The temptation to match-make is too much to resist. Louise has one success already under her belt. Now this handsome, successful lawyer has just admitted he isn’t married. Single and in possession of a large fortune, Michael Sullivan must be in want of a wife. Louise’s second daughter, Chloe, would be just right for him.
There is no way Chloe will let her mother organize a blind date for her as she did for her sister. Chloe has her principles—and she has a ridiculous, unjust speeding ticket. The person she needs is a lawyer to help argue her case in court. Is it dishonest, when her mother’s lawyer calls and asks her on a date, to agree with ulterior motives?
Michael Sullivan has ulterior motives of his own. This all expenses paid trip to the sunny Gold Coast is merely a case of one person helping the other out—isn’t it? Everyone else might think they’re a couple, but it’s just about winning a court case—isn’t it?
Can Regency romance author, Luella Linley (AKA Louise Brooker) hit the target twice in a row? Meddling in her adult children’s lives is almost as much fun as creating fiction characters, except her children have minds of their own and don’t always cooperate.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading In Want of a Wife, book 2 in Meredith Resce’s Luella Linley: License to Meddle series. Luella’s daughter, Chloe, is a feminist with strong views on the role of women in society. She doesn’t need a husband to take care of her, and she’s frustrated by her mother’s blatant and inappropriate matchmaking attempts. When Luella visits her new tax lawyer and discovers he’s single, she can’t resist showing him a photo of Chloe and asking if he’ll date her daughter.
Michael was born on the wrong side of the tracks and has worked hard to attain his current role in a prestigious law firm. The successful lawyer image he projects to the world is a facade, and his boss’ mistaken assumption that he has a fiancée threatens to expose embarrassing truths.
Chloe and Michael have different reasons for agreeing to a temporary fake engagement, and they never expect feelings to develop that will complicate the arrangement. Their faith journeys are an added complication because their relationship is built on a convenient untruth with inconvenient consequences. Chloe’s father, Russell, bonds with Michael, and we get to know Russell more in this fun romance story with many LOL moments.
A wild and hilarious ride ensues as the outspoken Chloe shakes up Michael’s carefully planned world and exposes secrets that can’t be ignored. Highly recommended for romance readers who like contemporary Christian romantic comedies that don’t shy from addressing real life issues.
A vegan alpaca farmer, a ranch hand, and an accidental pregnancy.
Indigo Hewitt reluctantly decides a move to Hope Ranch is the best of the few options available. Despite not knowing her grandparents well, she moves in a few days before her baby sister’s wedding. Based on conversations she’s had with ranch hand Joaquin, Indigo figures she’ll manage to fit in just fine.
Joaquin Rivera has been pushing the Hewitts to bring livestock to Hope Ranch. When Indigo relocates with her herds, he’s excited to lend a hand with the sheep and alpacas. Working alongside Indigo isn’t going to be a hardship, either.
After a tipsy evening together, Joaquin is determined to get his relationship with Indigo back to a place that honors God. One mistake isn’t going to ruin either of their lives. Until those two pink lines appear.
Will they find a way to make a family, or will Indigo’s need for freedom be too much for love to overcome?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Hope for Freedom and journeying with Indigo and Joaquin in the story. Indigo and Joaquin’s romance is unconventional for a number of reasons. At the start of the story Indigo doesn’t share Joaquin’s faith or subscribe to the Christian values held by her grandparents. Indigo’s parents never married, and she moves to Hope Ranch because her boyfriend has taken off and she’s out of options.
Joaquin is a ranch hand at Hope Ranch who meets Indigo at her sister’s wedding. He’s attracted to Indigo and, in a weak moment, the temptation to resist her charms is too much. Weeks later the consequences of their night together are revealed. The unplanned pregnancy makes Joaquin and Indigo’s relationship even more complicated.
Their romance is sweet and clean and true-to-life. Joaquin and Indigo wrestle with big issues in the story, including faith issues. The messy start to their relationship creates massive problems that aren’t easy to resolve. Relationships can be hard work, and I loved seeing how Indigo and Joaquin dealt with the complications that kept piling on as the story progressed.
Faith, forgiveness, and redemption are strong themes in the story. I highly recommend Hope for Freedom to romance readers who appreciate seeing Jesus and God’s grace at work in the lives of the characters.
