Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance; Western
Releases: November 28, 2023
She left home to chase her dreams
Now she’s back seeking a second chance…
When Callie Wade’s horse goes blind, there’s only one man who can save her barrel racing career. Brody Jacobs is the best horse trainer she knows—if he’s willing to help. She broke his heart when she left him behind to go after rodeo stardom. This time, will they put their hearts on the line to reach the championship…and a future together?
From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
About the Author:
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
My Impressions
“I’m here and I’m helping. You can’t stop me.” Truer words had never been spoken. If he could stop her, she’d have never left him.”
In the Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin, we are introduced to two very headstrong former lovers who have been separated by life. When Brody Jacobs’s dad had a life-altering accident 10 years ago, it changed Brody’s life plans, too. Instead of being a traveling, renowned horse trainer, he chooses to stay at the ranch to support his family.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Callie Wade, whom his family “adopted” because of her parents’ indifference, left about that time to follow her dream of being part of the rodeo circuit.
Ten years later, Callie is desperate for Brody’s help to retrain her beloved horse, Glow, so she can return to the rodeo circuit. What follows is a good look at two individuals who are trying to work life out for themselves, trusting no one but themselves. Secrets, heartache, and pain become patterned ruts. I liked this book because I got disgusted with both characters’ short-sightedness. But you know what? That is so typical of real people, trying to maneuver through life on their own, without others or God. So the characters’ flawed lives are fitting!
These two act like thornbirds, getting close, backing up, running away, hurting each other. “I’ll help Glow. On one condition.”…
“We don’t talk unless we’re training.”
“The Jacobses were like family to her, and she’d abandoned them, left them behind as though they had no value to her, and she’d never looked back.”
Can these two find a reason and the power to stop the cycle?
I received a copy of the book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotable:
“Some things about people change, but usually, who they are at their core…that stays the same.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent. The characters are so flawed, but, oh, so true to real life!!
When Miss Margaret Andrews travels to the future to find her missing sister, she never expected to find true love. In 1819 England, Margaret is a bluestocking with dreams of becoming an inventress, but when the Tallit, a magical time-travel shawl, goes awry she finds herself stranded in 21st Century Manhattan. At a Jane Austen conference, she meets Stewart Russell, a grad student studying early British female writers. Stewart is immediately taken with Margaret and her effortless use of the speech and manners of Jane’s day—until she claims to be FROM Jane’s day! Worse, due to a mix-up, he is a wanted man and the clock is ticking. Margaret must find a way to get them both back to 1819—before the unthinkable happens.
If you enjoyed the time-travel romance of Outlander, then you’ll love Margret and Stewart’s story in Forever Lovely. Buy now before the price changes!
About the Author
Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite and hopeless romantic. An award-winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book with Harvest House (Before the Season Ends) opened the genre for the CBA. Linore is a magna cum laude English Lit. grad from CUNY, but now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, two cats, and a Shorkie. Active in church and in two monthly writers’ groups, (one of which she is president of), Linore loves to craft stories that fill a sweet spot for readers who, like herself, savor a happy ending. Influenced by Georgette Heyer, Linore’s historical romances, steeped in Regency authenticity, provide the light-hearted, comedic effects that first sparked her love for the genre. Besides romance, Linore writes young adult apocalyptic suspense. (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard, her alter-ego!)
Sign up for Linore’s newsletter to follow her writing life, book sales and promotions. Upon sign-up, you’ll get a short Regency flash fiction tale in your inbox! (No links allowed here- visit her on the web.)
My Impressions
“You don’t need an invention; in fact, you already have one, for you’ve reinvented yourself.” “That is hardly an invention, as I have not actually done anything but changed the poor opinion of myself that I was accustomed to keep.” “That is no small thing,” he said quietly. “Many people never manage it.”
Forever, Lovely by Linore Burkhold is a time-travel novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. While it would be helpful to have read Forever, Lately, first, there is enough backstory presented that Forever Lovely can stand on its own.
Margaret Andrews, 18, has traveled from the 19th century into 21st, with a relative , hoping to see her sister Clarissa who has forsaken the 19th century for a new life in the future. Mostly, Margaret, convinced she will be both poor and a life-long spinster, wants to bring back to the 19th century an invention to bring her fame and fortune. “Becoming an inventress would change everything!”
The juxtaposition of the two centuries, or the knowledge and customs of each, makes for many a great laugh. I loved the way Burkhold works and actual bookish event into the story as an important part! The tallit, or shawl, is quite mysterious. Burkhold weaves the faith message into her story in a very unique way.
