Author: Iola Goulton

6 August 2021

First Line Friday | Week #197 | Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball

It’s First Line Friday! (Again. Already. The year seems to be rushing by.)

That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball, a new-to-me author. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

About Where the Stars Meet the Sea

Juliet Graham fervently counts the days until her twenty-first birthday, when she can claim the inheritance that will grant her the freedom she has always craved and the guardianship of her younger brother. Until then, she is trapped under her aunt Agnes’s domineering will. When forced to accompany the family to a house party at Shaldorn Castle, Juliet’s only objective is to keep to herself. That is, until a chance encounter with a boorish stranger stirs up an unexpected whirlwind of emotions in her. Thrown off-balance, Juliet does the unthinkable: loses her temper and insults the man—who turns out to be her unwilling host, the Duke of Halstead. Fully expecting to be sent away, Juliet is surprised when the brusque and callous duke instead takes an interest in her.

Drawn to the duke in unguarded moments, Juliet finds herself more and more intrigued by the man who shuns Society’s rules as completely as she does, and over the next few weeks, their unlikely friendship deepens into a connection neither expected.

But even as Juliet comes to recognize her true feelings, her scheming aunt issues an ultimatum that threatens the future she was just beginning to hope for. Juliet must choose: either break the promise she made to herself years ago, or lose the man who has captured her heart and soul.

You can find Where the Stars Meet the Sky online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

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

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

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

4 August 2021

New Releases in Christian Fiction | August 2021

Here are the August new releases from authors who are members of American Christian Fiction Writers. What’s on your to-read list for August?

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

Amish Romance

The Cowboy’s Amish Haven by Pamela Desmond Wright — Her home and her heart are on the line… On the same day Gail Schroder’s faced with losing her Amish family ranch, her old crush Levi Wyse shows up on her doorstep. He doesn’t know that when he left ten years ago he’d taken Gail’s heart with him. Now Levi’s her only hope of keeping a roof over her head. But can this cowboy teach Gail the ropes in time to save her home? (Amish Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

An Amish Schoolroom by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepard Gray — From three bestselling authors of Amish fiction come three charming stories of new school years and new romance. (Amish Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))

Contemporary Romance

To Bring You Back by Emily Conrad — He’s determined to confront the past she’s desperate to forget. When Adeline Green’s now-famous high school crush descends on her quiet life, a public spotlight threatens to expose her deepest regret. After eight years of trying to bury her mistakes under a life of service, she’s broke financially and spiritually. The last thing she can afford is feelings for the man who took center stage in her past—even if he does claim to know the secret to her redemption. But when Gannon’s fame and their mutual regrets jeopardize their relationship anew, will grace be enough to bring them back to God and each other? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Cornerstone by Nancy J. Farrier — She’s been hurt one time too many—can his patience and love may heal her empty places. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson — When Meg Whitaker’s father decides to sell the family’s lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she’s never had any interest in running the small fleet–or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness–she can’t stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago. (Contemporary Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Cottage on Seagull Lane by Patti Jo Moore — Mindi Kirkland hopes her move to the quaint town of Ocean Mist, Florida, will help her move forward in her life. The widowed introvert is happy to live closer to her grown daughter, and has no interest in romance after enduring a painful marriage to an alcoholic. (Contemporary Romance from Winged Publications)

A Mother’s Strength by Allie Pleiter — Will finding her son a friend lead to forever love? Single mom Molly Kane will do anything to help her son overcome his anxieties—including enlisting former police officer Sawyer Bradshaw to give him golf lessons. Sawyer’s a loner, yet he quickly forms a bond with little Zack. And with Molly. But protecting Zack means Molly must keep her heart off-limits from Sawyer, even as her little boy draws them together…(Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

Historical Romance

A Warrior’s Heart by Misty M. Beller — Brielle Durand is a key defender and hunter for her people’s peace-loving French settlement in the Canadian mountains. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. She won’t allow another massacre like the one that killed her mother a dozen years before. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way? (Historical Romance from Bethany House (Baker) Publishing)

