Author: Iola Goulton

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #412 | Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot. This is the first of her Regency romances I’ve read, but I remember enjoying her contemporary romances (written as Camy Tang).

Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

A prickling sensation spread across the back of Alethea’s neck, which had nothing to do with the brisk air of Bath in winter.

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

About Prelude for a Lord

An awkward young woman. A haunted young man. A forbidden instrument. Can the love of music bring them together . . . or will it tear them apart?

Prelude for a LordBath, England—1811

At twenty-eight, Alethea Sutherton is past her prime for courtship; but social mores have never been her forté. She might be a lady, but she is first and foremost a musician.

In Regency England, however, the violin is considered an inappropriate instrument for a lady. Ostracized by society for her passion, Alethea practices in secret and waits for her chance to flee to the Continent, where she can play without scandal.

But when a thief’s interest in her violin endangers her and her family, Alethea is determined to discover the enigmatic origins of her instrument . . . with the help of the dark, brooding Lord Dommick.

Scarred by war, Dommick finds solace only in playing his violin. He is persuaded to help Alethea, and discovers an entirely new yearning in his soul.

Alethea finds her reluctant heart drawn to Dommick in the sweetest of duets . . . just as the thief’s desperation builds to a tragic crescendo . . .

Find Prelude for a Lord 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!

I want you to stop seeing emotion as something that compromises technique and start seeing technique as something that serves emotion.

Book Review | Old Town Symphony by Milla Holt

Kezia Blair is a professional session singer who dreams of making it big and proving to her parents that music is a real career. Zach Falconer is about to launch Starbound, a reality TV show looking for Britain’s next great singing talent.

Old Town Symphony is the very definition of a slow-burn romance. Kezia isn’t interested in someone as popular as Zach, especially not after he delivers a stinging critique of her Starbound audition. Zach isn’t interested in another relationship with a musician who just wants to use him to climb the ladder to success, especially not one who’s performing on his show.

As the story progresses, the two slowly (oh, so slowly!) thaw towards each other.

That’s where the romance arc really gets interesting, because it’s clear Zach isn’t going to make a move until Kezia is out of the contest … which puts the focus of the story clearly on the music, and on the relationships between the contestants and their mentors.

Kezia, meanwhile, has to work out what Zach really thinks of her, and what she thinks of Zach. This is a romance, so we know she’s going to change her mind, and watching her emotional journey makes for compelling reading. There’s plenty of tension, and that kept me flicking the virtual pages. There were also enough mentions of other members of the Falconer family (especially Ezra and Martha) to keep series readers happy.

Old Town Symphony is the third book in Milla Holt’s Rhapsody of Grace series, following Home Town Melody and Small Town Harmony, and I loved them all.

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance, especially those who like reality TV and slow-burn or forbidden romances.

About Milla Holt

Author Photo - Milla HoltI write inspirational romance with an international twist, with stories that uplift and encourage. Heroes with honor and integrity and strong, can-do heroines are my thing. And the good guys always get their happy ending. My fiction reflects my Christian faith.

I’m not a fan of writing about myself, but here goes. I used to be a lot of things: a journalist, a communications manager for a health activist group, and a freelance copywriter.

Before all that, I was a diplomatic brat, trailing along as my mother’s job took us to various diverse locations around the world.

Now, I’m homeschooling my children in the east of England and devoting every spare moment to writing.

Find Milla Holt online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

About Old Town Symphony

He created stars. She became his universe.

Old Town Symphony by Milla HoltKezia Blair believes true talent shouldn’t need shortcuts. But after years of singing backup and recording anonymous jingles, her shot at a real music career is slipping away. When a last-ditch audition lands her on Starbound, TV’s biggest reality show, Kezia faces a painful choice: chase stardom on someone else’s terms—or walk away for good.

Zach Falconer created Starbound to launch fresh talent—not get tangled up with it. Burned by a fame-hungry ex, he’s determined to protect his show from scandal and his heart from pain.