Stewart Russell is a unique individual, rather an outcast among his peers. Studying 19th century women writers, he dresses for a special convention, never dreaming how his life is about to change. Can he accept that change, or will it be too much for his sensibilities?
I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“As you know, I am called a bluestocking times at home, a wallflower, and utterly ignored. Soon I will be considered a spinster, an ape leader! In short, I have no prospects at home that cannot be equaled here or possibly exceeded.”
“you seem to enjoy the illusion of being unattractive.”
“We all like to put God in a box and assume He can only work in such-and-such a way, or through this or that means. But He is the Master of time. He lives outside it, He created it, He is beyond understanding and works in mysterious ways. The only way to judge whether something is of God or not is His Word, the Bible, not our preconceived ideas.”
Can love be found amidst broken hearts and unexpected loss?
Determined to heal her broken heart, Charlotte Eliason visits her aunts in Prune Creek, Wyoming. What should be a time of peace and calm becomes one of chaos and unwelcome surprises when she discovers her longtime foe, Tobias Hallman, is the new blacksmith. To make matters worse, her two meddlesome aunts are constantly inviting him to supper and encouraging friendship between the two sworn enemies.
Tobias Hallman has always wanted to be a blacksmith, so when an opportunity arises to own his own shop in Prune Creek, he seizes it. However, he doesn’t expect to cross paths with his childhood nemesis, the annoying Charlotte Eliason.
When tragedy strikes, close proximity soon forces two reluctant hearts to become allies in a quest to rescue Tobias’s orphaned niece. Can Charlotte and Tobias put aside their preconceived disdain for each other and find love in the midst of challenging circumstances? Does God have a plan for them and for a young girl grieving the untimely loss of her parents?
A woman with a broken heart. A man struggling with the loss of his brother and the subsequent care of his young niece. And two silly aunts who discover it’s never too late for true love.
About the Author
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.
Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.
When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
“Sometimes the Good Lord places folks in our lives who become far more than mere friends.”
Penny Zeller takes us back in time to Prune Creek, Wyoming, in 1895. Charlotte Eliason has had her heart broken, and has traveled to live with her two perpetually bickering aunts.
Charlotte is shocked to discover that the young smithy her aunts want to set her up with is none other than Tobias Hallman, her childhood nemesis.
This old West romance is perfect for those who like the enemies-to-friends-to-more trope. Expect the meddling aunts to provide tons of humor. You’ve just got to love Myrtle and Fern! And little Lanie will both become endearing and break your heart! One of the best things about this book, is that it really can be read as a stand-alone, even though it’s part of a series. (But honestly, the books are too good to miss any.)
I think I would truly have enjoyed living in this town and having a front row seat to the romance and hilarity. I might forego an invitation to supper, though!
One thing Tobias doesn’t understand is how Charlotte can re-read a book four or more times, and he can’t resist needling her. “I do know, however, that if I read a book once I can be assured it will end the same way should I read it a second time. Now on the fourth time, the ending might change.”
One of my fave lines shows Charlotte’s maturity and trust in God. “God wasn’t caught unaware. He knows this is happening and the repercussions…We need to begin collecting prayers.” Sounds simple, but life is being turned topsy-turvy as she proclaims her faith, and encourages another to stand on her faith plateau.
I highly recommend When Love Comes.
I received a copy from the author, and from Celebrate Lit, and I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“I don’t regret the life God chose for me. What I do regret is the bitterness.”
“Don’t be like I’ve been. Forgive, move on, and await with anticipation the life God has planned for you.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! I laughed (so hard!!) my way through this book, but also saw things to change in my own life!
Alice Turner, the owner of one of Charleston’s finest bridal shops, is determined never to be dependent on a man for anything after the disgrace of her father’s prison time. When her best friend requests Alice to be her maid of honor, she reluctantly sets aside her feelings on marriage and dons a stylish bridesmaid’s gown, never intending to catch the eye of the handsome groomsman. Will he be able to convince Alice to open her heart again?
Miss Beaumont’s Companion
When Italian lady’s companion Aria St. Angelo is coerced into posing as her political employer’s absent daughter for the evening at the Louisiana Governor’s masquerade ball, she wasn’t planning on falling for Byron Roderick—the most eligible bachelor in the capitol. But, when he pays call at the Beaumont’s home, Aria is quickly shuffled into the shadows once more, forced to watch him fall in love with another woman.
The Becoming of Miss Blanche
Content to remain a Harvey Girl forever, fiery Tacy Blanche has worked in nearly every Harvey House down the Santa Fe line. But, when she accepts the position of second waitress at the new Montezuma resort, Tacy isn’t expecting her former fiancé’s brother to return to her life—
Pinkerton Jasper Caffery had long abandoned hope of ever finding Tacy again, but while on holiday in New Mexico, Jasper collides with the woman who had never noticed him before. He decides to take his chances and attempt to woo her. However, when Tacy’s past catches up with her, more than Jasper’s heart is at stake.
Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.
More from Grace
Q: What do you love about writing historical fiction?
Grace: I absolutely love the research aspect. I love learning and discovering little known pieces of history. In that research, I love asking the great “what if” question and see where it takes me while still having to follow the guidelines set up for historical fiction.
I’m pretty certain every author started as an avid reader who dreamed of how they would change an ending or change who the heroine ended up with if they could write the book instead. (Anyone else think Theodore Laurence should have married Jo March?) It’s that ever-beautiful question of “what if” that has haunted some of my favorite stories and often drives my own stories to spark to life.
Q: Have you traveled to any places you’ve written about?
Grace: My books have been set in Chicago, many in New York, Newport, New Orleans, and Charleston, which I’ve been able to visit! My upcoming Regency Romance, To Catch a Coronet, is set in London, which I toured many years ago. After writing my Regency, I’ve added an overflowing number of places to visit in England, and even Scotland where my third book will be set.
Want to know which book is set where?
Hearts of Gold: Charleston, Baton Rouge, and New Mexico
The Finding of Miss Fairfield: Charleston and New Mexico
The Pursuit of Miss Parish: New Mexico
To Catch a Coronet: London
My Dear Miss Dupré: New York and Newport
Her Darling Mr. Day: New Orleans
His Delightful Lady Delia: New York
The Gray Chamber: New York
The White City: Chicago
Q: How do you incorporate faith into your storylines?
Grace: I always weave in a faith theme, or verse, into the story. My goal with this novella collection, Hearts of Gold, is to provide readers with clean entertainment while subtly pointing them to Christ. And as with all of my books, something that I am learning inevitably ends up in the story in some form or another. Even though it feels a bit vulnerable to put my personal lessons in a book, I think that it offers a level of genuineness that can bring life to the story and hope to the reader.
Q: What aspect of romance do you enjoy writing about?
Grace: Before I started writing for publication, I would be reading and get very aggravated if the heroine chose the wrong hero in my eyes and I would rewrite the ending in my head, or even set aside the book with only pages left so I didn’t mess up the ending I wanted. Writing a romance is so much fun because now I understand the “formula” if you will about the obstacles placed in the lover’s path and the beauty of when they finally are together.
Q: Please tell us about your most recent book.
Grace: To Catch a Coronet releases with Kregel Publications in May 2024! This Regency Romance has been so much fun to research and while it is a challenge to change eras from Gilded Age to Regency, I’ve loved finding new, unique ways to get my heroines into trouble that inevitably has them meeting their true hero!
About To Catch a Coronet:
London, 1813
Sometimes the only way to out stride scandal is to catch a crown big enough to silence it.
After breaking off two arranged engagements, country baker turned heiress Muriel Beau takes matters into her own hands and asks the visiting baron she loves to marry her in a very public proposal and is met with an emphatic rejection. With no other course but to flee Kent society, Muriel knows the only way out of this debacle is to out stride it by catching what every society matron dreams of obtaining—a coronet with a sumptuous title to match. And after a glittering reception in the courts of London, Muriel’s best laid plans might come true after all.
My Impressions
“One always has a choice.”
I loved these three novellas from Grace Hitchcock. Hearts of Gold is such a great title to describe the real attitude of each protagonist.
In the Bridal Shop, Alice of Charleston, SC, is struggling to make a name for her 1880s bridal shop. She designs beautiful dresses for the wealthy, but she is hiding something in her background. When she falls for a wealthy gentleman, will her secret stay safe, or emerge and ruin her new love and her livelihood?
I loved Giles and his understanding of Alice’s true insecurities. “Don’t you know that we are all imperfect beings? We are all broken. If you are searching for healing in your own strength, you will never find it…Mankind is broken. You know in your heart the only One who can make you whole again. Just stop your running and ask Jesus for healing.”
In Miss Beaumont’s companion, a 1890s lady’s maid (Aria) falls for the beau of her wealthy charge. I love that Aria takes great care of her charge, and her charge truly seems to love and care about her, if possible. I love that the young people stand up for the right, even to parents, without being disrespectful. And Bible verses are very appropriate and nothing is “preachy.” Byron encourages Aria, “He treasures you far more than the birds of the air. Trust that He knows what is best.” Great words for today, too!
