The Fashion Designer

The Fashion Designer
Nancy Moser
(Shiloh Run Press)
ISBN: 978-1683226017
July 2018/320 pages/$14.99
The American Dream thrives in 1912 New York City

Annie Wood, the housemaid-turned-pattern designer in The Pattern Artist, jumps at the chance to design her own clothing line when a wealthy New York couple offers to finance her endeavor. Joining the project is Annie’s new husband, Sean Culver, her best friend at Butterick, Maude Nascato, and a mother figure, Edna Holmquist.

Annie and her colleagues give up their careers, risking everything to follow a shared passion: clothes that are both fashionable and functional for modern, busy women in 1912.

Personal and financial setbacks test old relationships and new romances while threatening to keep the business from ever selling a single dress. No one said it would be easy. But the promise of the American Dream holds a deep hope for those who work hard, trust God, and never give up.


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Moser is an award-winning author of over twenty-five novels that share a common message: we each have a unique purpose—the trick is to find out what it is. Her genres include contemporary and historical novels including Love of the Summerfields, Mozart’s Sister, The Invitation, and the Christy Award-winning Time Lottery. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Learn more at her website, www.nancymoser.com.


MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed The Pattern Artist, and this second book about Annie Wood's adventures in clothing design equally charmed me. I've read many books about the upper class and their elegant dressmakers, and The Fashion Designer's emphasis on middle-class working women fascinates and informs. The challenges facing Annie and her friends--including financial backing, publicity, accessibility, and more-- in the midst of a very different culture than we know today adds to the appeal of this novel. As always Nancy Moser fills the story with unique and engaging characters, intriguing circumstances, and blossoming romances. Don't miss this delightful novel!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley for a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Click the cover below to read my review of The Pattern Artist

The Weaver's Daughter

The Weaver's Daughter
Sarah Ladd
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0718011888
April 2017/368 pages/$15.99
Kate’s loyalties bind her to the past. Henry’s compel him to strive for a better future. In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder–including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather’s plans to modernize the family’s wool mill, ignoring the grumblings from local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family’s livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry’s side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with a powerful decision that will forever affect her village’s future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, their village, and their souls—even if it means risking their hearts in the process.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever.. Visit her online at SarahLadd.com; Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor.


MY THOUGHTS

Sarah Ladd writes beautiful stories, and The Weaver's Daughter ranks as one of her best. Ladd creates a compelling Regency tale that depicts the conflict and turmoil wrought by the Industrial Revolution and the changes impacting the very fiber (pun totally intended!) of Kate's village. The Weaver's Daughter provides a fascinating peek into the early nineteenth century wool mill and the associated weaving and dying jobs that provided the livelihood of the villagers. A host of personalities inhabit this story, ranging from the powerful mill owners to those who labor day after day, and the escalating tension adds urgency to an already difficult-to-set-aside book. I can't imagine being embroiled in a family situation such as that in which Kate and her brother find themselves, and Ladd masterfully portrays the friction between them and their father. Impossibly difficult choices tug at the heart of the reader, and the heartwarming conclusion thoroughly satifies. Don't miss The Weaver's Daughter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from The Fiction Guild at Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life

The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life:
How to Ace an Interview, Change a Tire,
Talk to a Guy & 97 Other Skills
You Need to Thrive
Erica & Jonathan Catherman
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800729806
May 2018/304 pages/$14.99

Everything you need to know to be prepared, confident, and successful

As you grow up and make your mark on the world, you're going to run into plenty of situations that require you to be confident and capable. But it's hard to be either when you don't know what you're doing! If you want to have it all together, The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life is your go-to resource. With great illustrations and step-by-step instructions for almost everything a young woman needs to know, this book shows you how to

· introduce yourself
· change a flat tire
· respectfully break up with a guy
· leave a tip
· apply for a job
· ask for a promotion
· behave during a traffic stop
· create a personal budget
· wash your face
· clear a clogged drain
· iron a shirt
· wear a scarf
· shoot a basketball
· and much more

The world needs women of character who don't wait for others to do what needs to be done. With The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life, you'll be well on your way to impressing everyone around you with your skill, confidence, and grace under pressure.


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Erica Catherman has spent more than twenty years mentoring young women as a coach to middle school, high school, and college students. Committed to raising up the next generation to be kind, confident, and capable, Erica has served as a youth group leader, community volunteer, and advocate for gender equality in sports. She is a certified Yoga Alliance and Group Fitness instructor.

