Reid has his life all planned out, and he’s ready for the next phase: a loving wife who will share his faith and work at his side when he becomes a pastor. But a good woman is hard to find, so like any good engineer, David turns the project over to experts: an online matchmaking agency. The pretty, blond teacher with denim blue eyes seems like a match made in heaven. Or is she too good to be true? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Plot Twist by Bethany Turner — February 4, 2003, is just another day for Olivia Ross—a greeting card writer whose passion project is a screenplay of her own. After she and a handsome, struggling actor have a near-magic encounter in a coffee shop, they make a spontaneous pact: in ten years, after they’ve found the success they’re just sure they’re going to achieve, they’ll return to the coffeehouse to partner up and make a film together. The only problem? Olivia neglected to get the stranger’s name. But she doesn’t forget the date. For the next ten years, every February 4, Olivia has an exceptional day, full of coincidences and ironies. As men come and go and return to her life, and as she continues to write her screenplay, she still wonders about the guy from the coffee shop—the nameless actor she’s almost certain was Hamish MacDougal, now a famous member of the Hollywood elite. But a lot can happen in ten years, and while waiting for the curtain to rise on her fate, the true story of Olivia’s life is being written—and if she’s not careful, she’ll completely miss the epic romance playing out right before her eyes. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
Historical:
More Than Honor by Carol Ashby — Devotion to duty and dogged determination make Tribune Titianus the most feared investigator of the Urban Cohort. Honor drives him to hunt down anyone who breaks Roman law, but it becomes personal when Lenaeus, his old tutor, is murdered in his own classroom. Why kill a respected teacher of the noble sons of Rome, a man who has nothing worth stealing and no known enemies? Had he learned something too dangerous to let him live? Pompeia was only a girl when Titianus studied with Father before her family became Christians. She and her brother Kaeso can’t move their school from the house where their father was killed. But what if the one who killed Father comes to kill again? Kaeso’s friend Septimus insists they spend nights at his father’s well-guarded home. But danger lurks there as well. As Titianus hunts for the murderer, will he discover their secret faith and arrest them as enemies of the Empire? (Historical from Cerrillo Press)
The Dream Weaver’s Bride: Asenath’s Story by Janelle Hovde— As the daughter of the high priest of On, Asenath has a solid vision of her future. Her education with the royal scribe is a luxury not usually afforded to women, and even though she is betrothed to the pharaoh’s half-brother, she has dreams of something more. But everything changes when the pharaoh has troubling nightmares that only a prisoner named Joseph can interpret. Suddenly, Asenath finds herself married to this foreigner, who demands that no god but his own be worshipped in his house. Despite her fears, Asenath is touched by Joseph’s kindness and humility, even as he steps into his newfound power. Can Asenath trust the God of Joseph and forsake her old deities? Can she learn to love this stranger from another land, a stranger with scars from a painful past? As a famine sweeps across Egypt and the surrounding lands, Asenath and Joseph find themselves face-to-face with the men who caused Joseph’s suffering. Can Asenath embrace the power of El Shaddai and help her husband forgive? (Historical from Guideposts Publications)
Historical Romance:
Faith in the Mountain Valley by Misty M. Beller — After eleven years spent looking for the girl who stole his heart, Jean-Jacques Baptiste-better known as French to his friends-is tempted to give up. Until the day he spotted the flaxen-haired stranger traveling the wooded path with Blackfoot Indians. He never imagined he’d find his childhood friend masquerading as a man in this Rocky Mountain wilderness, hundreds of miles from the Canadian town where he last saw her. No matter her reasons, he can’t let her go this time. From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
The Captain’s Quest by Lorri Dudley — Pricilla Middleton only attended the Lemoore house party to keep her friend out of trouble. Now, her only chance to keep from becoming a gossip column headline is to sneak aboard her brother’s ship and pretend she’d been visiting him instead of taking part in the debacle. Before she can speak to her brother, the ship sets sail, and the man in charge is not at all who she expects. Captain Tobias Prescott, son of an infamous war hero, has been assigned on a critical mission to deploy warships in St. Kitts for battle in New Orleans. Unfortunately, his orders require him to assume command of a friend’s ship, and he must weigh anchor the instant the former captain is escorted down the gangplank. When they reach open waters, the last thing he expects is to find a woman hiding in the captain’s cabin, yet his mission is too urgent to return her to England. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
Along a Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart — Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn’t mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression. Yet she longs to find love like the heroines in the books she loves. When a charming writer comes to town, she thinks she might have found it—or is the perfect man actually closer than she thinks? Perdita Sweet has called these mountains home for so long that she’s nearly as rocky as the soil around her small cabin. Long ago she thought she could love, but when the object of her affection up and married someone else, she stopped giving too much of herself away to others. As is so often the case, it’s easier to see what’s best for others than to see what’s best for oneself. Perdita knows who Tansy should choose, but why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster? (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason — In the midst of WWII, Jane Linder, a childless divorcée, puts all her energy into her career at the Toronto Children’s Aid Society. As acting directress, Jane hopes to be awarded the position permanently so she can continue making a difference in the lives of troubled children. Garrett Wilder has been hired to overhaul operations at the Children’s Aid Society. He hopes to impress the board members with his findings and earn the vacant director’s position. A war injury ended his dream of taking over his parents’ farm, but with the security of the director’s job, he’d be able to contribute financially and help save the family business. As Garrett works closely with Jane, he comes to admire her tenacity and her dedication to the children. Just as feelings begin to blossom between them, her ex-husband returns from overseas with an unexpected proposition that could fulfill Jane’s deepest desires. With the odds stacked against them, can Garrett and Jane navigate the obstacles to their relationship and find lasting love? (Historical Romance from Bethany House (Baker) Publishing)
