Keeping Christmas

Keeping Christmas
Dan Walsh
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800721190
August 2015/224 pages/Hardcover/$14.99
Stan opened the ugly ornaments box and pulled out the top three ornaments, the ones wrapped in green paper, the kids' favorites, and set them on the coffee table. He picked up the first one, the biggest one--Anna's blue pinecone--and began to unwrap it. Without thinking, Judith walked up, stopped him, and gently took it out of his hand. She wrapped it back up, set it carefully in the box. Then picked up the other two ornaments, put them in the box, and closed the flaps.

"What's the matter?" Stan said. "Did I do something wrong?"

"I don't think I can do this."

Nothing is more beautiful than family

For the first time since their children were born, empty nesters Judith and Stan Winters spent Thanksgiving without the kids, and it's looking like Christmas will be the same. Judith can't bring herself to even start decorating for the holiday; her kids always hung the first ornaments on the tree, ornaments they had made each year since they were toddlers. Sure, the ornaments were strange-looking--some were downright ugly--but they were tradition.

With Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan's only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments . . .

Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Unfinished Gift and The Restoration Series with Gary Smalley. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for the RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. Learn more at www.danwalshbooks.com.



MY THOUGHTS

Dan Walsh is known for well-crafted books that touch the heart, and Keeping Christmas continues to meet that description. Expert character and story development results in authentic personalities and situations that will resonate with many in the empty-nester years, as well as serve as a cautionary tale for those with children still at home. (In fact, at times, I became a bit annoyed with Judith's despair and complete obsession over her children's absence and the fact that she had developed no interests outside of her family. I only get annoyed with realistic people in the books I read!) Walsh skillfully highlights the different perspectives and reactions of Judith and Stan as they approach the upcoming holidays: Judy laments, paralyzed by grief, and Stan continues his normal routine, secretly enjoying the peace and quiet. From the beautiful cover to the final page, Keeping Christmas is a wonderful way to start the holiday season. Don't miss it.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publishing. 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.”

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ACFW November New Releases

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


Biblical Fiction:

The Master's Calling by Amber Schamel -- A young Jew travels to Jerusalem in hopes of becoming a disciple of the Messiah, only to discover that Jesus has already been crucified. Did Israel's deliverance die with him? (Biblical Fiction, Independently Published)

Contemporary Romance:

Merry Kisses by Valerie Comer -- Can a disillusioned toy store clerk and a mall Santa resolve their differences in time for merry kisses at Christmas? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Catch of a Lifetime by Candee Fick -- When his star receiver teeters on the brink of ineligibility, the rookie college coach and the bitter tutor must work together to salvage the season ... without igniting a scandal. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Yuletide Cowboys by Arlene James and Deb Kastner -- The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion by Deb Kastner When Sarah Kendrick meets her high school sweetheart again, she's ashamed to show Marcus Ender how far she's fallen. But when they're snowed in on her ranch, and he returns holiday joy to her family, Sarah could have a merry Christmas…if she'll say yes. The Cowboy's Christmas Gift by Arlene James An injury forces rodeo rider Matt Ender home to his family's ranch—where he clashes with his grandmother's pretty business partner. Former cowgirl Neely Spence has no time for love. Can they open their hearts and find family this Christmas? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Island Christmas by Kimberly Rose Johnson -- Sous Chef Rachel Narrelli returns to Wildflower Island looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son. When she starts to care for Chris Campbell, can she risk her heart? A self-proclaimed workaholic, Chris comes to Wildflower Island hoping to invest in the hot real estate market and take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at Wildflower B&B catches his eye he is smitten, but how will a woman and her young son fit into his future, when he’s not even sure he will have a future due to a heart condition? (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Rancher for the Holidays by Myra Johnson -- Downsized from his corporate job, Ben Fisher's donning boots and a cowboy hat to try ranching through the holidays on his uncle's spread. The handsome city slicker turns heads wherever he goes—but he soon begins to fall for one special redhead. Marley Sanders has the work-obsessed bachelor doing the unthinkable—volunteering in the community and dreaming of wedding bells and babies. But his sweet country girl insists she's never leaving Alpine, Texas, and he's set to ride out with the first job offer. Unless Marley can convince him to take the job of her forever cowboy. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Isle of Hope by Julie Lessman She's the town flirt serving up trouble; He's a pastor's kid bent on serving God, but when time and tragedy separate them for eight years, the tables are turned, begging the question: Can a wild girl gone good rebuilt bridges she's burned? (Contemporary Romance, ACFW QIP [Qualified Independently Published])

Romance:

Christmas with the Colburns by Keely Brooke Keith -- It’s Christmastime in Good Springs, and Lydia Bradshaw is eager for the light at the end of her year—the Colburn family’s big holiday gathering. When she discovers none of her siblings are coming back to the village this year, she believes Christmas will be ruined. As Lydia faces a gloomy holiday in the Colburn house, an unexpected romance brightens her favorite season. Will it be enough to rekindle the light of Christmas? (Romance, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Fragile Blessings by Susan M. Baganz -- In the late 1800’s, Grant and Lily have established their farm amongst the bluffs of western Wisconsin. As they anticipate the birth of their first child, tragedy strikes. With shaken faith and grief driving a wedge between them, is it possible for three orphans to heal Grant and Lily’s heart and relationship? (Historical Romance from Inspired [Prism Book Group])

Tabitha by Vikki Kestell -- Rescued from a life of depravity, fiery-haired, fiery-tempered Tabitha Hale gives her heart to God and her life to nursing. But what will Tabitha do with her feelings for British pilot Mason Carpenter, the man who refuses to give up on her? When the Great War erupts, Carpenter leaves for England to train British pilots. Soon after, Tabitha hears God’s call to nurse the war wounded. Will the elite British Nursing Service accept the services of an American volunteer? Is it possible for two people with such different callings upon their hearts to share a future? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

In This Together by Gail Elaine Kittleson -- After losing her son in World War II and her husband soon after, Dottie makes do, but her next door neighbor's sudden interest in her, his haunting World War I memories and her faraway daughter's dire need intersect in unexpected ways. Can Dottie overcome her fear of enclosed spaces to board a train and step into a new life? (Historical Romance from Wild Rose Press)

Sofia's Tune by Cindy Thomson -- Scrambling to keep her job and care for her mother, Sofia is convinced confronting the past will heal all wounds, but her old world Italian family wants to keep the past in the past. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Historical:

The Last Truth by Leann Harris -- Linette Van Linder enters into a marriage of convenience to fight the Nazis and free her family. (Historical Romance, ACFW QIP [Qualified Independently Published])

The Peacock Throne by Lisa Karon Richardson -- When Miss Lydia Garrett's guardian is murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders are related?and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, is bent on revenge. The clues point to the former earl’s first naval command. In 1758 the earl spirited away and hid the magnificent Peacock Throne at the behest of the Indian royal family. To draw out the murderer, Anthony and Lydia agree that they must locate the throne. They are not the only ones interested in the Peacock Throne, however. Marcus Wiltshire, a British intelligence, has received hints that Bonaparte intends to return the throne to India and leverage its mystical significance to foment rebellion and cut England off from her most important trading partner. When the amateur sleuths join forces with the professional agent, the quest for the throne leads them around the globe on an adventure steeped in danger, treachery, and romance. (Historical from Lion Fiction [Monarch Publishing])

Romantic Suspense:

The Christmas Bell Tolls by Robin Caroll -- When an FBI agent's child is abducted, he is forced to sit on the sidelines of the investigation and put his faith in the one woman he's not sure he can trust. (Romantic Suspense, ACFW QIP [Qualified Independently Published])

High-Caliber Holiday (First Responders) by Susan Sleeman -- Sniper Brady Owens has lost his confidence on the FRS team’s last callout, but he better find it fast if he’s to protect Morgan Thorsby from a stalker bent on murder. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Supernatural Thriller:

Trial & Tribulations by Rachel Dylan -- High-powered attorney Olivia Murray arrives in Windy Ridge to defend a New Age tech company and discovers there is much more to the case than the legal claims—forces of darkness are at work. Windy Ridge quickly turns from quiet Chicago suburb to spiritual battleground, and Olivia must rely on her faith to defend against legal and spiritual attacks. Olivia finds a friend and unlikely ally in Opposing Counsel Grant Baxter. Once a skeptic about faith, he ultimately comes to her aid when she needs it most. Will she be able to help good triumph over evil before the town of Windy Ridge is torn apart? (Supernatural Thriller, Independently Published)

Young Adult:

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson -- In this Rapunzel story set in Medieval Germany, Rapunzel discovers her true identity and falls in love with a noble knight who needs some saving of his own. (Young Adult Historical Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

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The Christmas Joy Ride

The Christmas Joy Ride
Melody Carlson
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800719678
August 2015/176 pages/Hardcover/$14.99

Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that's exactly what she's getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix--in the dead of winter, no less--the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off with Joy toward Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride--one that could derail the whole venture.

No one captures the heartwarming fun of the Christmas season quite like Melody Carlson. Fasten your seat belt, because it's going to be an exciting ride!

Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million. She is the author of the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington's, and The Christmas Cat. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.


