Simple Singing
The Sisters of Lancaster County #2
Leslie Gould
Bethany House
Amish, Romance
July 31, 2018

How will she choose between the life she’s always envisioned and one she never imagined?

For years, Marie Bachmann thought of herself as the “good” daughter. She was the most loving to their mother and the most dedicated to their Amish way of life. But when a Mennonite farmhand, Gordon Martin, shows interest in her, she can’t help but be flattered–until her mother sends her off to Florida. While there, Marie begins spending time with rebellious Elijah Jacobs, the bishop’s son from back home.

When Gordon shows up in Florida to volunteer at a homeless shelter, her life becomes even more complicated. At the same time, her aunt begins telling her about the uncommon bravery of one of Marie’s Civil War-era ancestors . . . a story that begins to work at Marie’s heart.

Marie hopes returning home may simplify life, but Elijah soon follows. As she grapples with whether she should court Elijah or leave the church for Gordon, the story of Annie Bachmann shines a light on what God has for Marie’s future.

Home on Huckleberry Hill
The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill #9
Jennifer Beckstrand
Zebra
Amish, Romance
June 26, 2018

Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s irrepressible eighty-something matchmakers Anna and Felty Helmuth are at it again. And this time they’re willing to rough it to get the job done…

Mary Anne Neuenschwander knows she should be content with what Gotte has given her. She has a comfortable house, a fruitful farm, and a good, steady husband. But after nearly six years of marriage, she still longs for a baby. Yet her husband, Jethro, seems to care more about fishing than about his wife. Unable to bear Jethro’s indifference, Mary Anne moves into a tent in the woods where he won’t have to be bothered. But when her mammi and dawdi find out what she’s done, they’ll stop at nothing—including a little camping trip of their own—to help save their granddaughter’s marriage . . .

Jethro’s greatest blessing is his beloved wife, Mary Anne. Nothing else in his life has turned out anywhere near the way he expected. Rather than burden Mary Anne with his disappointment, he shields her by spending less and less time at home and more time on the river. But when he finds that she’s moved out, he’s shocked. What will people think? What is Mary Anne thinking? And what clever plans are her grandparents hatching?

 

Amish Celebrations
Four Novellas
Beth Wiseman
Zondervan
Amish, Romance
July 10, 2018

 

 

“The Gift of Sisters”
Hannah and Elizabeth are fraternal twins approaching their sixteenth birthday—a time when they will be allowed to spread their wings and enjoy their rumschpringe. The sisters couldn’t be more different: Hannah is outgoing and beautiful, while Elizabeth is shy and withdrawn. And when newcomer Abraham Stoltzfus arrives in Lancaster County, both women fall head over heels for him, each fighting for his affections in their own ways and driving the sisters to turn on each other. Who will Abraham choose? And will Hannah and Elizabeth reunite after a devastating heartbreak?

“A New Beginning”
Rebecca and Noah are in love and about to be baptized. But when Noah decides to enjoy one last night of his rumschpringe a few weeks before the ceremony, he does something that causes Rebecca to reconsider his proposal. As Rebecca and Noah navigate the turn in their relationship, Rebecca must learn to forgive Noah or abandon her dreams of marrying him. If Noah won’t forgive himself in time for the baptism, his guilt could cause him to run from his love for Rebecca and leave his community behind.

“A Perfect Plan” (previously published in An Amish Wedding)
Priscilla King has been planning to marry Chester Lapp since she was sixteen years old, and when Chester pops the question on Priscilla’s nineteenth birthday, wedding plans begin immediately. But everything begins to fall apart as Chester works to build a house for his new bride, only to have one disaster after another occur. Can true love take this couple through the challenges that threaten their union, or will they begin to doubt that they are on the right path, the one God has chosen for them?

“A Christmas Miracle”
Mary is twenty-seven years old and already has five young children. Married to her husband at age eighteen, she wasn’t quite prepared for motherhood, and exhaustion and frustration are sending her into a downhill spiral as the holidays approach. Too proud and ashamed to ask for help, Mary’s situation begins to take a toll on her marriage. But when an elderly man in a red suit and his sidekick elf befriend Mary, showering her with wisdom and advice, she must choose to accept help, learn to cope with her situation, and ultimately find the true meaning of Christmas.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0529118734/?tag=familyficti09-20

Her Fear
The Amish of Hart County #5
Shelley Shepard Gray
Avon Inspire
Amish, Romance, Suspense
July 24, 2018

In New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest novel of suspense in her Amish of Hart County series, an EMT falls for a woman with ties to an Amish community where people are dying similar, suspicious deaths.

