Author: Iola Goulton

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #297 | Hope for the Cowboy by Hannah Jo Abbott

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I recently asked my newsletter subscribers for some book recommendations, and someone suggested Hannah Jo Abbott. I’ve downloaded Hope for the Cowboy, which is the first novel in her Whispering Oaks Ranch series, and here’s the first line:"Dad, I have to disagree." Sawyer Macklin pulled his cowboy hat off as he stood in front of his father's desk.

 

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Hope for the Cowboy

He’s committed to the ranch he loves, she’s just here for a job, but they just might find each other too.

Katie Wadford is devastated after being fired from her job as an account manager. When no other large firms in town will hire her, she’s desperate to find a place to prove herself. Reluctantly she returns to her hometown in hopes of working for a small business to boost her resume.

Sawyer Macklin is certain that his family ranch doesn’t need a business manager. When his father hires one anyway, Sawyer agrees to get along. But the woman who shows up in high heels isn’t anything like what he expected.

When Katie offers the ranch as the location for a church fundraiser, Sawyer volunteers to help, but only so he can tell her it’s a bad idea and put an end to it. He finds out Katie is a hard person to say no to.

As they learn to work together, will Sawyer’s fears of his past mistakes keep them apart, or will they both find a future they didn’t expect?

Find Hope for the Cowboy online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | August 2023

Here are the new releases in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers (which includes Christian fiction writers from around the world!). More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

What are you reading this month?

I’ve already read an advance copy of The Love Script by Toni Shiloh, and it’s a fun contemporary BIPOC romance featuring a movie star hero and a hair stylist heroine.

I’m looking forward to reading Her Cowboy Blind Date by Narelle Atkins, the final book in the Easter in Gilead series, because I loved the other three in the series.

I’ve also pre-ordered Muskoka Spotlight by Carolyn Miller because I am enjoying my virtual visits to Muskoka 🙂

Amish Romance:

The Heart’s Bidding by Kelly S. Irvin — Together, schoolteacher Rachelle Lapp and auctioneer Toby Miller must face their hardest battle yet: trusting God’s plan for their uncertain future. As their families matchmake, Toby and Rachelle realize their jobs may not be all that’s holding them back from a future together. They both must learn not only to trust each other, but also trust God’s plans for them. But do those plans involve a lifetime together or them going their separate ways? (Amish Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Children’s:


Bold and Brave
by K.A. Cummins — Sometimes courage is loud like an elephant, and sometimes it’s quiet like a llama. Lily, a young autistic girl with a vivid imagination, wants to sing the solo in the school’s choir show, but the thought of standing at center stage turns her heart a gloomy grey. School is overwhelming enough. Now all eyes will be on her, and she can’t wear the red polka dots she needs to be bold and brave. (Children’s/Picture Book from Eleonora Press)

Contemporary Romance:

Window of the Heart by Amy R. Anguish — Lennox Malone may not believe in love, but she’s determined to do the best job she can as her friend Sara Beth’s maid of honor. Problem is, the man in charge of fixing up the chapel doesn’t match her determination. Fighting against preconceived notions, a past that catches up to her, and an attraction she wants nothing to do with, this wedding is turning into more than she can handle. Ty Dunne might be laid back and easy-going, but he’s determined to make sure the chapel is ready for his cousin’s wedding. Not only is it his duty as best man, but he wants to preserve the family’s history in the building. If only he could live up to his family’s other expectations—or those of Lennox Malone, the fiery redhead he can’t stop thinking about. Before he can go any further with her, though, he has to convince her that love is real and worth the risk. Lennox has built her walls high and sturdy, but Ty is determined to find a way in—even if it’s a window. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivening’s Press)

Her Cowboy Blind Date
by Narelle Atkins — He’s a small-town guy, a cowboy at heart. She’s a city girl from the other side of the world. Will a blind date lead to a love that lasts a lifetime? Since Becky is only in Gilead until June, a blind date with a suitable plus-one before the wedding seems like the perfect solution for Sam. No strings and no commitment. But the blind date turns into a not-so-fake relationship when Sam and Becky must work together on the passion play. Can they overcome past emotional wounds and geographical distance to create a future together? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy by Valerie Comer — Everything hit all at once. Tate Sullivan became the guardian of his young nephew after his brother’s death, and now Grandfather has bought a failing guest ranch in Montana. Tate’s used to handling Fortune 1000 companies, but moving halfway across the country and learning an entirely new, rural business is a challenge, especially with a toddler in tow. Nice girls finish last… or that’s what it seems like to Stephanie Simpson when her ex-boyfriend, a pastor, proposes to a former bad girl. It’s not that Stephanie wants her ex to rethink his life choices, but would it be so wrong to move on as quickly as he has? A quick wedding to that cute but faltering cowboy with the adorable toddler might get her what she wants. After all, it’s clear Tate needs a helping hand. He’s a Christian, just like she is. What could possibly go wrong? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

