8 Romantic Novels to Read for Valentine’s Day

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Finding Her Family’s Love

Kayla Kensington

Kendra visits the small town of Shallow Stream thrilled to meet her late husband’s family for the first time. To her shock, her grieving mother-in-law accuses Kendra of being a gold digger and rejects her. Will Pierce, her late husband’s cousin, offer her the love and family she seeks, or will the relationship create new heartbreak?

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Alice’s Notions

Tamera Lynn Kraft

In this quaint mountain town, things aren’t always what they seem. 

World War II widow Alice Brighton returns to the safety of her home town to open a fabric shop. Between her mysterious landlord, her German immigrant employee, her neighbors who are acting strange, and a dreamboat security expert who is trying to romance her, Alice doesn’t know who she can trust.

Buy at this link!

On Cue

Bettie Boswell

Ginny’s musical may save the local museum, but restoring her trust in men is another matter. When theater professor Scott finds himself coerced to direct her musical, they must work through humorous misunderstandings and a couple of pet disasters, until they finally discover that forgiveness and trust produce perfect harmony.

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Lost in the Storm

Tamera Lynn Kraft

Leading up to the turbulent Battles for the city of Chattanooga, will Lavena and Cage find the courage to love and forgive, or will they be swept away by their past mistakes that don’t want to stay buried?

Meet the Ladies of Oberlin, the causes they’re willing to fight for, and the men who capture their hearts.

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Red Sky Over America

Tamera Lynn Kraft

William and America confront evil, but will it costs them everything?

Meet the Ladies of Oberlin, the causes they’re willing to fight for, and the men who capture their hearts.

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A Match (NOT) Made in Heaven

Michelle L. Levigne

What’s a good church-going girl to do when everything seems to go from wrong to weird, and the crazy old lady who insists on helping her find true love doesn’t know the meaning of “No!” or “Not ever!”?

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Resurrection of Hope

Tamera Lynn Kraft

She thought he was her knight in shining armor, but will a marriage of convenience prove her wrong?

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For Sale: Wedding Dress, Never Used

Michelle L. Levigne

Real love didn’t come back into her life until AFTER she decided to finally sell the dress, and let go of that particular dream. 

Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

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Review of Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy

Deep Trouble

Mary Connealy

Get ready for a Grand Canyon tour de force by award-winning author Mary Connealy. Gabe Lasley and Shannon Dysart are an unlikely pair. He’s an aimless wanderer who wants nothing other than to be left alone. She’s a fearless female determined to find a city of gold. When they are forced together the mayhem begins. As they set out to find the treasure, trouble is hot on their trail. Will the dream of gold color every decision Shannon makes? Will Gabe fail yet another helpless female in his life?

My Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

If you’ve never read one of Mary Connealy’s novels, go out and buy one now. She combines romance, cowboys, and humor in a way no other author can match. In Deep Trouble, Gabe and Shannon are not right for each other in every way imaginable, yet they are down to each other as they face the worst trouble of their lives with the backdrop of the Grand Canyon.

Don’t Let Your Fears…

by Carole Brown

…keep you from writing.

Fear #1: Fear of the Unknown

Yes, cost you some money — marketing costs, training costs, etc.

But if something costs you, say, $500 over the course of a year, and you generate, say, $3,000 during that year, is the cost really what’s most important?

Don’t let the fear of investing some money now blind you from the many different avenues to profit and readers.

 

Fear #2: I don’t have the time

Yes, writing does take time. There is no way around this.

So if you literally have no time to invest in building an audience and developing your talent in writing, you probably should give in to this fear and walk away now. But in my experience, most people do have enough time to at least get moving — even if it’s not as much time as they’d like to have (a distinction that is critical).

The key is to actually prioritize your personal goals and your future (because no one else is going to do it for you), and then make smart choices about what to do with the available time that you do have.

 

Fear #3: But I’m an unknown! How will I ever get enough sales to make money?

 

Patience with your timeline, take a big-picture view, and smartly follow the proven path laid out by so many people who have come before you.

 

Fear #4: Okay, but how can I be confident that I’ll make good decisions and not screw everything up once it’s growing?

Because you’re more capable than you think. And because there are so many mentors and examples out there whose lead you can follow.

And, more importantly, because your own intuition — once it is honed by the deep experience you will gain growing an audience and learning how to serve them — is the greatest and most underrated guide you will have.

 

 

Fear #5: This all just a crazy pipe dream.

It’s definitely not a pipe dream. The thousands of successful writers out there, and the billions upon billions of dollars they generate every year, are proof of that.

As to whether it’s “crazy,” well … maybe it is a tad bit crazy.

But you know what? Most successful writers tend to be a little bit crazy. So this fear is actually a sign that you’re on the right track. 

 

And just for good measure, here is one more fear you might be feeling …

Bonus Fear: How will I know what specific steps to take to succeed?