Miriam’s Song by Jill Eileen Smith — In her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection. (Biblical from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Contemporary Romance:
Amish Midwives — From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance.
Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston
A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray
Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
A Brother’s Promise by Mindy Obenhaus — He didn’t realize he wanted a family… Until he suddenly became a single dad. After his sister’s death, rancher Mick Ashford’s determined to ensure his orphaned niece, Sadie, feels at home. And accepting guidance from Christa Slocum is his first step. But just as Christa and Sadie begin to settle into Mick’s heart, Sadie’s paternal grandparents sue for custody. Now Mick must fight to keep them together…or risk losing the makeshift family he’s come to love. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)
General Contemporary:
Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti — While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she’s supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun. (General Contemporary from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Historical:
A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy — Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women. When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. (General Historical from Bethany House)
The Rose Keeper by Jennifer Lamont Leo — July 1944. Chicago nurse Clara Janacek has spent her whole life taking care of other people. Grumpy yet loveable, all she wants now is to live out her life in peace, tending her roses and protecting her heart. But beneath the gruff exterior lies a story, and when new neighbors move in and shake up her quiet world, Clara must grapple with long-buried realities. (General Historical, Independently Published)
In the Dead of the Night by JP Robinson — Darkness gathers in the final days of the Great War as the Germans plot to unleash a weapon that will plunge the Allied world into obscurity. For the Steele family, the stakes have never been higher. Leila is forced back into the shadows when the leader of a German spy ring kidnaps her child, jeopardizing Europe’s fragile bid for peace. Meanwhile, Malcolm fights to keep Northshire Estate as his father stands trial for treason against the British empire. Confronted with overwhelming circumstances from their past, the Steeles must rely on their grit and faith to conquer the night. But will it be enough? (General Historical from Logos Publications)
Historical Romance:
Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot — Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers — until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Sing in the Sunlight by Kathleen Denly — Richard Stevens isn’t who he thinks he is. Neither is the woman who now claims his last name. Disfiguring scars stole Clarinda Humphrey’s singing career, her home, and her family, but she refuses to let her appearance steal her future. While attending The Young Ladies Seminary in 1858 Benicia, California, she finds a man who promises to love and cherish her. Instead he betrays her, leaving her with child, and Clarinda must take drastic measures to ensure her child doesn’t suffer for her foolishness. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson — 1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding―and what she begins to uncover―could put them both in mortal danger. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)
My Dear MISS DUPRÉ by Grace Hitchcock — Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father’s unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan—find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the empire. Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society’s elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is expected to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus. (Historical Romance from Bethany House)
Rayne’s Redemption by Linda Shenton Matchett — Will she have to lose her identity to find true love? Twin sisters Rayne and Jessica Dalton have been swapping places their whole lives, so when Jessica dies on the eve of heading west to become a mail-order bride, Rayne decides to fill her sister’s shoes. The challenge will be faking Jessica’s faith in God. Can Rayne fool her prospective groom without losing her heart…or her soul? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn — US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He and his team are experts at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection. (Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman — Just as Homeland Security Agent Addison Leigh reaches the pinnacle of her cyber investigation into a firearms smuggling ring, she’s attacked and left for dead. Her estranged husband, ICE Agent Mack Jordan, is notified that she’s at the hospital in a coma. He may have let his past military trauma ruin their short marriage, but she never gave up on their relationship, and he remains her next of kin. hen a second attempt to take her life is made, it’s clear something very sinister is going on, and Mack and Addison are in for the ride of their lives. (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House)
Abducted in Alaska by Darlene L. Turner — Saving a boy who has escaped his captors puts Canadian border patrol officer Hannah Morgan right into the path of a ruthless child-smuggling ring. Now with help from police constable Layke Jackson, she must keep the child safe. But can they rescue the other abducted children and bring down the gang…all while protecting a little boy and keeping themselves alive? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)
Western:
Braced for Love by Mary Connealy — Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he’s inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half-brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin’s supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life. (Western from Bethany House)
Star Youngblood has always been a fighter–a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.
After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray—a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted—his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.