Sadie Detweiler never imagined she’d move to Kentucky, yet here she is: a pregnant, unmarried Amish girl banished by unforgiving parents to live with kin she barely knows. The men are gruff and her cousins are secretive. Worst of all, elderly matriarch Verba becomes mysteriously ill shortly after Sadie moves in. When EMT Noah Freeman arrives, Sadie immediately notices he’s unlike any other Amish man she’s met. Noah is warm, confident, and has an easy way with practically everyone in the community, both Amish and English. Though Sadie is drawn to him, she has little hope he will reciprocate her feelings once he learns she’s with child.

Noah can’t understand how a girl as sweet and lovely as Sadie ended up sleeping on a cot in Verba Stauffer’s kitchen. He also senses Sadie is terrified of something. Concerned, he checks up on her. Eventually they strike up a friendship and soon their attraction is undeniable. When Verba later dies at the hospital and her death is followed by two others, Noah’s boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He agrees—for Sadie’s sake—because only the truth will keep her safe and by his side.

Firestorm
The Amish of Mackinac County #1
Laura V. Hilton
Whitaker House
Amish, Romance
July 10, 2018

When Bridget Behr and her family migrate from a bustling Amish community in Ohio to the remote and isolated Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they’re met with an ugly surprise: the house they had bought sight unseen is an uninhabitable wreck. While her father and brother try to find work in the area, the family is forced to live in tents until the house and barn are rebuilt. Bridget can’t shake the guilt that it was her fault her family moved—and is too afraid to trust anyone, especially the flirtatious, overly-friendly Amish man who lives next door.

Gabriel Lapp has made Michigan his home out of necessity, but can’t wait to move back to Florida with its sunshine and warmer temperatures. But when Bridget’s family seeks refuge with Gabe during a fierce thunderstorm, he feels a tug of responsibility for them—especially the girl with the dark green eyes.

Just as Bridget is finally settling into friendship, a new life, and maybe even love, a devastating forest fire ravages the county, destroying both land and the Behrs’ dreams. Now Bridget and her family must decide: will they leave behind the ashes and start anew in another Amish community? Or will they dare to fight for the future they’d hoped for in Mackinac County?

Shattered Mirror
Sarah Price
Waterfall Press
Contemporary
July 24, 2018

A powerful novel of addiction, hope, and renewal from Sarah Price, the bestselling author of Heavenly Blues.

In any upscale suburban town, silence and shame blanket the hard truths. But college professor Kelly Martin can no longer deny the reality she lives every day: substance abuse is tearing her family apart. First, her ex-husband’s drinking destroyed their marriage. Now their seventeen-year-old son, Zach, is caught in the grip of drug addiction, fueled by a known drug dealer walking the halls of his high school. Kelly has two choices: watch helplessly and simply try to bear it or fight to save her son, who’s at the edge of suicidal depression.

When she encounters shocking disinterest, even hostility, from her ex-husband, her sister, her mother, and her former social circle, Kelly quickly realizes that she’s alone on this painful and frightening journey. But the race to rescue her child becomes an awakening for Kelly as she comes to understand the keys to her own heart and happiness.

River to Redemption
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell
Historical
July 3, 2018

One young woman must stand up for freedom–and perhaps find her own in the process.

Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions.

Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She’s determined to find a way to buy Louis’s freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she’ll need all of the courage and strength she possesses–and more.

In Dreams Forgotten
Golden Gate Secrets #2
Tracie Peterson
Bethany House
Historical, Romance
July 3, 2018

Finding her family could cost her everything.

Judith Gladstone came to San Francisco after her parents died to find her last living relative, an aunt she never knew she had. Instead she has fallen head over heels in love with Caleb Coulter, her friend’s brother. Caleb has promised to help Judith find her aunt, but she can tell he thinks of her only as a friend, and she struggles to hide her feelings whenever she is with him.

