Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle

 In the enchanting mountain town of Chestnut Ridge, where tree farms blanket the hillsides and the promise of a white Christmas is ever-present, a heartwarming holiday romance is about to blossom. When Sheila's best friend convinces her to help decorate a tree in the annual Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser, she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, all wrapped in the cozy embrace of a tight-knit community. As she immerses herself in the joy of twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and the camaraderie of the townsfolk, Sheila's world begins to transform, and she finds the sense of belonging she never knew she needed.

Meanwhile, Tucker, the town's reliable fire captain, is gathering volunteers to help a family with four young children who have just lost their home to a devastating fire weeks before Christmas. Sheila offers her helping hand, and as the town rallies to support the family in their time of need, sparks of love begin to flicker between her and Tucker.

In this charming town where dreams come true, and Christmas magic is everywhere, come along for a tale of love, community, and the true spirit of the season.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Christmas in Chestnut Ridge: 9781250794154: Naigle, Nancy: Books

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. She began writing while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre farm. Now happily retired from a career in the financial industry, this Virginia girl devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and spa days with friends.

Several of Nancy's novels have been adapted for television. You can find the complete list of movies and a free downloadable checklist of all of Nancy's books in series order on her website.

My Thoughts...

I was done for when I read Fire Chief. And then I read the best small-town romance and I was over the top at the best proposal ever. This book had it all. I hated for it to end.
5 stars and I highly recommend it.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Rogue Community College by David Slayton

 Isaac Frost is an assassin. Raised in the Graveyard of the cruel and mysterious Undertaker, he has mastered the deadly art of the knife and the skill of survival, together with scores of others just like him--young men taken from their families to become the most infamous killers throughout the realms of elves and humans. But Isaac is unique: a single drop of another's blood can confer upon him the knowledge and power of friend and foe alike.

After crossing paths with the elf queen Argent, Isaac is sent to a strange magical school for wayward practitioners in the hopes that he can learn where he--and his unusual talent--fit in the world. Isaac is charmed by the school's chaotic nature, and finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Vran, a Sea Elf haunted by secret knowledge.

But Vran isn't the only one with secrets, and Isaac's arrival is no accident. The Undertaker has charged him with infiltrating the school for the purpose of destroying it utterly, and his future rests on completing his mission--before the Undertaker takes matters into his own hands.

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     Amazon.com: Rogue Community College: A Liberty House Novel: 9798200977505: David R. Slayton: Books

David R. Slayton grew up in Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado and writes the books he always wanted to read. White Trash Warlock, David’s first novel, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. In 2015, David founded Trick or Read, an annual initiative to give out books along with candy to children on Halloween as well as uplift lesser-known authors or those from marginalized backgrounds. Find him online at www.DavidRSlayton.com.

Every Little Thing Quill Be All Right

 The perfect little pick-me-up and motivational hedgehog high five we all need, with full-color photographs and encouraging, self-care messages of mindfulness from an adorable little hedgehog

Some days are chillier than others, and I end up feeling a bit prickly. But it’s funny how those are usually the days when the friends who don’t mind my quills hold me even closer.

Cinnamon, the beloved hedgehog of professional photographer Audrianna Martin del Campo, inspires thousands online with her presence in adorably posed scenes. Now Cinnamon brings her one-of-a-kind inspiration to the written page in Every Little Thing Quill Be All Right, which pairs forty-five of her popular full-color photographs with original, sweet mini-messages of encouragement. 

Written in the “voice” of Cinnamon herself, this fun little gift book is divided into seven sections that allow her photographs to be experienced in a whole new way:

• Time to Sniff Out an Adventure
• Time to Forage and Gather Quills
• Time for a Hedgehug
• Time with a Prickle of Friends
• Time for a Hedgehog High Five
• Time to Nest at Home
• Time to Hibernate

There’s a time for everything and a season for every activity (including moments when you want to curl up and hide). So whether you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or a little confused about this big job called life, remember that none of that is who you really are. You are loved and beautiful. And sometimes all you need is a happy hedgehog friend to remind you of that. 

Pick up your copy here...

