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No Easy Catch

By Pat Simmons

Shae Carmen hasn’t lost her faith in God, only the men she’s come across who profess to follow Him. Heartbroken and humiliated after discovering that her boyfriend was not only married but also on the verge of reconciling with his estranged wife, she flees her job in Nebraska for St. Louis, Missouri, and starts over with a fresh slate as a weekend TV news anchor/reporter.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rahn Maxwell had been coasting along in life until an attempted carjacking awakened him to the reality of his feeble faith. When a local television station lands an exclusive interview, Rahn shares his testimony and commits to getting right with God. Meeting a lovely news anchor named Shae, a committed Christian, further compels his quest to follow Christ—and to win Shae’s heart.

Just when Shae lets her guards down, another scandal rocks her world. This time, the stakes are higher, and she and Rahn aren’t immune to the aftershocks. For a second time, Shae’s heart is on the line, along with her professional credibility. Will she strike out at love again? Or will she hit a home run and give God the glory?

ISLAND BREEZES

Shae is not interested in men. The last one not only didn’t tell her he was married, he also neglected to tell her he was getting back with his wife.

She leaves her life behind to start over in St. Louis working as a TV news anchor/reporter. She’s doing quite well, thank you, when a St. Louis Cardinals player meets her at the TV station.

The man apparently doesn’t understand the word no. He just won’t stop trying to get her to go out with him. So it looks as if Rahn has her in the game at least for awhile.

A scandal is erupting, and Shae isn’t sure she can deal with it. It looks as if Rahn is going to strike out after all.

Thank you, Ms Simmons. I enjoyed book one of The Carmen Sisters, and am looking forward to the next. I wish I had sisters like these sisters.

***A special thank you to Cathy Hickling and Whitaker House for providing a review copy.***

Pat Simmons holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various media positions in radio, television, and print for more than twenty years. Currently, she oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She is the author of nine single titles and several eBook novellas. Her award-winning books include Talk to Me, ranked #14 of Top Books in 2008 That Changed Lives by Black Pearls Magazine. She is a two-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance for Still Guilty (2010) and Crowning Glory (2011). Her best-selling novels include Guilty of Love and the Jamieson Legacy series: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free from Guilt. The Acquittal (a Guilty Parties novel) was her 2013 release.

While Love Stirs

By Lorna Seilstad

Take one lovely young woman.

Add two ambitious young men.

Stir . . . and stand back.

As a graduate of Fannie Farmer’s School of Cookery, Charlotte Gregory is thrilled to have the opportunity to travel, lecture, and give cooking demonstrations on the very latest kitchen revolution–the gas stove. And she certainly doesn’t mind that the gas company has hired the kindhearted Lewis Mathis to entertain at her lectures.

Lewis encourages Charlotte’s work, especially her crusade to introduce fresh, appetizing, nutritious food to those convalescing in hospitals. But young hospital superintendent Dr. Joel Brooks is not convinced any changes should be made–especially by this outspoken young woman.

When Charlotte and Joel are coerced into planning a fund-raising gala for the hospital, will this combustible pair explode?

Follow the second Gregory sister as she looks for true love and makes her way in a rapidly changing world in this breezy, lighthearted love triangle that will keep you guessing.

ISLAND BREEZES

Charlotte, a recent grad from Fannie Farmer’s School of Cookery, enters a cooking contest sponsored by the gas company to prizes and the chance to travel and teach cooking on the new gas stove.

After coming out on top she spends time traveling with her fellow gas company employees, Molly and Lewis. She also spends time trying to convince hospital superintendent Dr. Brooks to serve more appetizing and nourishing food to his patients.

Joel Brooks is a hard sell as he struggles to fight the electricity between himself and Charlotte. Will this charge turn out to be positive or negative?

Meanwhile, Lewis is pursuing Charlotte as the team continues to travel with the cooking demonstrations. One of these men will eventually win her love.

Thank you, Ms Seilstad, for giving us the Gregory sisters. I’m looking forward to the third sister’s book.

