Tag: 2026 Release

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | September 2026

It’s a new month, so it’s time for more new releases in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers. There’s lot’s to read here.

What are you looking forward to reading?

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

Amish Romance

Her Amish Christmas Rescue by Amy Grochowski — For years, Rose Burkholder has lived in the shadow of a family tragedy. But one snowy day, she strays from her usual path and aids an injured deer in the woods. And comes face-to-face with a ferocious wolf! Forest steward Lukas Brenneman rescues her in the nick of time, just before a winter storm strands them at her family’s house. As Christmas approaches, Rose’s matchmaking grandmother and aunt conspire to push them together. And Rose and Lukas will have to find the courage to reach for the future they both truly want? An Amish Red Riding Hood retelling in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. (Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Contemporary Romance

Lighting Up Christmas by Amy R. Anguish — Four Christmas romances. Four glowing displays. One season bright with hope. In Lighting Up Christmas, four heartwarming novellas shine with small-town charm, clean romance, and the gentle reminder that God can bring light to even the dimmest places. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Autumn’s Grace by Julie Arduini — A former teacher and a burned-out tech producer find healing, purpose, and unexpected love in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee. A teacher without a classroom. A tech producer without a stage. A story about finding purpose again. (Contemporary Romance Novella, Independently Published)

For the Love of a Child by Lee Carver — Celeste vowed never to marry again, but she would do anything to save the life of her child. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The One Who Felt Like Home by Tammy Karasek — The One Who Felt Like Home serves up humor, adventure, friendship, and obstacles aplenty keeping this couple apart and is a story showing us how God is always in the details, we only need to get out of His way. (Contemporary Romance Novella, Independently Published)

The Mistletoe Baby by Heidi Main — They both long for a true home—can the holidays bring opposites together? Saving his family’s Texas ranch is former bull rider Reggie Evermore’s Christmas wish. And he’s sure socialite Natalie Patterson can help him plan the perfect event to bring in cash. Pregnant, recently divorced and ready to prove her independence, Natalie needs a paycheck and a place to stay. So she accepts Reggie’s job offer. But planning a fundraiser is harder than attending them! When Reggie learns the truth, he’s less than happy. Can they work through their differences to transform the ranch and give love a chance to grow? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

An Irish Hope by Carolyn Miller — Aisling Fairall has a big personality and a big heart. But lately she’s been feeling a little lost and wondering what to do with her life. Until a mysterious uninvited guest at a family wedding helps her see that maybe she’s not quite on her own, after all. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Who Names the Stars by Deborah Raney — Raised on neighboring ranches in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, Wrenlee Harper and August McClure are divided by shared tragedy and stubborn pride, both fighting to save the land their grandparents worked. When disaster strikes, an unexpected partnership seems their only hope—but risking unmended fences and wounded hearts could cost them everything. (Contemporary Romance from Raney Day Press)

Sing With Me by Rena Bell Yeager — Sledgehammer is on top of the charts with his crude music and finds Angela’s song on her streaming site and instantly wants her to sing with him. Angela is a small-town worship leader with no desire for fame and steadfastly says no. When their worlds collide, will they explode, or unite? (Contemporary Romance from Pixley Knob Press)

Cozy Mystery

Murder Goes Flying by Malissa Chapin — She’d rather conduct a symphony than investigate sabotage. But when family loyalty takes flight, can she ground a killer before they strike again? (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

General Contemporary

House of Wind by Laura DeNooyer — Not all abuse leaves bruises. Not all prisons have bars. Wendi Burkham lives in an emotional prison she unwittingly walked into. Nobody understands, and her captor holds the keys. Married to a respected pastor, Wendi lives a life others admire–with two children and a home that reflects faith, stability, and love. But behind closed doors, Wendi is trapped in a cycle of control, manipulation, and emotional abuse no one else can see–and no one would believe. How do you escape when no one thinks you need to? (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

General Historical

Birth of a Warrior by Elmer Fuller — In the rugged hills of ancient Judah, seventeen-year-old Benaiah lives under a cloud of shame. When Amalekite raiders attacked his village, he saved his sister but lost his mother and brothers. Now his father has abandoned him, and the village whispers that he’s a coward. The mockery of Natan, a powerful warrior, makes each day a fresh humiliation. When King Saul calls men to war against the Philistines, Benaiah sees his chance to silence the doubters. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance


The Marquess’s Masked Archer by Abbey Downey — When Cleveland society parades debutante Sylvie Bryce before another string of unsuitable suitors, she secretly claims the one thing no one can arrange for her-a life of her own. Hidden beneath a green velvet hood and emerald mask, she becomes the mysterious Lady Robin, a daring trick-shot archer who captivates the crowds at Cedar Point resort. It’s the one place where Sylvie answers to no one. The last thing she needs is a charming English marquess threatening to unravel everything she has worked so hard to build. A richly atmospheric Gilded Age romance brimming with wit, hidden identities, and the tender courage it takes to love without pretense-a tale of a sharp-shooting socialite, a science-minded lord, and the summer of secrets that will change them both forever. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)


Every Given Day by Cathy Gohlke — Inspired by true events, Christy Hall of Fame author Cathy Gohlke delivers a powerful new historical novel weaving together the discovery of insulin—a breakthrough that revolutionized modern medicine—and one woman’s brave fight to cling to her family and hope against unspeakable odds. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)


Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti — LAKE PLACID, N.Y., 1932—Sports journalist Emma Hancock can’t wait to highlight the female athletes at the III Olympic Winter Games, including the historic speed skating demonstration. However, she refuses to limit herself to fragile stereotypes—even when her male colleagues slam the press room door in her face. After a federal agent warns her of a plot brewing, she turns her gift for following a story thread toward uncovering a conspiracy that could turn the Winter Games into a tragedy. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


The Undercover Heir by Dawn Kinzer — A spirited heiress and a mysterious gardener work together to create a successful teahouse in 1920s Seattle, but more is at stake than serving a good cup of tea. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman — Former orphans who are best friends hit snags in their relationship when he falls in love with her and wants more than friendship. She’s a former orphan desperate to protect her heart. He’s a best friend who protects her from the start. Till prayer protects them both from a true love torn apart. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


Swedish Sunrise by Linda Shenton Matchett — Espionage. Diplomacy. Resistance. Is there any room for love? Weeks after being accepted into America’s Office of Strategic Services, Birgit Westgard finds herself in Stockholm, Sweden – “Casablanca of the North.” The job is supposed to be easy: typing and filing. Then her handsome boss taps her to be his “plus-one” at social events where they collect intelligence, plant propaganda, and dance the nights away. How much longer can she remain impervious to his charm? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)


Whispering Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart — An American journalist in WWII France risks her life to expose the truth and help Allied soldiers escape — and loses her heart to the daring man leading them to freedom. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


Twelve Days and Twelfth Night by Sarah Sundin — World War II USO director Maggie Oliver must quickly organize a Christmas show, enlisting former Hollywood star Prescott Duke, who’s searching for new purpose after career-ending injuries. As they work together, Maggie and Prescott navigate their growing feelings while trying to reunite a young sailor with his lost love and save Maggie’s grandfather’s home. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker Publishing Group])

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:


Shadowing You by Robin Patchen — When the wife he believed dead calls from China, an ER doctor races to find her before her enemies silence her forever. (Mystery/Suspense, Independently Published)


David’s Debt by Urcelia Teixeira — He came to collect. His final payment was murder. A smooth-talking salesman rolls into the small coastal town of Weyport with a coded list of debts and a long memory. Nobody gives him a second thought. Until the man turns up dead in a motel room. At first glance it looks like a heart that simply gave out. Then Sheriff Angus Reid hears the anonymous call that reported the body. And everything changes—he knows her voice. (Mystery/Suspense – Police Procedural, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense


Watched by Jerusha Agen — Robert Weston became a psychiatrist to heal people’s minds. He can’t lose his. But if the strange occurrences of forgetfulness and confusion continue, he may not be able to hide the truth much longer. When his psychological issues put his life in danger, he must face the reality that the genetic nightmare he fears inheriting has seized him. Attorney Monty Montgomery doesn’t trust Robert Weston. His expert testimony once ruined her client’s case. She didn’t realize the psychiatrist wasn’t only wrong but also completely unreliable. How can she defend him against a malpractice suit for the insurance company that hired her when he’s clearly incompetent? Robert and Monty have bigger problems than they know. Someone has a mission. A mission that won’t be stopped until somebody ends up dead. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


Amish Country Witness by Meghan Carver — A woman on the run… An enemy on her trail. Halie Mae Hochstetler’s quiet life in witness protection falls apart when she witnesses her uncle’s murder by the mafia. Now she’s a loose end that the mob is determined to tie up. Forced to run, she puts her life in the hands of Amish widower Daniel Beiler. As Halie Mae unravels buried family secrets, Daniel helps her piece together a daring plan for justice in their fight to survive. But with merciless killers determined to make Halie Mae their next victim, staying alive may be just out of reach… (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])