Every Little Thing Quill Be All Right: Hedgehugs and Happiness for When Life Feels Prickly: Ink & Willow, Martin Del Campo, Audrianna: 9780593582190: Amazon.com: Books

The Ink & Willow line infuses contemplation and inspiration into the regular spiritual practice of creative-minded Christians, wherever they are in their faith journey. Each thoughtfully curated gift product is based in biblical truth and sparks a reminder of how God reveals beauty in the midst of our ordinary.

Throughout literary history, willow trees have been symbols of growth, balance, learning, healing, and harmony. Since willows often grow near streams or rivers, the name Ink and Willow was inspired by the verse in Psalm 1 about the person who delights in God and therefore is deeply planted and able to thrive, bearing fruit and prospering through every season. The word ink has a dual meaning, first as a nod to the act and art of printing words on paper, and then, in the sense that ink symbolizes life. In combination, Ink & Willow becomes the perfect metaphor for what this thoughtfully curated line of products is designed to do, which is to inspire, nurture, and engage Christians.

www.inkandwillow.com and @inkandwillowgifts on social.

Frozen Lives by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush

 Chicago surgeon Emily Hartford has never quite shaken off the dust of her hometown in Michigan. She may be a professional success and have a princely boyfriend in the Windy City, but she can't seem to let go of being "the coroner's daughter" from Freeport.

Once again, she finds herself pulled back upstate during a wintery late March when Jeremiah--the eleven year-old son of her best friend, Jo--goes missing on the frigid shores of Lake Michigan.

To everyone's relief, Jeremiah turns up days later, alive and unharmed. But tensions remain high, and suspicions of every sort continue to grow. Jeremiah's account of his abduction doesn't add up and Emily worries about Jo's unraveling marriage. Jeremiah's recovery, it turns out, is not the end of their terrifying tale. It's just the beginning ...

For moving among them is a devious, malevolent force. Sowing panic while seeking to fulfill his own twisted needs, this wolf in sheep's clothing leaves a trail of rack and ruin, heedless of the damages in his wake ... and the bodies he leaves behind.

Emily solidifies her role as the coroner's daughter when she puzzles out this madman's chilling machinations. Risking everything dear to her, Emily is determined to go the icy distance and end his killing spree.

Pick up your copy here...

Frozen Lives (The Coroner's Daughter Mysteries): Jennifer Graeser Dornbush: 9798212638364: Amazon.com: Books

Jennifer Graeser Dornbush works as a screenwriter, author, speaker, and forensic specialist. She has developed film and TV projects, authored numerous books, and frequently speaks around the world on crime fiction and forensics. She and her family divide their time between Upper Michigan and Arizona.

My Thoughts...

You don't want to miss this fourth book in this series The Coroner's Daughter. A fun mystery. It is the fourth book in the series, but it reads as a standalone. I am going back and reading the first 3 now, very well written.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

70 North by Kimberley Woodhouse

 

The Cyber Solutions team has managed to stay one step ahead of the madman who has killed so many. From the original 26 Below cyberattack in Fairbanks to the 8 DOWN serial murders in Anchorage and beyond, they matched wits with the killer and stopped him from reaching his ultimate goals.
But final judgment is coming. And this time, there may be no defeating him.
David "Mac" McPherson has a personal stake in making sure this predator stays down for good. His family died in the cyberattack. Mac knows that God says "vengeance is mine”--but surely an exception can be made.
Surgeon Tracie Hunter is determined to stay sober and keep saving lives in Fairbanks, Alaska--even if it means being a little obsessive. After all, that same kind of determination is how she kept Mac alive after the murderer targeted him. And she won't let Mac run himself into the grave looking for payback; he's come to mean too much to her.

Then someone hacks into the system at Tracie's previous job as a medical examiner and frames her in a murder cover-up. There's no one else skilled enough to create a digital trail this incriminating--the killer is back in action, exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses to destroy lives. Can Mac stay focused and stop the next attack when his own vulnerability is exposed? Or will his need to make someone pay for his pain allow the maniac to pull ahead and win at last? 

Pick up your copy here...