The Debutante’s Secret by Mary Davis — Will Geneviève open her heart to a love she never imagined? Geneviève Marseille, a French socialite, has only one purpose in coming to Kamola—stopping her brother from digging up the past. She has reluctantly journeyed alone to the quaint college town in central Washington State. Kamola is so different from her beloved Paris that she is tempted to abort her mission, but the kindness of a handsome deputy tempers her desire to flee. (Historical Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Beyond These War-Torn Lands by Cynthia Roemer — The War brought them together ~ Would it also tear them apart? While en route to aid Confederate soldiers injured in battle near her home, Southerner Caroline Dunbar stumbles across a wounded Union sergeant. Unable to ignore his plea for help, she tends his injuries and hides him away, only to find her attachment to him deepen with each passing day. But when her secret is discovered, Caroline incurs her father’s wrath and, in turn, unlocks a dark secret from the past which she is determined to unravel. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Rose Among Thornes by Terrie Todd — War might be raging overseas, but Rose Onishi is on track to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming a concert pianist. When forced by her government to leave her beloved home in Vancouver and move to the Canadian prairie to work on the Thornes’ sugar beet farm, her dream fades to match the black dirt staining her callused hands. Though the Thorne family is kind, life is unbearably lonely. In hopes that it might win her the chance to play their piano, Rose agrees to write letters to their soldier son. Will Rusty survive the war only to encounter the Japanese on his own doorstep? Can Rose overcome betrayal and open her heart? Or will the truth destroy the fragile bond their letters created? (General Historical from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Speculative

Into the Unknown by Daphne Self, Daniel Peyton, Lauren Smyth, Eric Landfried, Allen Steadham, P.S. Patton, and Jake Tyson
— Humanity has spread and colonized regions of the galaxies. As their reach expanded, countries, colonies, and planets joined to form the Federated Nations, providing a centralized government among the stars. Along with the Science Conglomerate—who explores and researches the unknown regions—and the Judicial Clerical Court—purveyors of truth, history, and justice—humanity discovers new beings, wondrous worlds, old temptations, and strength in horrendous trials. (Speculative from Ambassador International)

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

One Hundred Proof Murder by Mary Ellis — travel writer Jill Curtis is in Louisville, Kentucky, on the next stop of her bourbon tour assignment, and is keen to explore the local distilleries with her videographer, Michael Erickson – especially since her new beau, Lieutenant Nick Harris, lives in the city. But the night before Jill’s first tour at Parker’s Distillery, she is shocked to learn that the master distiller, William Scott, has died suddenly of a heart attack – and even more shocked when she discovers William’s daughter, Alexis, suspects foul play. Is there more to William’s death than meets the eye? Jill is soon drawn into a deadly blend of rivalry, jealously, and cold-blooded murder as she attempts to uncover the truth behind William’s unexpected demise. (Cozy Mystery from Severn House)

Exile by Brian Shotton — Gone for three years, Scott returns home to find Aurora in decay. A curse has descended on the small Kentucky town. Someone is convincing the young to take their own lives, and with each suicide the death-cycle grows stronger, entangling all it touches. Scott and Father Stan must find the source of the evil if they hope to heal and restore community. Meanwhile, Dee and Tim find their own trouble at the Order of the Third Sister. A demon has infiltrated the Sisters, hellbent on discovering the truth behind the prophecy of the Scion and secretly ushering in the destruction of the enclave. (Thriller/Suspense/Biblical, Independently Published)

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

Hunt for a Hometown Killer by Mary Dodge Allen, Small towns have secrets and skeletons… what happens when a sinkhole uncovers them? (Thriller/Suspense)

Counterfeit Captive by Susan Page Davis, A chance for escape takes two unlikely allies on a romantic adventure along a desert trail. (Historical Romance)

P.W. Stone and the Missing Kingdom by S.C. Easley, Sometimes the planets and stars do align. Enter the Kingdom Realms, where the unseen is seen, and battles must be won… (Children’s/Middle Grade)

The Fire Within Us by Greg N. Ford, About to turn thirty, Tom Barton’s life as a fireman/farmer is turned upside down when he meets a beautiful, intriguing woman and someone starts attacking him. (Action/Adventure/Contemporary)

Justice at Dawn by Valerie Massey Goree, When a training exercise turns deadly, can Agent Callahan save the rookie, the abducted family, and himself? (Thriller/Suspense/Romance)

Entering the Zone: Helena by Barbara James, Visiting Mrs. Caldwell on Sunday afternoons was one thing. Dealing with Leon, her skeptical grandson, was another.