To Protect His Brother’s Baby
by Linda Goodnight A stranger in his house…Could be the family he never knew he needed? After he spent six months on the road, the last thing cowboy Wilder Littlefield expects to come home to is a pregnant woman living on his ranch. Taylor Matheson not only believes the house is hers, but she’s carrying his estranged late brother’s child. Tied together by blood, Wilder lets Taylor stay as his housekeeper. But as they learn how to be a family, could obligation turn to love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

His Heart Renewed by Cynthia Herron — Three choices. Two dreams. One path. A girl from his past. The woman who holds his future. Will a wrong detour lead to the right destination? As the couple navigates blunders and heartaches, a new season emerges—one that taps into Erin’s and Mike’s deepest longings and desires—the spring that holds their future. At last, it seems their happily-ever-after is within reach…
But in the bat of an eyelash, a memory from Mike’s past emerges in an unexpected way. Will this change in circumstance hinder what he has with Erin or will truth prevail by way of a divine appointment? (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Muskoka Spotlight
by Carolyn Miller — Jackie O’Halloran never expected her actions at a friend’s wedding in Muskoka to go viral. Even less did she expect to gain the notice of a famous actor, Lincoln Cash, and all the temptation his handsome presence provides. But she’s a good Christian girl, so a man like him has to be out of the picture. Or so she thinks. Linc’s visit to see his ailing grandfather was supposed to be a quick visit to Muskoka. He hadn’t counted on meeting a forthright young lady whose courage made headlines around the world. But as he gets to know her he’s tempted to stay, which just might prove dangerous for his agent’s peace of mind, and for Linc’s own heart. Can these two opposites push past mere attraction to find real love? And what does faith have to do with it at all? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Friendly Disaster
by Dineen Miller — He waited too long to admit how he feels and now she’s found a perfect match. Will this triangle of passion end in calamity or kisses? As Calen’s plan to attract visitors to Emma’s show pales in comparison to her new boyfriend’s connections, the besotted man fears he’ll never be enough. But when Emma’s eyes are opened to her platonic pal’s extreme efforts, she wonders if it’s wrong to keep him in the friend zone. Can a bashful barista prove to a struggling artist that he’s soulmate material? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Cowboy Bargain by Tina Radcliffe — A little competition…Brings a change of heart. Sam Morgan never thought he’d see his ex-fiancée again after she skipped town days before their wedding. He certainly didn’t expect to find her opening a restaurant on his property—in the building he’d intended to sell his crafts from. This time Olivia’s sticking around, forcing Sam to strike a deal: work together and see whose products sell best. Could their business venture lead to a surprising reunion? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

The Love Script by Toni Shiloh — Hollywood hair stylist Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood heartthrob Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic. Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years. With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems? (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House)


An Unexpected Gift
by Melissa Wardwell — Cruising around the island on a Moped in a business suit may seem incongruous, but wedding planner Kiana knows how to blend practicality and professionalism, a strong work ethic and relaxation. With no time for mistakes or changes in plans, she’s also decided to forgo romance (for herself). There just isn’t enough time in the day. That is until the early arrival of one of the groomsmen of Something Suamalie’s first booking throws everything off balance, including her thoughts on long distance dating.
Beau was perfectly content with his job and the growing attraction to a girl back home; however, he hadn’t figured in the sassy and sometimes unprofessional wedding planner. Seeing her world begin to unravel while she and her partners fumble with their first weddings tugs at his heart strings and leaves him second guessing his choices in the romance department. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)

General Contemporary:

Where the Wings Rise by Ashlyn McKayla Ohm — After years of disastrous choices, Addisyn Miles has a second chance with the person she once betrayed—her older sister, Avery. Moving from Whistler, Canada, to Avery’s home in the Colorado Rockies seems like the perfect opportunity to not only rebuild her fragile relationship with her sister but also distance herself from the past she can’t forget. But adjusting to Avery’s life is harder than she expected, especially with her heart drawing her back to the chance at love that she left behind in Canada. When she begins helping her sister care for an injured hawk, Addisyn is forced to confront the fears that have left her just as wounded—or to allow her darkest enemy to sabotage her future. The second book in the Climbing Higher series, Where the Wings Rise is a story of the scars that keep us earthbound, the choices that lead to healing, and most importantly, the faith that allows us to always fly free. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