Fatal Encore by Jennifer Chastain — A country music superstar. A K-9 officer with a haunted past. A stalker determined to silence the music forever. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


Sanctuary and Sabotage by Lori DeJong — The greatest threat isn’t the enemy outside—it’s the secrets between them. Protection Specialist Trevor Paxton returns to his Texas hometown carrying the weight of a mission gone wrong. Seeking sanctuary at his family’s ranch, he never expects danger to follow him into the life of Dr. Kinsley Talbot, the once-freckled tomboy now fighting to save her family’s land and the veterinary clinic that is her future. (Romantic Suspense from Screenings Press)


Disguised Deception by Rebecca Lake — Ten years ago, Payton Donovan left Garnet Falls, Montana, with a broken heart and no intention of looking back. Her twin sister had severed their bond. Her boyfriend had chosen her best friend. Her dream internship had vanished. The town that once felt like home had become the place that took everything. But then that former best friend disappears, and Payton is pulled back to the town she’d spent a decade trying to forget A clean romantic suspense novel filled with small-town danger, deadly deception, shattered trust, and a second chance at love. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


Alaskan Survival Threat by Megan Short — Park Ranger Helena Nikolaou’s assignment takes a deadly turn when she sees a body drop from a helicopter — and she suddenly comes under fire. Ambushed on a remote Alaskan island, she’s saved by US Coast Guard rescue swimmer Cody Hannigan. Only, the assailants won’t give up easily. With danger trailing their every move, Helena and Cody are forced through unforgiving terrain to retrieve evidence linked to a sinister conspiracy. But as they fight to stay one step ahead of killers determined to silence them, one wrong move could cost them their lives. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])


Deadly Schemes by Penny Zeller — An elaborate plan. A get-rich scheme. A deadly outcome. (Romantic Suspense from Maplebrook Publishing)

Speculative/Romantic Fantasy

A Peasant’s Sorrow by Demi Griffin — Ayris envisioned a refined existence, one befitting the daughter of a royal scribe. When death not only robbed her of her father but thrust her into a life of poverty, her dreams shattered. Condemned to a peasant’s existence, she had no say in the matter when asked to surrender her own future for that of the future king. Given the imminent danger of assassins targeting the Esilion royals, Prince Zarulias was compelled to obey the general. He had to disappear until the danger had passed. The situation worsened when the strategy demanded he masquerade as a husband. His chosen bride, the one they selected for him, was a simple peasant girl hardly worthy of the role. Forced to rely on one another, would Ayris and Zarulias expose a far-reaching conspiracy threatening the kingdom? Was their union a strategic move for their own survival, or was it orchestrated by the Holy One as part of a grander plan? (Speculative/Romantic Fantasy, Independently Published)

Western Romance

Clara’s Courage by Jill Dewhurst — When Clara’s mysterious disappearance leads to months of captivity aboard a bride ship, Josiah’s unwavering faith that she is still alive culminates in an unexpected reunion, a marriage of convenience, and a dangerous journey to protect a dying woman’s legacy and bring Clara safely home. (Western Romance, Independently Published)

 

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

Secret Exposure by B.A. Hawley — A cross-cultural teen begins a new life at boarding school, but old secrets—those of her mom and others—soon find her. (Reading age 10-14). (Children’s/Middle Grade)

Wait for Me by Roger E. Bruner — Wisconsin, 1931—Wait for Me is a novel within a novel about childhood sweethearts who, as adult lovers, are separated by a tragic event that only love and trust can bridge. (Contemporary Romance)

Treading Water: Barely Above Water by Gail Pallotta — Treading Water: Barely above Water, revised edition, which introduces promising treatments for Lyme disease, is as much about Suzie Morriss’s faith as the romance, illness and job that steals Suzie’s heart. (Contemporary Romance)

A King’s Dilemma by Demi Griffin — Torn from his opulent palace life as a child, Prince Coeden never envisioned a future as the ruler of Fragalia. The path laid out for him as the second-born son was one of quiet satisfaction and a life unburdened by great expectation. A foretold prophecy shifted Coeden’s path, positioning him as a significant threat to the sinister powers that loomed over Arland. (Speculative/Medieval Fantasy)

Goldie: A Wild Ridge Novella by Alyssa Schwarz — A disgraced actress on the run. A guarded rancher with everything to lose. And a mail-order bride who never meant to fall in love. (Western Romance)

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #433 | Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Writer in Residence  by new-to-me author Rhonda McKnight caught my eye as something I can definitely relate to: a writer who is having trouble getting the book written … Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

Nothing could have prepared me for what I was experiencing, because failing as a writer didn’t happen all at once.