But Kezia’s passion, honesty, and refusal to play the game shake his carefully controlled world. And the deeper their connection grows, the harder it becomes to protect the lines between love, loyalty, and career.

In an industry where image is everything, can they hold onto what matters most… or will success cost them the truth—and each other?

A soulful, slow-burn Christian romance about integrity, ambition, and the price of staying true.

Find Old Town Symphony online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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 | December 2025

What books are you buying people (or yourself) for Christmas? Here are some suggestions …

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

Children’s/Middle Grade

Key’s Secret by Jennifer Arrington and Albrey Arrington — A strange blue envelope greets the kids of Coral Canal right before Labor Day weekend. Inside it contains a riddle and a set of instructions. Nobody, not even their parents, seems to know who sent the riddle, and the children only have five days to solve it and send photographic proof. (Children’s/Middle Grade, Independently Published)

Contemporary Romance

An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main — After a traumatic experience, Brenna Park hopes that leading a youth summer camp with her emotional support dog, Lulu, will help ease her back into her life. Only, she didn’t expect to be sharing the responsibility with the man she left behind a decade ago. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller — What happens when history teacher Olivia Bennett travels to an English village and encounters a surly gardener at the nearby ailing Hartbury Hall? Can she find a way to thaw his heart and restore the Hall’s fortunes? (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing)

The Gift of Mercy by Rena Bell Yeager — He’s the new wrangler, with a lot to lose. She’s the boss’s sister, with everything to gain. Will he win her love or lose it all – again? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Christmas Wishes by Carmen Peone — They are so close… Can Christmas Dreams Come True? With conflicting dreams, and a wedding countdown ticking, can their love survive the season? (Contemporary Romance Novella from Iron Stream Media)

General Contemporary

Every Voice Heard by Sarah Hanks, N.Y. Dunlap, and D.T. Powell — Three novellas about Church hurt and abuse. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

Historical Romance

Courting Love: Three-in-One Collection by Jodie Wolfe — Courting the Love sisters should be easy. With their surname, they should be primed for romance. But the three men tasked with wooing them have their hands full. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

A Christmas to Remember by Penny Zeller — He’s running from his past. She’s seeking a better future. Love in Time is a tender love story that reminds us that God’s timing is always perfect. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Love in Time by Penny Zeller — When Otis MacCallum agrees to deliver much-needed food and medicine to the remote town of Hawthorne, Montana, he knows there’s a real possibility he’ll again see the woman who broke his heart. Belinda Finnigan had reasons for declining Otis’s proposal, but it still hasn’t lessened the pain of losing his friendship. When Otis arrives on her doorstep one wintry December day with food and medicine in hand, can two broken hearts be reconciled? Will theirs be a Christmas to remember? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Romantic Suspense

Mine by Sami A. Abrams — Escaping her past…means risking everything to stop a twisted obsession. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


A Killer in Texas by Jessica R. Patch — In the search for a murderer, the hunter becomes the prey… While guarding a person of interest in several homicides, bodyguard Libby Winters is attacked by the real serial killer. The Eye, as he’s known, has been stalking her for the past two months, and now he’s ready to make his next move. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, protection specialist Axel Spears vows to keep his partner safe and take down the man who murdered his wife. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Hooked by Stephanie Sanders — What begins as a family trip to the Outer Banks spirals into fear as a stalker emerges from the shadows, forcing Lexi Martin to face her anxiety, navigate a complicated secret relationship, and find her way back to a faith she’s long abandoned. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy

Reyuul’s Redemption by David Liberto — Joern was once the Scourge of Cordiae—a reyuul whose dark magic was so terrifying that the god, Lohem, forged new weapons to stop him. After 400 years of evil, Joern’s now a deformed cleric confessing his sins before the very people he once terrorized. (Speculative Fiction/High Fantasy, Independently Published)

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

The Prodigal by L.D. Baldwin — Frank Martin searches for his estranged son while confronting his own war with God. (Historical Mystery)