Jonathan Catherman is the author of the bestselling The Manual to Manhood and The Manual to Middle School. An award-winning cultural strategist and a leading education trainer specializing in the character and leadership development of youth, Jonathan speaks worldwide about the principles and strengths that empower greatness in children, teens, and young adults. Jonathan and his wife, Erica, live in North Carolina, where they work together to raise their family, which includes teenagers and a couple of big dogs. Learn more at www.jonathancatherman.com.


MY THOUGHTS

I rarely review non-fiction books, but this one intrigued me, particularly as the mother of a daughter who is learning all about "adulting," as many call it. The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life contains a plethora of tips for girls, presenting them in brief, easy-to read instructions, attractively formatted and illustrated. My only hesitance in wholeheartedly recommending it is knowing what age the authors are gearing it for. It is categorized as "Youth" which covers a wide span of years from middle-school preteens to high school graduates. Some of the tips are simplistic and catered to the younger crowd who have received minimal hands-on parenting or basic life skills, such as how to wash your face, how to wash your hands, and how to order from a menu. Others are geared toward older teens heading toward independence and are highly practical, including tips on managing a budget, how to use a variety of tools, how to jump-start a dead battery or change a tire, and basic cooking skills. I also appreciated the tips on what to do when you have an auto accident and how to behave if pulled over for a traffic stop. Overall, I would suggest this as a useful reference primarily for the older teen, with the caveat that they simply overlook those pages geared for the younger set.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Baker/Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Just Let Go - Review and Launch Party Invite!

Just Let Go
Harbor Pointe Series, Book 2
Courtney Walsh
(Tyndale House Publishers)
ISBN: 978-1496421524
June 2018/416 pages/$14.99
Could holding on be holding her back?

For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream but also gives her the chance to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however--while also competing for a prestigious flower competition her mother is judging--soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.

Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press.

Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s way too uptight. Yet as they begin working together, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost in his pursuit of Olympic gold. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town-—and Quinn’s life—-possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn has to choose: let go or risk missing the adventure of a lifetime.


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Just Let Go will be her eighth inspirational romance novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com and follow her on Facebook.

MY THOUGHTS

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Courtney Walsh has crafted a fabulous story full of interesting and realistic characters. Well okay, to be honest, I didn't much care for Grady initially. (I know, that was intentional on Walsh's part.) I am not one to gush over celebrities and egotistical folks like him really annoy me. But like Quinn, as the story progressed, I began to warm to the vulnerable and hurting side that he carefully tried to conceal with all of his bluster and shenanigans. As for Quinn, she garnered my sympathies right away, and I ached for the void she felt due to her mother's departure. Walsh expertly portrays the hurts and inner struggles Quinn and Grady experience while keeping the story upbeat with plenty of light-hearted and often amusing moments. Important messages of faith, forgiveness, and moving forward blend seamlessly into this compelling tale that also pulses with the perfect amount of romantic tension. Just Let Go of whatever is holding you back from adding this to your summer reading list, and grab your copy today.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Courtney Walsh and Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


JOIN COURTNEY WALSH FOR HER
FACEBOOK LAUNCH PARTY!
Click the image below for details

A Rebel Heart

A Rebel Heart
The Daughtry House Series, Book 1
Beth White
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800726898
June 2018/384 pages/$15.99
A Destitute Southern Belle Must Save Her Plantation Home—Is a Retired Union Soldier the Answer?

Five years after the final shot was fired in the War Between the States, Selah Daughtry can barely manage to keep herself, her two younger sisters, and their spinster cousin fed and clothed. With their family's Mississippi plantation swamped by debt and the Big House falling down around them, the only option seems to be giving up their ancestral land--until a hotel management agent for the railroad offers her hope for the future.

If she'll turn her home into a hotel, Levi Riggins says, he can all but guarantee it will be saved. Selah isn't sure she entirely trusts the handsome Yankee. Yet what other options does she have? She'll have to stay on her guard . . . but she never expected to have to guard her heart.

"Full of intrigue, grit, and grace, A Rebel Heart is Beth White at her finest."--Jocelyn Green, award-winning author of A Refuge Assured


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beth White's day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. A native Mississippian, she writes historical romance with a Southern drawl and is the author of The Pelican Bride, The Creole Princess, and The Magnolia Duchess. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers' Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award. Learn more at www.bethwhite.net and follow her on Facebook.