When Caleb traces Judith’s aunt to the wealthy Whitley family, Judith is united with her long-lost relatives. The truths she learns about her past and her parents are shocking and overwhelming, however, and the more she gets to know her new family, the more danger she uncovers. Someone feels threatened by Judith’s appearance in the Whitleys’ lives, and they will do whatever it takes to get rid of her.

The Fashion Designer
Nancy Moser
Shiloh Run Press
Historical, Romance
July 1, 2018

The American Dream thrives in 1912 New York City

Annie Wood, the housemaid-turned-pattern designer in The Pattern Artist, jumps at the chance to design her own clothing line when a wealthy New York couple offers to finance her endeavor. Joining the project is Annie’s new husband, Sean Culver, her best friend at Butterick, Maude Nascato, and a mother figure, Edna Holmquist.

Annie and her colleagues give up their careers, risking everything to follow a shared passion: clothes that are both fashionable and functional for modern, busy women in 1912.

Personal and financial setbacks test old relationships and new romances while threatening to keep the business from ever selling a single dress. No one said it would be easy. But the promise of the American Dream holds a deep hope for those who work hard, trust God, and never give up.

The Best of Intentions
Canadian Crossings #1
Susan Anne Mason
Bethany House
Historical, Romance
July 3, 2018

She swore to protect her nephew at any cost. But what if that price is a chance at love?

In the aftermath of WWI, Grace Abernathy is determined to reunite her family, crossing an ocean to convince her widowed sister to return home to England. Yet, in Toronto she discovers more tragedy–her nephew Christian in the custody of his paternal relatives, the formidable Easton family, who rejected Grace’s sister because of her low social status.

Unconvinced the Eastons can be fitting caretakers, Grace uses an assumed name to secure the position of Christian’s nanny and moves into the Easton estate. There she can observe the family up close, while ensuring Christian’s well-being. In the course of her new role, she is shocked to find herself falling in love with Andrew Easton, the boy’s guardian. Unfortunately, Andrew is promised to a spoiled socialite who is sure to make a terrible stepmother for Christian. Will Grace be able to protect her nephew . . . and her heart?

Caught by Surprise
Apart From the Crowd #3
Jen Turano
Bethany House
Historical, Romance
July 31, 2018

After years of hiding her true nature, Miss Temperance Flowerdew is finally enjoying freedom outside of the shadow of her relations, so the last thing she expected on her way to work was to be grabbed off the street by a stranger and put on a train bound for Chicago.

When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend, Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind her abduction, they’re spotted alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.

Even though Gilbert is willing to propose marriage, Temperance is determined not to lose her newfound independence. But when the misunderstanding in Chicago escalates into a threat on her life, accepting Gilbert’s help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

The Hope of Azure Springs
Rachel Fordham
Revell
Historical, Romance
July 3, 2018

Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won’t be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He’s determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn’t expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.

Debut author Rachel Fordham invites historical romance readers to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where the people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.

Minding the Light
Nantucket Legacy #2
Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell
Historical, Romance
July 3, 2018

“How could I have expected so much? How could I have given her so little in return?”

Six long years ago, Captain Reynolds Macy sailed away from his bride, looking forward to the day when he would return to Nantucket Island with a ship’s hold full of whale oil. But when that momentous day finally arrives, Ren soon discovers that everything has changed in his absence. Everything.

Unlike most islanders, bold and spirited Daphne Coffin doesn’t defer to Ren as an authoritative whalemaster, but sees through his aloofness to the aching heart beneath. She encourages him to return to his Quaker roots and “mind the Light,” finding solace in God and community. As Ren becomes the man she believes him to be–honorable, wise, faithful–she finds herself falling in love with him.

But how can she, when her heart is spoken for?

The Lady of Tarpon Springs
Judith Miller
Bethany House
Historical, Romance
July 31, 2018

In 1905 Tarpon Springs, Florida, Zanna Krykos values the independence her career as a lawyer gives her from her very traditional Greek family and the pressure they put on her to find a husband. When a friend inherits a sponging business, Zanna finds herself agreeing to run it for her . . . even though she doubts her legal skills make her qualified.