Mail-Order Duchess by Misty M. Beller — A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected. (Historical Romance)

Fields of Shadow and Glory: 1863 by Elizabeth Ann Boyles — Held captive in the shadows of the American Civil War, Tom, Terry, and Sara must exercise faith and courage if they are ever to arrive at their journey’s end. (Historical Romance)

The Basement Angel by LeeAnn Christian — A desperate man and a curious young girl form an unlikely friendship within the walls of a forbidden basement. (Contemporary Suspense)

The Songbird and the Surveyor by Denise Farnsworth — A marriage of protection. A past full of pain. In Georgia’s wild gold country, love might strike when it’s least expected. (Historical Romance)

Charlie’s Trip by David Hollenstein — He needs to prove his innocence, save his marriage, and definitely wants to find a way back into God’s embrace. (Biblical Suspense)

Washington Island Romance Series: Boxed Set by Annette M. Irby — This set includes Finding Love in Friday Harbor, Washington; Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, Washington; and Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington. (Contemporary Romance)

Even in This by Dianna Lanser — With a chance at first love and a recording contract pending, sixteen-year-old Miah Brennan stands on the riverbank of her future, awaiting permission to jump in. Weeks before 9/11, tragedy strikes in cruel succession, destroying her future and forcing her to make impossible choices. (General Contemporary)

Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas by Susan G. Mathis — This heartwarming prequel sets the stage for the upcoming Irish Rose Orphans: A Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series, where seven spirited young women serve the islands’ elite! (General Historical)

A Place to Belong: Josephine’s Story by Heidi Gray McGill — A wounded Civil War veteran. An unwed mother with nowhere left to turn. In a town full of second chances, will a marriage of convenience become the love story neither dared hope for? (Historical Romance)

Haven for Love by Naomi Musch — A corporate marketer and camp owner find unexpected connection, while a landscaper and teacher navigate faith and forgiveness. (Contemporary Romance)

Dangerous Shadows by Gail Pallotta — A horrifying assault, a stalker, and a murdered gambler — is it possible to put the pieces together in Dangerous Shadows? (Romantic Suspense)

A Thorn in Winter’s Grasp by Davalynn Spencer — She deceived them. They love her. Is there hope for forgiveness by Christmas? (Contemporary Romance)

Fireman’s Lesson in Love by Mishael Austin Witty — A burned-out teacher and a smitten firefighter must uncover the truth behind a deadly arson before it destroys their nascent love. (Romantic Suspense)

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #411 | Risking His Heart by Emily Conrad

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Risking His Heart by Emily Conrad, another standalone romance in the multi-author Christmas in Redemption Ridge series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

If good things come to those who wait, Cody was doing something wrong.

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

 

About Risking His Heart

Falling for her best friend is not on her (forced, way-too-early, medical) retirement bucket list.

Risking His Heart by Emily ConradCareer-driven cop Neenah Casper is forced by an injury to turn in her badge at age thirty-two. The same day she’s named guardian of an orphaned fifteen-year-old girl. With all her plans in pieces, it’s no wonder she starts feeling more than friendship for her supportive best friend Cody. But life’s taught her nothing lasts forever, and surely these feelings will pass once she finds a new life’s purpose.

Though Neenah friend-zoned him years ago, Officer Cody Adams has never stopped watching her back and hoping for more. Helping with her new ward could be just the opportunity to show her how much more he could be. Meanwhile, he’s also fighting to earn a promotion and impress his unpleasable police chief father by catching a home burglar and a Christmastime prankster. Neenah’s newly minted neighborhood watch might help him save Christmas and earn the job, if only the group didn’t bring complications of its own.

As Neenah and Cody wrangle octogenarian vigilantes, Christmas bandits, and complicated families, the chemistry between them only grows. But if they act on it, they won’t be able to go back. With their friendship and careers on the line, is love worth the risk?

Find Risking His Heart 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!

Yes, I believe in God. Yes, I believe He loves me. But I can't seem to reconcile that truth with the unexpected pains in life.