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

 

About Writer in Residence

Sometimes the story you need to write is your own future.

Alexandra “Alex” Chambers is a writer who has lost her words. Facing a crushing case of writer’s block and a looming deadline that threatens to end her career, she accepts a lifeline: a writer-in-residence position near Edisto Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry. She expects solitude, Spanish moss, and the time to salvage her next novel. She doesn’t expect Gabriel Scott.

Gabe is everything Alex isn’t ready for–handsome, steady, and a bestselling author. From the moment he walks back into her life, ten years after a fleeting encounter in his bookstore, the chemistry is undeniable. He challenges her to stop hiding behind her laptop and start living the story she’s afraid to tell.

But amidst the ancient live oaks, Alex also discovers a profound connection to the Gullah Geechee culture–a heritage she never fully understood until now. Guided by the quiet wisdom of Ms. Kate, an elderly Gullah cleaning woman with losses of her own, and a blood-deep pull toward a past that refuses to stay buried, Alex begins to unearth family secrets that reshape her identity.

To find her voice, Alex must confront the ghosts of her past and the fears of her present. Writer in Residence is a heartfelt tale mixed with second chances, love, heritage, determination, and the courage it takes to claim your own happy ending.

Find Writer in Residence 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 mistook compliance for obedience and wisdom, as if yielding to circumstance alone fulfilled His will. But does it? Are we called to obey men—or God?

Book Review | The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde

I’m always on the lookout for historical fiction set in India or south-east Asia, and have been since reading Linda Chaikin’s Heart of India series back in the 1990s. I’ve since read a handful of other books set in this general area and period (including All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt and A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy) and would love to read more.

What I didn’t really appreciate back when I read the Heart of India series was that a lot of these stories are set during the Regency period, which is (now) one of my favourite time settings for historical fiction. This is possibly because I read Silk years before I read Pride and Prejudice, and Silk does slightly predate the Regency. Anyway, now I have more knowledge of the historical context of the period, I’m even more interested in books in this genre and was keen to start reading The Light of Stars.

The story starts in Kitty’s family home in Seven Oakes, England, before moving to London and eventually to India. That was my main disappointment–after reading the book description, I expected most of the book to be set in India, not just the last quarter. However, once I got into the story, I barely noticed that the story was “supposed” to be set in India.

Kitty and her brother have been raised by their grandfather since their parents were killed in India when they were small children. Now her grandfather wants to marry her off to Sebastian Sinclair, an arranged marriage to a man she met once as a child and instantly disliked. Sebastian is only slightly more interested in the marriage, but has reasons of his own for agreeing with the plan.

At least, until he meets Kitty and finds himself captivated by her intelligence and her unusual hobby of astronomy.

That’s something I always enjoy, especially in historical fiction—intelligent heroines who aren’t satisfied to accept the status quo, but who want the opportunity to follow their own interests and calling. I especially like that in Christian fiction, where the heroine’s tension is around becoming the person her family expect her to be vs. the person God created her to be. It’s a challenge many of us face, and it’s great to have role models.

(Maybe this is why some men don’t like romance novels. It’s not because they give women unrealistic expectations of love and marriage, but because they feature women who have the agency to make their own choices.)

I especially enjoyed the “Easter eggs”, the cameo appearances from real-life Christians such as missionary and Bible translator William Carey, astronomer William Herschel, and William Wilberforce, the man behind outlawing the slave trade in England and the British Empire. There were also a couple from another famous William—William Shakespeare (yes, William was a popular name!).

I am one of those readers who usually ignores quotes at the beginning of each chapter, but read every one in the Light of Stars once I realised most were from characters we actually “met” in the course of the story.

Overall, I loved the development of the relationship in The Light of Stars, and would love to see more similar stories.

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

About Jenelle Hovde

Jenelle HovdeJenelle Hovde, an accomplished illustrator, pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother, ventured off the beaten path by transitioning from her career as a doctor of audiology to pursue her passion for writing. With eight novels under her belt, her literary journey spans the rich tapestries of ancient worlds to the tumultuous landscapes of World War II. Her favorite genre includes sweet Regency romance that enchants readers with tales of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of 19th-century England.

A finalist in the published author 2023 Cascade Oregon Writers contest and a 2019 Genesis semifinalist, her historical romance novels not only captivate readers with vivid storytelling but also weave gentle messages of faith. Jenelle draws inspiration from the timeless treasures found in antique stores. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates life with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.