70 North: Woodhouse, Kimberley: 9780825447747: Amazon.com: Books

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she's shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family's story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel's Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com

The Color of Home by Kit Tosello

 Audrey Needham, Bay Area interior designer to the rich and pretentious, is down to her last nerve. Her boss is impossible to please, her future is in jeopardy, and her great-aunt Daisy needs support as her husband descends into Alzheimer's.

When Daisy enlists Audrey's help preparing for a move to assisted living, Audrey risks her career to return to the idyllic small town of Charity Falls, Oregon, the summer stomping grounds of her childhood. But Charity Falls was also the place that broke her heart when her father was killed in a tragic fire at the Sugar Pine Inn thirteen years ago.

Despite Audrey's intent to avoid emotional entanglement, the pull of home is hard to resist. Something should be done about the deteriorating inn. A local girl with an incarcerated father needs a friend. And handsome local do-gooder Cade Carter is coloring Audrey all shades of uncertain.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Color of Home: (Contemporary Small Town Women's Fiction about Family and Community set by the Mountains): 9780800772697: Kit Tosello: Books

Kit Tosello is an award-winning writer of evocative, small-town, contemporary women’s fiction with heart and humor, as well as inspirational essays and devotionals. Her debut novel, The Color of Home, releases September 24, 2024 with Revell Publishing and is now available for preorder.

Kit's recognitions include a 2016 Cascade Award for published article and a 2019 Cascade Award for unpublished nonfiction book. Her inspirational essays appear in The Kitchen Devotional (Revell, 2024), So God Made a Grandma (Tyndale, 2025), So God Made a Mother (Tyndale, 2023), and Miracles Do Happen: 101 Glimpses of the Hidden Hand of God (Guideposts, 2019).

A former kitchen designer, Kit is a freelance newspaper correspondent and book editor. But her favorite gigs are wife, mom, and nana. When not writing or editing, Kit can be found in the loose-tea shop she operates with her husband, exploring the great Pacific Northwest, or enjoying the “great indoors”—which is to say, bookstores & libraries. Most likely with a matcha latte in hand.

My Thoughts...

I enjoy small town stories, and this small-town treasure is full of so many emotions. Healing and grief sprinkle the pages. I am happy I read this one. It starts out a little bit slow but stick with it, it will pick up.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham

 An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams's story. Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner's house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God's love. Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized. Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah's attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah's elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah's growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie's past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie's first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?

Pick up your copy here...

Hope Like Wildflowers: Basham, Pepper: 9781636099514: Amazon.com: Books

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her twentieth book, The Cairo Curse, came out in February. Next up is Positively, Penelope, the sequel to her bestselling novel, Authentically, Izzy. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

My thoughts...

This is book three in a series, but it reads as a standalone. It's a redemptive story, coming of age. The pages are filled with hope, and faith until the very end.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Where to Hide A Star by Oliver Jeffers

 World-renowned artist and picture book creator Oliver Jeffers brings to life an endearing story about the magic of friendship—and sharing what brings us joy.

Celebrate twenty years of The Boy in this highly anticipated new adventure from the internationally bestselling picture book creator of Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers!

Once there was a boy who would often play hide-and-seek with his friends the star and the penguin. The star was always easy to find, but one day it went missing. So, the boy radioed the Martian for help, and soon found himself on an exciting spaceship rescue mission to the North Pole! But there, he discovered that he wasn’t the only one who had always dreamed of having a star as a friend . . .

The out-of-this-world, long-awaited sequel to the much-loved Boy stories, loved all around the world—now introducing a brand-new character!

Pick up your copy here...

Where to Hide a Star: Jeffers, Oliver, Jeffers, Oliver: 9780593622247: Amazon.com: Books

Oliver Jeffers is an artist, illustrator and writer from Northern Ireland.

From figurative painting, collage and installation to illustration and award winning picture-books, Oliver Jeffers practice takes many forms.

His distinctive paintings have been exhibited in multiple cities, including the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Brooklyn Museum New York.

HarperCollins UK and Penguin USA publish his picture books, now translated into over 36 languages, including The Incredible Book Eating Boy, and the New York Times Bestseller This Moose Belongs to Me and #1 New York Times Bestseller The Day The Crayons Quit.