Book Review | The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer

Miss Zoe Dufour works part-time at the local Christian radio station and is the voice behind a popular podcast, “Love According to Miss Gladwin”, her favourite Regency author. She decides to follow Miss Gladwin’s list of courting tips in the hope it will lead her to her own happy-ever-after … ideally before her impending thirtieth birthday. She’s also a Type I diabetic, and I did enjoy seeing how her illness played into the story.

Harrison Lundquist is Zoe’s best friend’s brother (which has to be one of my favourite tropes). He’s back in town after his career implodes, and Eden ropes him into helping manage the sound on the podcast (forced proximity, another fun trope). He’s not against the idea … despite two failed attempts to show Zoe how he feels.

At first, I thought this was going to be a Regency version of Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong (which I really enjoyed). It was, but it put a new spin on the idea: Zoe, Eden and Harrison are invited to attend a Regency romance retreat, where they will spend a week pretending to be Regency lords and ladies, complete with period clothing and games, all arranged by a matchmaking host.

I will admit, there were a couple of aspects of this that were pretty unbelievable. How much would it cost, given all the attendees were provided with a week’s worth of fitted Regency outfits? How would the matchmaking organiser find sufficient men to participate? Would any modern woman truly be interested in the kind of guy who’s happy to cos-play as Mr. Darcy (the Colin Firth version, of course).

Never mind. Mollie Rushmeyer made it believable. Or, at least, she had me hooked enough that I wanted to find out what happened …

The Rules of Falling for You was a fun Christian romance that will appeal to Pepper Basham and Carolyn Miller fans … and anyone who enjoys Pride and Prejudice.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Mollie Rushmeyer

Mollie RushmeyerMollie Rushmeyer writes contemporary fiction with a heart for history, a blend of modern settings, and fascinating historical elements woven throughout. A born-and-bred Midwestern gal, Mollie makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She is not only a bibliophile (the dustier the better, in her opinion), she’s a true Britophile at heart. Tea and coffee fuel her travels, by Google maps at least, and her passion for the written word.

Find Mollie Rushmeyer online at:

Website | FaceBook | X

About The Rules of Falling for You

She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.

The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie RushmeyerThe perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles’ retreat–or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe’s podcast producer and best friend’s brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe’s methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she’s willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

Find The Rules of Falling for You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #410 | Old Town Symphony by Milla Holt

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Old Town Symphony by Milla Holt, the sequel to Home Town Melody and Small Town Harmony, both of which I loved.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Kezia Blair closed her eyes and let the music swallow her whole.

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

 

About Old Town Symphony

He created stars. She became his universe.

Old Town Symphony by Milla HoltKezia Blair believes true talent shouldn’t need shortcuts. But after years of singing backup and recording anonymous jingles, her shot at a real music career is slipping away. When a last-ditch audition lands her on Starbound, TV’s biggest reality show, Kezia faces a painful choice: chase stardom on someone else’s terms—or walk away for good.

Zach Falconer created Starbound to launch fresh talent—not get tangled up with it. Burned by a fame-hungry ex, he’s determined to protect his show from scandal and his heart from pain.

But Kezia’s passion, honesty, and refusal to play the game shake his carefully controlled world. And the deeper their connection grows, the harder it becomes to protect the lines between love, loyalty, and career.

In an industry where image is everything, can they hold onto what matters most… or will success cost them the truth—and each other?

A soulful, slow-burn Christian romance about integrity, ambition, and the price of staying true.

Find Old Town Symphony 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!

I can never pay back my debt, but I'm really hoping I can pay it forward.

Book Review | Hearts in Circulation (Checking Out Love #2) by Sarah Monzon

Hearts in Circulation is the second book in Sarah Monzon’s Checking Out Love series, based in a library in the small town of Little Creek in the foothills of southeastern Tennessee. The first story, An Overdue Match, was the romance between Evangelina, who has alopecia, and Tai, the town’s tattoo artist.