Find Jenelle Hovde online at:

Website |BookBub | Facebook | Instagram |Pinterest | X

About The Light of Stars

An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.

When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control—and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.

Find The Light of Stars online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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

Maybe subconsiously, I think that if I do the things on my list, follow the instructions, then boom, I'll be whole again.

Book Review | Brighter than Before by Courtney Walsh

After her divorce from her cheating husband is finalised, Claire leaves Denver for a new life in Chicago, the city where she’d always dreamed of living before she married John.

It soon becomes obvious that Claire has spent the twenty-three years of her marriage in a gilded cage. Sure, she’s had the successful husband and the membership at the right clubs, going to the right salon and eating the right number of calories per day.

But she hasn’t lived.

She hasn’t been given the opportunity to make her own choices, make her own mistakes, make her own life.

And worse, she doesn’t know it.

At least, not at first.

When she moves to Chicago, Claire makes a list of the things she wants to do to get a life. Simple things, like make new friends and find a job she loves and and try new foods (I can’t imagine reaching adulthood in a multicultural developed country without having at least tried Indian or Thai or Mediterranean food). But the most poignant line is this:

I want a place where I can fit in. I want a place where I belong.

Claire should be with her husband, the father of her child, but he’s the one who has spent twenty-three years telling her what to do yet failing to allow her to spread her wings and actually live. He’s also the one who breaks the relationship, giving Claire no choice but to leave.

Claire rents an apartment she found online, and soon meets some of her neighbours, including the elderly Lorraine who’s a YouTuber, and the handsome Miles, who turns out to be her landlord.

Dating is something else on her list, so she signs up for an online dating site, which results in some truly memorable dates (note to self: memorable is not the same as good).

Okay, so there were a couple of scenes I thought were overdone and one plot point which didn’t make any logical sense.

(Yes, I know it’s easy to mix up salt and sugar if you don’t taste them. But what bakery owner decants sugar into a jar when they’ll be using it by the bagful? And what bakery owner buys as much salt as sugar when most cookie or muffin recipes call for around a teaspoon of salt for every cup of sugar?)

But those odd scenes didn’t detract from the important messages: living the life we were meant to live … which may be different from the life we are living. But we have to be brave enough to step outside the reality we know and are comfortable in, and discover the real world. For Christians, that’s discovering and living God’s plan for our lives.

Brighter than Before is an inspiring call to rethink our lives and make sure they’re the lives we should be living, all wrapped up in a fun story with a healthy romance.

Recommended for rom-com fans.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About the Author

Courtney WalshCourtney Walsh is a novelist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes small town romance and women’s fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns with her husband. She is the author of thirteen novels. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist. Her novel Just Let Go won the Carol in 2019, and three of her novels have also been Christy-award finalists. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written three craft books and several musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.

Find Courtney Walsh online at:

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About Brighter than Before

Life has a way of changing your path–and Claire Karadec certainly didn’t plan on a fork in the road in her forties.

Brighter than Before by Courtney WalshAfter a painfully public discovery shatters her marriage, along with her picture-perfect, country club life, Claire finds herself suddenly single and faced with a blank page for a future. On that page she writes a simple list that reads like equal parts dare and daydream–Move to a new city. Make a real friend. Get a job I love–and she vows to accomplish every single one.

Before she can talk herself out of it, she takes a step of faith, puts her old life in the rearview mirror, and leases an apartment in Chicago, the city that has always had her heart. This one step sends Claire on a journey of self-discovery, giving her the courage to conquer her fears, one checklist item at a time, and showing her that life can be a whole lot brighter than she imagined.

She rediscovers a love for baking, stumbles into new friendships, and even allows her daughter, Minnie, to create a dating profile and choose her dates for her. Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is Miles, the charming, off-limits neighbor whose kindness makes it hard to remember why he’s off-limits at all.

Between late-night journaling, disastrous first dates, great big lessons and priceless small victories, Claire learns to quiet the voice telling her she wasn’t enough and listens to the one that asks the harder question . . .

What do I really want?

As old expectations loosen their grip, Claire discovers that belonging isn’t a place you’re invited to–it’s a life you build one brave choice at a time. And the sweetest things often show up when you finally get out of your own way.

Find Brighter than Before online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads | Koorong

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 430 | Uncharted Blessing by Keely Brooke Keith

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m about to started Uncharted Blessing, the 16th (!) book in Keely Brooke Keith’s Uncharted series. I think I’ve read them all, and I definitely enjoy them.

Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

Gazing into a newborn’s eyes made all of time and eternity stand still.

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

 

About Uncharted Blessing

She never thought she’d be a mother. He never thought he’d love again.

Uncharted Blessing by Keely Brooke KeithCharlotte Cotter finds purpose in caring for others while burying her broken dream of a family of her own. When she leaves home to tend to a village matriarch, Charlotte never imagines the household she enters will change her life forever. But when a dying friend needs her help, Charlotte faces a daunting promise and a fragile hope she scarcely dares to claim.

Josiah Roberts never expected trouble at the family mill, nor to share a home with the village baker’s quiet, selfless daughter. Still haunted by past rejection, Josiah is determined to keep control of his life—in business and in love. But as Charlotte nurtures his mother, his home, and now an orphaned baby, Josiah sees true strength lies not in control but in compassion.

Meanwhile, as Caleb’s missionary journey continues, he discovers the dangers of life outside the Land.

Find Uncharted Blessing 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 Lane Friday 429 | On the Fence About You 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 sharing from On the Fence About You by Emily Conrad, one of my favourite contemporary Christian romance authors.

Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

The barking reached a fever pitch that echoed through the lush peace of early summer in Chimney Creek, Wisconsin.

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

 

About On the Fence About You

If good fences make good neighbors, these former childhood sweethearts are doomed to stay enemies.

Combat veteran Hale Bastian and veterinarian Morgan Reynolds were best friends in childhood, but since a falling out twenty years ago, they’ve become strangers to each other. So much so that they don’t realize Hale bought the house next door to Morgan upon his return to small-town Chimney Creek, Wisconsin. He recognizes his mistake—and her—as soon as his dog jumps her ridiculous little fence and absconds with her dinner. Morgan doesn’t recognize him as anything but an inconvenience.

All but sworn enemies, they’d avoid each other if not for their devotion to the local animal shelter, where Morgan’s animal-loving aunt used to take them as children. If they hope to raise enough funds to save the shelter, the animals in its care, and her aunt’s legacy, Morgan and Hale will need to work together, and that means confronting their painful past.

When their growing connection threatens the peace Hale’s fought so hard to find and Morgan’s carefully crafted plans, it seems they can’t have it all. But what if all they need is waiting just on the other side of the fence?

A warmhearted and faith-filled clean romance about surrendering your plans, finding peace, and, of course, loving your neighbor.

Find On the Fence About 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 428 | When We Blinked by Stephanie Mack

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m reading When We Blinked by Stephanie Mack, which was first published in 2021 and is being re-released later this year by Tyndale Fiction.

Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

I tapped the toe of my nude suede pump on the elevator floor, willing us to move faster.

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

 

About When We Blinked

Newly divorced Seraphina Jones has returned to the corporate world after four years as a stay-at-home mom. She loves her job at prestigious Hamilton Hotels & Resorts, but the transition from playdates to boardrooms has been tricky, leaving her little space for anything else as a single mom.

Encouraged by her friends to start dating again, Sera tries a wildly popular new app built for people exhausted by swipe culture. Blinde is photo-free, designed to spark meaningful conversations. With renewed confidence―and a groove in co-parenting with her ex, Connor―Sera decides she’s ready to explore romance. Suddenly, there are several contenders: Graham Hamilton, the gorgeous young heir to his family’s hotel empire; Jack, the irresistible match on Blinde whose messages feel like fate; and Connor himself, who still stirs up feelings she wishes her heart would forget.

But while Sera thinks she’s juggling three different men, there are really only two. Jack is actually Connor, who was shocked to be matched with Sera on Blinde and is secretly hoping to connect with her all over again. When the truth comes to light, Sera is forced to ask herself: Is love at second sight truly possible, or is it finally time to move on from her failed marriage?

Set against the backdrops of sunny Southern California and the whimsical mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, When We Blinked provides a modern portrait of love in all its messy, hopeful forms and the power of redemption to turn any ending into a new beginning.

Find When We Blinked 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!

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You don’t just keep a speargun on hand to kill someone on land.

Book Review | Mostly Dead by Susan J Bruce

It’s Easter in Pelican Bay, which means it’s time for the Easter Egg treasure hunt. When Ruth Smythe teams up with her new friends, she’s hoping to find the treasure, not another dead body. This time, the victim is Theo, who is none too popular around town.

Unfortunately for Ruth, the main suspect is Dan, her not-so-secret crush.