When offered the chance to lead a team of sponge divers to the United States, experienced Greek diver Nico Kalos can’t imagine a better opportunity. But his excitement quickly quells when their team arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience will be their boss. For the sake of his men and the families they support, he can’t let the business fail.

But when both the business and the lives of the employees are threatened, can Zanna and Nico set aside their pride and come together to save what matters most?

Sons of Blackbird Mountain
Blackbird Mountain #1
Joanne Bischof
Thomas Nelson
Historical, Romance
July 3, 2018

A tale of family, brotherhood, and the healing power of love.

After the tragic death of her husband, Aven Norgaard is beckoned to give up her life in Norway to become a housekeeper in the rugged hills of Nineteenth-Century Appalachia. Upon arrival, she finds herself in the home of her late husband’s cousins—three brothers who make a living by brewing hard cider on their three-hundred acre farm. Yet even as a stranger in a foreign land, Aven has hope to build a new life in this tight-knit family.

But her unassuming beauty disrupts the bond between the brothers. The youngest two both desire her hand, and Aven is caught in the middle, unsure where—and whether—to offer her affection. While Haakon is bold and passionate, it is Thor who casts the greatest spell upon her. Though Deaf, mute, and dependent on hard drink to cope with his silent pain, Thor possesses a sobering strength.

As autumn ushers in the apple harvest, the rift between Thor and Haakon deepens and Aven faces a choice that risks hearts. Will two brothers’ longing for her quiet spirit tear apart a family? Can she find a tender belonging in this remote, rugged, and unfamiliar world?

A haunting tale of struggle and redemption, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a portrait of grace in a world where the broken may find new life through the healing mercy of love.

The Barefoot Brides Collection: 7 Eccentric Women Would Sacrifice All—Even Their Shoes—For Their Dreams
Lori Copeland, C.J. Dunham, Cynthia Hickey, Maureen Lang, Cathy Liggett, Kelly Long, Carolyn Zane
Barbour Books
Historical, Romance
July 1, 2018

Seven optimistic women walk various roads to reach their dreams.

Connected to nature and carefree of heart seven historical women would prefer to travel through life without shoes, especially if giving away their only pair would comfort someone else in need. Will these women of faith change their ways under society’s pressures and the lure of romance?

Barefoot Hearts by Lori Copeland
Edgar’s Cove, Arkansas, 1800s
Annie Jones was perfectly content with her life on the banks of the muddy Mississippi—or so she thought until the man of her dreams, Doctor Tucker Goodwin, agreed to temporarily fill a void in Edgar’s Cove—but it turned out the void was in Annie’s heart. Could a simple baseball score decide the answer to a lifetime dream?

Castles in the Sand by CJ Dunham
Victoria, Vancouver Island, 1899
Carefree Jennie Farrow befriends an orphaned baby seal and a crusty old fisherman. When the seal brings gifts from the sea, they recognize something from a missing boat and set out to find the wreck. A man found on a beach has no memory, and Jennie helps to nurse him back to health. But what will become of a budding love when his wealthy family come and whisk him away?

A Teacher’s Heart by Cynthia Hickey
Ozark mountains, 1930s
Small Town teacher Mary Jo Stevens yearns to make a difference in her community. As a Demonstration Agent for the Arkansas Welfare Department, Bill Wright travels to every hill and hollow in the Ozarks to teach men and women how to make the best of their situations. But he needs the assistance of someone like Mary Jo. Can she trust an outsider who thinks he knows best?

Between the Moments by Maureen Lang
Kansas, 1870
Everyone in Addington, Kansas, knows Eddie Tucker who lived with the Apache for seven years as a child and now keeps to himself—until Mary Elliot arrives in town. As the daughter of missionaries, Mary rejects her grandfather’s wealth, preferring to spend time with the poor. The two outsiders have much in common, but will Mary’s family and Eddie’s deep wounds keep them apart?

Promise Me Sunday by Cathy Liggett
Boston, 1890
Adeline McClain’s mother always preached “to thine own self be true.” But when Adeline is orphaned and brought East to live with well-to-do relatives, being herself—caring, down-to-earth, and often barefoot—is getting her into trouble. When it comes to love, could Adeline’s eccentricities cause Everett Brighton to have to choose between Adeline or his inheritance?