This story has Hayley Holt, Evangelina’s fellow librarian and Tai’s cousin, driving a Volkswagon Transporter that has seen better decades, into the tiny towns around Little Creek as the modern-day equivalent of the packhorse librarian in Lynne Austin’s Wonderland Creek.

And this one has all the tropes. All. The. Tropes.

It’s grumpy-sunshine, with Levi as the introverted loner and Hayley as the extrovert with a built-in desire to make life better for everyone around her.

It’s Beauty and the Beast, because Levi is a reader who has an enviable library of his own. He’s also more than a foot taller than Hayley, and in a grizzly bear kind of way.

It’s epistolary, as Hayley and Levi get to know each other through letters (because grumpy Levi is not a big talker).

It’s forced proximity, after Cletus (the bookmobile) breaks down in a town with no accommodation options.

Despite their differences, Hayley and Levi discover they have a lot of similarities, not least that they both love reading. There’s also an almost-instant attraction between them, but one that feels authentic and based on more than the physical. There is also a strong faith element, although that took a while to bubble up. Once it does, it’s a powerful reminder that we can’t earn our salvation. It’s a gift … just like life.

I loved Hearts in Circulation, perhaps even more than An Overdue Match.

I loved the writing. I loved the tropes. I loved the way the mix of first person (for Hayley) and third person (for Levi) gave each character a unique voice. I loved the literary references (especially the hat-tip to Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster).

Most of all, I loved the way Hayley and Levi’s unique issues gave them both eyes to see beyond the other person’s exterior to their true God-given identity underneath, and that was the basis for their attraction and their romance. That, to me, is what convinces me they are meant for each other – and isn’t that the happy ending we all want to read?

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance, especially those who like trope-driven bookish romances.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Sarah Monzon

Sarah MonzonA Carol award finalist and Selah award winner, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.

Find Sarah online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram  | PinterestX

About Hearts in Circulation

Can a rundown bookmobile be the vehicle that brings two unlikely hearts together?

Hearts in CirculationLittle Creek’s bookmobile is more of a death trap on wheels than a vehicle of literary delights, and circulation librarian Hayley Holt is afraid it’s going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Yet she sees it as a way to serve her community and be worthy of the liver transplant that saved her life as a child. However, her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove.

Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives in tiny Turkey Grove to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touches from the vibrant librarian leave him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren’t contained within the bindings of a book.

Find Hearts in Circulation online at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub | Goodreads

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #409 | It’s Always Been You by Sara Beth Williams

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from the newest novel in the Trinity Lakes Romance series, It’s Always Been You by Sara Beth Williams.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

 

About It’s Always Been You

She’d always been the still mountain beneath his changing skies. He was a fool for thinking he could stay away.

After suffering severe burns, avid outdoorsman Jesse Hernandez faces a long recovery, and the longer it takes, the more he questions his purpose in life. Seeking solace, he returns to the hills above Trinity Lakes to settle his late grandfather’s property, but soon finds himself torn between family pressure to sell and his longing to hold on to the only place that felt like home.

Renee Somers has spent her life fighting to be seen. As a master’s student and after-school program director living with a growth hormone deficiency, she’s used to being underestimated. But she finds rejection stings most when it comes from those she highly respected.

When a sudden blizzard traps Renee and her friends on a lonely mountain road. She never expects her rescuer to be the childhood friend who once promised he’d always look out for her. As they reconnect and unexpected attraction surfaces, both must confront past wounds and buried secrets that threaten to pull them apart.

With family tensions rising and harbored secrets revealed, Jesse must decide whether to cling to the past, or embrace the future God has been preparing all along.

Find It’s Always Been 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #408 | The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer, a new-to-me author with what looks like a fun contemporary romance with Pride and Prejudice vibes.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

I refuse to have a Pride and Prejudice pity party ... again. The 1995 BBC version, of course.

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

 

About The Rules of Falling for You

She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.