As Paul and Star strive to protect his mother in their own ways, they soon find their own hearts are at the greatest risk.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Star Rising and touring Ireland with the characters. Star is a survivor who has overcome the odds to get her life together. She’s a new Christian and believes her sobriety is anchored in her faith. Priscilla has been a lifeline for Star and has provided her with a much needed job. Star appreciates Priscilla and the people at the Re-Claimed ministry in St. Simons, Georgia, USA, who have helped her reclaim her life.
Priscilla’s son, Paul, is a corporate pilot based in Europe who works hard and plays hard. He kissed goodbye his faith and his youthful missionary dreams in Africa after being burned by hypocritical Christians. Paul lives for himself, hates his self absorbed and arrogant boss, and is saving money in order to return to the States and take care of his elderly mother.
Priscilla has health issues and has always dreamed of traveling to Ireland. With time against her, she makes a last minute booking to join a tour group in Ireland with Star as her companion and carer. Star and Paul do not get along at all when they first meet. I can understand why Star doesn’t have a high opinion of Paul and, like Star, it took me awhile to warm to his character. The journey to Ireland is hilarious because everything goes wrong. It’s those moments of stress where the polite social masks are removed that reveal a person’s true character.
Star and Priscilla are praying for Paul and his unbelief. The story has a strong faith element that is seamlessly woven in because the characters each have their own struggles in their faith journeys. Star and Paul are drawn to each other, a strong attraction simmers, and a holiday romance unfolds despite Star, in particular, having a list of reasons for why a long term relationship is an impossible dream.
Life is messy and the temptation to choose worldly pleasure over God’s best is not sugar-coated or downplayed in the story. I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what happens next. I wanted to ride the rollercoaster of emotions with Star and Paul and discover how they’d achieve their happily-ever-after. Highly recommended for contemporary Christian romance readers who are looking for a story that deals with heavier topics in a realistic manner with lighthearted moments.
A reformed playboy. A woman who trusts horses more than men. And a road trip gone wrong.
Royal Hewitt never expected to move to Hope Ranch, but his grandparents’ warm welcome makes it too appealing to turn down. All he needs now is to furnish his cabin on the cheap and convince Sophie Ellison to give him just one shot at a date.
If Sophie could figure out how to make teaching horseback riding to kids pay all the bills, she’d drop her day job in a heartbeat. Even if it meant more opportunities for Royal to hit on her. His good looks and easy flirtations leave her weak-kneed, but she knows better than to trust a guy like that.
Sophie’s skill at dodging Royal comes to nothing when she agrees to loan him her truck–and her driving services–to pick up some equipment. Surely she can hold out against his charm for just one day. But when the trip takes a turn for the worst, more than Sophie’s heart is at risk. Does she dare take a chance and hope for love?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Hope for Love(Hope Ranch Book 3) and read the whole book in an afternoon because I couldn’t put it down. Sophie is a relatable character and I understood why she struggled with insecurities and finding her place in the world. Her younger sister is the golden girl who can do nothing wrong, according to Sophie’s parents.
Royal is Skye’s twin (see Skye’s story in Book 2 –Hope for Tomorrow) and the nominated Hewitt sibling to try and help their unconventional parents deal with the fallout from a big family secret reveal. Royal likes Sophie and he hangs around the ranch when she’s giving the kids horse riding lessons. He’s determined to do relationships God’s way and not fall back into old habits.
Sophie is a tough nut to crack and Royal is looking for more than friendship. The more time Sophie spends getting to know Royal, the more she realises he’s a changed man. Their mutual attraction simmers, and stressful circumstances simultaneously draw them together and push them emotionally apart. A fun romance develops, and I loved journeying with Sophie and Royal as they negotiated and overcame the issues in their path to happily-ever-after. Highly recommended.
Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door–turned–baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.
As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading If for Any Reason and visiting the picturesque Nantucket island in Massachusetts, USA. Emily’s grandfather has passed away and she’s inherited the family beach cottage in Nantucket. The cottage is in a state of disrepair due to her family abandoning their summer vacations in Nantucket eighteen years earlier after Emily’s mom died in a car crash on an island road.
Emily’s mother left her a notebook full of letters she wrote for Emily ‘just-in-case’ she wasn’t around to see Emily grow up. The notebook is Emily’s most treasured possession and her source of wisdom when it comes to making life decisions.