(Contemporary Romance)

In Search of True North by Kathleen Neely, She lost her son twelve years ago. Now that she’s part of his life, will history repeat itself? (Contemporary Romance)

Betrayal of Genius by Robin Patchen, Join Jacqui and Reid as they navigate this pulse-pounding, faith-filled adventure into the high-stakes world of medical research, innovation, and greed. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance)

Mendicant by Brian Shotton, In the shadows of New Orleans, evil hunts children. And Dee, a one-time Voodoo princess, has discovered why. (Thriller/Suspense/Biblical)

Sweet Summer by Christina Sinisi, Can Shelby let her sisters, Tyler, and even more importantly, God, show her in one Sweet Summer, that love is worth taking the risk? (Contemporary Romance)

Potato Flake Christmas by Cathe Swanson, It seemed like such a good idea at the time… (Contemporary Romance)

3 August 2021

Bookish Question #189 | Do you prefer small town or big city settings?

(And is that related to where you live or have lived?)

I spent most of my school years living in small towns. The first had a population of around 5,000 people. I knew everyone at my small primary school. There were only two classrooms when I started, so I knew or knew of all the families in the area with school-aged children.

I enjoyed living in that small town, but there were disadvantages. The high school wasn’t great, so it was probably good that we moved before I reached high school age. Our next home was in an even smaller town, population around 1,500. There was one primary school, and we were all bussed to the next two (population around 10,000) for high school.

I’ve also lived in cities. I lived in Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city, for nine years. I lived in London, England, for ten years. Living in a big city has advantages—more facilities, better jobs— but it also has disadvantages—more traffic, more crime, more expensive.

I’ve also lived (and am still living) in a mid-sized city (population around 100,000). Well, that’s big for new Zealand, but mid-sized for the rest of the world.

I’ve lived in tiny towns and big cities. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

And it’s the same with books. I enjoy small-town series where the characters are linked, and there are common characters across all the stories. I’ve enjoyed stories where the setting is almost another character. But small-town stories can get a little predictable, because there are usually only a limited number of occupations that make sense in a small town.

Big city settings open up a lot more opportunities in terms of careers and therefore characters and plots. I also like novels where the characters have unique careers, and these are usually set in big cities (e.g. Elizabeth Camden and Washington, DC, and Roseanna M White and London). Their characters have ranged from librarians to spies, but all needed the city setting.

I don’t mind whether a novel has a big city or a small town setting.

What is important is that the setting is right for the plot and characters.

What about you? Do you prefer small town or big city settings? Or both?

2 August 2021

Book Review | Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L Gray

Love and the Silver Lining surprised me several times. At the beginning, I thought it was going to be a typical friends-to-more novel. And it was … kind of. But there was also the other man, and that added both interest and complications.

The story is written entirely in first person, which is an inspired decision.

Yes, some readers don’t like first person (although I’m not one of them). The beauty of using first person in this instance meant it was impossible to guess which man Darcy was going to choose: best friend forever Cameron, or his bad boy bandmate Bryson. Yes, it’s the other man/other woman trope, which isn’t my favourite.

One of the reasons I’m not a fan is that I often end up favouring the “wrong” character—the one who doesn’t end up with the girl. As such, I was very happy with Love and the Silver Lining, because it made the right choice. Well, the choice I thought was right for Darcy.

Book Review | Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L Gray Share on X

While I liked Darcy as a character, there were times she annoyed me. I assumed she was a teacher, as she’d given up her job and her apartment to go to Central America for a year to teach English to children in an orphanage—a noble cause, no doubt. But do Central American orphanages really need teachers with little or no experience? Given her reaction to not being able to go, I did question how good a teacher she’d have been.

As it turned out, her skills were in an entirely different area.

Darcy is a dog whisperer. Well, not really. But she is a dog walker with a college degree in animal something, and a true skill for seeing why a badly behaved dog is acting out, and working with the dog to correct their behaviour.

I’m more of a cat person than a dog person, but I was impressed by the way Darcy worked with the dogs. I was also impressed by the way that became a subtle underlying metaphor for healing–healing for Darcy, healing for the dog’s widowed owner, and healing for Bryson, brought the two together.