This is probably the most unreasonable fear of them all.

Why?

Because so many successful paths and successful strategies have already been tried, judged, improved, and refined by those who have come before you.

 

Take a moment and reflect on any of the fears above that may be affecting your thinking. If any of those fears are stopping you from taking meaningful steps forward, now is the time to consider whether or not they should be.

Because if they shouldn’t be, then these fears are holding you back from living the life you truly want to be living.

And that’s not a fear to respect.

That’s a fear to reject.

A New Mystery Book from Karen Robbins

by Carole Brown

Karen has some fun mystery books, and here’s her newest! 

The second book in her Annie Pickels Story

Pickle Dilly

Links to purchase books:

In A Pickle:  https://www.amazon.com/Pickle-Annie-Pickels-Story-Pickes/dp/1974391868/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Pickle Dilly:  https://www.amazon.com/Pickle-Dilly-Annie-Pickels-Story/dp/1974397092/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

 

KAREN ROBBINS is a writer, author, and speaker. She and her husband are travel addicts and many of her stories are enriched by their adventures in different parts of the world. She has written six novels, collaborated on two non-fiction books and contributed often to Chicken Soup For The Soul books. She is currently working on a Christmas novella, A Pocketful Of Christmas. While the world is fun to explore, Karen most likes to spend time with her grandchildren. They offer the greatest adventures of all.

 

Catch up with Karen at her blog, Wandering Writer (www.karenrobbins.com), Twitter (https://twitter.com/writerwandering), Facebook (www.facebook.com/KarenRobbinsAuthor) or Amazon (www.amazon.com/author/karenrobbins)

Recommended!

Happy Reading

 

Review of Barbara Ann Derksen’s: Redemptive Justice

by Carole Brown 

Blurb:

What happens when truth is perverted to suit the circumstances?

Christine Smith, owner of Finders Keepers Investigative Services, and Jeremy Goodman, owner of Goodman Investigations, discover the answer when they decide to help a woman recover her children from a Mennonite village in Mexico.

Drug running and human trafficking are justified by Church Elders who place money and control above the people they are supposed to lead. Christine’s new faith explores the contradictions in the search for Redemptive Justice.

 

My Thoughts:

Once again, Derksen delivers a believeable and entrancing novel with diligent detectives, Jeremy Goodman and Christine Smith. I especially like intense books with hard current topics written within, and Derksen brings it out beautifully!

And who’s heart doesn’t break at the plight of the little girl, despised and abused, with seemingly no hope? It makes you want to pull her from that despicable place and hugged her so tightly she’ll never feel pain or unloved again.

Then you have the detectives. I love the comradeship between them, their personalities and the way they work together. They bring life to the stories and draw readers into the setting.

But drug running and human trafficing are just two of the evils Jeremy and Christine must face as they work to save the children of one woman. Set in Old Mexico, the two friends and detectives face prejudices and danger as they labor together to save the day yet another time.

You won’t want to miss reading this newest book from Derksen. Written with a particularly sound ability to create realistic dialog and convincing scenes, you’ll find yourself using the midnight oil to finish this novel. Heartily recommended!

 

About Barbara:

 

Seeking to encourage, inspire, and invite, Barbara Ann Derksen writes about Kingdom living characters who live in a not-so Kingdom world. She has been scrambling letters into enjoyable fiction and non-fiction for over 20 years and a published writer since 2003. Her readers share how the books are hard to put down, keep them up at night reading long after lights out, and spur them on to a closer walk with their Lord.

Her favorite genre is mystery so, to thrill her readers, she composes a new one every year.

She has just completed the four book series, The Wilton Strait Mystery Series, now available through her website, on Amazon in Canada, Europe, and the US, and through Amazon’s Kindle store as e-books as well as Smashwords for e-book readers other than Kindle.

• Vanished,
• Presumed Dead,
• Fear Not, and
• Silence

are a series that provides hours of entertainment, food for thought, and keep her readers wanting more.

The first book in the Finders Keepers Series: 

• Shadow Stalker, was released May 5, 2013 and is available on Amazon http://amzn.to/13pABhF. with mostly 5 star reviews.
• In 2014, Book 2, Essence of Evil made its appearance with mostly five star reviews and now…
• the sequel, Wicked Disregard, released February 2016, is making its debut.
• A 4th book in this series is in the works with plans to publish in 2017.

Barbara has also penned a devotional series with six books, 4 children’s stories and two other non-fiction books. Dance With a Broom and Second to None. 

Barbara Ann Derksen has written 19 books, mystery, children’s and devotions. She and her husband, Henry, have been married for 46 years, have four children, and eleven grandchildren. Henry is a singer/songwriter with 8 CDs to his name, working on his 9th.