A Bride for Keegan by Linda Shenton Matchett — Fiona Quigley’s parents came to America for a better life, but illness and the Civil War took them from her. Now, she’s barely scraping by as a seamstress to Boston’s elite. A chance for a new start arises in the form of being a mail-order bride, but to her dismay she must marry the man by proxy. Once they’re wed, there will be no turning back. After being jailed one too many times for protesting against the Unionists in Ireland, Keegan O’Rourke heads for America—land of the free. He takes advantage of the Homestead Act to create a farm in his new country, but he has no one to share his success, so he advertises for a mail-order bride. They wed by proxy, but after she arrives, he discovers his Irish lass hails from the northern reaches of the Emerald Isle – the very area he fled. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
On Sugar Hill by Ane Mulligan — She traded Sugar Hill for Vaudeville. Now she’s back. The day Cora Fitzgerald turned sixteen, she fled Sugar Hill for the bright lights of Vaudeville, leaving behind her senator-father’s verbal abuse. But just as her career takes off, she’s summoned back home. And everything changes. The stock market crashes. The senator is dead. Her mother is delusional, and her mute Aunt Clara pens novels that have people talking. Then there’s Boone Robertson, who never knew she was alive back in high school, but now manages to be around whenever she needs help. Will the people of her past keep her from a brilliant future? (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky — In 1909, Grace McAlister set sail for Canada as one of the thousands of British Home Children taken from their families and their homeland. Though she is fortunate enough to be adopted by wealthy parents, the secrets of her past are kept hidden for ten years until someone from her long-buried childhood arrives on her doorstep. With this new connection to her birth family, will she be brave enough to leave her sheltered life in Toronto and uncover the truth? After enduring hardship as an indentured British Home Child, Garth McAlister left Canada to serve in World War I. His sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, promised to wait for his return, but after three long years apart, her letters suddenly stopped. When Garth arrives home from the war to unexpected news, he is determined to return to Canada once more on a daunting mission to find the two women he refuses to abandon—his long-lost sister and his mysteriously missing sweetheart. (Historical Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House))
A Life Redeemed by Olivia Rae — Upon Queen Elizabeth’s order, Audrey Hayes travels to the borderlands of Scotland to learn where the fierce Laird Armstrong’s loyalties lie. Is he aligned with his mother’s English roots in support of the queen, or does he hold with the beliefs of his father, who wishes to see Mary of Scots on the English throne? The fate of Audrey’s family rests on her success in finding the answer. After losing his lands in a wager and being betrayed by his kin, Gavin Armstrong entered a loveless marriage to obtain the funds to buy back his family home, Warring Tower. Now a widower, struggling against countless border wars, he is on the verge of losing his home and lands again. With few resources, he reluctantly makes another risky wager, one he cannot hope to win without trusting the secretive Audrey Hayes, a woman he suspects is an English spy. (Historical Romance from HopeKnight Press)
Speculative/Science Fiction:
The Chase by Bradley Caffee — in the Chase. Be the hero. Or die trying. The chaos and anarchy following the Great Collapse nearly brought the world to its knees until the unchanging Law brought order and peace. Generations later, the twelve alliances of the World Coalition come together once a year to allow their best and brightest young people to compete in the Chase. The prize? A chance to pass exactly one new law. The son of two former Chase runners, Willis Thomson is the top trainee in the Western Alliance. With the expectations of the world and his heritage driving him, he leads his elite Red Team as they prepare for his moment to become a coveted law-changer. Perryn Davis, the new leader of the Blue Team, struggles to survive as she competes as one of the designated losers. She knows that losing means genetic recoding, a process that cannot go on indefinitely, and longs to age out of the program before it kills her. When a mysterious new racer with knowledge of the outside shows up at their orbiting training center, the natural order of the Western Alliance trainees is upended. In a world where too much knowledge is dangerous, Willis and Perryn find themselves in a race to save their lives and uncover the hidden underbelly of the peaceful World Coalition. (Speculative/Science Fiction from Mountain Brook Fire)
Thriller/Suspense/Romance:
Cold Case Trail by Sharee Stover — Following the clues could be the last thing they do…Temporarily working in the cold case division was supposed to mean less danger for state trooper Trey Jackson and his injured K-9 partner, Magnum—until they thwart an abduction. Now he must protect profiler Justine Stark, even as she blames him for her friend’s death ten years ago. Can he right past wrongs by finally solving the murder…and making sure Justine lives to find closure? (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Young Adult:
Aslan: Running Joy by Kristin Kaldahl — For fourteen-year-old Krissy, her new life maxim is pretty sad: First choices out. Second choices in. It’s been that way since dialysis left her disabled. Her limitations went from none to a ton, and now they stand in the way of her dream―to compete in dog agility with her runty sheltie pup, Aslan. (Young Adult from CrossLink Publishing)
