Friday, November 01, 2013

ACFW New Releases: November 2013



November 2013 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

by Anita Higman -- A Marriage in Middlebury is a love story, but it's also a story about the complex, quirky, and sometimes prickly interworkings of the folks who frequent the local tearoom in Middlebury, Texas. (Contemporary Romance from Abingdon Press)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson -- Dr. Pete Harding doesn't date single moms, no matter how lovely Keira Noble's smile, or how adorable her four-year-old son. He's been down that road before and knows it can lead to a broken heart. But that doesn't mean he can't help the pretty widow find a puppy to put under the Christmas tree for her son.... Pete claims he only wants to help her find the perfect gift for Cody. Yet Keira can't deny the tender feelings in his eyes whenever he looks at her. Could this handsome Scrooge have a change of heart, and create a new family for Christmas? (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents)

by Deobrah Raney -- As Elvis croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon a small Kansas town, two people find the miracle of love. (Contemporary Romance from Summerside Press [Guideposts])

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter -- When her safe life is shattered by danger, can he protect her long enough to reclaim her heart? (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents)

by Beth Wiseman -- Anna's grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa . . . and any hopes she has of finding a husband. (Contemporary Romance from Thomas Nelson)

Contemporary:

by Katherine Reay -- Samantha Moore must stop hiding behind literary characters, such as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre, in order to find her true self and true love. (Contemporary from Thomas Nelson)

Romance:

by Lisa Carter -- Can Laney overcome her fears of rejection and Kai move past the tragedies of the past to find in each other more than they ever dreamed? (Romance from Abingdon Press)

Historical:

by Carole Towriss -- Moses sends spies to explore the mysterious land of Canaan, but when ten of the twelve return with a bad report, all Israel, including a former Egyptian soldier and a young widow, must deal with the unexpected and terrifying fallout. (Historical from DeWard Publishing)

Middle Grade:

by Mary L. Hamilton-- Summer camp is no fun for Brady McCaul. The girl with the cute dimples thinks he's immature and childish. The camp bully targets him with cruel taunts and teasing, and flips Brady's canoe to keep him from winning the race. But worst of all, his mom won't let him come home. She doesn't want him living with her anymore. Brady wonders if even God cares about him. Can Brady figure out what he did to earn Mom's rejection and change her mind by week's end? Or will he have to live with his workaholic dad, the guy who left when Brady was seven? (Middle-Grade from HopeSprings Books)

Suspense/Thriller:

by Deborah Lynne -- The Truth Revealed is a suspenseful page turner about two missing kids and Samantha Cain is trying to help find them before their time runs out. (Suspense/Thriller from OakTara)

Young Adult:

by Jill Williamson -- The remnant from Glenrock is now living as rebels within the Safe Lands, looking for a way to find purpose in their lives. When a young rebel is murdered and his death points to a rebel leader, it's hard to know who to trust. Levi tries to organize a plan to free the children and fights for respect as elder over those who'd rather go their own way. Omar tries to change his image of a traitor by donning a costume and going out into the night as a vigilante hero. And Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, but his investigation just might get them all liberated. (Young Adult from Zondervan)







Tuesday, October 01, 2013

New Releases: October 2013



October 2013 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

by Renee Andrews -- Pregnant with twins, Laura Holland needs a friend and a job, but she gets--a town she adores, a job she cherishes and a guy she loves. However, it may all go away...at Christmas, unless someone--maybe even a Secret Santa--decides this is the Christmas for miracles. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired)

by Sandra D. Bricker -- A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year. (Contemporary Romance from B&H Publishing)

by Vannetta Chapman -- Annie's life is deliciously full as the Christmas season approaches. She helps her husband, Samuel, attend to the community's minor medical needs. She occasionally assists Belinda, the local midwife. And most days, she finds herself taking the buggy to her brother, Adam's home. Leah is due to deliver their first child before Christmas morning, and Annie is determined to finish a crib quilt before the boppli arrives. But God's plans are different from Annie's and she may not finish the quilt in time. And, it may hold a far greater significance that she ever imagined. (Contemporary Romance from Abingdon Press)

by Beth Shriver -- The Touch of Grace trilogy series is about three faithful women who, when faced with three separate hardships, are torn between the men they love and staying true to themselves. Even in a world where retribution is almost expected, the Amish demonstrate that all can be pardoned, by following their vow of no resistance which shows the deep-rooted forgiveness within them. (Contemporary Romance from Realms[Charisma Media])

by Cindy Woodsmall -- Sadie Yoder enjoys her freedom away from home but after four years, her Old Order Amish family insists it's time to come home and settle down. Levi, a bachelor who distrusts women after a family heartbreak, also has no desire for romance. To keep their families from meddling in their lives, Sadie and Levi devise a plan-but soon discover that the walls around their hearts are breaking down. Can they let go of their prejudices, learn to trust each other, and embrace a future together? (Contemporary Romance from Waterbrook Multnomah [Random House])