MY THOUGHTS

Beth White graces my list of must-read authors, and A Rebel Heart might be my favorite of all her books to date. I have always been captivated by stories set around the Civil War, and reading about the years of Reconstruction as families struggled to rebuild their lives and homes tugged at my heart. White seamlessly blends meticulously researched details into a multi-faceted tale populated with credible personalities and scenarios. Chapters brim with frightful, humorous, or poignant scenes (at times including all three!) and I vicariously experienced each emotion as I read. I loved so many characters in this novel...Selah and her sisters and Levi, of course, and also Mose and Horatia, Nathan and Charmion, Wyatt, and others. White does a marvelous job depicting a difficult and delicate issue as Selah seeks to forge a new relationship with her family's former slaves. Mere words can never do justice in describing the immense enjoyment and satisfaction of reading such a well-crafted novel as this. I am already eager for the next Daughtry House novel, focusing on Joelle. Of course, the teaser at the end of this novel only increased my interest! Don't miss this book and series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Baker/Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

9

The Solace of Water

The Solace of Water
Elizabeth Byler Younts
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0718075668
June 2018/368 pages/$15.99
In a time of grief and heartache, an unlikely friendship provides strength and solace.

After leaving her son’s grave behind in Montgomery, Alabama, Delilah Evans has little faith that moving to her husband’s hometown in Pennsylvania will bring a fresh start. Enveloped by grief and doubt, the last thing Delilah imagines is becoming friends with her reclusive Amish neighbor, Emma Mullet—yet the secrets that keep Emma isolated from her own community bond her to Delilah in delicate and unexpected ways.

Delilah’s eldest daughter, Sparrow, bears the brunt of her mother’s pain, never allowed for a moment to forget she is responsible for her brother’s death. When tensions at home become unbearable for her, she seeks peace at Emma’s house and becomes the daughter Emma has always wanted. Sparrow, however, is hiding secrets of her own—secrets that could devastate them all.

With the white, black, and Amish communities of Sinking Creek at their most divided, there seems to be little hope for reconciliation. But long-buried hurts have their way of surfacing, and Delilah and Emma find themselves facing their own self-deceptions. Together they must learn how to face the future through the healing power of forgiveness.

Eminently relevant to the beauty and struggle in America today, The Solace of Water offers a glimpse into the turbulent 1950s and reminds us that friendship rises above religion, race, and custom—and has the power to transform a broken heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Byler Younts writes women's fiction for Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She gained a worldwide audience through her first book Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl and is a RITA nominated writer. She is also the author of The Promise of Sunrise series. She has consulted on Amish lifestyle and the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect for two award-winning television shows. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, and a cockapoo named Fable. Learn more at her website and visit her on Facebook and Pinterest.


MY THOUGHTS

Having read each of Elizabeth Byler Younts's previous books, I knew this would be an exceptional novel, but she has exceeded even my high expectations. Few authors mine the depth of character development that Younts does, delving inside to the grief and secrets buried deep within each of these seemingly very different women and proving that hearts are not so different after all. Carefully researched and set in a tumultuous time in our nation's history, The Solace of Water delicately depicts the internal and external struggles, fears, and opposition Delilah, Sparrow, Emma and their families face as they intersect and interact amidst the expectations, prejudices, and rules--both written and unwritten--of their communities. Younts impeccably portrays each woman's anguish, capturing thought and voice with heart-rending authenticity. Their individual and collective journeys toward friendship, grace, and forgiveness are timeless and will resonate with women in all stages and walks of life. Perfect for book clubs, neighborhood groups, and accountability partners, The Solace of Water will linger in your mind and heart long after the final page is turned. Don't miss this literary masterpiece.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

ACFW New Releases - June 2018

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:

The Sleuth’s Miscalculation by Kimberly Rose Johnson -- Librarian Nancy Daley loves a good mystery and enjoys moonlighting as a consultant for the sheriff’s department. When license plates go missing in Tipton County, she’s on the case. But she’s been partnered with the new deputy, Carter Malone, and he’s not interested in her help. When the minor case they are working morphs into something more, things quickly go from harmless to scary. Can they solve the mystery before it’s too late, and more importantly, what will they do about their growing attraction? (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Falling for the Cowgirl by Tina Radcliffe -- Hiring Amanda “AJ” McAlester as his assistant at the Big Heart Ranch isn’t foreman Travis Maxwell’s first choice—but his sisters insist she’s perfect for the job. And AJ’s determined to prove she’s just as qualified as any man. But with money on the line, AJ and her innovative ideas could put him at risk of losing everything…including his heart. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Enduring Love by Toni Shiloh -- Belle Peterson is hiding a secret. Seeking sanctuary in the small town of Maple Run, she’s intent on starting her life over—one she hopes honors Christ. The plan was going great until an undeniable attraction to Micah Campbell has her wondering if she’s changed at all. Can love really conquer all or will Belle’s past be too much for Micah to handle? (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit)

General Contemporary:

A Firm Place to Stand by Lori Altebaumer -- Out of options, Maribel takes a safe enough seeming job, but soon finds herself in the middle of a murder, a search for a missing girl, and a race to find a lost treasure. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

Kuwaiti Seeker by Jim Carroll -- A young Kuwaiti Muslim searches for truth in Islam, but God finds him anyway. (General Contemporary, Crosslink Publishing)

General Historical:

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett -- Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford has shed her humble beginnings to fashion her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region's wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine, including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty. After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he's faced with the opportunity to become a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling? As Clark opens Olivia's eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park's story as its vistas--a revelation that may bring her charade to an end. (General Historical from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Random House])

Historical Romance:

Orphan Train Sweetheart by Mollie Campbell -- Spring Hill is the orphan train’s last stop—a final chance for Simon McKay to find homes for his young charges. When his fellow placing agent quits, Simon enlists help from the frontier town’s pretty schoolteacher. Cecilia Holbrook is as intriguing as she is independent, yet Simon’s devotion to his mission will soon call him back to New York. Long overshadowed by her flirtatious sister, Cecilia is done with waiting for a man to choose her. She’s already fighting the school board to keep her position. Now she’s struggling not to lose her heart to Simon. Could their shared concern for the children show them how to follow a new dream, together? (Historical Romance Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Love Restored by Kelly Goshorn -- She was nothing like the woman he'd envisioned for his bride, but he was everything she'd ever dreamed of-until a promise from his past threatened their future. (Historical Romance from Pelican Book Group)

The Road to Magnolia Glen by Pam Hillman -- In 1792, Quinn O’Shea leaves Ireland for Natchez, Mississippi, ready to force his oldest brother to reclaim the role of family guardian so Quinn can be free to pursue his own adventures. While aboard ship, a run-in with tenacious yet kind Kiera Young and her two Irish sisters lands him in the role of reluctant savior. Upon arriving in the colonies, Kiera realizes her intended groom never existed and a far more sinister deal has been negotiated for her and her sisters. Quinn offers to escort his charges safely to Breeze Hill Plantation and his brother’s care, fully intending to seek his freedom elsewhere. But the longer he remains, the greater his feelings toward Kiera grow and the more he comes to realize true freedom might be found in sacrifice. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter -- When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. Graham, intent on finding his friend's missing sister, is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling. After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different, but long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. As much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn't worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer -- Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. She’s made a safe haven with Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. Seeking justice against the gambler who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Instead, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

Romantic Suspense:

Justice Betrayed by Patricia Bradley -- It's Elvis Week in Memphis, and homicide Detective Rachel Sloan isn't sure her day could get any stranger when aging Elvis impersonator Vic Vegas asks to see her. But when he produces a photo of her murdered mother with four Elvis impersonators--one of whom had also been murdered soon after the photo was taken--she's forced to reevaluate. When yet another person in the photo is murdered, Rachel suddenly has her hands full investigating three cases. Lieutenant Boone Callahan offers his help, but their checkered romantic past threatens to get in the way. Can they solve the cases before the murderer makes Rachel victim number four? (Romantic Suspense from Revell - A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Vast and Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter -- After losing his closest friends and now his girlfriend to the ravages of war, Caden Wallis arrives on the Outer Banks for one final mission--to thank the woman who sent him a quilt while he was recuperating at Walter Reed Army Hospital. McKenna Dockery knows about loss. She juggles the family business, her ailing father, and an aging grandmother. Much to Caden's surprise, she--not some elderly lady--is the quilter. The quilt was something she'd begun for her future husband but shipped to the military hospital after the tragic death of her fiancé. When a man is found snared in a net and murdered on McKenna's property, she and Caden must work together to bring the killer to justice. (Romantic Suspense from Gilead Publishing)

Ransom of the Heart by Susan Page Davis -- Police Captain Harvey Larson’s exhausting day takes a big detour when a teenaged girl approaches him at the diner, announcing that she is his daughter. When Harvey is on his way home from work a few hours later, his sister-in-law Abby calls him. She went to meet her husband for a dinner date and found a dead man on the floor at his place of business, and Peter has vanished. Harvey calls in his detectives and turns his car around. It’s going to be a long night, too. Once again, Harvey depends on his wits, his faith, and his squad, the Priority Unit, to solve a tough case and carry out Maine Justice. (Romantic Suspense from Tea Tin Press)

Speculative:

Song of Leira by Gillian Bronte Adams -- Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged. Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie’s aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair’s sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran’s schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army—singers who can shake the earth and master the sea—and monsters rampage across the land. As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer. (Speculative High Fantasy from Enclave Publishing)