The last story is my favorite, because I love the Harvey Girl stories. In the Becoming of Miss Blanche, Tacy Blanche returns to the Montezuma resort, to find plenty of changes. One is the substitute trail guide. I just love the twists and turns this story takes! I wish it had been full-length!! Even in this relationship, there are plenty of roadblocks. As Miss Trent reminds Jasper, “Hearts have a long memory.” Can Tacy sort out what is worth remembering, and who is responsible for the memories?
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I purchased an ebook copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! I loved these tales from the past of love between unexpected matchings.
To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize package of an autographed Copy of My Dear Miss Dupré, Her Darling Mr. Day, and His Delightful Lady Delia!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
A wounded lieutenant, a woman fierce enough to protect her family, and an American Revolution with everything at stake.
Red-haired, freckle-faced and almost six feet tall, Jenny White has resigned herself to fame over love. Possessing the courage and wits to guard her younger siblings against nature, natives, and loyalists in Georgia’s “Hornet’s Nest” gives life meaning until she meets scout, Caylan McIntosh.
From the time Jenny nurses the young lieutenant back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, she can’t deny her attraction to the vexing Highlander, who seems determined to dismantle her emotional armor. But when Georgia falls to the British and Caylan returns to guide Jenny’s family on a harrowing exodus into the North Carolina mountains, will his secrets prove stronger than his devotion? Or will their love be courageous enough to carry them through the battles ahead.
North Georgia native Denise Weimerhas authored over a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.
More from Denise
Welcome to the Hornet’s Nest…the setting for A Courageous Betrothal. In my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series, we started with my September release, A Counterfeit Betrothal, in 1813. We’ve moved backward in time to middle Georgia, where the conflict between Patriots, Loyalists, and Native Americans became so intense during the American Revolution the area was dubbed “the Hornet’s Nest.” Little is known about this portion of the war, but it’s not just the setting that makes A Courageous Betrothal unique.
If the story sounds faintly familiar, that’s because it was originally Across Three Autumnsof Barbour’s Backcountry Brides (2018). That’s why it’s a short novella instead of a full-length novel. The story became a free agent just in time to join my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier. It was a perfect fit not only because of the subject matter but also because some of the real people and places show up in this story as well as the novels of the series.
Another thing that sets A Courageous Betrothal apart is its heroine. As authors, we occasionally create characters who take on life and burst off the page. That’s Jenny White. Maybe because she was based on a real person, Nancy Hart. Six feet tall, red-haired, pock-marked, and a crack shot, Nancy was called “Wahatche” or “War Woman” by local Indians. She spied for Colonel Elijah Clark and captured Loyalists and British soldiers on more than one occasion. Her exploits are echoed in Jenny’s.
So are her insecurities, which make her relatable. Jenny’s given up on the notion of finding love. Men always prefer women like her dainty younger sister. And then she meets Caylan McIntosh, a scout for Colonel Clark whose Highland heritage makes him an ardent admirer of Jenny’s strength. Her doubts—along with the shorter word count and the time needed for love to grow between wartime encounters—are a reason I chose to write the novella solely from Jenny’s POV.
By no means does Jenny outshine Caylan. He’s still probably the most swoon-worthy hero I’ve written. Here’s a little snippet of him persuading Jenny to dance.
The unseen fiddler took his cue. The notes anchored themselves inside Jenny’s chest, with invisible strings tugging her toward the sound. Caylan and presumably several other Scots started a jig. From his fancy footwork and agile leaps, the lieutenant appeared dead sober. She found herself propping the pitchfork against a wall and drifting closer in the shadows, her mother’s previous warning drowned out in the waterfall of lilting notes.
When the musician warbled into “Soldier’s Joy,” a woman faced off with her husband. As they greeted and turned, two frontiersmen leapt up to join them. Caylan looked around as though searching for a partner and noticed Jenny standing just outside the circle of light. He came toward her, hand outstretched.
“Come, lass, will ye dance with me? Ye know this one.”
Indeed, she did. She had seen settlers perform the steps on the Yadkin River. Before Jenny had time to think, Caylan whirled her into the circle, and a man dancing a female part grabbed her for a ladies’ chain. She caught a brief glimpse of Gabriel’s alarmed face as she whizzed past.
Delighted with the actual women who joined them, the men paid courtly attention that caused Jenny’s face to flame. But none more than the sensation of Caylan’s eyes, warm amber in the firelight, fixed on her every time they met. The roughened strength of his large hand made hers feel small.
When the song changed, Jenny gave an awkward curtsy and tried to back away, but her partner caught her arm. “’Tis just a Cumberland Reel.”
“I know no Cumberland Reel. Remember, we do not dance.”