Romantic Suspense:

by Margaret Daley -- As Sadie Thompson is pulled into doing something about the growing problem, she becomes involved with Ethan Stone—a Texas Ranger who suspects the drug ring reaches far beyond the high school. (Romantic Suspense from Abingdon Press)

by Katy Lee -- When a drug-smuggling ring rocks a small coastal town, the DEA sends Agent Owen Matthews to shut it down. A single father with a deaf son, Owen senses that the town's number one suspect—the high school's new principal-doesn't fit the profile. Miriam Hunter hoped to shrug off the stigma of her hearing impairment when she returned to Stepping Stones, Maine. But her recurring nightmares dredge up old memories that could prove her innocence-and uncover the truth behind a decades-old murder. Yet Owen's help may not be enough when someone decides to keep Miriam silenced-permanently.  (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired)

by Marta Perry, Diane Burke, Kit Wilkinson -- Love and Danger collide in three new Amish novellas: Fall from Grace by Marta Perry, Dangerous Homecoming by Diane Burke and Return to Willow Trace by Kit Wilkinson. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired)

by Susan Sleeman-- Can private investigator Dani Justice find the expert hacker framing Luke Baldwin for espionage before the hacker succeeds in ending her life? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired)


Historical Romance:

by Maggie Brendan -- Anna Olsen knows it's time to leave her sister's increasingly crowded house and start a life of her own. Following her sisters' examples, she becomes a mail-order bride, and after a short correspondence with clock maker and jeweler Edward Parker, she moves to Denver to become his wife. Almost immediately it's painfully apparent that Anna and Edward are very different. Anna is a free spirit who would rather be painting and enjoying the company of friends than cleaning house. Edward is a consummate perfectionist who, on their wedding day, hands Anna a list of chores that need to be done around the house daily. Can this mismatched couple see past their differences to a harmonious future? (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])

by Margaret Brownley -- She's a Pinkerton detective. He's working undercover for Wells Fargo. Neither has a clue about love. (Historical Romance from Thomas Nelson)

by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith -- Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith, beloved authors of the Amish of Apple Grove series, team up again in an exciting new series for devoted fans and new readers. It's 1851, and Evie Lawrence is penniless and heartbroken after a failed romance. When a kind elderly man announces his plan to move west and make his fortune, Evie jumps at the chance to go with him and start a new life. She says goodbye to the only home she's ever known and sets out for the Northwest. There she meets Noah Hughes, a handsome young man who has gambled everything he owns on the chance to make a fresh start.  (Historical Romance from Harvest House)

by Melissa Jagears -- Set in 1876 Kansas, a love story reminiscent of Love Comes Softly meets poignant romance in the style of Deeanne Gist. "Melissa's writing put me in mind of Janette Oke's sweet prairie romances but with a bit more edge, which I found compelling...I loved it." - Mary Connealy (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

by Ruth Trippy -- Celia is searching for her own sense of hope after the tragic death of her closest friend. Moving in 1876 to work in a Massachusetts bookstore to start life afresh, she soon catches the eye of not one, but two men: the elite but unkempt Edward Lyons and the charming law student Charles Harrod. One is hiding from his past and from God. The other promotes a religious belief Celia had never before considered. (Historical Romance from Abingdon Press)

by Carrie Turansky -- Two worlds . . . one calling. Will Julia return to her missionary work in exotic India, or should she follow her heart and stay on as governess at the magnificent country estate of Sir William Ramsey? Fans of Downton Abbey and the Edwardian era will love the romance of The Governess of Highland Hall where the divide between upper and lower class meets the spirit of faith, hope, and trust. (Historical Romance from Waterbrook Multnomah [Random House])

by Elizabeth Byler Younts -- When World War II breaks out, Miriam's fiancé, Henry, is drafted and sent to a conscientious objector camp. But when Henry feels called to fight on the front lines, he goes against the Amish church to follow God's will - forcing Miriam to choose between the rules of her religion and the leading of her heart. (Historical Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