General Historical:

The Girl From the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright — Beatrice Carraway has dreams. Although she’s aged out of the childhood pageant circuit, she’s intent on carrying her talents all the way to the big screen―if only she can escape the poverty of West Dallas first. But as the Great Depression drags the working class further and further under, Beatrice struggles just to keep herself, her mother, and her younger sister afloat. And then in walks Jack Turner. Though Beatrice is determined to pull herself up by her bootstraps, Jack has decided on a different path out of the gutters. It isn’t long before Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime beside the man she loves. Keeping one step ahead of the law, she sees her dreams of fame come true when her name and picture are plastered in newspapers across the country. Yet as their infamy grows, the distance between them widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts and publicity, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul. But when the danger of Jack’s schemes ratchets up, Beatrice fears her dreams―and her future―will end up going down in a hail of bullets (General Historical from Tyndale House)

Historical Romance:

Beryl’s Bounty Hunter by Linda Shenton Matchett — Orphaned as a child, Beryl Atherton has lived on the streets of London for as long as she can remember. Reduced to stealing for survival, she is arrested. During her incarceration, one of her cellmates shows her a newspaper ad for an American mail-order bride agency. But all is not as it seems, and moments after landing in Boston, she must run for her life. Will things be no different for her in the New World? Working as a bounty hunter since The War Between the States, Lucas Wolf just needs a few more cases before he can hang up his gun, purchase a ranch out West, and apply for a mail-order bride from the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency. While staking out the docks in Boston, he sees a woman fleeing from the man he’s been tailing. Saving her risks his job. Not saving her risks his heart. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Hunting the Witness by Kate Angelo — Attacked in the mountains with no memory of why…She’s the only witness to see the face of a killer, but a deadly attack leaves Belinda Lewis unable to remember even her own name. She’ll have to rely on her rescuer, FBI special agent Jonah Phillips, to survive repeated attempts on her life—but she doesn’t know he’s in hiding because his description matches the killer’s. Can they unmask the true criminal to clear Jonah’s name and save both of their lives? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Mountain Abduction Rescue
by Darlene L. Turner A wildfire threat…
becomes a missing person search.

A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive… (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

The Gunslinger Next Door by Susan Page Davis, Is he really just a harmless old fellow? (Romance/Mystery)

The Mailboat by Susan Page Davis, When Robyn and Mike meet again, things begin to happen. (Contemporary Romance)

The Spinsters Next Door by Susan Page Davis, Can the schoolmaster persuade Rachel to defy her aunts and open a locked box–or will she remain alone with a tangle of unanswered questions? (Historical Mystery)

The Yuletide Angel by Sandra Ardoin , Who is the mysterious Yuletide Angel? (Historical Romance)

Do you look at authors' Pinterest boards?

Bookish Question #289 | Do you Look at Authors’ Pinterest boards?

As I said last week, I’m not a big Pinterest user.

I’ll often look at a new-to-me author’s Pinterest account to see if I want to follow it.

  • If it’s posting bookish information such as character portraits or pictures of the book’s setting, then I might follow.
  • I might follow if they’re posting about their hobbies … if our hobbies are similar.
  • But if their account is mostly repining things I’m not interested in, then I’m unlikely to follow them.

I usually find their Pinterest accounts as links from their author website. If I put my marketing had on, I think the content an author pins (or posts) should be relevant to their readers. It shouldn’t be dominated by their own hobbies or interests, especially if those things are not interesting or relevant to their readers (*cough* US politics *cough*).

It may be the way I’ve trained the algorithm, but I find Pinterest is mostly links to blog posts. On that basis, I prefer Instagram (which is more visual, as Pinterest was originally intended to be), or Facebook (where it’s much easier to follow the link).

What about you? Do you follow authors on Pinterest?

Who are your favourite Christian authors to follow?

Rachel was judging the book by its cover, she’d admit, but she’d seen a lot of books like Dominic in her time and the covers tended to match the story inside.