***A special thank you to Lanette Haskins for providing a review copy.***

Lorna Seilstad is the author of When Love Calls and the Lake Manawa Summers series. A former high school English and journalism teacher, she has won several online writing contests and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lorna lives in Iowa with her husband. Learn more at www.lornaseilstad.com.

No, I’m not talking about the weather. What a vast difference in the reception of these two very different commencement speeches. Judge for yourself.

Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. The movie, produced by Mission Pictures International and filmed last fall in the actual town of Sugarcreek, will premiere on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 7:00 PM EDT on Up TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel). Visit the movie website for more information.

Serena and Guideposts will be celebrating with a Facebook viewing party! 

Join Serena and readers on Facebook while you tune in to watch Love Finds You in Sugarcreek to share your thoughts about the movie, chat with other viewers, and win fun prizes. Just use hashtag #LFYSugarcreek to join the discussion on June 1st.

Check your local listing for UpTV (http://up.viewerlink.tv) to find out when it airs in your timezone.

Excited? Help me spread the word! Just share this link and information on your social media along with the hashtag #LFYSugarcreek! Plus, we’ll be tracking the hashtag and giving away Amazon & Starbucks cards to people at random who help to promote all throughout the month of May. Winners announced at the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek viewing party on June 1st.

“This is so exciting for Serena Miller and Guideposts! We are thrilled that Up TV has chosen Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio to make into a movie,” said Lenore Lelah Person, vice president and editorial director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media. “With Serena’s wonderful story and a beautiful backdrop in Ohio Amish country, fans of the story and the series will enjoy seeing it on screen. For more information read the media release.

For those who are not familiar with the Love Finds You™ series, this will be a great opportunity to introduce them to these uplifting and engaging romances.” Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of more than 50 releases in the popular Love Finds You™ series uniquely titled after actual American towns with unusual but intriguing names and combines travel, romance and faith in one package. The series includes both historical and contemporary releases, and each fictional story draws on compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Mission Pictures has purchased the movie rights to the entire series and plans to produce additional films based on the series in the future.

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

By Serena B. Miller

A mysterious outsider casts a long shadow on Ohio’s Amish country. Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish aunts, proprietors of a farmhouse inn near Sugarcreek, Ohio. The idyllic town is popular with tourists, who come to sample its famous Amish goods. But one thing is clear to Rachel — Joe Matthews is no tourist. When the bearded stranger lands on her aunts’ doorstep, begging shelter for himself and his young son, Rachel is suspicious.

Will she be able to uncover Joe’s secrets despite her aunts’ — and her own — growing affection for him?

ISLAND BREEZES

Rachel Troyer is a police officer who is just trying to look out for the welfare of her three elderly Amish aunts. There’s a problem. They just won’t cooperate. How can you expect these women who have worked hard all their live to slow down and relax a little? They don’t know how to relax.

Rachel finally convinces them to close down their bed and breakfast, but they refuse to promise not to take in strays. Along comes Joe and his son – down on their luck from the looks of them. Of course, the sisters put them up overnight in one of their small cabins.

Joe and Bobby stay on longer than overnight, and this has Rachel confused and a bit steamed. The aunts refuse to throw them out. They are sure the Lord sent the two so the sisters could take care of them. Rachel thinks Joe is a con artist and doesn’t trust him.

Eventually Rachel has to admit her feelings for Joe are growing (and that she’s fallen totally in love with little Bobby). But she still doesn’t trust him. She knows he’s hiding a secret. It gets very interesting when she finds out the secret.

I’ve enjoyed all the Love Finds You books that I’ve read, but I especially grew attached to the people in Sugarcreek. Thank you, Ms Miller.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.”

Prior to writing novels, Serena Miller wrote for many periodicals, including Woman’s World, Guideposts, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and The Detroit Free Press Magazine. She has spent many years partnering with her husband in full-time ministry and lives on a farm in southern Ohio near a thriving Amish community.

One More Last Chance

By Cathleen Armstrong

Some things never change . . . and some things change you forever.