Oliver won an Emmy in 2010 for his collaborative  work with artist and filmmaker Mac Premo. He has made art for Newsweek, The New York Times, United Airlines, TED, Nintendo, and has illustrated a a number of novels.

In 2007, Jeffers was the official illustrator for World Book Day.

Lost and Found became Oliver's first book to made into animation by London based Studio AKA, screening on Christmas Eve 2008 on Channel 4 in the UK and on Nickelodeon in the US and Australia.

In 2013, Jeffers illustrated the vinyl cover (a drawing of Nelson Mandela) for the U2 song "Ordinary Love". Jeffers also co-directed (with Mac Premo) the video for the U2 song "Ordinary Love".

Oliver grew up in Belfast Northern Ireland and now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

See more at www.oliverjeffers.com, or visit his instagram, facebook, and twitter @oliverjeffers

The December Market by Raeanne Thayne

 The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

Pick up your copy here...

The December Market: Thayne, RaeAnne: 9781335929358: Amazon.com: Books

#1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

My Thoughts...

I loved this sweet romance and small-town story. I want to live in a small town. The ending was so much fun. I just wish the story had been longer.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Out of Place by Mary Mcknight

 For fans of coming-of-age narratives and feminist journeys, an empowering tale of one teen’s quest to establish her own voice as an Army Brat living in Cold War–era West Germany.

Relocated with her family to Cold War–era West Germany, Army Brat and middle sister of three Mary grapples with the torment exacted by her older sister, the high moral expectations of her military father, and societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles during the rise of the feminism movement. Through the transformative power of place, travel, and the people she encounters, Mary embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning about social justice and finding her voice in a world still shaped by male dominance.

Rich with historical context, Out of Place is a poignant and compelling exploration of identity, personal growth, and the enduring strength that comes from embracing one’s purpose. 

Pick up your copy here...

Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany: McKnight, Mary E.: 9781647427269: Amazon.com: Books

Mary E. McKnight is an avid observer of people, a teacher of young children, a co-owner of an herb garden (Split Stone Farm LLC), a painter, and a lover of cats. She lives for kindness, creativity, and her amazing daughter. Her writing is the creative expression that feeds her soul, and she enjoys writing in a variety of genres. If she wasn’t her, she would probably be the Lorax. She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her partner and their tortie, Abbey Rhodes.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley

 

A feel-good novel as delightful and comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, The Christmas Inn is bestselling author Pamela Kelley’s most heartwarming and magical book yet.

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits, but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more―a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Christmas Inn: 9781250861634: Kelley, Pamela M: Books

Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two.

Feel free to sign up for her list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available as well as extras like early bird discounts. Just cut and paste into your browser, http://eepurl.com/IZbOH 

My Thoughts...

I loved this book; the romances were the best. I loved Luke and I loved the Christmas setting at the Inn. It didn't hurt that there was talk of books and authors and oh my a book club too. The wine and cheese. I just wanted to be at the Christmas Inn with everyone.
This was my favorite Christmas book so far.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts

 Frankie Lane knows what’s best for just about everyone but herself. Her divorced sister, Stef, who is too young to give up on love; her shy employee, Elinor; and her daughter, Natalie, who works in Frankie’s shop, Holiday Happiness, and really needs to start her own business selling the delectable chocolates she makes at home; even her best friend, Viola, who is trying to renovate her old Victorian. Frankie knows she could help all of them, if they’d just let her—and if all of her help didn’t end in utter disaster.

Then there’s Mitch Howard, the owner of the local hardware store. They’ve been friends ever since Frankie opened her store, nine years earlier. He got her through the nightmare when she lost her husband in a freak accident, and he’s her favorite shoulder to cry on. He’s been divorced for years, and it’s such a waste of man! Mitch is the fittest, finest man Frankie knows. He’s easygoing, wise and kindhearted. Mitch needs someone. And she’s determined to help him find that someone—whether he likes it or not.

Pick up your copy here...