MY THOUGHTS

Nothing heralds the approaching holidays like the arrival of a Melody Carlson Christmas novella. The Christmas Joy Ride is aptly named as it is a delightful journey for the heart. Of course, I fell in love with Joy and her generous spirit from the opening pages, and I treasured her wisdom and insights as she and Miranda delivered Christmas cheer on scheduled stops across Route 66. Carlson once again delivers a heartwarming tale that will become a holiday tradition to read year after year. Don't miss The Christmas Joy Ride.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publishing. 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.”

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The Girl From the Train

The Girl From the Train
Irma Joubert
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0529102379
November 2015/384 pages/$15.99

Six-year-old Gretl Schmidt is on a train bound for Aushwitz. Jakób Kowalski is planting a bomb on the tracks.

As World War II draws to a close, Jakób fights with the Polish resistance against the crushing forces of Germany and Russia. They intend to destroy a German troop transport, but Gretl’s unscheduled train reaches the bomb first.

Gretl is the only survivor. Though spared from the concentration camp, the orphaned German Jew finds herself lost in a country hostile to her people. When Jakób discovers her, guilt and fatherly compassion prompt him to take her in. For three years, the young man and little girl form a bond over the secrets they must hide from his Catholic family.

But she can’t stay with him forever. Jakób sends Gretl to South Africa, where German war orphans are promised bright futures with adoptive Protestant families—so long as Gretl’s Jewish roots, Catholic education, and connections to communist Poland are never discovered.

Separated by continents, politics, religion, language, and years, Jakób and Gretl will likely never see each other again. But the events they have both survived and their belief that the human spirit can triumph over the ravages of war have formed a bond of love that no circumstances can overcome.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

International bestselling author Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She's the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa, but this will be her first novel published in English. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels. She and her husband live in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

MY THOUGHTS

Originally published in South Africa, this is a compelling story set in the World War II era. Some early portions of the book were a bit difficult to follow as I had a hard time identifying some of the characters. Heart-wrenching moments and dangerous scenes escalated the tension in this story, and my heart ached for all that Gretl, and others like her, endured. Many twists and turns occur in both Gretl and Jakób's lives before they meet again many years later. While their relationship was understandably complex and they deeply cared about each other, it was a bit of a stretch for me to make the leap with the differences in their ages and the "rescuer/rescued" relationship to one of romance. A beautiful story receiving rave reviews, The Girl From the Train is a great novel for book club discussions.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Thomas Nelson's Fiction Guild. 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.”

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21 Days of Christmas

21 Days of Christmas:
Stories that Celebrate
God's Greatest Gift
Kathy Ide
(Broadstreet Publishers)
ISBN: 978-1424550517
September 2015/160 pages/Hardcover/$14.99
Book 2 in the Fiction Lover's Devotional series.
Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is a time to recapture the joy and wonder of God s greatest gift: His Son, Jesus.

21 Days of Christmas, the second book in the Fiction Lover's Devotional series, will warm your heart with stories about giving, loving, and family. These engaging tales celebrate the hope and joy that make this blessed season unique. At the end of each story you ll find an insightful message that will help you discover anew the true meaning of this special time of year.

So grab a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick, curl up in your favorite chair beside a picture window overlooking a serene spot, and savor the true meaning of Christmas through these inspirational and encouraging stories


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Compiler and editor Kathy Ide has been a published author since 1989. She has written fiction and nonfiction books and is the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors. She has ghostwritten ten nonfiction books and a series of five novels. She also writes columns of writing and editing tips for blogs and newsletters. Kathy makes her home in Orange County, California.

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed reviewing 21 Days of Grace (reviewed here), so I was happy to have the opportunity to read and review this second book. Once again, Kathy Ide has compiled a book of enjoyable and inspiring stories, this time centered around Christmas. Since I was not as familiar with most of these contributing authors as with the first book, this was a good opportunity to sample their writing. Each story is followed by a brief paragraph containing a related Life Application. This is a good book to use for personal reflection as well as in a group setting. The beautiful, hardback format makes it a nice gift.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Kathy Ide 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.”

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A Reason to Stay

A Reason to Stay
A Texas Gold Novel
Kellie Coates Gilbert
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800722746
October 2015/336/$14.99
Sometimes the thing that keeps us from making the wrong choice is the one thing we can't control

As an investigative reporter and the host of her own TV talk show, Faith Marin works to expose the truth for her viewers. But in her personal life, she's anchored her world with firm boundaries in order to hide a family history she'd like to forget. By contrast, her husband Geary's life is an open book. An easygoing pro bass fisherman, Geary is the ultimate family man--and his overbearing relatives don't know the meaning of boundaries.