Love and the Silver Lining isn’t a suspense novel, but there were more than a few low-key nail-biting moments as Darcy worked with the dogs and worked through her own healing. In the end, the novel was everything I look forward to and expect in a Tammy L Gray novel, and even managed to convince me the “other man” trope isn’t always awful.

The faith elements in the novel are present but understated.

The novel starts with Darcy experiencing a crisis of faith: if God really had wanted her to go on a year-long mission to Central America, why did it fall apart at the last minute? This is a variation on the age-old “where is God when it hurts?” question, and while it doesn’t answer the unanswerable, it does show us how God can use any situation to pull us closer to Him … if we allow it to.

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance, especially dog lovers.

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

About the Author

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. She writes modern Christian romance with true-to-life characters and culturally-relevant plot lines. She believes hope and healing can be found through high quality fiction that inspires and provokes change.

Tammy is often lauded for her unique writing style within the inspirational genre, preferring to use analogies verses heavy-handed spiritual content. Her characters are real, relatable and deep, earning her a 2017 RITA award nomination in the Romance with Religious and Spiritual Elements category.

When not chasing after her three amazing kids, Tammy can be spotted with her head in a book. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry.

Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on.

You can find Tammy Gray online at:

About Love and the Silver Lining

This disaster may be just what she needed.

Darcy Malone’s dreams of mission work are dashed on the eve of fulfilling them: The Guatemalan school she was going to teach at has closed, and she’s already quit her job and given up her apartment. Stuck in her worst-case scenario, Darcy accepts an unexpected offer to move in with Bryson Katsaros’s little sister, despite the years of distrust between her and Bryson, the lead singer in her best friend Cameron’s band. But as she meets those close to Bryson, Darcy quickly discovers there is more to him than just his bad-boy persona.

Needing to find a purpose for all her sudden free time, Darcy jumps at the chance to care for and train a group of unruly dogs, with the aim of finding each a home before their bereaved owner returns them to animal control. But it’s Darcy herself who will encounter a surprising rescue in the form of love, forgiveness, and learning to let go.

Find Love and the Silver Lining online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

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

30 July 2021

First Line Friday | Week 196 | Provenance by Carla Laureano

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Provenance by Carla Laureano, one of my favourite contemporary Christian fiction writers.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

About Provenance

Los Angeles interior designer and former foster kid Kendall Green is in high demand, both for her impeccable eye and for her uncanny ability to uncover the provenance of any piece. But for all her success, skyrocketing costs have put her California home and her business in jeopardy. Then an unexpected inheritance provides a timely solution: a grandmother she never knew has left her a group of historic properties in a tiny Colorado town on the edge of ruin.

To young, untried mayor Gabriel Brandt, Jasper Lake is more than another small town—it’s the place that saved his life. Now, seeing the town slowly wither and die, he’s desperate to restore it to its former glory. Unfortunately, his vision is at odds with a local developer who wants to see the town razed and rebuilt as a summer resort. He’s sure that he can enlist the granddaughter of one of its most prominent former citizens to his cause—until he meets Kendall and realizes that not only does she know nothing of her own history, she has no interest in reviving a place that once abandoned her.

In order to save his beloved town, Gabe must first help Kendall unravel the truth of her own provenance—and Kendall must learn that in order to embrace the future, sometimes you have to start with the past.

Find Provenance online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

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

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

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

27 July 2021

Bookish Question #188 | Which author would you like to invite to dinner?

Tough question.

I could say one of the writers of the Bible, like Moses or David or Paul or John. But I won’t, because I figure we’ll have time in eternity to debate what Moses really thought about Pharaoh, or what John really saw in that cave in Patmos and would he describe it differently if he knew about modern technology.

I could say any one of many of my favourite Christian authors, alive with us or alive with Jesus. But again, I figure there will be time in eternity to discuss books with booklovers (because surely all authors are also booklovers?).

I could say Arthur Randsome or Enid Blyton or Anne Digby or one of many favourite authors from my childhood.

Or I could say any of the wonderful authors I’ve met at the conferences I’ve attended in New Zealand and Australia (although I actually have had the opportunity to share a meal with many of them).

So how do I choose? Who would I like to invite to dinner?

I’d like to invite the not-yet-published author who doesn’t know if their story is good enough. If their writing is good enough. If they are good enough.