The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie RushmeyerThe perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles’ retreat–or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the non-negotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe’s podcast producer and best friend’s brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe’s methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd!

But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she’s willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

Find The Rules of Falling for You online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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!

I had tried to play the part of God, and He had showed me that no amount of striving, manipulation, or cajoling could alter His plans.

Book Review | Through Each Tomorrow (Timeless #6) by Gabrielle Meyer

Through Each Tomorrow is the sixth book in Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series, and reading it drove me to do something I haven’t done in years: re-read the entire series as soon as I’d finished reading it.

The Timeless series is a unique kind of time-travel.

The main characters each have a birthmark that means they live two lives at once until they are adults, at which point they have to choose which timeline to follow for the rest of their lives. The stories introduce us to each character shortly before they have to make that choice, giving the reader the ability to make the choice with them.

In Through Each Tomorrow, we meet Charles and Andrew/Drew, who both live in Queen Elizabeth’s England, and who also both live in Gilded Age America. The story doesn’t say the two are related, but I think they must be. It will be interesting to see if future stories in the series prove me right … or not.

Charles is a nobleman in the Queen’s court in 1563 and feels torn between his timelines: he needs to look after his unmarried stepsister in 1563, but also needs to work to support his widowed mother and sister-in-law in 1883.

In 1883, Drew is the rich son of a shipping magnate who wants to be a doctor but is expected to take over the family business. In 1563, he’s half in love with Cecily, Charles’s stepsister, but he’s only a groom so knows a relationship between them would be impossible. And, to make matters more complicated, the 1883 version of Charles meets and falls for Drew’s sister, Esther … another economically unsuitable match.

It’s not difficult to guess who each man will end up with, but as with any good romance, the fun is in the journey. What twists and turns will lead to the characters making the right decisions? What torture with the author put them through on their way to their happy endings?

Those who have read any of the Timeless series will definitely want to read Through Each Tomorrow.

There are several crossovers to other books in the series (and you’ll work out one as soon as you figure out Charles’s last name). These crossovers are like Easter eggs on DVDs, because it’s gratifying to make the connections no matter how long it takes, and it makes reading the stories much more satisfying. I suspect clarifying those connections was why I spent a happy few days re-reading the entire series.

What impresses me most about this series is the depth and authenticity of the research into each of the different timelines, the deep Christian faith shared by the main characters and the realistic way that is portrayed, and the way Gabrielle Meyer introduces a twist or two into each story to keep them fresh – in this one, having a male narrator.

Recommended for Christian historical romance fans, especially those who like something a little out of the ordinary.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Gabrielle Meyer

Gabrielle Meyer

Gabrielle lives on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical and contemporary novels inspired by real people, places, and events. The river is a constant source of inspiration for Gabrielle, and if you look closely, you will find a river in each of her stories.

When Gabrielle is not writing, you might find her homeschooling her children, cheering them on at sporting and theatrical events, or hosting a gathering at her home with family and friends.

Find Gabrielle Meyer online at:

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About Through Each Tomorrow

In 1883, Charles is a poor farmer desperate to secure financial stability for his mother and sister, as he is unsure which of his time-crossing paths he will choose on his twenty-fifth birthday. Posing as the Earl of Norfolk, he enters the opulent circles of Newport’s elite to assist a fellow time-crossing friend, Drew. But suspicions of his identity arise among the upper crust, and his encounters with Drew’s intriguing sister further complicate decisions that could impact a lifetime.

In 1563, Lady Cecily serves Queen Elizabeth while clinging to the hope that her stepbrother Charles will remain with her in this path. As the true Earl of Norfolk, Charles is deeply entangled in the deadly politics of the court. When he brings Drew, a physician in training, to Windsor Castle to help save the ailing monarch, old feelings for Drew rekindle in Cecily’s heart, but her love faces impossible odds under the strict rules of the crown. As their futures hang by a thread, Charles and Cecily race to prevent their web of secrets from unraveling and ensnaring them in an inescapable destiny.

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