Book Review | Until I Met You by Lara Van Hulzen

Until I Met You is part of The Endicotts of Silver Bay series. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, which must be Chet and Meg’s story, but didn’t feel I was missing any information. That’s always a plus when reading a series out of order—there can be a fine balance between boring readers by rehashing the first/previous books, vs. ignoring them and leaving the reader feeling like they’ve gatecrashed a private party.

I loved the initial meeting between Rachel and Dominic.

So did Dominic … more than Rachel did, at least. There’s an initial attraction between the two (not my favourite trope), so I was happy to see their relationship was built on a growing friendship rather than on the initial attraction. I loved the dialogue and banter between the two as they work together on a fundraiser for the town community centre, where Rachel works.

Rachel also had a role as a volunteer chaplain for the local fire department and hospital. That sounded fascinating, and I would have liked to have seen more of her chaplaincy role—it’s not something I can recall seeing in Christian fiction, which feels like a gap.

Until I Met You is a fairly slow burn romance (my favourite kind) that hits all the right notes for a sweet, easy small-town romance read.

Recommended for small-town contemporary romance fans, especially those who like opposites attract or billionaire tropes.

Thanks to Tule Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.

About Until I Met You

When his parents move to Silver Bay, California, Dominic Endicott, ever the dutiful son, packs up his life and heads to the small town. He sees it as temporary, appeasing his mother and making sure his dad’s health is stable while Dominic keeps the family business running. Dominic planned on keeping his head down, focused only on working and spending time with his family. Until a beautiful brunette forces him to look up.

Local Chaplain and community center employee Rachel Anderson loves her little town that she’s called home for the past year. Silver Bay is a far cry from her life growing up in LA, and that’s perfectly fine with her. When she mistakes newcomer Dominic for her friend, Chet, her simple, curated life becomes complicated.

Thrown together to work on raising money for the town’s community center, the sparks between Rachel and Dominic are too strong to ignore. But Dominic represents everything Rachel has been running from, while Rachel has Dominic rethinking his entire life plan. Can these two bridge the gap between their worlds and give love a chance?

Find Until I Met You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

About Lara Van Hulzen

Lara Van HulzenWriting stories since she was a young girl, Lara’s dream of being a novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor series. An avid reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with various organizations. She has a BA in Journalism and a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy. Lara loves tea, baseball and living in Idaho with her husband and Great Dane.

Find Lara Van Hulzen online at:

Website | BookBub | Goodreads

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #296 | Where Our Hearts Lie by Jenny Glazebrook

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. The sixth book in the Trinity Lakes Romance series released this week, so that’s what I’m reading and sharing: Where Our Hearts Lie by Jenny Glazebrook. I think this is my favourite book of the series so far.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Why couldn't she stop shaking? Hallie took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

 

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Where Our Hearts Lie

Can two hurting hearts find where they belong?

Hallie Hollaway is the daughter of missionaries and a child prodigy who desperately wants to fit in. When her first meeting with an internet boyfriend goes horribly wrong, she escapes to her childhood home of Trinity Lakes. The only place she has ever felt safe and loved.

Josh Ladan is the pastor’s kid who once dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps. Until one tragic summer in Australia changed everything. Now Hallie, his clever childhood friend, is back in Trinity Lakes. Josh is closely guarding a secret that he fears will disappoint Hallie, but he is determined to prove himself to her.

Hallie is drawn to Josh, but holds herself back, believing she is unworthy of love. Can Hallie and Josh allow God to work in their hearts and lives to restore trust and hope for a future together?

Find Where Our Hearts Lie online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Do you use Pinterest to find bookish information?

Bookish Question #288 | Do you use Pinterest to find bookish information?

Like most social media networks, Pinterest is driven by an algorithm, which means it shows you the content you regularly engage with.

I tend not to visit Pinterest to look for bookish information, so I rarely find it. Instead, my Pinterest feed tends to be filled with recipes (sometimes useful), home renovation ideas (rarely useful), or fashion (pretty but not useful as most of the clothes aren’t available in New Zealand and the seasons are wrong).

This is where hashtags come in handy. If I was looking for bookish information on Pinterest, I’d have to use bookish hashtags like #AmReading or #ChristiFic or #ChristianRomance.

However, I tend not to use Pinterest a lot.  My go-to social media network is Facebook, with Twitter and Instagram taking turns at second place. I find a lot of bookish content on Instagram. I’ve obviously trained that algorithm better.

What about you? Are you active on Pinterest? Do you use it for bookish information?