“Oh. I did forget that.” But Caylan’s smirk hinted otherwise. “Seems to me Wahatchee would not grow lily-livered at a wee promenade. See, ’tis only a skip step, toe to heel?”
Jenny turned her lips down. “Wahatchee has a mother.”
Caylan threw his head back and laughed. “What? That slip of a woman has a Highland princess like you all a’cower?”
“I am English, sir.” She clasped her hands behind her petticoats.
“Well, pardon me, my lady,” he retorted with mock offense, “but yer regal bearing and coloring beg otherwise. I wager some hint of Celtic besmears the White family past…far back in the recesses of time, no doubt.”
The “regal coloring” went up in flames. Jenny repeated what she’d heard her mother proudly state many times. “We come from pure English stock.”
“Well, then, I dare ye to prove a proper English lady has no fear of a Cumberland Reel.”
“Those are break teeth words, McIntosh. If I chose, I could dance until daybreak, and still be dancing long after you collapse.” So saying, Jenny stalked to the tail of the reel and waited for the laughing Scotsman to follow her.
Just like firing a gun, riding a horse, clearing brush, and swimming, dancing provided no challenge. Jenny did all physical things well and with endurance. What she had not expected, however, was the way Caylan’s obvious approval made her feel. It answered a craving deep inside that she had attempted to discredit for years. Not to mention the brush of his fingertips, the pressure of his hand on her waist, spread the bonfire to her bones.
From that moment to Jenny nursing Caylan back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, through the climactic, real-life exodus of civilians from Georgia to the mountains of North Carolina, Caylan fights for Jenny’s trust with as much determination as he fights the British. I hope you’ll be swept away by their romance amid the dangers of the Hornet’s Nest. And if you like Scottish characters, stay tuned for book three of the Scouts Series, coming in January and set in 1775 on the border of Georgia and South Carolina.
My Impressions
“The frontier flipped things backward, making a strong, tough girl desirable and a weak, delicate one a liability. But the presence of men always managed to put things back in their natural order.”
Jenny White is an incredibly strong, capable, young unmarried adult in a family on the Georgia frontier. While Jenny’s fast thinking, cunning, and abilities to care for her family almost rival that of her father’s and brother’s, it is femininity like that of her sister, Hester, that she desires when she meets Caylan McIntosh.
Jenny embodies a lot of true history of a well-known Patriot woman of the time, Nancy Hart. Reading the author’s notes at the end is mandatory, if you want to see how much of Jenny is based on truth!
I loved Caylon’s devotion to Jenny and his continued efforts to put her insecurities to rest. That part was easy to read. Not so easy to read were the many parts describing the uprisings of the conflict between the British, their Native American allies, and the colonists.
There was one section that I appreciated, describing Jenny’s faith walk or struggle. discovers she needs not only to accept Christ, but to allow “the power of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, to enable her to put off the “old Jenny” and live as a “new Jenny.” She had agreed to that, but over the years, “old Jenny” seemed to keep emerging.” I wished the novel had emphasized Jenny’s struggle as spiritual more after this.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotable:
“All men die, ’tis just a matter of when, and how bravely. Let it be said of me when I go that I went down fighting.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the history, danger, and love of the early frontier.
Fans of Mesu Andrews and Connilyn Cossette will love And Their Numbers Grew. If you love The Chosen, the story continues in And Their Numbers Grew.
Rumors of the risen Christ spread through Jerusalem like a wildfire—and the Sanhedrin is paying attention.
Their efforts to stifle the name of Jesus only fuel the cause until a young Pharisee gets involved, breathing threats of imprisonment—or worse. Stephen’s brutal stoning accelerates the persecution and sends the faithful fleeing the city for their lives.
They are afflicted in every way, but not crushed. As the fledgling church disperses, their numbers continue to grow. Now, the apostles must train the new believers in the ways and words of Jesus—and what it means to live in God’s Kingdom here on earth.
The Kingdom of God spreads to Damascus, Joppa, Caesarea, Antioch, and Tarsus through the testimonies of Ananias, Tabitha, and Barnabas. While an outraged Saul sets out for Damascus to arrest them all, the followers press on fervently, with the help of the Holy Spirit—though it may cost them their lives.
Four disciples whose lives are intertwined, told in four novellas, chronicling the birth pains of the early church.
About the Authors
Donna E. Lane is an award-winning, multi-genre author with a passion for exploring all aspects of the human experience. As a Christian counselor and spiritual director, Dr. Lane has dedicated herself to guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys, offering solace and wisdom through her integrated approach. Her 46 years of experience in this field have provided her with insights which she seamlessly weaves into her writing, delving into the complexities of relationships and the depths of the human heart.