Sarah Cooley has come home to Last Chance, New Mexico, for one reason–because it doesn’t change. After a relationship gone bad with a man who wanted to change everything about her, Sarah is more than ready for the town whose motto may as well be, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Chris Reed, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to spark some change in the little town. As the new owner of the Dip ‘n’ Dine, he’s shaking things up to draw folks from all over the Southwest into his restaurant.

As it turns out, the winds of change are blowing into Last Chance–just not in the ways that Sarah or Chris might expect.

With the same evocative writing and charming characters that won fans for her debut novel, Cathleen Armstrong invites you back to Last Chance for a heartwarming, romantic story of two people navigating the twists and turns of life in a small town.

ISLAND BREEZES

Sarah came home to Last Chance because it doesn’t change. Newcomer Chris has purchased a local restaurant precisely because he wants to make changes in Last Chance.

Everyone loves the Dip ‘n’ Dine, especially the daily specials. Why would he want to mess with that? Not even the cook wants to try something new.

It’s highly unlikely that those two could ever get together, but Sarah’s Aunt Elizabeth seems determined to push them into a relationship. Chris doesn’t seem to mind the idea, but Sarah – no way, Jose. She has her own little house and a job teaching when school starts in the fall. She doesn’t need anything else.

As usual in life, it’s not all smooth sailing, especially for Chris. He needs more customers. Plus he has to deal with his sister and his niece. He definitely does not have a run-of-the-mill family.

I’d like to be able to show up in Last Chance and drop in the diner. I really like these people. Please take us back to Last Chance again in your next book, Ms Armstrong.

***A special thank you to Lanette Haskins for providing a review copy.***

Cathleen Armstrong is the award-winning author of Welcome to Last Chance. Though she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives. Learn more at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.

Pressed Pennies

By Steven Manchester

Rick and Abby grew up together, became best friends, and ultimately fell in love. Circumstance tore them apart in their early teens, though, and they went on to lives less idyllic than they dreamed about in those early days. Rick has had a very successful career, but his marriage flat-lined. Abby has a magical daughter, Paige, but Paige’s father nearly destroyed Abby’s spirit.

Now fate has thrown Rick and Abby together again. In their early thirties, they are more world-weary than they were as kids. But their relationship still shimmers, and they’re hungry to make up for lost time. However, Paige, now nine, is not nearly as enthusiastic. She’s very protective of the life she’s made with her mother and not open to the duo becoming a trio. Meanwhile, Rick has very little experience dealing with kids and doesn’t know how to handle Paige. This leaves Abby caught between the two people who matter the most to her. What happens when the life you’ve dreamed of remains just inches from your grasp?

Pressed Pennies is a nuanced, intensely romantic, deeply heartfelt story of love it its many incarnations, relationships in their many guises, and family in its many meanings. It is the most accomplished and moving novel yet from a truly great storyteller of the heart.

ISLAND BREEZES

Abby’s husband is a verbally abusive drunk who makes life miserable for her and her daughter Paige. Eventually Abby quits trying to fight it. After the divorce she and Paige move a couple towns away.

In the mean time, Rick is seeing his “perfect” life as a meaningless burden, and moves on from the marriage that leaves him empty.

by chance, these two childhood friends run into each other. Their renewed friendship blossoms into something more romantic. Well, as romantic as it can be with an eight year old child who is obsessive in her dislike of Rick. Will this romance ever get off the ground when Rick is continually put in last place? There are many ups and downs in this romance, with what appears to be more downs than ups.

I really like Mr. Manchester’s books. He knows how to turn a phrase and touch a heart. I’m looking forward to reading many more of his books.

BTW You’ll need that box of tissues.

***A special thank you to Mr. Manchester for providing a review copy.***

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers, Twelve Months and The Rockin’ Chair. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian, as well as A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), Pressed Pennies (due out May 2014) and Gooseberry Island (due out January 2015). His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Three of Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing. Visit: www.StevenManchester.com

In Thankful, New York Times bestselling author, Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.