Ladies of the Lake cover image

Audiobook Review | Ladies of the Lake by Cathy Gohlke

Ladies of the Lake begins in 1935, with the headmistress of Lakeside Ladies Academy in Connecticut calls to personally invite Mrs. Murray to her daughter’s graduation, even though it is over 800 miles away. Mrs. Murray refuses, and that is the first big question: why?

The story then skips back to 1905, when twelve-year-old Adelaide MacNeill’s parents drown, her older half-brother sends her away from her beloved Prince Edward Island and sends her to the Lakeside. There she is befriended by Dorothy, Ruth, and Susannah, and they refer to themselves as Ladies of the Lake.

The story flip-flops between Adelaide’s growing-up years at Lakeside and the present, where she continues to refuse to travel to the USA. We see her graduate, start work … and fall in love with the same man as Dorothy, her best friend. A man who happens to be a German-American in World War I … yes, there is every indication this isn’t going to end well.

The mystery unfolds as we move further into the novel, particularly as the past story comes closer and closer to the present. There was plenty of tension as I wondered when the present characters would work out what the listener has known from the beginning: that Adelaide is alive. But there were also a couple of unexpected twists, one that was revealed close to the end, providing the piece de resistance to an already excellent story.

The narrator did an excellent job.

The first few minutes felt a little stilted, as the story opened with a letter. But once she got into the regular dialogue and action of the novel, the narration moved smoothly. I was particularly impressed with her ability to portray the different voices–child, teen, and adult, male and female.

I’m not always a fan of audiobooks, mostly because they feel slow—I can read a novel in half the time it takes to listen to the audiobook (and I can’t take the audiobook reading speed much past 1.25 times or I start literally losing the plot). But Ladies of the Lake had plenty of mysteries and secrets to keep me engaged and did a masterful job of unravelling the secrets at the perfect pace to keep me engaged and listening.

Of course, the one weakness of audiobooks is that I can’t underline and share any of the great writing or lines I found particularly meaningful. You’ll just have to trust me: there were many.

Recommended for historical fiction fans, particularly Anne of Green Gables fans.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free audiobook for review.

About Cathy Gohlke

Cathy GohlkeCathy Gohlke is the three-time Christy Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed novels Secrets She Kept (winner of the 2016 Carol and INSPY Awards), Saving Amelie (winner of the 2015 INSPY Award), Band of Sisters, Promise Me This (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2012), William Henry Is a Fine Name, and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2008), which also won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Award.

Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children’s and education ministries. When not traipsing the hills and dales of historic sites, she, her husband, and their dog, Reilly, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their children and granddaughters.

You can find Cathy Gohlke online at:

Website | Facebook | Pinterest

About Ladies of the Lake

When she is forced to leave her beloved Prince Edward Island to attend Lakeside Ladies Academy after the death of her parents, the last thing Adelaide Rose MacNeill expects to find is three kindred spirits. The “Ladies of the Lake,” as the four girls call themselves, quickly bond like sisters, vowing that wherever life takes them, they will always be there for each other. But that is before: Before love and jealousy come between Adelaide and Dorothy, the closest of the friends. Before the dawn of World War I upends their world and casts baseless suspicion onto the German American man they both love. Before a terrible explosion in Halifax Harbor rips the sisterhood irrevocably apart.

Seventeen years later, Rosaline Murray receives an unsuspecting telephone call from Dorothy, now headmistress of Lakeside, inviting her to attend the graduation of a new generation of girls, including Rosaline’s beloved daughter. With that call, Rosaline is drawn into a past she’d determined to put behind her. To memories of a man she once loved . . . of a sisterhood she abandoned . . . and of the day she stopped being Adelaide MacNeill.

Find Ladies of the Lake online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #295 | Until I Met You by Lara Van Hulzen

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m reading (yet another) small-town contemporary Christian romance. I seem to have developed a real taste for the genre. I wonder why?

Anyway, here’s the first line from Until I Met You by Lara Van Hulzen, the third book in The Endicotts of Silver Bay series. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Rachel Anderson pedaled her bike toward downtown Silver Bay, feeling the caress of the breeze against her skin.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Until I Met You

When his parents move to Silver Bay, California, Dominic Endicott, ever the dutiful son, packs up his life and heads to the small town. He sees it as temporary, appeasing his mother and making sure his dad’s health is stable while Dominic keeps the family business running. Dominic planned on keeping his head down, focused only on working and spending time with his family. Until a beautiful brunette forces him to look up.