Lady Slippers by Kelly Long
Pennsylvanian Appalachia, 1920s
Local resident Fern Summerson agrees to help a young missionary distribute shoes to her people, but the journey becomes fraught with tension as Jacob Reynolds falls in love with his guide and discovers that her connection with nature is more beautiful than any well shod foot.

Hope’s Horizon by Carolyn Zane
Oregon Trail, 1843
Hope Dawson agrees to become engaged to an older man in order to relieve her family of one more mouth to feed. But on the Trail, she is forced to walk while Julius and his mother ride in the wagon. Fellow traveler, William Bradshaw sees her plight, but can he help without losing his heart?

A Father for Bella
Jill Weatherholt
Love Inspired
Romance
July 17, 2018

Another roadblock… or the family she’s looking for?

When single mom Faith Brennan discovers the Virginia inn she grew up in is for sale, she’s determined to make a bid. Even if that means going head-to-head with handsome real estate broker Joshua Carlson. But competing with Joshua would be a lot easier if Faith’s young daughter wasn’t growing so attached to him…and if Faith could stop picturing running the inn with Joshua by her side.

Her Cowboy Reunion
Shepherd’s Crossing #1
Ruth Logan Herne
Love Inspired
Romance
July 17, 2018

A new life…an old love Can she risk loving him again in Shepherd’s Crossing?

With her family in disgrace, Lizzie Fitzgerald never imagined she’d end up at an Idaho ranch. Fortunately, she’s working with horses she loves—even if it means dealing with her old sweetheart Heath Caufield. The widowed father of an adorable boy, Heath hasn’t forgiven Lizzie for their past. But even a stubborn cowboy can’t stop the heart’s ability to forgive…or love again.

Meant-to-Be Baby
Rocky Mountain Haven #1
Lois Richer
Love Inspired
Romance
July 17, 2018

A soldier or a father? Maybe he can be both in this Rocky Mountain Haven story…

Pregnant and abandoned, Victoria Archer’s focused on helping with her aunts’ foster outreach program—not finding love. But there’s something undeniably charming about Major Ben Adams. Certain he’s not suited for fatherhood, Ben’s searching for a loving home for his recently orphaned nephew. But could he, Victoria and her unborn baby be the little boy’s perfect family?

When Through Deep Waters
Rachelle Dekker
Tyndale House
Speculative, Suspense
July 3, 2018

Alicen McCaffrey finally has the life her mother always dreamed for her: beautiful home in Santa Monica, successful husband, adorable daughter. Then tragedy blows her carefully assembled façade to pieces. Worse yet—Alicen feels solely responsible. At rock bottom, she decides to accompany a childhood friend back to Red Lodge, Montana, where they spent summers together as kids.

The peaceful mountain landscape, accented with lush forests and small-town charm, brings back happy memories of time spent with her beloved, eccentric Grandma Josephine. Alicen begins to hope that perhaps things could be different here. Perhaps the oppressive guilt will lift—if only for a moment.

But when Alicen starts hearing voices and seeing mysterious figures near the river in the woods, she begins to fear she’s completely lost her sanity, as it’s rumored her grandmother did. Or might there be more to Red Lodge than meets the eye? Could the voices and visions be real—and her only means of finding the healing she so desperately needs? Or will they prove to be her final undoing?

Fall of Lucifer
Chronicles of Brothers: Time Before Time #1
Wendy Alec
Harper Inspire
Speculative
June 26, 2018

In the beginning…

Three brothers – Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer. Royalty. Archangels. United in devotion to their father and all his works. But when Lucifer learns of their father’s latest creation – a new race, fashioned from crude matter and yet made in his image – he is consumed with resentment. Why have he and his angelic kind been overlooked?

After a bitter confrontation, Lucifer is cast out, doomed to an eternity of exile and punishment. Unrepentant, he vows he won’t suffer alone. Mankind has made a powerful enemy – one determined to lure it into darkness and torment any way he can…

First Judgement
Chronicles of Brothers: Time Before Time #2
Wendy Alec
Harper Inspire
Speculative
June 26, 2018

The saga continues…

Banished from heaven, Lucifer, King of Perdition, presides over hell. Fired by hatred, he has a single goal: to lure unwitting mankind into damnation. And little by little, he is succeeding. But the omens point to a shift in the balance of power. A star burns brightly over planet Earth, heralding the arrival of a child king. The Nazarene. Humiliated, Lucifer is returned to Perdition, mutinous and defiant.

