New Books from Love Inspired Historical - January Releases

*Blake Latherop needs a wife in order to keep his business, and his betrothed has apparently eloped with another man. So when his fiancée's sister, Audrey Prescott, steps off the train in Whisper Creek offering to be his bride, he's in no position to refuse. But it's hardly the marriage he had in mind.  

Audrey knows she shouldn't have answered Blake's letters in her sister's name…but she couldn't bring herself to tell him of his fiancée's betrayal. Now the only way to fix things is through a temporary marriage. But as she comes to love her new life in the West, Audrey dreads the day Blake finds another solution to their situation. Because what started as a marriage of convenience has become so much more for her… 

*When the beautiful daughter of a wealthy Mexican landowner is injured saving his life, Christopher Samuels must nurse her back to health. Despite their language barrier, Chris grows close to Vicky Ruiz…but she's betrothed to another man. Can Chris care for the spirited young woman and find a way to take her home in time for her wedding, without falling for her in the process?  

Vicky would prefer spinsterhood to her arranged marriage. But while words aren't necessary to express the growing attraction between them, Vicky can't make Chris understand her reasons for running away. He seems determined to return her "home" to her father's hacienda. Why can't Chris see that the only home Vicky wants is with him?

*After discovering one of her young students has been abandoned along with his sisters, schoolteacher Sadie Young whisks them away to the safest place she knows—her own home. And when handsome cowboy Logan Marshal vows to assist her in caring for the children, she isn't sure she wants his help…but she needs it. If she lets Logan get too close, though, he may discover the secret she's convinced will be her ruin.  
 
Logan Marshall isn't looking for a family. But with the parentless children and their unflappable teacher tugging at his heart, it appears he has one—at least temporarily. The kids would like nothing better than to have a real mother and father, and with Logan slowly falling for Sadie, their deepest wishes just might come true…

*Widower Silas Jones needs a mother for his daughter, and marriage could help his former sweetheart repair her tattered reputation. Yet he can't blame Rose Stone when she refuses a marriage of convenience after he once broke her heart, marrying another woman to save his family's farm. He's blessed Rose agrees to be his nanny. If only she'd look at him again with the warmth she shows little Milly…  
 
Rose's tarnished past hasn't quelled her spirit. She's building a good life in Colorado with her infant son—and the glimmer of a future with Silas. But when his in-laws try to claim Milly, Rose must decide if the makeshift family she and Silas have forged can reopen her heart to love. 



*Each synopsis is from the back cover of each novel.

First Line Fridays

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone had a lovely week.  I'm excited to announce a new book blogger has joined the First Line Friday fun!  Her name is Bree Herron from Bibliophile Reviews.  Please be sure to check out her blog and welcome her to the group!

My first line for this week comes from the book Tea and Sympathy by Carol Cox.  As most know, mysteries are my very genre of literature to read, so this text was a great addition to my book collection.  As always, please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andi from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken  
Robin from Robin's Nest   

Katie from Fiction Aficionado

Bree from Bibliophile Reviews

Click the links above to be taken to their posts and...
If you would like to join us, send Carrie a message and let her know!
​
​Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from: 

Tea and Sympathy 

by Carol Cox 

And the first line is...

"Kate Hanlon settled back into the pillows propped against the headboard of her bed and stared down at her lap.  The tray resting on her knees contained a steaming mug of tea and a plate holding one slice of lightly buttered toast."  

Happy reading and happy Friday!

Hawk Nelson - Drops In the Ocean

Check Out My New Post!

Check out my new post on the Daily Megaphone in order to find out what I am celebrating this month!  20 years!  Happy reading!  

New Year, New Beginnings 

by Heather Snyder 

https://dailymegaphone.com/2017/01/24/new-year-new-beginnings/

 

Lauren Daigle - First

First Line Fridays

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you have had a wonderful week.  This week is especially amazing for me, because I am celebrating a milestone in my life.  Twenty years ago, I found myself battling an unexpected medical issue, and because of prayer and the brilliance of various doctors and nurses, the Lord saved my life.  God took me through some of my darkest days--during a time when I thought I would not survive the challenges set in front of me.  I can tell you this with certainty though--God is in control and He still performs miracles.  Jesus loves you, and He will stay by your side throughout any devastating or joyous moments in your life.  I am so grateful to have survived those difficult days, and I am so happy to be able to tell you about it.  The group 4Him was one of my favorites during those days, so I thought I would include one of their songs this week:

My first line for this week comes from Melanie Dickerson's book, A Spy's Devotion.  This novel is the first book in The Regency Spies of London series.  The second book in the series, A Viscount's Proposal, comes out next month!  Of course, I've already pre-ordered this book for my Kindle.  :)  As always, please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andi from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken  
Robin from Robin's Nest   

Katie from Fiction Aficionado

Click the links above to be taken to their posts and...
If you would like to join us, send Carrie a message and let her know!
​
​Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from:

A Spy's Devotion 

by Melanie Dickerson

 

And the first line is...

