Christy award winners

Dear Readers,

Here are the winners for the 2016 awards.  I have personally read all but one of the these books. They all very deservedly have won their categories and the book of the year is a must read.  If they are not on your TBR pile, they should be.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Happy Reading,

Book of the Year - The 5 Times I met Myself - James Rubart

Contemporary - The Sea Keeper's Daughter - Lisa Wingate

Contemporary Romance/Suspense - The Wedding Chapel - Rachel Hauck

Contemporary Series - The Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Beth K. Vogt

First Novel - Irish Meadows - Susan Anne Mason

Historical - Secrets She Kept - Cathy Gohlke

Historical Romance - Luther and Katharina - Jody Hedlund

Suspense - Twisted Innocence - Terri Blackstock

Visionary - The 5 Times I met Myself - James Rubart

Young Adult - The Choosing - Rachelle Dekker

Chris Fabry

Dear Readers,

In The Promise of Jesse Woods Chris Fabry once again takes us back to Dogwood, West Virginia.  A town we have visited along with Chris 3 other times.  A little town that is not perfect, but will remind you of home if you grew up in a small town anywhere in the USA. 

During the summer of 1972 Matt Plumley's life changed forever.  His father took a  pastoral position in the little town that he grew up in.  It meant leaving behind Pittsburgh and Matt's beloved Pirates.  It also meant new friends, new school and figuring out the lay of the land.

The first person Matt meets is Jesse Woods and the rest they say is history.  Jesse, Dickie and Matt become pretty inseparable for the summer.  They ride their bikes all over the mountains, they explore, the have campouts, they are just kids.  Each with a different type of "baggage" to carry, but together, life is tolerable.  

12 years later, Matt returns to Dogwood after finding out why Jesse is about to break a promise she made to him years ago.  The only promise Jesse ever broke.  

Chris' books always make it to my TBR pile of books and are usually pretty high on the list as they are all so good.  There is something about Chris' writing style that makes me comfortable.  I would say that he writes with a Mayberry feel to it.  A place we all want to go  home to.  

Another aspect of Chris' writing that is remarkable, his stories never seem to end up where you think they are going to end up.  They are not major twists or turns that get them pointed in a different way, it his characters.  They are very human and people we can identify with.  Characters that have flaws, do things they are not proud of, and are people we ourselves are.  

Do yourself a favor, if you haven't read any of Chris' books, grab one, get started and find yourself at home in Dogwood West Virginia.  

Happy Reading,

New Release - Lead Me Home - Amy K. Sorrells

Lead me Home - Amy K. Sorrells 

Amid open fields and empty pews, small towns can crush big dreams.
Abandoned by his no-good father and forced to grow up too soon, Noble Burden has set his dreams aside to run the family farm. Meanwhile, James Horton, the pastor of the local church, questions his own calling as he prepares to close the doors for good.


As a severe storm rolls through, threatening their community and very livelihood, both men fear losing what they care about most . . . and reconsider where they truly belong.

New Releases - June 20-25

Dear Readers,

It is hard to believe that we are in the last week of June already.  We are having a "boss is out of town" week here.  Lots of fun things for us here at the store and sales for the customers.  Relaxing, laughter and fun.  

Happy Reading,

Deep Shadows - Vannette Chapman - The Remnant Series #1 - When a massive solar flare wipes out modern technology, Max Berkman is thrust into a leadership role.  He also sees it as a chance to prove his love once again to Shelby Sparks.  He steps into the leadership role well, but his first priority is to help Shelby and her diabetic son.

They Danced On - Carre Armstrong Gardner - # 3 A Darling Family Novel - Jane Darling is ready to relax and enjoy the fruits of an empty nest.  But now her husband has a serious illness and she will have to take on a new role, one that is more difficult than any other she has ever had to do.

The Promise of Jessie Woods - Chris Fabry - Matthew Plumley finds out the girl he loved when he was just a boy is getting married.  He returns home to Dogwood West Virginia to face his past and to find out the truth behind the only promise Jessi Woods ever broke.