Local Chaplain and community center employee Rachel Anderson loves her little town that she’s called home for the past year. Silver Bay is a far cry from her life growing up in LA, and that’s perfectly fine with her. When she mistakes newcomer Dominic for her friend, Chet, her simple, curated life becomes complicated.

Thrown together to work on raising money for the town’s community center, the sparks between Rachel and Dominic are too strong to ignore. But Dominic represents everything Rachel has been running from, while Rachel has Dominic rethinking his entire life plan. Can these two bridge the gap between their worlds and give love a chance?

Find Until I Met You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

If good intentions counted, she'd live a calm, ordered life in an immaculate home, cooking delicious and healthy meals.

Book Review | Imperfectly Proverbs 31 by Liwen Y Ho

Samantha Rose designs websites for mommy bloggers. When her archeologist sister gets the opportunity to go overseas for six months, Sam volunteers to look after her twin nieces, and sets up a joke mommy blog so her sister can see the children are healthy and happy. Unfortunately, a national newspaper somehow comes across her blog—which is full of perfectly posed pictures of happy children, healthy food, and a pristine house—and Sam’s blog goes viral.

But Sam is not a natural homemaker …

Sure, the children are happy, but their neighbour cooks the food, and the house is only ever pristine for the minute it takes to get the perfect photo.

Novak is a crime journalist with the newspaper, and his editor gives him an ultimatum: take a four-week holiday in Sunset Bay, interview the blogger, and write an article on her. Or he’s fired. So Novak is technically on holiday, but he does have this one article to write. His specialty is exposing fraud, and he figures Sam must be a fraud. She says she’s never lied. She just hasn’t told the whole truth, because the blog was meant to be a simple joke between her and her sister.

Sam and Novak are immediately attracted to each other, aided by two small girls who also fall for Novack and want him to stay. Sparks obviously fly, but there will be a showdown.

This is my favourite kind of romance: something that’s fairly low-stakes.

We know the hero and heroine are going to end up together (because otherwise it wouldn’t be a romance), so the tension is all built around a few key questions. When is Novak going to find out Sam’s secret? What will he write in his article? Given we know he’s going to tell the truth (because he always does), what will happen? How will they reconcile?

Okay, so there were elements of the story that were predictable (again, otherwise it wouldn’t be a romance). But I enjoyed the banter and interplay between Sam and Novak, I enjoyed the way the twins added to the story, and I loved Sam’s homemaker challenge of baking the perfect pie.

There’s also subtle underlying message about how we think of ourselves and how we define success. No, the ability to bake the perfect pie does not make someone the perfect person. Instead, we have to lean into the gifts God has given us … and that’s a good message for us all.

Recommended for rom-com fans.

About Liwen Ho

Author Photo: Liwen HoLiwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and referee by day (AKA being a stay at home mom) and an author by night. She writes sweet and inspirational contemporary romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).

In her pre-author life, she received a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, and she loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children, and blogs about her adventures as a recovering perfectionist

You can find Liwen Ho online at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Imperfectly Proverbs 31

Journalist Daniel Novak is on a forced vacation with just one assignment: interview blogger Samantha Rose, who is looking after her nieces while her sister is temporarily working overseas.

Here’s the book description:

She’s trying to be what she’s not. He’s where he doesn’t want to be.

To help her archeologist sister, geeky Samantha Rose agrees to swap her black T-shirts and diet of pizza and ice-cream for a pretty apron and a summer caring for her adorable twin nieces and their newfoundland dog in Huckleberry Lake, Idaho. How hard can it be?

When Perfectly Proverbs 31, the blog she starts to reassure her sister, goes viral and everyone believes she really is a wonderful homemaker, Sam reluctantly needs to keep up the pretense. If she doesn’t, she risks ruining everyone’s summer. The girls’ oh-so-capable and over-protective grandma will surely swoop in to take them away from her.

Forced by his boss to interview Sam then take a vacation, a month at the lake with nothing to do but write a fluff piece is burned-out city crime journalist Daniel Novak’s worst nightmare. But he finds Samantha surprising and delightful, as her attempts to impress him with a picnic go horribly wrong. Time with her could restore his lost faith in people — and in God. Except, he has to write the truth in his article.

Can Ms Klutz-in-the-Kitchen transform herself to a Proverbs 31 woman in time to stop him revealing her blog is a fake? And what will happen to their growing love when he does.

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