Medical Suspense:

by Richard L. Mabry, MD -- When her fiance's dangerous secrets turn her world upside down, a beautiful doctor must choose between her own safety and the man she loves--and thought she knew. (Medical Suspense from Thomas Nelson)

General Contemporary:

by Diane Dean White -- A nightmare witnessed between two young women, and one couldn't forget or forgive. Kate had never told her husband about the experience that changed their lives forever in southern Florida. Maybe it was time to tell him her story. (General Contemporary from CrossLink Publishing)

General Historical:

by Laurie Alice Eakes -- A woman without a prospect. A man without a homeland. Can love give them a future? (General Historical from Revell [Baker])

by Peter Leavell -- Tad, a very clever slave boy, comes of age as the American Civil War intrudes on the tropical sea islands of South Carolina. But his desire to better himself is obstructed by the color of his skin, until Northern soldiers force the evacuation of white plantation owners, setting 10,000 slaves free in a single day. These circumstances seem like a dream, but the newly freed slaves have no money, no education, no leadership, and little hope for the future. This is the story of how a boy grows into a man. (Literary Historical from Worthy Publishing)

by Carolyn R. Scheidies -- Turned out of the village, Angella has nowhere to go, but when the Earl rescues her she wonders if things have taken a turn for the better...or the worse. (Historical from Heartsong Presents)

Speculative Fiction:

by Bonnie Doran -- A scientist, marooned on the International Space Station, races to develop a vaccine for a deadly virus her brother unleashes on Earth at their father's Christian marriage seminar. (Speculative Fiction from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])

Sunday, September 01, 2013

September 2013 New Book Releases



September 2013 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

by Lorraine Beatty, Sylvia Barnes, Cynthia Leavelle, and Virginia Vaughan -- Will a reserved widow, a successful novelist, a divorced couple, and a jilted wedding planner find their hearts rekindled with love just in time for Christmas? (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing)

by Mary Ellis -- Rachel King wants nothing more than to work with horses, but when her handsome boss sweeps her off her feet, she starts to doubt everything in life, including her faith. (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House)

by Laura V. Hilton -- When her Englisch sister's health worsens, Katie must find a way to balance her heart, her job, and her faith while risking her own life for the sister she never knew.  (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House)

by Kelly Irvin -- A group of dedicated families leaves Bliss Creek to establish a new community in Missouri. Among them is Bethel Graber, a beautiful young woman with a passion for teaching. But after being disabled in a terrible accident, overseeing a classroom is out of the question...and romance seems a long-lost dream.  Bethel begins physical therapy, determined to make a fresh start. But that won't be easy in the town of New Hope, where the locals seem anything but eager to welcome their new Amish neighbors. Amid growing intimidation from the community, Bethel must find the strength to face her many challenges and the faith to believe that God still has a plan--and a love--for her life.  (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House)

by Elizabeth Maddrey -- Is there an exception to every rule? Karin Reid has never had much use for God. There's been too much pain in her life. Until she meets Jason Garcia.  After his own mistakes of the past, Jason is committed to dating only Christians. He decides to bend his rule for Karin, as long as she comes to church with him.  As their friendship grows, both will have to decide if they'll accept the path God has for them, even if it means losing each other. (Contemporary Romance from HopeSprings Books)

by Mindy Obenhaus -- Family means everything to Dr. Trent Lockridge. Growing up without a father, he always yearned for a family of his own. One long-ago summer in Ouray, Colorado, he thought he might build a future with beautiful Blakely Daniels. But when he abruptly fled town, he broke her heart and left behind more than memories. Years later, Trent is shocked-and overjoyed-to learn he's a father. He'd like to earn back Blakely's love and trust- but it won't be easy. And the clock is ticking. He's got only a few weeks to prove that, this time, he's here to stay...forever. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired)