The Saddle Maker's Son - Kelly Irvin - #3 The Amish of Bee County - Rebekah just wants to have the chance to marry and have children.  Like the other girls her age in the community.  Tobias wants to put the memories of a woman he should not have fallen for behind them.  Together they will discover the key to forgetting the past and finding a future.

*Sigh*

Wish I was here.

New Release - Every Bride has Her Day - Janice Thompson

Every Bride Has Her Day - Janice Thompson

Katie's determined to make it down the aisle this time--but it may be easier said than done
Katie Fisher is ecstatic. Pro basketball star Brady James has proposed, and she can't wait to start planning their life together. But it's hard to focus on her own happily ever after when her calendar is filling up with celebrations for friends and family. Beyond that, it seems everyone around her has an opinion--and a strong one at that--on what Katie's special day should look like. Will she ever manage to settle all of the details for her storybook wedding? Or will her overzealous friends and relations make a mess of everything?

Rachel McMillan

Dear Readers,

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan is the perfect book for summer reading.  It is funny and yet has an intriguing mystery to it. I am not sure what I expected when this cute little book arrived on my shelves here at the store, but it turned into loads of fun.


It is 1910 in Toronto (I know not a setting you find a lot of fiction book set in) and Merinda and Jem are launching their own business.  Their own detective agency.  They are learning the ropes and making friends with police constable Jasper Forth and reporter Ray DeLuca (whom Jem maybe willing to give up her bachelor ways for) when they become caught up in the deaths of young women in the cities darkside.

I really did like the mystery part of this book and am looking forward to the second of the series, but I have to admit, that I really enjoyed the sense of humor in the book.  Rachel must have had a wonderful time writing this.  Her sense of fun and laughter shines through and it makes the book that much more pleasurable to read.

I don't want to give any plot lines away, but I have to admit laughing out loud several times and the scene where Merinda and Jem are learning to dress and walk like a man, oh my goodness, I could picture that in my head and it still makes me giggle when I try to talk to others about it.

The quotes at the beginning of the chapters are the best.  If there are real or just made up doesn't matter, just make sure you read them as they add to the enjoyment of reading because it gives you the feel for the time in history the book is writing.  That is all I will say on that subject as I don't want to give to many clues and want you to find them on your own.

If you have a quiet summer afternoon or evening (of course mornings are okay also) this book is a great way to pass the time.

Happy Reading,

New Release - The Promise of Jesse Woods - Chris Fabry

The Promise of Jesse Woods - Chris Fabry 

The summer of 1972 was the most pivotal of Matt Plumley’s childhood. While his beloved Pirates battle for back-to-back World Series titles, Matt’s family moves from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, West Virginia, where his father steps into the pulpit of a church under the thumb of town leader Basil Blackwood. A fish out of water, Matt is relieved to forge a fast bond with two unlikely friends: Dickie Darrel Lee Hancock, a mixed-race boy, and Jesse Woods, a tough-as-nails girl with a sister on her hip and no dad in sight.


As the trio traipses the hills and hollers, Matt begins to fall for Jesse, and their promises to each other draw him deeper into her terrifying reality. One night, the wrath of the Blackwoods and the secrets of Jesse’s family collide, and Matt joins Jesse in a rescue that saves one life and ends another . . . and severs the bond of their friendship.

Years later, Matt is pulled back to Dogwood and to memories of that momentous summer by news of Jesse’s upcoming wedding. He could never shake the feeling that there was more to the story of that fateful night, and he’s determined to learn the truth behind the only promise Jesse Woods ever broke.

New Releases - June 13 - 18

Dear Readers,

The books for summer reading are rolling in now.  More and more titles are hitting the shelves.  I am so glad to be able to share them with you.

Happy Reading,

The Ringmaster's Wife - Mable Burton leaves her family farm behind to see the world.  A chance meeting introduces her to the world of Ringling Bros. world.   25 years later Lady Rosamund Easling follows her beloved horse to America and becomes a star of the circus.