April 1811.  London, England.  

"Mr. Nicholas Langdon wasn't supposed to be here.  Miss Julia Grey blinked, but he was still standing across the room from where she sat at the pianoforte."

  Happy reading and happy Friday!

Only Thing I Need - 4Him

New Books from Bethany House Publishers

*Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, work at the new and prestigious Curry Hotel near the foot of Mount McKinley--Denali as it's still called by the natives. John is the wilderness and exploration guide for the wealthy tourists while Cassidy works in the kitchen as Cook's assistant. The entire staff buzzes with excitement during the busy days preparing for the President's imminent visit. His historic trip to dedicate the new national park on his way to driving in the golden spike to officially complete the Alaska Railroad will be the beginning of a new era for all of them and place The Curry at the heart of Alaska.

Allan Brennan travels to the Curry Hotel to be an apprentice to the seasoned Alaska mountain guide, with hopes of discovering the truth about his father's death on the mountain years earlier. His father's business partner blames the guide for Henry Brennan's untimely death, but Allan cannot be at peace until he knows for sure. He finds an unlikely ally in Cassidy, and as the two begin to look into the mystery, they suddenly find that things are much less clear, and much more dangerous, than either could ever imagine.

*After the death of her client, midwife Julianne Chevalier is imprisoned and branded, marking her as a criminal beyond redemption. Hoping to reunite with her brother, a soldier, she trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling French colony of Louisiana. The price of her transport, however, is a forced marriage to a fellow convict.

New Orleans is nothing like Julianne expects. The settlement is steeped in mud and mosquitoes, and there is no news of her brother, Benjamin. When tragedy strikes, she turns to military officer Marc-Paul Girard for help, but does he know more about her brother than he will admit?

With her dreams shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous land, where only grace--and love--can overcome the stigma of the king's mark upon her shoulder.

*Gregarious Rose Lehman, who's always the life of the Amish youth singings, is determined to marry the bishop's son, Reuben Byler--until the handsome Army buddy of her future brother-in-law shows up in Lancaster County. In comparison to Trevor, Reuben seems downright boring. Trevor shares Rose's sense of fun and adventure, and her easygoing disposition.

When her sister Lila is injured in a devastating accident, Rose finds herself with more freedom than she's ever experienced in her life. Only Reuben seems to notice, but he never voices his concerns. Part of her relishes the freedom she's found with Trevor, but the other part wishes Reuben would finally express his love and "fight" for her. Have her choices ruined her best chance at love, or is there another path to happiness she just hasn't seen yet?



*Each synopsis is from the back cover of each novel.

Jane Austen Week: Sense and Sensibility

MercyMe - Shake

First Line Fridays

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you have had a great start to 2017.  Can you believe that the second week of this year is almost over?  I remember when I was younger people would tell me that time does fly, which of course I never understood.  Waiting for Christmas always seemed to take a lifetime; however, as I get older, I see how true those words are.  Let us all make sure we take the time to cherish each and every day and every moment the Lord gives to us.

It's time for another first line, and this week my first line comes from Kit Kat and Lucy by Lonnie Hull DuPont.  This is a non-fiction book that I will be reviewing on my blog soon--so stay tuned!  As always, please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andi from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken  
Robin from Robin's Nest   

Katie from Fiction Aficionado

Click the links above to be taken to their posts and...
If you would like to join us, send Carrie a message and let her know!
​
​Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from:

 Kit Kat and Lucy 

by Lonnie Hull DuPont

And the first line is...

You will always by lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats.  Colonial American Proverb

"To say moving from San Francisco to rural Michigan was not easy for me would be an understatement."  

Happy reading and happy Friday!