by Melissa Tagg -- Homebuilding TV show host Miranda Woodruff is out to save her career while juggling a fake husband, former fiance and nosy reporter...all under the roof of the one house she can't bring herself to finish building. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter -- Pastor Grayson Sterling still loves his wife two years after the accident that claimed her life. Then florist Adrea Welch begins to plant new love in his grieving heart. Laken Kroft left home years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she'd end up in Romance, Arkansas, and much too close to her past--and Hayden Winters? Shell doesn't have a good reputation. But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. Ryler also has reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. But love can soften the hardest heart and overcome the darkest past. These hearts may not know it, but they're about to change. (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents)

by Cindy Woodsmall -- Working hard to develop a new Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is fully committed to rehabilitating an orchard with business partner Samuel King. But an impulsive decision has created an unexpected strain in her relationship with her beau, Samuel's brother, Jacob, threatening plans for the orchard. Amidst mounting tension in matters of the heart and business, Rhoda finds that this fledging settlement feels like the home she has always longed for, and she begins to embrace the God-given, heightened intuition that has always felt like a burden to her. She longs for Jacob to fully be free of his past, so they can work towards the future together.  (Contemporary Romance from Waterbrook Multnomah [Random House])

by Cheryl Wyatt -- Trauma nurse Kate Dalton can handle any challenge-except love. The combat veteran dreams of settling down, but heartbreak is one risk she won't take. Then a chance encounter opens her heart to a masked stranger...who might not be a stranger after all! Caleb Landis, the army medic behind the disguise, has always admired Kate, even though she only saw him as her best friend's brother. What will it take for Kate to discard her fears and discover the man she's always hoped to unmask? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired)

Romance:

by Jennifer AlLee, Carla Olson Gade, Lisa Karon Richardson and Gina Welborn -- One of America's earliest summer resorts began atop the majestically wooded Schooley's Mountain where the mecca of chalybeate springs (or "magic water") drew visitors from near and far. Eventually the magic water disappeared, but the memories remained. Folks who live there tell the stories they heard from their grandparents who heard them from their grandparents. The four stories in MISTLETOE MEMORIES cover the almost 200 years after the house was built and center around a house that became a refuge that became an orphanage that became a home. (Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Contemporary Women's Fiction:

by Debby Mayne -- Priscilla Slater shows up at her 20-year reunion as a national celebrity. Her hair salon dynasty has skyrocketed, and to top it off, she has her own line of hair products. Her classmates have finally come to terms with adulthood, but they're handling it with the grace of a Southern woman wearing white after Labor Day. Asserting the maturity that her classmates have often lacked, Priscilla holds her head high. But she can't ignore everything. When she catches her mother in the arms of her former high school principal, Priscilla can't get out of town fast enough. Eager to get back to her more comfortable life, Priscilla runs head on into an ultimatum: Tim tells her they're not getting any younger-as if she has to be reminded. (Contemporary Women's Fiction from Abingdon Press)

by Lisa Wingate -- A young woman, an old woman, the story of a lifetime. A young woman hired to clean out an old house on Hatteras Island discovers a life-changing story in eighty-one prayer boxes kept by the former owner. (Contemporary Women's Fiction from Tyndale House)

Cozy Mystery:

by Amanda Flower -- It's Christmastime in Amish Country, and Chloe Humphrey has begun settling into her life in Appleseed Creek excited to see where her new relationship with Timothy Troyer will lead. Unfortunately it leads to murder when the couple discovers the body of Amish teenager Katie Lambright while on their first date. Near the scene there is evidence that Timothy's friend and auto mechanic Billy Thorpe is involved with the crime. The police reveal Billy is not really who he said he was and has been living the last decade in Knox County under a stolen alias. Now, Chloe and Timothy must find Billy, bring him to justice, or prove his innocence. (Cozy Mystery from B&H Publishing)

General Contemporary:

by Jo-Anne Berthelsen -- Michael Trevelyan is determined to claim his inheritance at all costs. Bitterness consumes him and he refuses to forgive those who have betrayed him. Yet, when he meets Alexandra Hope, things begin to change. She challenges his views but also listens while he shares his pain.  Can Michael move on from the past and learn to forgive? Can Alexandra hold onto her faith in God as she deals with their deepening relationship? (General Contemporary from Even Before Publishing [Wombat])

by April McGowan -- She survived her past but how can she face it?    Jasmine is a survivor. She's lived through the abuse of her father, running away at age fourteen, living on the streets, and now she counsels at risk young women giving them a second chance at life.    But when her mother dies, can she go home again and face the past she's forced herself to forget for the last twenty years? Or will the past she's now forgotten take over her present once again? (General Contemporary from Whitefire Publishing)