Kill Devil - Mike Dellosso -#2 A Jed Patrick novel -  Jed Patrick is sure his family is finally safe.  Then their home is invaded by trained men.  Jed now knows his family won't be safe until he dismantles the Centralia Project

The Alliance - Jolina Petersheim - A power surge kills all the electricity in the area.  The quiet little community of Old Order Mennonite are the only ones in the area that have a self-sustaining food source.  They are forced to make an alliance with the group of Englischers that have crash landed in their fields.  But they soon face a threat much bigger than any of them have expected.

Lead Me Home - Amy Sorrells -Noble Burden is trying to get out of town.  James Horton is a pastor who is questioning his own calling.  As James faces the closing of the little community church a severe storm rolls through town, threatening not only their community, but also their lively hoods.

Murder Handcrafted - Isabella Alan - Angie is looking forward to Spring in Holmes County.  A thriving business and great friends, what more could she ask for?  Her mother has other plans and a home-renovation project starts and moves along well.  Until the morning the electrician is found dead and the sheriff expects foul play.

Summer

This is why I love summer!!

New Release - The Dog that Whispered - Jim Kraus

The Dog that Whispered - Jim Kraus

Wilson Steele is a single professor and Vietnam veteran who likes living alone, insisting it's too late for him to have a family. His mother disagrees. When she impulsively adopts a rescued black lab mix, she insists Thurman is special, and has whispered of the coming of grandchildren. Wilson brushes the notion off as fantasy. 

When his mother learns of her retirement community's 'no pets' policy, she forces Wilson to take the lovable dog. Wilson notices Thurman's growls do sound like words, but he knows he's just projecting his own thoughts on the animal. If Wilson is talking to neighbors on their walks, and spending time with Emily, a widow with three children, it isn't because Thurman encouraged him. After all, everyone knows dogs can't talk...can they?

Kristy Cambron

Dear Readers, 

Who among us, when we were kids, did not dream of running away with the Circus?  The animals, the travel, the excitement of the crowds. All of it was a lure that sang to most children sometime in that brief period of our lives where innocence made us believe it would be the perfect life. 

The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron allows us for a brief time to join the circus and find out what it all about.  It is not just glamour and thrills, it is traveling to a different city every night.  It is jealousy because a new headliner is taking your job and glory.  It is a family but in the size of a small city.  A family that is very normal, with love and laughter and squabbles.  

Mabel Burton leaves her family farm to follow the city lights and find her dreams.  A chance encounter with a tall handsome man changes everything for her.  That man is John Ringling and Mabel finds  herself in the center of the circus world.  The world she keeps telling her husband she will not meddle in.  Well, not everyday, just sometimes.  

25 years later, Lady Rosamund Easling does run away from home to join the circus.  She follows her beloved horse to America to help train lngenue for the circus.  Rose agrees to stay a few months to make sure everything is going smoothly and then will head back to England to marry the man her parents have picked out for her.  

I will be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to like the book as much as I did.  I didn't dream long about running away to a circus.  I have only seen a few in my life and though they are fun to go to, they are just not my thing.  But I found myself completely drawn in by the storyline.  

Kristy has a wonderful way of writing that makes you want to become part of the story.  You can hear the Calliope playing, you can almost smell the animals and you definitely can see the crowds.  Everything becomes real and now that I am done reading I feel like I have experienced the circus and have checked that wish off my list of things I needed to do.  

I recommended Kristy's books in the past because of the tough subject matter that she writes about, this one I recommend because it speaks to the heart of the child that still lives in all of us.  

I can't wait for Kristy's next book.  She is an author who has made the must read list as she hasn't just written about one topic, but about people that you really want to met.  

Happy Reading, 

New Release - Like a River from its Course - Kelli Stuart

Like a River from its Course - Kelli Stuart

An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope

The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little—known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the "killing ditch." He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer's plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism. 

New Releases June 6 - 11

Dear Readers,

The middle of June already.  Hopefully the slow gentleness of summer has hit you.  I love that slower pace.  I know the begin of the month was a bit frantic but now that the warmer temps have hit, I have a chance to relax and enjoy a good book.

Happy Reading, 


All Summer Long - Melody Carlson - #2 Follow your heart - Tia is excited to get started on the DIY project her Aunt has planned for her.  Renovating an old yacht into a floating restaurant.  Dinner Cruises, weddings, and endless possibilities seem much more appealing that her dead end job in her hometown.  When a crush from years ago is the captain of the yacht, things really start looking up.