Waves of Mercy - My Review

Lynn Austin’s novel Waves of Mercy tells the story of two very different women growing and struggling in the middle of changing decades.  Geesje de Jonge grew up in the Netherlands, but eventually migrated to America with her parents.  Yet Geesje was reluctant to make this transition, because she had fallen in love with a solider.  A soldier who was not Dutch like herself.  She knew her parents might not approve, and when she did tell them her news—her parents told her she must listen to the will of God for her life.  And she must marry a man who would share her faith in the Lord.  Anna Nicholson finds herself in exactly the opposite place.  There are so many probing questions she has about religion and God, and soon she realizes there is no one to ask or to share her burdens.  She is engaged to marry a man from her circle in society—a wealthy world that many times she believes she is a stranger to.  Soon Anna must make a difficult decision regarding love and her purpose and place in life.  Both Geesje and Anna face various troubles, and they know the decisions they make, in light of their problems, will ultimately forever alter their futures.  Are they ready for the consequences that might come because of their desires to take a different path in life? 

This book shows the trials that many families faced as they took the brave step to leave all they knew behind and travel to a new land—America.  Their pursuit was one of longing to have religious freedom—especially for Geesje’s family.  Her family had faced much persecution in the Netherlands, because they chose to worship outside of what most considered religious.  Even though they met peacefully in their homes, the government still opposed what they were doing.  So one day, many Dutch families made the choice to come to America.  

Throughout Geesje’s journey, she faces many hardships and trials, and she finds her faith tested over and over.  She must either trust in the God she knows or abandon His teachings and promises.  It is interesting to hear her tell the story of her life as she looks back over each event, yet there is much sadness in her memories.  Her story includes levels of intensity that are sometimes difficult to read.  

Anna’s story is very different, yet even the reader sees how much she wants to learn the truth about life and her story.  Anna feels there is a void in her everyday existence, and so she attempts to discover the mystery regarding her background.  The reader will be surprised by the words in the last few chapters and the connections Anna discovers about people she knew nothing about.

 

This novel is not an easy read, because it records the struggles of several characters.  In fact, there are moments when you wonder if particular characters will ever find a good place in life.  So much happens in each woman’s life, and because you want Geesje and Anna to find love and peace—it might be a hard book to read.  Just remember that this novel is a story of love, strong faith, troubles, perseverance, and the realities of life.  It is not a book you read to escape the trials of life.

 

Lynn Austin is a great storyteller, and I am sure many will enjoy this book and find comfort in its pages.  Because it does teach one very important lesson—no matter what anyone may endure in this life…God is always by your side.  He is an ever present help in times of trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)


This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for my copy.

About The Book  

*Chicago socialite Anna Nicholson retreats to the Hotel Ottawa in Holland, Michigan, after breaking her engagement with her wealthy fiancé.  Filled with questions about her newfound faith and trouble by a recurring nightmare, Ann finds solace in Derk Vander Veen, a seasoned hotle worker who place to go into the ministry.  

Prompted by a request from her son, Geesge de Jonge begins to sift through memories of emigrating form the Netherlands almost fifty years ago.  As she writes them down for the Semi-Centennial anniversary of the town's settlement, her story takes on the life of its own as she honestly and painfully recalls her regrets, doubts, hardships, and joys.  Her story captivated Derk, who sees similarities between Geesje and Anna, and wished to bring the two together.  

 *Synopsis is from the back cover of the novel. 

About The Author

Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide.  She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions.  Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan.  

Learn more at:  www.lynnaustin.org 

Jane Austen Week: An Introduction

First Line Fridays

Happy New Year everyone!  Throughout the months ahead, I pray each of you will see blessings and amazing adventures in 2017.  This last week went by so quickly, and it is already time for another First Line Friday.  Today's line comes from a new book I started reading this week entitled Surround Me: Revolutionary Faith.  I read the first book in this series last year called Hold Me Close.

In fact, Gray's first novel is on my top ten list of books for 2016, and you can read about that list on my blog.  Please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andi from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken  
Robin from Robin's Nest   

Katie from Fiction Aficionado

Click the links above to be taken to their posts and...
If you would like to join us, send Carrie a message and let her know!
​
​Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from:

Surround Me: Revolutionary Faith

by Marguerite Martin Gray 

  

And the first line is...

Atlantic Ocean 

May 1773

"His hands tightly gripped the railing, turning his knuckles a startling white compared to his wind-chapped tanned skin."  

Happy reading and happy Friday!