Add in an incompetent ring-in police inspector, and it’s clear Ruth has another mystery to solve to clear Dan’s name. Dan is a popular man around the small town, which means she has help … except that help isn’t always helpful. This leads to several awkward and funny situations that somehow come across as completely plausible despite being completely unrealistic in real life.

Doug isn’t the only non-human character. Susan J Bruce is an animal lover, and that comes through in lines like this:

It was a universal truth that the more you disliked cats, the more they wanted to sit on your lap.

As any cat lover knows, they are characters in their own right, and something I always enjoy. I loved the town of Pelican Bay, with it’s quirky characters (human, bird and feline), endless banter, and a true community spirit—especially when it comes to solving a murder.

Mostly Dead is the second book of the Ruthless the Killer Mysteries, following Dead Ahead. It’s an excellent cozy mystery in a fun Australian setting, complete with Doug the cockatoo, who delights in embarrassing the locals by repeating their secrets at the most inopportune times.

If you prefer strictly Christian fiction, Mostly Dead may not be the book for you. Having said that, it would still be G-rated if it was a book (or perhaps PG, given there is a rather nasty murder).

But if you’re a cozy mystery fan who doesn’t mind the odd murder in your fiction (along with a little not-quite-Christian content), you’ll enjoy Mostly Dead.

Recommended for fans of cozy mystery authors such as Heather Gilbert and Amanda Ashby.

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

About Susan J Bruce

Susan J Bruce

Susan J Bruce is a former veterinarian turned award-winning author, professional copywriter and animal artist. Susan’s veterinary background invades her writing and animals run, fly, or crawl into nearly all of her tales. When Susan’s writing group challenged her to write a story that didn’t mention any animals—she failed! Susan lives in sunny South Australia with her husband, Marc, and their furred and feathered family. This currently includes a fat tortoiseshell cat, a rescue cockatiel, and an irrepressible ShiChi (Shih Tzu x Chihuahua) who thinks her mission in life is to stop Susan writing.

Running Scared is Susan’s first novel and was awarded the 2018 Caleb Prize for an unpublished manuscript.

Find Susan J Bruce online at:

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About Mostly Dead

Murder and romance. What could possibly go wrong?

Mostly Dead by Susan J BruceRuth Smythe is still getting used to small-town life when she stumbles on a body at Pelican Bay’s annual Easter egg hunt.

Two bodies in just a few weeks is bad enough—but it gets worse when Dan Rivers is arrested for murder.

Sure, Dan’s a little guarded and hard to read sometimes. But a killer?

No way. He’s kind. Loyal. Brave. And possibly her almost-boyfriend. (Not that she’s admitting it.)

As the case against him builds—and her reputation as Ruthless-the-Killer roars back to life—Ruth throws herself into the investigation.

With loyal friends, a cockatoo with no filter, and more at stake than she dares to admit, she’s determined to clear Dan’s name.

Because Dan could lose everything. She could lose… him.

And the real killer? Still out there.

Find Mostly Dead online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

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 #425 | Mostly Dead by Susan J Bruce

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m reading Mostly Dead, the second cozy mystery in Susan J Bruce’s Ruthless-the-Killer mysteries. I really enjoyed Dead Ahead, so I have high hopes!

Here’s the first line from Chapter One:

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

Autumn mornings in Pelican Bay had a way of making everything look sharper—the light, the trees, even people’s smiles.

 

About Mostly Dead

Murder and romance. What could possibly go wrong?

Mostly Dead by Susan J BruceRuth Smythe is still getting used to small-town life when she stumbles on a body at Pelican Bay’s annual Easter egg hunt.

Two bodies in just a few weeks is bad enough—but it gets worse when Dan Rivers is arrested for murder.

Sure, Dan’s a little guarded and hard to read sometimes. But a killer?

No way. He’s kind. Loyal. Brave. And possibly her almost-boyfriend. (Not that she’s admitting it.)

As the case against him builds—and her reputation as Ruthless-the-Killer roars back to life—Ruth throws herself into the investigation.

With loyal friends, a cockatoo with no filter, and more at stake than she dares to admit, she’s determined to clear Dan’s name.

Because Dan could lose everything. She could lose… him.

And the real killer? Still out there.

Find Mostly Dead 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!

I sure hope this is just the alcohol—and the heartache—talking and you’re not truly this big of a jerk.

Book Review | Lake Shore Renewal by Jennifer Rodewald

Charlotte Jensen—Charlee —and Noah meet when they are both invited to the wedding of their respective exes, and Noah makes a drunken toast to the bride and groom. He can’t remember much else until he wakes the next morning, by which time his toast has unfortunately gone viral.