 No Other will Do - Karen Witemeyer - Emma started a women's only colony for females who need a fresh start.  But someone is trying to drive the women out and is becoming more and more dangerous.  Emma knows she needs a man, but one that can fight.  Malachi is that man and when he gets word he hurries back to the girl who saved his life.  Only she isn't a girl anymore.

The Dog that Whispered - Jim Kraus - Wilson Steele is single professor and has no plans of changing that.  His mother on the other hand adopts a black Lab mix and finds out she can't have a dog at her retirement home.  So Wilson takes the dog in, solving her problem.  What he gets instead of more peace and quiet is a dog who sounds like he is talking.  

The Cantaloupe Thief - Deb Richardson - Moore - A Branigan Powers Mystery #1 - 10 years ago Alberta Resnick was stabbed to death.  Reporter Branigan takes on the unsolved mystery hoping to finally put it to rest.  She knows the homeless usually know more than most people think and begins to interview them.  Now the homeless are dying.  Will Branigan be able to find the killer before the killer gets to her? 

Like a River From Its Course - Kellie Stuart -The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little—known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Snoopy

Ah that summer reading list. 

Angela Hunt

Dear Readers,

Biblical fiction is not my favorite to read.  It really has nothing to do with anything theological, but more with the fact that it seems authors write about the same few characters over and over.  This year there has been a small shift, Tessa Afshar wrote about the woman who touched Jesus' hem. Yes, it is on my TBR pile, but my book club is reading it later this year, so I am waiting to read it.  Now Angela Hunt has released a book about Delilah as part of her Dangerous Beauty series.  

Now there is one we don't read about much, the woman who brought Samson down.  I am not supposed to like her because she caused Samson to be captured and later killed, but when you read a story that gives her a backstory (true or not) you begin to remember that the characters in the Bible are human with stories that we don't always know or understand.  Why would Delilah want to take Samson down?  Why was she working for the Philistines? 

 

Angela seems to have asked herself these questions and set about finding answers.  What we get is an interesting Biblical read about a women most of only know as the "bad guy" in the Samson story.  

Delilah was a daughter of a well-off widow who has just remarried.   She and her mother are adjusting well to the new household.  Delilah believes her new life won't be much different from her old life, but that thought quickly changes.  When her step-father dies, and her step-brother forces her to be his concubine, life spirals out of control. 

In some ways this is the familiar Bible story, but  it is so much more than that.  It is a story of a woman who takes everything life gives her and survives.  Delilah has grown into a villian and yet she was a woman who did what she thought she had to do to live.  Does that make what she did right, no, but sometimes people feel like they have no choice in the matter.

I think one other interesting aspect of this story is Samson's story.  I am not sure I ever 'warmed' up to Samson as he always seemed a bit arrogant.  And yet you meet a young man who has the safety of his country on his shoulders.  He and his parents knew that he was promised for great things from day one and I think that makes his arrogance a little more understandable.  

Once again Angela proves that she is a top writer of Biblical fiction.  I have heard more than once that it is her passion and that really shines through in this story.  Even if Biblical fiction isn't your thing, this book is well worth the read. 

Happy Reading,

A Haven on Orchard Lane - Lawana Blackwell

A Haven on Orchard Lane - Lawana Blackwell

An urgent escape . . . a wounded heart . . .
Will Charlotte find the solace she longs for at the cottage on Orchard Lane?
Famed actress Charlotte Ward stepped away from the Victorian London stage five years ago. Now in desperate circumstances, she tries to restart her career--only to experience a complete collapse. Against her better judgment, Charlotte's estranged daughter, Rosalind, comes to her mother's rescue and moves her to a quiet English coastal village where her mother can evade the gossip columnists, at least for a time. 

Charlotte is grateful to re-establish even tenuous family ties with Rosalind. As one with regrets over her own romantic past, she's happy to see love blossom for her daughter. For Rosalind, however, it's time away from teaching, and now she must care for the mother who wasn't there for her. And what could possibly be more complicated than romance?