Enter to win the first two books in Shelley’s Return to Sugarcreek series, Hopeful & Thankful.
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Thankful

By Shelley Shepard Gray

Thankful, Book Two in the Return to Sugarcreek series

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.

Christina Kempf has always known that God chose Aden Reese to be her husband. As children, he was there to save her when she fell through the ice, and he’s been by her side ever since. After his parents died in a car accident ten years ago, the Kempfs raised Aden as one of their own, and everyone sees Aden and Christina as brother and sister. But Christina has never given up hope that Aden will one day ask her to be his wife.

Aden always planned to court Christina. But losing his mother and father changed everything—except his love for her. Her parents generously welcomed him into their home and treated him like a son. He can’t betray their kindness by admitting his feelings for the girl who is like a sister . . . yet so much more.

Pressured by her parents to court, Christina begins to accept the attentions of Sugarcreek’s young men, and now, Aden must make a choice. Will he stand by and watch the love of his life slip away? Or will he risk losing the love and trust of the family he holds dear to tell Christina how he truly feels?

Thankful includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.

ISLAND BREEZES

What are you supposed to do when you’re in love with your “brother”? Aden isn’t Christina’s flesh and blood brother, but her parents took him in and raised him as their own when he became an orphan ten years prior.

Aden’s on the hotspot, too. How can he tell these two wonderful people that he wants to marry their daughter – his “sister”? It feels all wrong to him, and the only thing he can think of to do is move away.

It was good to return to Sugarcreek Inn and revisit some of the characters I met previously. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. I see the potential for so many more stories with the people in Sugarcreek. Thank you, Ms Gray.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Friday Night Love

By Tia McCollors

Zenja Maxwell was widowed in her twenties; she never thought she’d be a divorcée, too. Yet that’s the destiny she resigns herself to after learning of her second husband’s infidelity and kicking him out of the house. She plans a cruise with her best friend, Caprice, to take her mind off Roman and celebrate moving on with her life.

But Caprice won’t let her give up that easily, especially when Roman seems committed to reconciling. Caprice and her husband invite Zenja and Roman to Friday Night Love, a weekly event for couples. Zenja hesitates, but the promise of food and fellowship prevails. She figures she can put up with Roman for one night.

At the events, the women are issued a series of Bible-based challenges designed to help them cultivate respect for their husband. Zenja struggles at first; she isn’t even sure she wants to rekindle the relationship. But Roman is persistent in his pursuit of her, even when he discovers that she dallied with cheating herself. Through tragedies, triumphs, and trusted friends, the couple learns never to underestimate the Author of marriage when husbands and wives surrender to Him.

ISLAND BREEZES

Marriage isn’t easy. Zenja can attest to that. Then again, divorce isn’t easy either. All she’s interested in right now is a cruise with her best friend.

Now, we’re talking one interesting cruise. An old school friend just happens to be on the same cruise, and he’s interested in heating up the action.

Back on land she’s being pursued by this man and also by her estranged husband. Zenga finally caves and attends this Friday Night Love thing with her soon to be ex. This weekly get together at the church may just be the thing to get her marriage together. Or not.

I enjoyed this book and have only one minor complaint. That’s trying to figure out how to pronounce the Z names. I ended up just thinking of them as Z and Z girl as I read.

I’m looking forward to Ms McCollors next book in the Days of Grace series.

***A special thank you to Cathy Hickling of Whitaker House for providing a review copy.***

Tia McCollors used to dream of being a television news anchor, but her destiny led her behind the pages instead of in front of the cameras. After earning a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from UNC-Chapel Hill, she went on to work several jobs in the public relations industry. In 1999, a job layoff prompted Tia to discover and pursue a writing career. Following the birth of her son in 2006, she left the corporate arena to focus on raising her children and her burgeoning writing career.

In addition to being an author, Tia is an inspirational speaker and instructor for writing workshops. She particularly enjoys coaching women of faith, female entrepreneurs, and stay-at-home mothers.

A native of Greensboro, NC, she now lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her husband and children.