Summoning the councils of hell, Lucifer conspires again against the race of men. The fallen will visit the Earth. A new Messiah will be cloned – an earthly emissary to carry out his twisted plans…

Son of Perdition
Chronicles of Brothers #1
Wendy Alec
Harper Inspire
Speculative
June 26, 2018

Three brothers. Power beyond reckoning. And a terrible betrayal.

Adrian De Vere is the most powerful and charismatic politician on the planet. To many he heralds a future filled with peace and prosperity.

Jason De Vere controls a third of the world’s media through his communications empire VOX. Brilliant and tenacious, little happens in the world without him knowing.

Nick, international playboy (and archaeologist), is dying, a victim of his own recklessness. He has made a remarkable discovery he hopes may save him, but does not know how or what the cost will be.

Despite their wealth and fame, the brothers’ family history is shadowed in lies. Now, with powerful forces both sacred and diabolical at play, one will betray the others – in an almost unimaginable way …

Pale Horse
Chronicles of Brothers #2
Wendy Alec
Harper Inspire
Speculative
June 26, 2018

A new order. An ancient evil. A battle about to begin.

It is the near future. Adrian De Vere, President of the European Union, oversees the signing of an unprecedented international treaty, ushering in a new era of one-world government.

Jason De Vere, media mogul, finds himself forced out of the empire he helped create. With friends, allies and even family turning against him, help comes from an unexpected quarter…

Nick De Vere, archaeologist and playboy – and newly returned from the dead – leads Jason into an underground world of hidden knowledge and forbidden secrets. Together they must face down the most ruthless of adversaries: their own brother.

As the Antarctic ice gives up a grisly secret, and shadowy figures are plotting behind the scenes, armies of good and evil are being marshalled for the conflict to come. Operation Pale Horse is underway…

Dead Drift
Chesapeake Valor #4
Dani Pettrey
Bethany House
Suspense, Romance
July 3, 2018

The final countdown to stop an imminent attack has begun.

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target’s latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he’s back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.

Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next mark?

The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond
Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House
Suspense, Historical, Romance
July 3, 2018

For over a century, the town of Gossamer Grove has thrived on its charm and Midwestern values, but Annalise Forsythe knows painful secrets, including her own, hover just beneath the pleasant facade. Yet her strange and sudden inheritance of a run-down trailer home–full of pictures, vintage obituaries, and old revival posters–leaves her wholly unprepared for how truly dark and deadly those secrets may be.

A century earlier, Gossamer Grove is stirred into chaos by the arrival of controversial and charismatic twin revivalists. The chaos takes a murderous turn when Libby Sheffield, while working at her father’s newspaper, receives an obituary for a reputable church deacon hours before his death. As she works with the deacon’s son to solve the crime, it becomes clear that a reckoning has come to town–but it isn’t until another obituary arrives at the paper that they realize the true depths of the danger they’ve waded into.

Two women, separated by a hundred years, must unravel the mysteries of their own town before it’s too late and they lose their future—or their very souls.

Material Witness
Shipshewana Amish Mysteries #3
Vannetta Chapman
Zondervan
Suspense, Amish, Romance
July 10, 2018

The Fall Crafters Fair has barely begun in Shipshewana when murder strikes the small town once again—this time on the property of Daisy’s Quilt Shop. It will take all of the sleuthing skills Deborah Yoder and Callie Harper possess to catch the perpetrator. But the stakes are higher than ever before, since the material witness is their best friend’s child.

Masked identities, antique quilts with hidden messages, one brave dog, and a possible hidden treasure—Deborah and Callie are in for nonstop action, danger, and a dash of romance…

Thirst of Steel
Tox Files #3
Ronie Kendig
Bethany House
Suspense
July 31, 2018

The final conflict will hinge on one of history’s most dangerous blades.

Dismantled centuries ago, the sword of Goliath is still rumored to thirst for its enemies’ blood. Cole “Tox” Russell wants only to put the dangers of his past behind him and begin his new life with Haven Cortes. First, though, he’s called to complete a final mission: retrieve the sword and destroy the deadly Arrow & Flame Order.