Charlee has some sympathy for Noel, a guest in the run-down motel she’s recently purchased in Luna, Montana. Unfortunately, her co-owner is Mason, her ex and business partner, who has just married Emily, Noah’s ex, who was Charlee’s best friend right up until Emily started dating Mason.

(It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Honest.)

Charlee and Noah are brought together by the common awkwardness of their exes, and a common (temporary) address. When Noah realises how much work needs to be done at the motel, he takes some time off work to help Charlee out, both because he feels he owes her a favour and because he’s in no hurry to return to the house he bought in anticipation of marrying Emily.

Despite the awkward beginning, we soon get to see that Noah isn’t a jerk.

He’s a decent guy with a solid job and lots of great handyman skills who made one mistake (or perhaps two, if you count dating Emily in the first place). All the same, it’s a set-up that provides a lot of natural tension as Charlee and Noah have to work through their feelings towards Mason and Emily, and to consider what their lives will look like. There’s a lot of room for hard conversations, redemption, and renewal, and Jennifer Rodewald nails the delivery in way that feels authentic and true to the characters.

These are the kind of characters I want to see more of, which is one of the reasons I’m enjoying Jenifer Rodewald’s Redemption Shores series. Lake Shores Redemption is the sixth book in the series, so features characters series readers will recognise. Having said that, is definitely a standalone story—you don’t have to read the other books to read and enjoy Lake Shores Renewal. It is perhaps more of a romance than the previous stories in the series.

As Jennifer Rodewald says in the introduction, this is a reminder of the greatest love story: God’s love for us. I love that about her work: her Christian fiction is strong on Christian, with a focus on flawed characters learning to rely on God as they work through tough situations.

Recommended for fans of Christine Dillon or anyone looking for more Christian in their fiction.

About Jennifer Rodewald

Author Photograph: Jennifer RodewaldJennifer Rodewald is passionate about the Word of God and the powerful vehicle of story. Four kids and her own personal superman make her home in southwestern Nebraska delightfully chaotic.

Born in Colorado, she experienced both the seclusion of rugged mountain living and the busy streets of a Denver suburb during her growing up years. Somewhere in the middle of college, she married a Husker and found her way back to the quiet lifestyle of a rural area, which suits just fine.

Blessed with a robust curiosity, Jen loves to research. Whether she’s investigating the history of a given area, the biography of a Christian icon, or how nature declares the glory of God, her daily goal is to learn something new. Aiming to live with boundless enthusiasm, her creed is vision, pursuit, and excellence.

Jen lives and writes in a lovely speck of a town where she watches with amazement while her children grow up way too fast, gardens, and marvels at God’s mighty hand in everyday life.

You can find Jennifer Rodewald online at:

Website | Facebook | X

About Lake Shore Renewal

Sometimes the roughest roads in life lead to the most beautiful places. But to get there, one needs faith to let go.

Lake Shore Renewal by Jennifer RodewaldCharlee Jensen walked herself straight into heartbreak. Now she is left questioning her ability to make good choices—especially since she’s not only not married to Mason, the man she’d planned her forever with, but she’s also the joint owner of the Creek View Inn—a run-down hotel in Luna, Montana that needs way more work than she’d anticipated. The best part of that disaster? Her partner in this misadventure is the very same man who broke her heart.

Yeah. In two short years, Charlee had made a real mess of her life. Now she’s back in Luna—the small, picturesque mountain town she grew up in, failure and shame her new companions. Somehow, she needs figure out how to make the Creek View Inn something that doesn’t summon Bates Hotel vibes—and to pay off the debt to her ex.

Noah Newellen’s life plans were hijacked the moment his fiancée returned the diamond he’d given her. But that wasn’t the worst day ever. Nope, not by a longshot. The absolute worst was a beautiful fall evening in Montana when he watched her marry another man—and he has the viral video to memorialize it. A video in which he’s giving a drunken, spiteful, country-song-inspired toast to the bride. Thanks to that drunken folly, and social media, he can never go back home.

Starting over in Luna, Montana isn’t logical. But as one door opens to another, Noah finds it might be exactly the grace he needs. A quiet, small town. An opportunity to pursue an old passion. Gracious, friendly people who help him to hold onto the goodness of God.

And a woman named Charlee, whose friendship sooths the wounds in his heart and inspires him to believe in second chances.

A tender story of love after heartbreak, hope beyond failure—and grace that doesn’t quit.

Find Lake Shore Renewal online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

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