With a boundless imagination, a fervent devotion to Jesus, a love for history, and a fascination with time, she crafts stories that resonate deeply with readers, offering the opportunity to embark on unforgettable journeys to other worlds, across time, and into space.
A devoted wife of 44 years and mother of three, she now cherishes her role as a grandmother and mom to her new puppy, a little white furball named Rosie Cotton.
Naomi writes Historical Fiction set in Bible times.
She lives in a small town in the south-eastern mountains of Arizona
She is an avid reader, Pastor’s wife, and homeschool mom.
Naomi co-hosts the #BehindTheStory Author Interview Show over on youtube, and Biblical Fiction Aficionados Facebook Group.
My Impressions
“We wait in silence as calm vanquishes all anxiety and doubt. It’s then that I know I will see [blank] and Stephen again.” [This hope- so real to me regarding others in my life!]
I finished And Their Numbers Grew by Naomi Craig and Donna E. Lane with a happy smile on my face, tears of anguish in my eyes. Somehow that wraps up the emotions this book evokes of the four followers of Jesus it focuses on Stephen, Ananias, Barnabas, and Tabitha. While we see many of the other apostles and disciples prominently, these four are the focus, with their lives both Biblically and in some cases imaginatively tied together.
I would like to say that no where did I see Scripture contradicted. Where Scripture is silent, Lane and Craig allow their storytelling minds to set up situations to make for an informative, believable, and possible storyline. They do not claim what is not in the Bible is truth, just their imaginations to help us better understand what life of the followers of Jesus may have been like shortly after His death.
Craig and Lane do an incredible job of presenting a great deal of fitting Scripture into the story. They also write in first person, giving the characters an urgency about the Message, while still giving them very real stumbling blocks, doubts, and victories.
I highly recommend this novel of the early Christians. Be prepared to be challenged spiritually, and have your emotions totally engaged!
I received a copy of this book from the authors. I also bought my own ebook from Amazon. I am not required to leave a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“My mind claws to remain on the mountaintop of faith, but the dark thoughts drag me over the edge. I know how far it is to fall, how easy it is to succumb to self-pity, and I don’t want to falter.”
“What makes me think I can properly tell the gospel if I can’t speak clearly? How can he understand God’s great salvation if I don’t articulate the vast grace? I shift my focus to what I know to be true. Although accurate, that thought doesn’t define me, for I have the Holy Spirit of the Christ dwelling in me. My weaknesses are no match for the Spirit’s power.”
“If I identify myself with the Christ, I can’t pick and choose who to show God’s love.”
“Those who still cling to the ways of the fathers are offended that we have set our attention to the Gentiles. Those who are brothers recognize no difference between Greek and Jew.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You’ll learn, you’ll be challenged, you’ll ache, you’ll laugh, and you’ll cry. But you won’t think about the Message the same!!
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Christmas Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Southern Fiction
Release Date: November 21, 2023
Why didn’t her life get the memo regarding Christmas being about peace on Earth and goodwill to men?
For the first Christmas in years, Kimberley Saint John may actually get that peace on Earth she’s been dreaming of. Daddy has been sober for going on two years (a record), and if he stays that way, she might have a chance for a life of her own. Maybe even a family. And between you, her, and the fence post, she’d love it if that family included her childhood friend Jax Jenson and his kids.
Except he’s still mourning the loss of his wife.
Jax doesn’t understand why no one has snatched up sweet, beautiful, and funny Kim. Then again, the way she carries hurt and betrayal around like battle gear might have something to do with it. And he is not knight-in-shining-armor material. His wife could’ve told her that.
Kim’s dreams are shattered when Mama shows up, after a twenty-year absence, sending Kim into a tailspin of worry for her daddy. Desperate, she turns to the one man who gets her—Jax.
What will it take for Kim and Jax to untangle emotions that keep them from trusting in God’s sovereignty and find purpose through the pain?
Jennifer Sienesholds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing–and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels. Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies–two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.
Enjoy An Excerpt from the Book!
Why was it people made such a fuss over the holidays? Seemed to me, even if you had a perfect family, which I surely didn’t, it was still a crazy time when everyone one-upped each other. It was kind of like playing holiday poker. I’ll take your worries over how to seat twenty of your closest relatives and raise you one need to order a pre-cooked meal because I can’t even find time to shop. Of course, the shame of not having a homemade Thanksgiving supper raised the ante quite a bit, so I generally won.