The AFO, however, is determined to reunite the sword. Threatening the life of Ram and Tzivia’s father, they jeopardize Ram’s long-held and dangerous secret while demanding Tzivia locate the blade. With the Wraith team slowly being torn apart, things worsen when Mercy Maddox, a new operative, emerges with the stunning news that the artifact is tied to both Ram’s secret and a string of unsolved serial murders.

Tox, Ram, and the others are forced to set aside fear and anger to target the true enemy. No matter the cost, Wraith must destroy the AFO . . . or join them in the flames.

A Rumored Fortune
Joanna Davidson Politano
Revell
Suspense, Historical, Romance
July 31, 2018

Tressa Harlowe’s father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn’t take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they’re really up to. She’ll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father’s fortune–before someone else finds it first.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they’ll not soon forget.

Called to Protect
Blue Justice #2
Lynette Eason
Revell
Suspense, Romance
July 31, 2018

She’ll have to draw on all of her resources to crack the case—and guard her heart.

After being dumped by her fiancé, Chloe St. John has decided that the only male she likes is her K-9 German shepherd partner, Hank. But being over the whole romance thing has perks—like giving full attention to her job. Attention she’s definitely going to need because a case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

Deputy US Marshall Blake MacCallum is in a race against the clock to rescue his kidnapped daughter when Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man. But can she trust him? And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

Buckle in. This fast and furious ride will have your heart pumping from the very start…

The House at Saltwater Point
Lavender Tides #2
Colleen Coble
Thomas Nelson
Suspense, Romance
July 3, 2018

The dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides is harboring secrets that reach around the world.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

The Edge of Over There
Day the Angels Fell #2
Shawn Smucker
Revell
YA, Speculative
July 3, 2018

Abra Miller carries a secret and a responsibility she never expected.

Before the Tree of Life, everything in Abra Miller’s life had been predictable. Safe. Normal. But after the Tree, everything has felt fragile—like holding a soap bubble in the palm of her hand. After years of fruitless searching for the next Tree, she begins to wonder if it was nothing more than a vivid dream.

Now sixteen, Abra finds a clue to the whereabouts of the next Tree of Life when an ominous woman–who looks exactly like a ghost from her past–compels her to travel to New Orleans where she’ll find one of seven gateways between this world and Over There. But she’s not the only one interested in finding the gateway. There’s also a young man searching for his father and sister, who escaped through it years before. As Abra enters the Edge of Over There and begins her pursuit of the Tree once more, she doesn’t know whom to fear or whom to trust.

She’s also starting to think that some doorways should never be opened.

The Orphan’s Wish
Melanie Dickerson
Thomas Nelson
YA, Romance, Historical
June 26, 2018

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes an inspired retelling of the beloved folk tale Aladdin.

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break.

Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Through his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke’s steward. But that isn’t enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child—or the fact that he’s an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune.

Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he’s worked so hard to obtain?

An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan’s Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what “family” really means.

Fawkes
Nadine Brandes
Thomas Nelson
YA, Speculative
July 10, 2018

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th-century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

 

Paul, Apostle of Christ
June 19, 2018
Historical, Movies

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C8ZQM7G/?tag=familyficti09-20

 

 

 

A Man Called Jon
May 1, 2018
Contemporary, Movies

Jon Terrell Carson loves to worship God, but his way of showing it is a bit unconventional which creates conflict in his church to the point where the members of the congregation petition and have him removed from the church.

Jon’s Bishop sends him to a new church that better fits his style of worship and the new congregation loves Jon, but there are some unresolved issues at his new church home that cause new problems for Jon.

A Man Called Jon is an endearing, light-hearted dramedy, with a fun, yet powerful message of unconditional love and acceptance that will have you reexamining how you look at others and what is truly considered normal.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945788593/?tag=familyficti09-20

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About The Author

Wendy Alec is a writer, TV producer, film maker, and a director of WarBoys Entertainment London. Alec has written seven books, including the epic fantasy series, Chronicles of Brothers. She co-founded the GOD TV network in 1995 and presided as Director of Television and Creative Director for 21 years.