Hollis was Emily’s childhood holiday friend from when she vacationed in Nantucket. He’s now a retired baseball superstar who’s struggling to build a meaningful relationship with his daughter. He’s always cared for Emily and was devastated when her family abandoned their summer vacations in Nantucket. Emily and Hollis reconnect as friends who could be more-than-friends when they discover they’re now living next door to each other at the beach for the summer.
Emily’s family background and relationships are complicated, and she’s determined to learn the truth about what happened to her mother eighteen years ago. She hires a contractor to repair and renovate the cottage and she ends up directing a summer kids theatre musical project at the town theatre that launched her childhood tv career and love for theatre.
During the story we also journey with Emily’s mother and father back to the summer of 1989. The family secrets that are revealed in the story challenge Emily’s faith and life choices. A fun and satisfying romance unfolds as Emily and Hollis wrestle with the big issues of life and the many obstacles in their path to happily-ever-after. The story has all the feels and includes many memorable kisses and romantic moments. If for Any Reason is a lovely summer beach read. Highly recommended.
The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron — From fashion to desperation and haute couture to the perils of humanity, The Paris Dressmaker weaves a story of two worlds colliding years apart—where satin and lace stand between life and death in the brutal underbelly of a war-torn world. (Historical Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
A Change of Scenery by Davalynn Spencer — A motorcar accident on a rainy Chicago night steals Ella Canaday’s fiancé as well as her ability to ride. Clinging to the remnants of her independence, she cuts her hair and her ties with her wealthy father and takes a train west as the seamstress with a moving-picture company. Colorado offers the change of scenery she needs. But she doesn’t expect the bold cowboy who challenges her to reclaim both the loves she thought she’d lost forever. (Historical Romance from Wilson Creek Publishing)
A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel — All of her life, Irish-American Moira Doherty has relished her mother’s descriptions of Ireland. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira decides to fulfill her mother’s wish that she become the teacher in Ballymann, her home village in Donegal, Ireland. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Vanessa’s Replacement Valentine by Linda Shenton Matchett — Engaged to be married as part of a plan to regain the wealth her family lost during the War Between the States, Vanessa Randolph finds her fiancé in the arms of another woman weeks before the wedding. Money holds no allure for her, so rather than allow her parents to set her up with another rich bachelor she decides to become a mail-order bride. Life in Green Bay, Wisconsin seems to hold all the pieces of a fresh start until she discovers her prospective groom was a Union spy and targeted her parents during one of his investigations. Is her heart safe with any man? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin — Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country—or worse. If she does not report truthfully, she’ll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Contemporary:
The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli — Two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and another in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and search for a place to belong. 2001 Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott’s historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability . . . until Victoria’s betrayal changes everything. 1865 While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa’s aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa’s words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan’s proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband’s dark side, and she can’t hide the bruises that appear. 2019 After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong. (General Contemporary from Tyndall House)
The Way it Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson — After years of estrangement, the lives of Zara Mahoney and her twin sister, Eve, are suddenly and completely intertwined again. Eve’s troubled lifestyle causes the state to take custody of her two children and contact Zara and her husband, asking them to consider foster care. Newlywed Zara thought she’d finally been given a fresh start and feels wholly unprepared to care for a niece and nephew whose existence she wasn’t even aware of. Meanwhile, Eve may have a real chance to start over this time with the help of Tiff Bradley, who’s dedicated to helping women everyone else has given up on after facing a heartbreaking tragedy in her own family. Over the course of one summer, all three women’s hearts and lives hang in the balance as Eve desperately works toward a new life. Can they redefine their expectations of how life should be to find the hope they–and those they love–so desperately need? (General Contemporary from Bethany House (Baker) Publishing)
Bridges by Deborah Raney — Facing an empty nest for the first time since the death of her husband, Dan, three years ago, Tess Everett immerses herself in volunteer work for the Winterset public parks, home of the famous covered bridges of Madison County, Iowa. But when former resident J.W. McRae shows up at one of the bridges with paintbrushes and easel, sparks fly—because J.W. was once married to Tess’s late friend Char. Worse, J.W. was a deadbeat dad to Char’s son, Wynn—then a college student—who Tess and Dan took under their wings after his mom’s death. (Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)