Because Daddy and me would have a couple of kids with us this year, I vowed things would be different. I was even willing to shop, cook, and bake, which was the trifecta of disaster as far as I was concerned. I had nothing against shopping—it was part of my everyday life. Hunting down great deals on vintage furniture was in my job description. But food? Only as a source of survival. Spent too many years cooking for Daddy after Mama left us, and baking was downright messy and time consuming. I’d never be held up as a great example of a Southern lady. But I’d push through it for Nora and Chandler. And if I was going to be completely honest, maybe a little for their daddy, too.
Never could see myself with my own children. For one thing, though it might stretch the imagination of most to believe it, I was a traditionalist. Even if I hadn’t stepped foot into a church since I was fifteen, there was an order to life and love that shouldn’t be forsaken. Since I hadn’t been on a date for more months than I could count on both hands, it wasn’t likely I’d be getting married anytime soon. Might be my lack of culinary skills played into that some.
For another thing, I’d heard a couple of the older ladies in my apartment complex refer to me as a spinster. It would appear, unless God miraculously plopped Mr. Perfect-for-me on my doorstep this very day, I’d be too old to have kids even if I ever did get married. At thirty-five, I was already stretching the limits of my biological clock. Add to that a year or two of dating, then a proper engagement, and I might as well accept my lot in life—once I figured out what that was exactly.
My Impressions
“The real dream is the people we have in our lives, you know? And of course, the love of the Lord is the glue that holds it all together.”
Kimberley (Kim) has watched her life dream pass her by, as she has been her father’s support since his wife and her mother left when Kim was 15. Going to school, working, taking care of the house, and trying to keep track of her rarely sober father has exhausted Kim. She feels she has missed her life’s purpose, and anyone who tries to get close is shut out, until Jax, the last few years.
Jax is a close family friend, a widower, with two children who adore Kimberley.
Just when it seems Jax and Kimberley might take s chance on each other, major upheaval hits Kimberley’s life.
Many of Kimberley’s friends offer godly advice. Kim has just been starting to think about returning to her Heavenly Father. But now?
I loved this book for its southern flare mixed with simplicity. The faith challenges Kimberley and Jax face are very real. So much emotional trauma, balanced out by wonderful, healing humor. You won’t get very far before you are roaring out loud. One example: Jax says of his office full of women, all looking out for him, “had me more mamas than a blended family twice removed.”
I highly recommend Tangles and Tinsel by Jennifer Sienes if you want a contemporary Christmas romance chock-full of suppressed emotions that need healing and laughter that will help you remember the story for a long time to come.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“regret’s not gonna get you very far.”
“It was a powerful thing, being touched. For healing. For comfort. For loving.”
“Mistakes could be redeemed if we were willing to learn from them and let go.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! I really enjoyed this feel-good Christmas read
Rebounding from a failed relationship, Author Timothy Hayes escapes to the beautiful Amana Colonies to begin a new life. Smalltown Iowa, during the 2020 pandemic, proves lax with social distancing. Social awkwardness, however, is at an all-time high as a host of quirky neighbors crowd Tim’s personal space. Tim’s pug must go for walks which opens the door for adorable children, annoying neighbor men, old ladies who want to tell their life story, and a matchmaker set on “fixing Tim up.” Several attractive young women emerge as contenders for Tim’s heart. A woman twice his age infatuates him with her magical gift of storytelling. Remain True is a dual timeline. Tim’s life in 2020 becomes interwoven with the storyteller’s history, resulting in a surprising singular conclusion. No matter what happens in life, God will Remain True.
Thomas Nye, author of the beloved Amish Horses Series, writes romance novels with an Historical flare and a touch of humor. He and his wife live on an acreage her grandparents bought in 1918. They have five grown children, nine grandchildren, and a team of draft horses. Their home is situated between an Amish community and the Amana Colonies, a perfect location to inspire his writing.
More from Thomas
Most of us have experienced some dark episodes in this life. How do we find our way back into hope and sunshine? My wife and I have been married for almost 43 years, but about halfway through we were separated for 4 months. The storyline of Remain True has almost nothing in common with the details of my dark time. The difficult emotions and subsequent hopefulness of God’s graceful intervention led me to write this novel.
For Timothy Hayes, life has become incredibly dark. In the opening scene we find him reluctantly removing his wedding band and placing it in a miniature, coffin-like box. To make matters worse, Tim’s personal struggle coincides with the heaviness of the Coronavirus outbreak. His will to live is shrinking. Tim visited the Amana Colonies ten years earlier and thought of the villages as a hauntingly beautiful getaway where he could sulk.
God has another plan.
Small town Iowa is not the place to isolate, even during Covid, as it proves an epic failure in social distancing. Social awkwardness, however, is at an all-time high as a host of quirky neighbors invade Tim’s personal space and refuse to allow him any opportunity to submerge into depression.