Faith and Geary haven't been married long when their differences start to derail their tender relationship. Surely love shouldn't be this hard. While Faith considers whether divorce is the only answer to their issues, tragedy strikes. With her life in the balance, she finds that the one she has been shutting out may be the very one she cannot bear to lose.

Kellie Coates Gilbert takes you on an emotional roller coaster as she weaves together unexpected trial, self-discovery, and forgiveness in this profoundly honest portrait of the tensions that can break a marriage--and the ultimate healing power of love.

Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal and the author of A Woman of Fortune and Where Rivers Part. Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband. Learn more at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.

MY THOUGHTS

One of these days Kellie Coates Gilbert might write a book that doesn't reach in and grab my heart, but today is not that day! A Reason to Stay is women's fiction at its best. Gilbert's expert character development and gift of story combine to create a compelling tale. Rather self-absorbed and driven, Faith is not the most likable character as the book begins but trials have a way of honing rough edges, and I viewed her more favorably as the story progressed. Heart-wrenching events and powerfully realistic moments lend an authenticity that made me feel as if I personally knew Faith and Geary. This is a book to read with the tissue box close by. A Reason to Stay is a must-read!


Read my reviews of the first two Texas Gold novels:

A Woman of Fortune
Where Rivers Part


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publishing. 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.”

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A Respectable Actress

A Respectable Actress
Dorothy Love
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1401687595
October 2015/384 pages/$15.99
When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

Learn more and see what others are saying about this book by clicking here.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. When she isn’t busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. Find out more about Dorothy at http://dorothylovebooks.com.



MY THOUGHTS

This fascinating novel combines murder, mystery, and not a little mayhem--as well as romance, of course--as it opens with a bang. The post-Civil War setting and the prevailing attitudes toward the acting profession greatly influence the story line and plot, and the author uses this to deepen the character development and add layers to the story. Secrets and unexpected twists in the plot kept me rapidly turning pages as I endeavored to determine who murdered the lead actor. Unsettling events at the plantation where India has been secreted add to the tension. Grab your copy of A Respectable Actress today.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishing and Litfuse Publicity Group as part of 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.”

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Vendetta

Vendetta
The Nikki Boyd Files
Lisa Harris
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800724177
September 2015/304 pages/$14.99

The first 48 hours are the most critical.

No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.


"Filled with red herrings and heart-pounding danger, Vendetta will leave readers anxiously awaiting Nikki Boyd's next adventure."--Irene Hannon, bestselling author of the Private Justice series


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She has sold over thirty novels and novella collections. Along with her husband, she and her three children have spent over ten years living as missionaries in Africa where she homeschools, leads a women's group, and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice" (Proverbs 31:8).

When she's not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit www.theECHOproject.org.



MY THOUGHTS

Oh. Wow. Lisa Harris quickly vaulted onto my list of favorite authors a couple of years ago when I read one of her books, and this one is her best yet. From the opening scene to the final sentences, I was swept up into this story. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening or had figured out the answer, the story took another turn and I was once again holding my breath with a white-knuckled hold on the book. Harris keeps up a rapid pace in this heart-pounding suspense, and the amount of adrenaline and coffee required by Nikki and her team would keep me awake for a month! I could not put this one down and read it in an afternoon/evening. Fair warning: the first chapter of book 2 is in the back of the book. I read it and now I am already on pins and needles waiting for its release next year! Don't miss this book and this series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publishing. 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.”

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Murder at the Courthouse

Murder at the Courthouse
A Hidden Springs Mystery
A. H. Gabhart
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800726768
October 2015/336 pages/$12.99

Welcome to Hidden Springs
pop. 732 731

Michael Keane's stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done. He's ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his sleepy hometown. Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky--and that's just fine with Michael.

Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs.

Bringing with her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep you guessing.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. H. Gabhart is Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of many novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Love Comes Home, as well as several popular Shaker novels such as The Outsider, The Believer, and The Innocent. Ann grew up in a small rural town in Kentucky much like Hidden Springs, but she is happy to report nobody was ever murdered on her hometown's courthouse steps. Ann and her husband still live on a farm near that same little town in Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.


MY THOUGHTS

I've enjoyed a number of Ann Gabhart's earlier books, so I was intrigued when she decided to write a cozy mystery series. Murder at the Courthouse is an engaging tale containing an assortment of eccentric characters. Gabhart creates a charming town in Hidden Springs and the unexpected crime causes no small amount of upheaval in the community. Don't mistake "cozy mystery" for simplistic, however, as Gabhart weaves in plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end of the book. A delightful read, this novel will keep you alternately smiling and rapidly turning pages to find out "whodunit." I'm already eagerly anticipating my return to Hidden Springs with the next book in this series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publishing. 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.”