Mystery:
Death and a Crocodile by Lisa E. Betz — Sensible women don’t investigate murders, but Livia Aemilia might not have a choice. Rome, 46 AD. When Livia’s father dies under suspicious circumstances, she sets out to find the killer before her innocent brother is convicted of murder. She may be an amateur when it comes to hunting dangerous criminals, but she’s determined, intelligent, and not afraid to break a convention or two in pursuit of the truth. (Historical Mystery from CrossLink Publishing)
Thriller/Romance/Suspense:
Tides of Duplicity by Robin Patchen — Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They have no good reason to leave the resort and hurry back to the harsh New England winter. They lost their parents, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. Besides, when Fitz meets and spends time with the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard. But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels. The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life. (Thriller/Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Glimmer in the Darkness by Robin Patchen — Cassidy Leblanc worked hard to shake off her tragic childhood. As a foster child with a mother in prison for murder, she was an outcast in her small New Hampshire town until she met James. But she and James’s sister, whom she was babysitting, were kidnapped. She escaped, but Hallie didn’t survive, and everybody assumed Cassidy killed her. Like mother, like daughter, after all. With public opinion and the authorities united against her, young Cassidy fled. Now, a decade later, another little girl has been kidnapped, and Cassidy may be the only person who can find her. (Thriller/Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Obsession by Patricia Bradley — Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she’s forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed. (Thriller/Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Ben in Charge by Luana Ehrlich — Operation Concerned Citizen will be Ben’s first assignment as the primary officer in charge of a mission. When Titus learns it’s a simple mission with a clear objective but requires a complicated plan, he questions whether Ben will be able to handle it. When he discovers there are underlying circumstances, he questions whether he’ll be able to let Ben handle it. When the simple mission proves difficult, Titus discovers he’s not the man he thought he was, and he’s not the man he wants to be. He’s a man learning to live out his faith while living in the shadows, and sometimes those shadows aren’t shadows at all. (Thriller/Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Amish Romance:
The Heart Knows the Way Home by Christy Distler — Janna and Luke, a widower struggling to balance business and family responsibilities, reacquaint as Janna assists his grandmother and cares for his son. Her self-protective independence and his conservative principles put them at odds, but the difficulties they face draw them closer.When long-lost friendship rekindles into unexpected love, will either be willing to make changes so they can be together? (Romance: Amish from Avodah Books)
When her beloved aunt’s sudden illness sends Nai back to Chapel Cove to manage the town’s bookstore, her successful, independent, organized life in Texas seems a million miles away. Between a book-hoarding aunt, a leaky roof, unruly pets, wobbly faith, and flaky bookstore staff, the last thing she wants is to have to rely on local cop Mateo Rodriguez for help. Not when he’s the guy who broke her heart, convincing her to focus on her career, not romance.
Mateo, returned to the Cove to help his aging grandfather, never forgot his first love Nai or the one sweet kiss at sixteen that sent her running. Normally confident and capable, being around each other shoots them both back into their teenage shyness and insecurity.
They’ll need to overcome soul-deep hurts, lies they believe about themselves, learn to trust in God, and risk being vulnerable enough to accept their second chance at love at forty. Will a crisis bring them together — or tear them apart?
A sweet and quirky second-chances/ opposites attract / seasoned couple romance, with a plain heroine and a scarred hero.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Cherish Me and visiting with the fascinating cast of characters in the Chapel Cove community. Nai is a single and successful career woman who only returns to her home town to assist her beloved Aunt Ivy. It’s Nai’s first visit to Chapel Cove since she left years earlier, vowing never to return. Nai’s orderly life is thrown into chaos by the craziness of running her aunt’s book store and cafe plus looking after two dogs, a cat, and a parrot. Nai has plans to return to Austin, Texas, when her Aunt Ivy’s health improves.
Mateo is Nai’s childhood sweetheart who’s now a policeman in Chapel Cove. He’s more than happy to help Nai when things go wrong – which happens a lot! Mateo has feelings for Nai, despite their many decades apart. They reconnect as friends, and a sweet romance unfolds that challenges their faith and life choices.
Mateo’s grand gesture doesn’t go according to plan, but Mateo and Nai do manage to negotiate the many obstacles, misbeliefs and past history that stands in the way of their happily-ever after. Highly recommended for contemporary romance readers who enjoy fun and lighthearted stories with quirky characters and adorable pets.