Connect with her here:

Website:  www.barbaraannderksen.com/

Twitter:  @BarbaraADerksen

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/barbara.a.derksen

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=37561352&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

 

Buy her books here:

AMAZON:  https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Ann-Derksen/e/B006V4JD5M

GOODREADS:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5154682.Barbara_Ann_Derksen

Website:  www.barbaraannderksen.com/

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/BarbaraAnnDerksen

 

 

Happy Reading!

 

 

 

A New Comedy Romance from Catherine Castle

by Carole Brown

A Groom for Mama

One date for every medical test—that’s the deal.There’s a new romantic comedy, by multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle, on the EBook shelves at Amazon, titled…

A Groom for Mama.

The book, which is full of plot twists, humor and drama, is loosely based on a play she and her author husband wrote as a contest entry for a local radio contest.

Readers are calling A Groom for Mama “simply delightful” and “an enjoyable read full of fun and wit and heart-felt emotion.”

Catherine’s going to give us a peek into the book today.

Enjoy!

A Groom for Mama

By Catherine Castle

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

Excerpt:

With a sweep of his hand, Jack spread the photos out on the table in front of Allison and Beverly. “Here’s a few I just grabbed from the database. Any of them interesting?” He studied Allison’s reaction. She didn’t bat an eyelash as she scanned the men’s pictures. Then, without warning, she scooped them up and shoved them at him.

“I told Mama I wasn’t going to do this. It’s a stupid idea.”

“I’ll admit it’s not the ‘some enchanted evening, see a stranger across the room’ romantic way to find a husband, but it’s not totally unacceptable. Several of the couples my company has brought together have married.”

“And lived happily ever after?” she retorted.

“It’s a new company, Allison. I don’t have the stats yet.” He pushed the photos across the table. “Just take a peek. What harm can it do?”

Beverly grabbed the photo of a particularly handsome man. “How about this one? His coloring complements yours. You’d have beautiful children.”

Mama!” Allison snatched the photo away. “We’re not going to discuss my possible, yet unlikely, progeny in front of Jack.”

A flash of Allison kissing this guy flew through his head. He grabbed the photo from her. “He’s not your type anyway.”

“And just how do you know?” she asked.

“I dated you, remember? You ditched me for some suave, corporate hotshot. At least it’s what you said.”

“Allison!” Beverly exclaimed. “You never told me that.”

Allison shot him a fierce scowl. “I’m not comfortable discussing my love life with you, Mama. Besides, what’s done and over with should be buried . . . in the past.” She picked up another photo. “What about him? Or him and him?” She pointed to two nerdy-looking fellows. “They seem corporate.”

Mama leaned over and checked out the pictures Allison had indicated. “Too ugly,” she said. “He’s got to be handsome. Like Jack. I want to know my grandbabies will be as beautiful as you two.”

He grinned. “Thanks for the compliment, but I know I’m not your daughter’s type.” He laid a sheet of paper on the counter. “Fill this out. Then I can get a better idea of what you want in a husband.”

“I don’t want—”

“I know,” he interjected. “But, for your mom’s sake, just pretend you do.”

Want to read more? You can find A Groom for Mama at:

http://www.amzn.com/B074SZSGB1

About the Author:

Catherine Castle, author of the multi-award-winning inspirational suspense romance, The Nun and the Narc, and the sweet romantic comedy, A Groom for Mama, loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she quilts and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place is in her garden. She’s a passionate gardener who won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

 

Connect with Catherine here:

Website:  https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com

Blog: http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/

Amazon author page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/catherinecastle

Goodreads page:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085414.Catherine_Castle

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AuthorCCastle @AuthorCCastle

Facebook:  https://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor

Google+ :  https://plus.google.com/109253925035989625956/posts

Stitches Thru Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

SMP authors blog site:  http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/

HAPPY READING!

Review of No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Today I’m reviewing a Christian romantic suspense novel by Lynette Eason. Here’s a blurb about the novel.

No One to Trust

Book #1 Hidden Identity Series

by Lynette Eason

Summer Abernathy must run for her life when she wakes up to find her husband Kyle missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she’s been living based on a lie.

 

My Review:  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Wow! From the first word of this suspense filled novel, I was hooked. It’s fast paced roller-coaster ride of a husband and wife running from mobsters never stopped. Interwoven in the story was a story of betrayal and redemption. Summer’s husband has been lying to her about who he is through their entire marriage. She finds out the truth as they’re running for their lives, but she can’t leave him if she wants to live. I loved how this novel kept me guessing with twists and turns along the way. I highly recommend this novel and can’t wait to read more by Eason.

Review of Amber Alert by Linda K. Rodante

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Today I’m reviewing a Christian romantic suspense novel, Amber Alert, by Linda K. Rodante. Here’s a little about the book.