But there can be no permanent escape from the threats of recent months. As the privacy they seek is threatened, mother and daughter must make some difficult decisions--ones that jeopardize those they care about most.

P.S. On a personal note I am so glad to have Lawana back writing.  I have missed her gentle lovely regency books.  

New Releases - May 30 - June 4

Dear Readers,

Hot temps, comfy chairs and a great book.  Does summer get any better than that?  Several new titles that should help that summer reading list.

Happy Reading,

A Haven on Orchard Lane - Lawana Blackwell - When Famous Actress Charlotte Ward tries to restart her career, she fails miserably.  Her daughter comes to her rescue and moves her to a quiet coastal village.  Charlotte welcomes a chance to reconnect with her daughter, while Rosalind struggles to find a balance between time away from teaching and a mother who was never there for her.

Delilah - Angela Hunt - #3 A Dangerous Beauty novel - Everyone knows Delilah's story.  Her great love Samson and how she betrayed him for riches.  But what made her really do it?  Was it just the gold and fame or was there another reason behind her needing the money?

Sea Rose Lane - Irene Hannon - #4 A Hope Harbor Novel - Eric returns to Hope Harbor and his old home to regroup and find a new career path.  The problem is his family home has been turned into a B&B, a noisy one at that.  BJ Stevens is determined to get her client's dream up and running and Eric is a distraction that she doesn't need.

From this Moment - Elizabeth Camden - Stella is the toast of London.  Her artwork has propelled her into the spotlight.  But when her sister dies under mysterious circumstances she returns to Boston to find answers.  No one will help her until she meets Romulus who is will to join forces with her in hopes she will help his magazine but doing the artwork for it.  But sparks fly when the first meet and there maybe more to their relationship than work.

A Daughter's Dream - Shelley Shepard Gray - #2 The Charmed Amish Life - Rebecca always dreamed of being a teacher, but the work is harder than she thought and she feels no sense of purpose.  That is until 13 year old orphan Lily joins her class.  Suddenly Rebecca understands what it means to be a teacher.  Of course Lily's handsome guardian doesn't hurt either.
 

Reading Challenge 2016

Dear Readers,

Believe it or not, half of the year is already gone.  How are you doing on the 26 book reading challenge.  I have included the link below if you needed a reminder of what was on the list.

As I review the list I feel I am doing pretty good on the list.  I have about 1/2 done, but I think the one challenge that has been easiest is the one published this year.  A couple of the others have been more of a challenge.  The book of poems has proven to be one I keep shying away from because I am really just not that into poems.

I will keep working away at the list.  Let me know how you are doing.

Happy Reading,



blog. http://bbhfiction.blogspot.com/search/label/Reading%20Challenge

New Release - Valley of Dry Bones - Jerry Jenkins

Valley of Dry Bones - Jerry Jenkins

A 17 year drought, earthquakes and wildfires leave california uninhabitable and irreparable, forcing its citizens to relocate.  Fewer than 1% of its population remain - by choice or necessity.  But a contingency of 16 feels called of God to stay at their own risk to minister to the stragglers.  Calling themselves The Holdouts, they face a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions and politics that pits friend against friend, with the future of the country at stake.  

In the midst of the chaos, while facing their most menacing opponent, the leader of The Holdouts becomes convinced he's heard directly from God Himself.  The result is a finish you'll never forget. 

Hillary Manton Lodge

Dear Readers,

I have not had a series of books make me as hungry as the Two Blue Doors series by Hillary Manton Lodge since the Potluck Club.  The recipes and the descriptions of the food are wonderful, but because it is also set around a wonderful family dynamics makes it all the more enjoyable.

The third book, Together at the Table, finally arrived on the shelves a few weeks ago.  I just waited for the perfect time to read it, even though that was hard to do, and this past weekend was it.  I spent most of the time while reading dreaming of wonderful pastries, pastas and desserts.  Hillary makes  me want to become a chef and learn how to make all those wonderful dishes.  I will admit that I have and still use recipes from the first two books and there are a couple in this one that I am going to give a try.

If you have not read the first two books you may want to skip down a couple of paragraphs as there might be a couple of spoilers.