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance, takes a leave of absence from her job as a social worker, and the two of them set off.
Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man her grandmother has hired to renovate the house. From the first moment she meets Matt, Kate can’t help but be attracted to him–he’s got a combination of good looks and charisma that draw and tug at her. But she knows there’s zero chance of a romance between them. Matt’s in love with his dead wife, and even if he weren’t, Kate realizes that she’s way too ordinary for him. For Matt Jarreau is no ordinary guy. Kate discovers that he was once a great NHL hockey player who left the sport when his wife–an honest-to-goodness former Miss America–was diagnosed with brain cancer. Matt’s been hiding from people, from God, and from his past ever since. Yet Kate is absolutely determined to befriend him, to try to reach him, to help him in some small way.
No, Kate’s not looking for love. She knows better than that by now. But when the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading My Stubborn Heart and journeying with Kate and Matt on their rocky path to happily-ever-after. Kate is single, on the wrong side of thirty, and looking for a new challenge. The stately home of her ancestors in small town Pennsylvania needs a lot of work and a lot of love. She’s drawn to Matt when they first meet, despite his polite but aloof manner. She recognises the pain in his eyes and feels prodded by God to befriend him.
Matt is the contractor hired by Kate’s grandma to complete the home renovations before they return to Texas for Christmas. Kate’s grandma reconnects with her old friends in town, and the seniors in the story are hilarious. I understood why Kate was happy to hang out with her grandma’s friends.
Matt has survived the tragic loss of his beloved wife. He has erected mile high emotional barriers to keep everyone away and protect his heart from being hurt again. Kate’s stubborn heart refuses to give up on Matt, and she prays for guidance in how to negotiate their fragile friendship.
A fun and tender friendship, with a strong and undeniable attraction simmering, challenges both Matt and Kate to consider their faith and what’s important for their life and future. Highly recommended.
The biggest disaster of her life or the beginning of something wonderful?
A single dad, opposites-attract faith-filled romance to warm your heart!
Growing up, Kristina Vela never imagined she’d meet her fortieth birthday divorced by her cheating, manipulative husband, and without a house, degree, or career. Back in her hometown, Chapel Cove, to start anew, she’s given up on men. Then she meets grieving widower Greg Matthews and his adorable five-year-old daughter and helps them renovate a house. Just when Kristina feels she can love again, her ex gives her an ultimatum. Can she choose between her own happiness and Greg’s?
Former snowboarder Greg Matthews is moving to Chapel Cove so his daughter can be close to her grandparents. After his wife died, his heart closed to romance. As caring and compassionate Kristina helps him repair his house and his life, he might be falling for her. But if she decides to leave, will he survive a second heartbreak?
Welcome to Chapel Cove, Oregon, where life begins at forty.
As their fortieth birthdays loom, three childhood friends return unexpectedly to their home town. Stunning coastline, a harbor against life’s storms, and a welcoming community await them. Hurt by challenges, disappointments, and failures; reminded of their unfulfilled hopes and dreams, they’re offered a fresh start. And, if they’re brave enough to accept it, a second chance at love. Will they allow God to safely anchor them in their hearts’ home, or will doubt and uncertainty drive them to repeat their old mistakes
Discover this small town filled with love, hope, and faith, in Chapel Cove Romances, a series of sweet and clean standalone Christian stories from three bestselling authors.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Love Me, book 2 in A Chapel Cove Romance multi-author series by Alexa Verde. Kristina has spent years in a miserable marriage to a divorce lawyer who didn’t love or respect her. Once their twins are settled in college, he divorces her. Kristina is devastated that one of her twin girls blames her for the marriage breakdown and cuts her off. She returns to Chapel Cove feeling lost and missing her girls. She decides to help her twin brother, Roman, with his house renovation business.
Greg is grieving the loss of his beloved wife. He has moved to Chapel Cove at the request of his five-year-old daughter, Chelsea’s, maternal grandparents. He buys a house in Chapel Cove and contracts Roman to do the renovations.
An adorable meet-cute between Kristina, Greg and Chelsea involving chocolate cake sets up this sweet and heartwarming romance story. Chelsea chose Kristina to be her mommy, and I enjoyed journeying with Greg and Kristina as they drew on their faith to overcome obstacles on their bumpy road to happily-ever-after. Highly recommended.