I’d like to encourage them that while we should all pursue excellence in our writing, its not about being good enough. As Christian writers, it’s about about being obedient to God’s call on our writing life. It’s about writing and publishing what he’s called us to. And it’s about being part of a community of writers—Christian or not—to learn from and share with, to receive encouragement from and to encourage.

So that’s who I’d want to invite to dinner: the writer or author who needs a little encouragement.

What about you? Which author would you like to invite for dinner, and why?

26 July 2021

Book Review | Season of Hope by Carol James

Hope is a single mother in the days before single parenthood was socially acceptable, let alone common. Her son, Mattie, is the result of her farewell to her boyfriend, Nate, before he departed to fight in Vietnam.

But Nate died. And so did her parents. And now Hope thinks God is punishing her for her sin. The result is she’s not big on church … until the interim pastor moves into the guest house over the garage in the house she and Mattie share with her aunt.

Josh comes from a well-to-do family and has his own battles to face. He also fought in Vietnam, an experience which changed his life and motivated him to become a pastor.

Seasons of Hope sits between contemporary and historical romance.

Technically, the Vietnam War was long enough ago that it’s considered historical. But it’s still something that happened in my mother’s lifetime, something I can remember being told about as a child. As such, it also feels somewhat contemporary (for which we can probably thank Paul Hardcastle and “19”).

It’s not a common era for historical fiction. I have read some fiction set in the 1970s, but not a lot. The era is familiar, which certainly gives the novel a contemporary feeling. But so much has changed since then in terms of technology and social norms. Those areas certainly gave the novel a historical feel.

The plot was excellent.

Hope and Josh make a great couple, with plenty of conflict but not too much unnecessary angst. (There was the beautiful ex-girlfriend and a big misunderstanding, but that was fortunately worked out quickly enough. I am not a fan of the other woman or big misunderstanding tropes).

What I liked most was the realism.

Both Hope and Josh were characters who allowed false guilt regarding the past to influence and sometimes rule their presence (I say false guilt, because God forgives our sins before we even ask. As such, feeling guilty after we’ve repented is false guilt … even though it’s also all too common).

Seasons of Hope by @CarolJamesAuth is a solid Christian romance with believable characters and an important message of forgiveness. #ChristianRomance #BookReview #Vietnam Share on X

Seasons of Hope is a solid Christian romance with believable characters and an important message of forgiveness. Well worth reading.

Thanks to Pelican Book Group and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Carol James

Carol is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell “Terrorist,” Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she’d been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Retired from her “real” job, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, volunteering at a nearby school, and serving in the production department at her church.

She is also a soccer fan extraordinaire and keeps her DVR busy recording Atlanta United and English Premier League games.

And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

Find Carol James online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

About Season of Change

Hope Stockton’s life is dead, frozen in a winter of guilt, deceit, and fear. When handsome young pastor, Josh Lewis, comes to serve in her church, she wonders if she can trust him with her past. Will he be able to help her answer the questions that have been buried in her heart for years? Or will his own secrets drive them apart and prevent him from helping Hope find her spring of forgiveness?

Set in small town Texas in the years during and following the Vietnam war, Seasons of Hope is a story of forgiveness and restoration.

Find Season of Hope online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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

23 July 2021

First Line Friday | Week 195 | Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel, part of a new series of dual-timeline novels.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

About Undercurrent of Secrets

Two women, a century apart, are bound by a haunting secret aboard a legendary steamboat.

As wedding coordinator for the 100-year-old steamboat The Belle of Louisville, Devyn Asbury takes pride in seeing others’ dreams come true, even though her engagement had sunk like a diamond ring to the bottom of the Ohio River. When the Belle becomes a finalist in the Timeless Wedding Venue contest, Devyn endeavors to secure the prestigious title with hopes to reclaim some of her professional dreams. What she hadn’t planned on was Chase Jones showing up with a mysterious photo from the 1920s.

A century earlier, Hattie Louis is as untamable as the rivers that raised her. As the adopted daughter of a steamboat captain, her duties range from the entertainment to cook. When strange incidents occur aboard the boat, Hattie’s determined to discover the truth. Even if that means getting under First Mate Jack Marshall’s handsome skin.

You can find Undercurrent of Secrets online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

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

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

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

20 July 2021

Bookish Question #186 | What do you Like to Read About in Author Newsletters?