Book #3 picks up a few short weeks after book #2, Reservations for Two, leaves off.  There is much that happens between Juliette and Neil.  They have broken up and Juliette is now dating someone else.  But unexpectedly Juliette runs into Neil at the park and it sets off a chain of events that no one really saw coming.  Well almost no one. ;-)

While Juliette is trying to decide on her love life, she is still doing research on her missing family members.  The letters have not lead to many leads, but when Caterina hits on an idea, suddenly the ball is rolling again and maybe they will find all the answers to the questions of what happened to Alice and where she disappeared to.

I have really enjoyed this gentle story.  It had a bit of history to it, it had loads of good food (not that I got any;-) and a sweet love story.  As we walked along Juliette as she grows up, we also learn a bit about ourselves and some of the things that makes us tick.

The three book series, #1 is Table by the Window, is a wonderful read.  Now that they all have been published you won't have to wait for the next one like did.  (Lucky you)  But make sure you go and enjoy them all.  And maybe even try a new dish or two.

Happy Reading,

Summer Reading list for June

Dear Readers,

I am going to post summer reading ideas at the beginning of every month this summer.  Instead of over whelming you with ideas and books I will just list a few good ones and you can pick and choose.  If you want the entire list, please feel free to stop in the store and pick one up or contact me and I will be glad to mail you one.   

In no particular order, these are all great summer reads.  Historical, contemporary and fantasy.  Murder and Mayhem alongside of romantic comedy.  They are all worth taking along to the beach, camping out or just finding your favorite spot in the yard. 

Happy Reading, 

Land of Silence – Tessa Afshar - Elianna is a young woman whom life has not always played fair.  She is taken into father's business only after her brother dies.  When her father dies she is put in charge, isolating her from more and more people.  When illness strikes, she is even forced away from everything.  That is until she hears about a Galilean who is healing people.

The Shock of Night – Patrick Carr - #1 The Darkwater Saga - Willet Dura is called to investigate the murder of one man and the wounding of a priest. When Willet questions the priest, he is screamed at in a foreign tongue and then the priest dies.  Will Willet be able to find the killer before he strikes again.

The Quieting – Suzanne Woods Fisher - #2 the Bishop's Family - With the Amish church of Stoney Ridge facing a crisis, minister David Stoltzfus must decide if a Quieting will solve the problem . . . or make it worse.

Counted With the Stars – Cossette- #1 Out from Egypt - The story of Kiya a women sold into slavery, rejected by the man she was supposed to marry.  Kiya watches the plagues unfold on Egypt and decides to flee with the Israelites.  Now she has to choose between the past she knows and an unknown future.

Room for Hope – Kim Vogel Sawyer - Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon.  When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”

Together at the Table – Hillary Manton Lodge - #3 Two Blue Doors series - Finally the long awaited 3rd book in the series.  Juliette's life is changing.  Her mother is not doing well, her relationship with Neil ended and her new restaurant just opened.  She is also still looking for the answers to her family's history.  

No Other will Do – Karen Witemeyer - Emma started a women's only colony for females who need a fresh start.  But someone is trying to drive the women out and is becoming more and more dangerous.  Emma knows she needs a man, but one that can fight.  Malachi is that man and when he gets word he hurries back to the girl who saved his life.  Only she isn't a girl anymore.

When Death Draws Near – Carrie Stuart Parks – August release - #3 Gwen Marcey - Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky—a small town facing big-city crime. But before Gwen can finish her first drawing of the serial rapist who is on the loose, the latest witness vanishes. Just like all the others.

Sister Dear – Laura McNeill - Allie returns home after serving 10 years for a crime she didn't commit.  No one believes her innocence, but Allie is determined to prove she is.  What she uncovers threatens not only her parole, but also her personal safety and her family.

The Reluctant Duchess – Roseanna M. White - #2 Ladies of the Manor - Lady Rowena Kinnaird struggles with self-esteem and when a shocking attack she flees the highland forever.  Brice Myerston is not looking to find a wife, especially since finding a treasure others would kill for.  But the more they try to stay apart, the more they are attracted to each other.  But is Rowena in even more danger?