I hope those who read Remain True will be able to relate with Tim’s struggle enough to rejoice with him as God provides a ray of sunshine during his darkest hour.
My wife and I found hope and restoration and are looking forward to our 43rd anniversary. We thoroughly enjoy grandparenting our 9 grandchildren (and counting) together. God is good!
My Impressions
“if you circle through all seven Amana Colonies, you will find true love.”
Spending part of my childhood near Cedar Rapids, the Amana Colonies were a family trip or school field trip destination. So, discovering Remain True: Amana by Thomas Nye was an automatic draw for me, as well as the fact it is a dual timeline.
Tim, a young, divorced writer has retreated to the rural Amana Colonies (Main Amana to be exact) to lick his wounds and try to re-ignite his life as a writer.
Tim’s annoyance at his neighbors’ friendliness (and possibly over-interest in his life) annoys me. I am thankful that Linda pushes him to help the neighbor children out, when he might choose to ignore them! They are adorable, and a dog like Chimichanga would easily capture their attention and curiosity!
Oma is a little more formidable. Tim handled her better than I might. One part friendly and two parts gruff, her storytelling ability is superb as she relates the “history” of Tim’s house. When Tim questions Oma’s stories being about people not individuals, Oma has a ready answer. “I thought you were going to tell me stories about my cottage.” Oma frowned at him. “A home is defined by those who live there.”
Eventually, like Tim, one falls in love with this old woman who has seen so much life.
One part of life portrayed heavily in the story is COVID. The constant mention of the disease, masking, social distancing, etc, made me uneasy. While I’m not sure ignoring it in literature is the way to go, so many people suffered so much. One needs to at least know this is a possible trigger in the book.
Nye does an incredible job of tying everything and everybody together by the end. A few stereotypes were involved, but there were also some surprises that were fun to uncover. Overall, a fun book with a bit of history in the setting.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great! Nice to read a dual timeline set in the Amana Colonies!
After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever?
Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)
More from Dana
What a challenge to write the eighth book in this fabulous Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series! Writing a continuity (linked books with an overarching mystery) with seven other authors requires us to work closely together which is a rare blessing in this solitary business. There were so many good conversations, emails and texts that went into the construction of this series. Since wilderness escape novels are my favorite, it was great fun to write Tanner, Mara and Boxer Britta’s dramatic survival story. I hope you enjoy the book and the entire series as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you!
My Impressions
“She was exhausted from running, her body battered by cold and hunger, weakened by seven months of living as a fugitive. Not just a fugitive from the law, but on the run from the two predators stalking her since the moment she’d witnessed a double murder back in April.”
Snowbound Escape is a very fast-paced Christian romantic suspense novel about 24-year-old Mara Gilmore, a Pacific Northwest Canine Officer, who has been on the lam for seven months. Seven months of being totally alone, relying only on herself for survival, trying to stay one step ahead of the murderer who wants her dead for what she has witnessed.
Her teammate, Tanner Ford, who has come with his trained boxer K9, Britta, to rescue her, is hampered by the continual blizzard-like conditions and the wiliness and cunning of Eli, the killer. So many harrowing attempts on their lives. Will the weather finish them off before Eli does?
While Mara has severe trust issues, partly stemming from her upbringing, Tanner’s heart is frozen by more than the blizzard outside. Can the two work together under great duress without someone losing more than their life?
I liked how Mentink shows that God is working in Mara’s heart to become more open to those around her, and in Tanner’s as well. He is also working in a third heart very important to those two, to heal and restore.
Mentink has a humorous side, and some of that ekes out (just a little) in various places. One spot was deadly serious, and yet, oh, so funny, just in the way Mentink describes it. I should have been shaking, but I was rolling with laughter instead. I would need that bit of humor to carry me through all the dangers Mara and Tanner would face.
God, of course, is the most important help one can have when the chips are down. Mara and Tanner take turns edifying each other as needed. But next to God, bring in the dogs! Britta is a beautiful boxer who has already befriended Mara, has excellent tracking skills, and intelligence and loyalty like none other. She is a scene stealer, for sure! Be sure and grab your copy of this book to read in front of a warm fire with a hot drink and a canine or feline friend!
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“God has the final word. Wait on the Lord and He will give you courage and healing.”
“We’re commanded to love one another and when you don’t allow people to do that, you rob them of a blessing.”
“Sharing was messy and painful, like picking a wound that hadn’t fully scabbed over.”
“God would give him enough, moment by moment, perhaps, but it would be sufficient.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent
I can always count on a Mentink romantic suspense to be action-packed and engaging.
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 