My favourite author newsletters are ones that are more than just a sales pitch.

What do I like?

I like to know a little bit about the author’s life.

Because I don’t want a day-by-day diary (especially not if their life is as boring as mine), but enough that they are more than a paragraph on the back cover of a novel.

I like something funny.

Because I like authors with a sense of humour who aren’t afraid to show it.

I like short.

Because long newsletters leave me feeling I’d rather be reading one of their novels.

Some of the author newsletters i read have a predictable pattern, which I like. One newsletters has a 3-2-1 pattern—three topics, with three points about the first, two about the second, and one about the last. One newsletter always ends with a short prayer.

Some authors share favourite books and authors, which I like.

What I like less is when authors promote other authors without having read their books first—I’ve had more than one bad experience in buying a book recommended by an author in their newsletter, and now I’m sceptical.

What I don’t like with author newsletters is receiving them too often.

Yes, it’s fine for authors to send more than one newsletter to announce a new book launch, but some authors seem to ramp up to a newsletter every day when they are launching. That usually has me hitting the unsubscribe button: if I’ve already bought the book, I don’t need to be asked again. If I didn’t buy it the first three times I’m emailed, I’m not likely to buy it the next ten times either.

I like knowing which books my favourite authors are reading and enjoying. I like knowing what they’re working on. And I like knowing a bit about the author’s life and where they live.

What about you? What do you like to read about in author newsletters?

19 July 2021

Book Review | Survive the Night (Harmony Grove #4) by Carol J Post

Survive the Night

Lexi Simmons was planning a girl’s night with her cousin, Kyla, when she got the call. The serial killer she’s chasing has killed again … and the victim is Kyla. The case becomes even more personal when Lexi finds she’ll be working with Alan White, her college boyfriend.

Working with Alan isn’t bad. In fact, he comes up with some intelligence that provides a valuable clue. As they work the case, they also discover the truth behind their college breakup, which gives them the opportunity to consider their personal and professional relationship.

Meanwhile, they have a serial killer to catch.

The problem with reading (and reviewing) a Carol J Post romantic suspense novel is that they’re hard to put down. I read this in a single day, and re-read good portions of it as I wrote my review.

Survive the Night by @CarolJPost is an enjoyable second-chance romance set against the backdrop of a hunt for a serial killer. #ChristianRomance #BookReview Share on X

Survive the Night is an enjoyable second-chance romance set against the backdrop of a hunt for a serial killer. The characters are strong, the plot has plenty of twists and turns, and there were enough red herrings that I was completely surprised by the identity of the evildoer.

I especially liked the Christian thread.

Lexi isn’t a Christian, but Alan is. According to the unwritten rules of Christian romance, that means she needs to change. Some novels gloss over the change (perhaps because they don’t want a Damascus Road conversion experience). I thought Survive the Night addressed the issue well (which is something I expect from Carol J Post novels).

Recommended for Christian romantic suspense fans.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Carol J Post

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol’s resume reads as if she doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She currently pens fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense stories. Her books have been nominated for a RITA® award and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida with her husband, who is her own real-life hero, and writes her stories under the shade of the huge oaks in her yard. Besides writing, she works alongside her music minister husband singing and playing the piano. She enjoys sailing, hiking, camping—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of a fat and sassy black cat and a highly spoiled dachshund.

You can find Carol J Post online at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Survive the Night

She’s a shoo-in for a serial killer’s next target…

Tracking a serial killer in Harmony Grove turns personal for Detective Lexi Simmons when her cousin becomes a victim. The situation goes from bad to worse when she’s teamed up with Officer Alan White whose heart she broke seven years ago. But she is determined to find justice for Kayla and the other women brutally murdered and won’t let her and Alan’s shared past interfere.

Harmony Grove Police Officer Alan White has lost a good friend. He vows to help the Sheriff’s Department in any way he can, even if it means working alongside the woman who left him with a rejected ring and lots of excuses.

They fight the resurgence of long-buried emotions while working together to solve the case. The only connection between the victims is their approximate age and that they are beaten, strangled and left in the woods, with pictures mailed to the local newspaper shortly thereafter. Eventually, the investigation leads them to a decade-old incident on a college campus…and the realization that Lexi is a shoo-in for the killer’s next target.

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