Amber Alert

Dangerous Series Book #1

by Linda K. Rodante

Sharee Jones just wants a partner with whom she can serve the Lord. She didn’t plan on getting involved with a man who resents God, didn’t plan on the mutilated dolls or the threatening notes interfering with her Christmas program—and with the child who’s to play baby Jesus. She thought God’s hand was in this, but how can it be, when everything she hoped and prayed for is crashing down like the Gulf waves after a storm?

John Jergenson hoped taking the maintenance job at his cousin’s church meant he could leave his guilt-ridden past behind. But he hadn’t counted on Sharee and her program. He hadn’t counted on her laugh or the warmth in her hazel eyes. And he certainly hadn’t counted on her wanting to know the truth about his life. He wants to leave, but Sharee might be in danger, and if he runs again will he ever forgive himself?

My Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Amber Alert deals with a difficult topic, child abduction, in a way that drew me into the story. This novel has it all. The budding romance Sheree and John is challenging, believable and not predictable. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The topic of child abduction was covered in a way that didn’t give me nightmares. Overall, this was a  very enjoyable read and I recommend it.

The Ruins of Gorlan Review

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

The Young Adult fiction craze is here to stay. While many of the YA I’ve seen is not suitable for Christian preteens and teens (Harry Potter Series, Twilight Series), I was pleasantly surprised when my grandsons encouraged me to read the Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan. before I give my complete review of the first book in the series, here’s a little about it.

The Ruins of Gorlan

Ranger’s Apprentice Book #1

by John Flanagan

They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaksand shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. What he doesn’t yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied. . . .

Here is the fantasy adventure that launched the Ranger’s Apprentice series, an epic story of heroes and villains that has become an international phenomenon. Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series, and George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire series.

My Review:  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

This first novel of the Ranger’s Apprentice was a real treat to read. It is set in an earlier time  of knights and mythical kingdoms where chivalry and honor were a way of life. It has a Christian world view. Although it never mentions Christianity, Biblical and moral values are seen throughout. It isn’t too gory for preteens or most elementary age students who read on that level although it has some violence organic to the storyline. It also doesn’t have the occult overtones as some other popular adult fiction. The only drawback is it was written in England, and a few of our milder curse words that are not curse words at all over there were used. An explanation of that for elementary and middle school students should suffice.

The story centers around Will. Will never knew his parents, but he’d been told his father was a brave knight. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and go to battle school. Because of his general build, he’s not accepted, and his world comes crashing down. His life long dream of becoming a brave knight will never happened. Then he’s accepted as a ranger’s apprentice. He doesn’t know much about the ranger core, very few do, and he’s unsure of what they do and why they’re so mysterious. When he’s selected to join them, he’s not even sure he isn’t being punished. He is about to find out they are basically the secret service of the kingdom, and by becoming a ranger, he can do more to defend and protect the kingdom than even a knight. His courage is about to be tested.

In a subplot, Horace, Will’s childhood bully, is accepted in battle school. While there, he becomes bullied in a more intense way than he ever thought to bully Will. He finds out what it is to be on the receiving end of bullying. He doesn’t know how to handle the abuse. He’s supposed to be in training for knighthood, but the bullying might destroy his ambitions. I enjoyed seeing the change in Horace and how he and Will became friends.

I love how the story covers topics teens face even though they’re set in the Middle Ages. I also love how honor, truth, and friendship played out in a way that is still applicable today. The story was a lot of fun to read, and I’d highly recommend it for adults, young adults, teens, and older children.

My Review of Danni Girl Mysteries by Debra Sue Brice

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

This is a review of Debra Sue Brice’s Danni Girl Mysteries consisting of the following three novellas.

Running Into Trouble

Danni is just your average college girl; enjoying workouts with hot men and old hangouts with her favorite handsome neighbor. But her life is turned upside down when her best friend is found murdered in her home. With the list of suspects rapidly dwindling, will Danni be able to solve the case before the murderer finds her next?

Sailing Into Trouble

Danni is back in the routine of life after losing her best friend to a crazed murderer. Moving forward, Danni decides to celebrate life on a leisurely cruise around the city with family and friends. With Ryan and Chris both at her side, her feelings become torn between these two extremely good looking men. But all too soon murder strikes again and any hopes at having a romantic evening are dead in the water.

Riding Into Trouble

Danni is finally getting her chance at romance. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky. Murder strikes again, and this time it hits home for everyone involved. What could have been a sweet romance turns out to be a deadly nightmare.

My Review:  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Danni is the typical college student, but seems to have a penchant for getting caught up in murder mysteries. The first book in the series involves her finding her roommate murdered. The detective on the case turns out to be a guy she met at the gym and was interested in. She sets about solving the case. The second story takes place on a boat, and the third is about a romantic interest. There is a romantic thread that runs through the novellas that comes to a satisfying ending in the third book. Danni’s Mysteries are great Young Adult mysteries that are difficult, but not impossible, to solve. I recommend these novels for teenagers and young adults in your lives.