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Falling Like Snowflakes

Falling Like Snowflakes
A Summer Harbor Novel
Denise Hunter
(HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0718023713
September 2015/352 pages/$12.99
When the Christmas season finds Eden in Summer Harbor, Maine, she's on the run from trouble. Romance is the last thing on her mind.

Riding in a bus in the thickly falling snow, Eden Davis wonders how it ever came to this-fleeing under cover of night with young Micah sleeping fitfully in the seat beside her. When a winter storm strands them in Summer Harbor, Maine, Eden wonders if what might have been the end could be a new beginning.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver. He's recently left his job with the sheriff's department to take over the family Christmas tree farm to save it from insolvency. But he's flummoxed. During the busiest season of the year, he's shorthanded. Then Eden shows up looking for work, and Beau believes he's been rescued. Competent, smart, and beautiful, Eden's also guarded and quiet. He soon figures out she comes with a boatload of secrets. But Beau can't seem to help himself from falling for her.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Beau discovers he'll do anything to keep Eden safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 20 books, including Dancing with Fireflies and The Convenient Groom. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are raising three boys. You can learn more about Denise through her website DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at facebook.com/authordenisehunter


MY THOUGHTS

I love when fall arrives and Christmas novels begin to hit store shelves! Falling Like Snowflakes is the perfect book to curl up with on a cool evening. Denise Hunter creates a heart-warming story with characters that work their way into your heart. Eden's situation garnered my sympathies, especially with sweet little Micah. The "game" they played to mask their identities was heart-wrenching, and I longed for them to find a safe haven in Summer Harbor. Hunter manages the perfect balance between Eden needing to be rescued and her tenacity and independence, providing depth to the story. Add this delightful book to your fall reading list today!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson BookLook Bloggers. 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.”

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Back to the Hodgepodge

It's been a few weeks since I've been able to join Joyce for the Hodgepodge. What fun questions--as always!--she has this week!



1. October 21, 2015 is Back to the Future Day. Did you see the movie? The sequels? In the second film, Doc takes Marty into the future to prevent Marty's future son from making a mistake. They leave 1985 and land on a 'skyway' on October 21st, 2015. So tell us, what were you doing in the fall of 1985?

I've seen all the movies, but the first one was my favorite.

In 1985, I was single and transitioning from being the "head nurse" (as they still called it back then!) of a post-surgical unit in the hospital to being a supervisor in Home Health.

2. If time travel were possible, would you want to go to the future? The past?

Well, it's tempting to go back and relive a day when my kids were tiny, but I know it's best just to cherish the sweet memories. And I certainly don't want to peek into the future! I've always loved this old song, written back in 1909:

If we could see beyond today as God can see
If all the clouds should roll away, the shadows flee
O'er present griefs we would not fret
Each sorrow we would soon forget
For many joys are waiting yet
For you and me

If we could know beyond today as God doth know
Why dearest treasures pass away and tears must flow
And why the darkness leads to light
Why dreary days will soon grow bright
Someday life's wrongs will be made right
Faith tells us so

If we could see, if we could know, we often say
But God in love a veil did throw across our way
We cannot see what lies before
And so we cling to Him for more
He leads us 'til this life is o'er
Trust and obey

3. We're not flying cars, but some of the technology imagined in the 80's film has indeed come to pass in real life 2015--flat screen TVs on the wall, tablets, fingerprint recognition, video conferencing, online banking, 3-D movies, motion controlled video games, drone cameras, and smart glasses (Google glass). Do you worry technology is growing at a rate so fast we'll soon be unable to keep up with its demands? Do you think the Internet does more harm than good?

I don't think technology is the problem. It is just another tool that Satan uses to pull the human heart farther away from God.

4. Your favorite dish prepared in a slow-cooker? Your favorite fast food?

Taco soup. And Chick-fil-A.

5. No time like the present, down time, face time, pressed for time, in the nick of time, make time, mark time, or just in time...which timely saying most relates to your life right now?

At this moment, down time. I've had some brutal work days, but right now it's my days off and I am soaking in the reading, resting, and recovering!

6. Tell us about a place you went as a child or younger person that's no longer there or is now something else. How does that make you feel?

It's been ten years and it still makes me sad to know it's gone. Such an integral part of growing up in Houston.

7. Describe your comfort zone.

Home and family.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm happy for those who enjoy it, but I absolutely do not see what is relaxing and stress-reducing about the new fad of adult coloring books. Just looking at them makes my heart rate go up! LOL Color me crazy! What about you? Are you a fan?

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