The Merry Matchmaker: A Novel: Roberts, Sheila: 9780778369608: Amazon.com: Books

With more than fifty books to her name, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her Christmas perennial "On Strike for Christmas" was made into a movie for the Lifetime Channel and her novel "The Nine Lives of Christmas" was made into a movie for Hallmark. Hallmark also made a sequel, titled "The Nine Kittens of Christmas." Her most recent novel to hit the small screen was "Christmas on Candy Cane Lane," which aired on the Great American Family Channel in 2022. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, she splits her time between the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.

My thoughts...

I just needed to escape reality for a little while way too much going on in the world. This was a great get away if only for a small amount of time. Roberts Christmas books never disappoint. This took me away and was so satisfying.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock

 Sometimes the truth is found in a folktale.

1932. Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia is a strange place to encounter the opulence of the Gilded Age, but the last vestiges of the famed philanthropic Carnegie family still take up brief seasonal residence in their grand mansions there. This year’s party at Plum Orchard is a lively group: young men from some of America’s finest families who come to experience the area’s hunting beside a local guide, a beautiful debutante expecting to be engaged by the week’s end, and a promising female artist who believes she has meaningful ties to her wealthy hosts. But when temptations arise and passions flare, an evening of revelry and storytelling goes horribly awry. Lives are both lost and ruined.

1959. Reclusive painter Cleo Woodbine has lived alone for decades on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land once occupied by the servants for the great houses on nearby Cumberland. When she is visited by the man who saved her life nearly thirty years earlier, a tempest is unleashed as the stories of the past gather and begin to regain their strength. Frances Flood is a folklorist come to Cumberland Island seeking the source of a legend—and also information about her mother, who was among the guests at a long-ago hunting party. Audrey Howell, briefly a newlywed and now newly widowed, is running a local inn. When she develops an eerie double exposure photograph, some believe she’s raised a ghost—someone who hasn’t been seen since that fateful night in 1932.

Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape. Faced with a changing world, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect where a folktale meets the truth to reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along.

Pick up your copy here....                                                                                                                                  Amazon.com: The Fabled Earth: 9781400234226: Brock, Kimberly: Books

  Kimberly Brock is the award-winning author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare and The River Witch. She is the founder of Tinderbox Writers Workshop and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national writing workshops including at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. She lives near Atlanta with her husband and three children. Visit her online at kimberlybrockbooks.com; Instagram: @kimberlydbrock; Facebook: @kimberlybrockauthor; X: @kimberlydbrock

Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker

 Serenity Holds Her Secrets Close Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country. Serenity Miller has much to love about life as the owner of The Pink Petal in Arthur, Illinois, and enjoys trying natural remedies and exploring garage sales. Then comes the day her neighbor, Stephen Lantz, saves her from trespassers on her property and their friendship deepens into an attraction Serenity knows can never lead to marriage. She holds secrets she can never divulge, despite Stephen's way of wooing her. But how can Serenity return to her life of contentment after a taste of love? And when danger returns, will it steal her last hope for a bright future? 

Pick up your copy here...

Serenity's Secret: Volume 6 (The Heart of the Amish): Jones Baker, Lisa: 9781636099583: Amazon.com: Books

WELCOME to my page! I author Amish Inspirational Fiction; My newest book, SERENITY'S SECRET, debuts October 1, 2024. THE QUILT ROOM SECRET became available February 1, 2024. I grew up near Arthur, Illinois, and became acquainted with the Plain Faith at an early age when they custom-made and installed our kitchen cabinets. On weekends, my parents and I frequented the quaint Amish town, often the setting of my stories, where we purchased our meat, cheese, and home-made baking spices. Now, decades later, I still love visiting; the town and the people yet intrigue me, and I so appreciate the talent of quilt-making almost as much as I love horse and buggy rides. Oh...and I never leave without a visit to my fav store, Stitch and Sew! But there is much more to this perplexing group than meets the eye; they are extremely disciplined, hard-working, and honest...and they don't all think alike. For these reasons, writing about them is my passion.