General Historical:

by Anne Mateer -- Sadie Sillsby works as the assistant to the matron at the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children and dreams of the day she'll marry her beau, Blaine. But when the matron surprises everyone by announcing her own engagement, Sadie is suddenly next in line for the job. For a young woman who was once an orphan herself, a shot at such an esteemed position is a wish come true. But the matron of the Home cannot be married. Is Sadie willing to give up her dreams of a life with Blaine and a family of her own? When it's revealed that the Home is spending a lot more money than it's taking in, can Sadie turn things around before the place is forced to close forever? (General Historical from Bethany House [Baker])

by Anna Schmidt -- Quaker Beth Bridgewater came to Munich to live with her aunt and uncle and care for their daughter. But after eight years Beth longs for her home in Wisconsin. Josef Buch, son of a Gestapo agent, moves in with the family while he completes his medical studies. When Josef helps Beth rescue a young Jewish family, she realizes that he does not share his father's politics. Soon they are both drawn into the work of the White Rose-a German resistance movement intent on overthrowing Hitler. As their feelings for each other deepen, Josef and Beth risk everything for peace-and for love. (General Historical from Barbour Publishing)

Historical Romance:

by Margaret Brownley, Kathleen Fuller, Marcia Gruver, Cynthia Hickey, Vickie McDonough, Shannon McNear, Lauraine Snelling, Michelle Ule and Anna Carrie Urquhart -- Journey along with American settlers who learn that despite where the trail takes them or how primitive their lodgings may be Christmas is all about the heart. Determined to honor Christ's birth, these pioneers find a way to make Christmas happen in places like a cave, a tipi, and a dugout. Modern readers will enjoy a peek into life before commercialism took over the sacred day, distracting us from the true blessings of faith, hope, and love. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

by Margaret Brownley, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jane Kirkpatrick, Kelly Eileen Hake, Liz Johnson, Liz Tolsma, Michelle Ule, Debra Ullrick, Erica Vetsch -- Experience Christmas through the eyes of adventuresome settlers who relied on log cabins built from trees on their own land to see them through the cruel forces of winter. Discover how rough-hewed shelters become a home in which faith, hope, and love can flourish. Marvel in the blessings of Christmas celebrations without the trappings of modern commercialism where the true meaning of the day shines through.  (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

by Melanie Dobson -- An unlikely spy discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution. (Historical Romance from Summerside Press [Guideposts])

by Keli Gwyn and Erica Vetsch -- Sunny California is the place for two historical romances. Elenora Watkins, willful widow and single mother, is determined to best merchant Miles Rutledge in business-and love. Harvey Girl Meghan Thorson discovers the truth about horseman Caleb McBride-whom the townsfolk have branded a coward-and true love. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

by Olivia Newport-- Sarah Cummings has one goal in life--to break into Chicago's high society. Desperate to stop serving dinner and to start eating at society tables, Sarah alters cast-off gowns from the wealthy Banning women to create lustrous, flattering dresses of her own. On a whim at a chance meeting, she presents herself as Serena Cuthbert, weaving a fictitious past to go with her fictitious name. But as she gets closer to Simon Tewell, the director of St. Andrew's Orphanage, Sarah finds that she must choose between the life she has and the life she dreams of.  (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])

by Sandra Robbins -- It's 1935, and Laurel Jackson fears the life she's always known is about to become a memory. The government is purchasing property to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and nearly all the families in Cades Cove have decided to sell. Laurel is determined to save the land her family has lived on for a hundred years.  Andrew Brady, the son of a wealthy Virginia congressman, arrives in the Cove to convince the remaining landowners to sell. Sparks fly when he meets Laurel, the outspoken young woman who is determined to thwart his every effort. Will they ever be able to put aside their differences and accept what their hearts already know?  (Historical Romance from Harvest House)

Romantic Suspense:

by Dani Pettrey -- When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn't satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn't the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances. Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He's surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.  (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])

Suspense:

by W. Richard Lawrence -- Sara, a computer programmer, is forced by the evil Ulrich Levy to develop a scheme to steal millions of dollars from credit card companies. But when she decides to take the money for herself, she begins down a road of distrust, deceit, murder, treachery, faith, love and the ultimate sacrifice. (Suspense Thriller from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)