I was fortunate to have been raised in a loving, Christian home by two wonderful parents: a reading specialist mother who plays the piano and encouraged me to read from a very early age, and a retired Junior High Principal father who also farmed and taught me how to garden. I have a B.A. in French Education, and I'm a former school teacher who loves gardening, cooking, reading, positive thinkers, and every dog I meet. Although I'm a homebody, travel has played a large part of my life. Over three decades of working with the airline industry has landed me on five out of seven continents. 

My Thoughts....

I always look forward to Bakers books, she is my favorite Amish fiction author. Her books are so unique and have so much depth. Well-rounded characters and story lines like no other. In this one you get romance at its best, Friends to lovers, mystery, and a horse named Angel.
I highly recommend this book.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Starstruck by Amy Clipston

 Can a small-town waitress capture the heart of a world-famous heartthrob?

For Heather Gordon, life in her small North Carolina town has always been simple and uneventful. Until one night when a rowdy food fight breaks out in her family’s restaurant where she’s a waitress. The culprits? The internationally famous rock band, Kirwan. And when Alex Kirwan, the charming and enigmatic lead singer, wants to make amends for his brothers’ (and bandmates’) behavior and invites her to attend one of their concerts as a guest of the band, Heather’s world is turned upside down . . . and sparks fly.

Alex has always loved music, but his rock-star life isn’t all glamorous people and parties. It’s also paparazzi and online tabloids, a new city every week, and the loneliness of touring—even if he has his brothers with him. But with Heather things are different, and he’s instantly smitten and determined to get to know the sweet, pretty woman who has absolutely no interest in his fame. If only he can convince her to take a chance on his crazy life.

Once Alex leaves on tour, he and Heather begin exchanging messages and calls. Despite the distance between them, they find themselves learning they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. But even while Heather and Alex’s relationship deepens, they must face the harsh realities of fame and the pressures it puts on their personal lives. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges that come with celebrity, or will the rigors of distance and Alex’s life on the road tear them apart?

Filled with heart and the intoxicating allure of possibility, Starstruck is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of finding love in surprising places.

Pick up your copy today...                                                                                                                                  Starstruck: A Sweet Contemporary Romance: Clipston, Amy: 9780840708915: Amazon.com: Books

Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at www.AmyClipston.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks.
  

Sacred Refuge by Lynne Rienstra

 

Break free from worry and find refuge under his wings
In Sacred Refuge, Lynne Rienstra taps into the growing angst-turned-chronic-fear among women. Though fear puts women into hiding, God invites women to come out of hiding and into the unassailable shelter he has built for them in the gospel. In the pages of Sacred Refuge, readers will be challenged to consider where they’ve been finding shelter: in flimsy structures of their own making, or in the sacred refuge only Christ provides.
Through the ten modern women and ten biblical women they’ll meet in the pages of Sacred Refuge, readers will find sisters in the struggle. Whether their crises take the form of heartbreaking loss, debilitating debt, health problems, unresolved sin issues, loneliness, or fear for the future, they’ll find peace in a chaotic world.
Throughout history, women who sought shelter in Jesus have found solace for their souls. Readers are invited to join this historical sisterhood and discover that their crises can become portals through which they discover God’s deep love and compassion for them. There they will find a haven for their hearts and answers to the questions "Is God really good?" "Does he really see or care about me? "Can he protect me, heal me, provide for me?"

With biblical teaching, ten Transforming Truths, application questions, and a study guide, Sacred Refuge will encourage women not only to find refuge for themselves but also to invite others to spread light in a darkening world.

Preorder your copy here....

Sacred Refuge: Finding Unexpected Shelter in Your Crisis: Rienstra, Lynne: 9780825448713: Amazon.com: Books

Lynne Rienstra is a recovering Pharisee and spiritual orphan.

Through her mentoring, speaking (she's taught thousands of women for over two decades), and writing, she leads women out of hiding and into a place of discovering their identity as God’s Brave Beloved.

Lynne has been an English teacher, corporate insurance broker, women’s ministry leader, homeschooling mom, and development professional. Since 2013, she has served as a regional director for Samaritan’s Purse.

She holds a BA in English from Smith College and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from the Transforming Center. Lynne has contributed to numerous books, magazines, and online devotionals.

Serving alongside her husband, a senior pastor, gives Lynne much joy, as do their adult children and grandchildren.