On Tour! Return of the Guardian-King

About the Book

Book: Return of the Guardian-King

Author: Karen Hancock

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Release Date: September 22, 2026

Special Hardcover Edition of a Classic Christian Fantasy

Believed dead by all but the handful of supporters who rescued him from his Mataian enemies, Abramm Kalladorne has fled his homeland to the high mountains of northern Chesedh. Traveling under a new name with a group of bitter and increasingly desperate fellow exiles, Abramm hopes to reunite with his wife, Maddie, where he will offer his services to her father in fighting the invading armies of the Black Moon.

But with every step, he is thwarted from the direction he wants to take, and it soon becomes clear Eidon has other plans for him.

In the royal city of Fannath Rill, Maddie alone believes Abramm still lives. But since she has no proof, her friends, family, and public opinion press her to remarry. With its neighboring realms now under enemy control, Chesedh has become the last bastion of Eidon’s Light. Desperately overmatched, it cannot survive on its own. Yet an eastern warlord has a vast fleet of galley ships that could turn the tide in their favor if Maddie agrees to his offer.

As war, betrayal, and shifting alliances close in, both Maddie and Abramm have their faith tested beyond what either of them could ever imagine.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Karen Hancock has won Christy Awards for each of her first four novels —Arena and the first three books in the Legends of the Guardian-King series. She graduated from the University of Arizona with bachelor’s degrees in biology and wildlife biology. Along with writing, she is a semi- professional watercolorist and has exhibited her work in a number of national juried shows. She and her family reside in Arizona.

 

Excerpt from the Book

THE BELL-TONED VOICE DREW ABRAMM KALLADORNE

into the sunlight of the open meadow, a yellow butterfly zigzagging ahead of him above a patch of purple lupine. He pressed through the bloom-laden stalks into rippling grass, following the plucked notes of a lirret and a voice as familiar as his own. She must be just beyond that primrose at the meadow’s far edge.

Children’s laughter echoed in counterpoint to her sweet voice, and his pace quickened. Ian would be over two by now, walking well, maybe even talking in phrases and sentences, while Simon would have left all his toddlerhood behind, a real little boy at last. Then there was Maddie.

Abramm ached for her so badly sometimes he could hardly bear it. Now finally, that was behind him. All the worrying about threading the high passes before winter closed them had been for naught. In a moment he would step around that bush and there she’d be, her gray-blue eyes widening with surprise at the sight of him an instant before she’d cast her lirret aside and fling herself into his—

His foot slipped, and he lurched to regain his balance, gripping his walking staff hard as he drove it into the snow. The misstep jolted his entire body as the vision winked out and the dark, icy reality of the blizzard-swept heights filled his senses again. She wasn’t here. His boys weren’t here. There was no meadow. The passes were not behind him, and winter was very definitely closing in . . .

Realization slammed him so hard he reeled to a stop, struggling to breathe as he felt again the cold and the exhaustion and the misery.

Wind screamed around him, pelting his heavy woolen cloak with slivers of snow and flapping its snow-caked hem about his legs. For a moment, the desire to give up was so strong he nearly collapsed.

But he couldn’t. Maddie was waiting for him. His boys needed him. And so he drew a deep breath and reached up to dash away the ice that continually froze onto his beard and mustache. Chunks of it clung also to the long hair dangling beside his face, some of them rasping against the inside edge of his cowl, others frozen to his beard. He no longer felt his feet, and his fingers, numb beneath a double layer of glove and mitten, could hardly grip his walking staff.

He squinted down the rocky hill to where a shin-deep trough of footprints angled across the slope through the rapidly accumulating snow. At the end of his pocket of visibility, the last of his companions were starting down the next switchback, obscured by the shifting veils of snow. Shuddering, he started after them, placing steps and stick carefully to avoid any more almost-falls.

Neither he nor anyone else in his party had any real idea where they were going, only that having come through the Kolki Pass they must descend the barren slopes beyond to an ancient Terstan monastery just below the tree line. “The way will be obvious,” the men back at Highmount Holding had assured them. Maybe it would be if clouds hadn’t swallowed the world and driving snow hadn’t made it hard to open one’s eyes and the rock cairns that were supposed to be their guides weren’t fast disappearing beneath the drifting snow.

It was typical, though, of the bad luck that had plagued them since leaving Kiriath, transforming what should have been a three-week journey through the pass into a six-week trial of endurance. They’d run out of food two days ago and burned the last of their dung-pats in last night’s fire. Water had been in short supply for over a week, and they had an old man, a pregnant woman, and a number of children with them. Thinking they’d be in Caerna’tha tonight, they’d left much of their bedding and tents with the wagon when it had irreparably broken down in the pass that morning. Now, with the day three-quarters gone, and the tree line still who knew how far below them, their situation was growing desperate.

For not the first time he sent up a prayer for guidance and protection.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 25 (Spotlight)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 26 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, September 27 (Spotlight)

The Lofty Pages, September 28

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, September 29 (Spotlight)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 29

Guild Master, September 30 (Spotlight)

Lily’s Corner, October 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, October 2 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, October 3 (Spotlight)

Vicky Sluiter, October 4 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, October 5

For the Love of Literature, October 6 (Spotlight)

Romances of the Cross, October 6

The Bookish Ledger, October 7 (Spotlight)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 8 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/n17Pb/return-of-the-guardian-king-celebration-tour-giveaway

On Tour! The Missing Captive

 

About the Book

Book: The Missing Captive

Author: George Lapin

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: February 28, 2025

An unforgettable journey of faith, courage, and personal transformation

Swept into the treacherous French-allied territories of eighteenth-century Canada, a young English translator embarks on a dangerous quest through the wilderness to uncover the fate of his captive sister in this tale of survival, faith, and self-discovery.

Gideon Bates must confront his deepest fears, navigate complex tribal politics, and forge unlikely alliances as he searches for his sister seized during a devastating raid. Torn between his father’s missionary ambitions and his own yearning for freedom, Gideon’s journey will test his courage, challenge his faith, and lead to an unexpected reckoning with his past.

Rich in historical detail, The Missing Captive is a tale of love, loss, and the indomitable power of the human spirit. Don’t miss this saga of courage, self-discovery, and the transformative journey of one man in a time of colonial upheaval. It is a historical adventure that will captivate fans of colonial American history and transport you to a bygone era.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

George Lapin is a beginning writer with a focus on Christian Historical Fiction. His first book titled The Missing Captive is set in early colonial America in a tumultuous period decades prior to the French and Indian War. The story explores the struggles, faith and resilience of the individuals in this time period. With a passion for history and Christian values, George’s writing offers a unique perspective on the lives of early Americans and the spiritual challenges they faced.

George retired as a construction executive and discovered that he had a desire to write fiction. He possesses a vivid imagination and believes that he can use that gift to write an intricate plot.

 George realized that most of the historical fiction novels he read centered on the French and Indian War or later. It seemed that there was such a rich history in early colonial America that was being overlooked, so George decided to write about that time period with all of its political and religious conflicts. The changes in North America during this era could help produce an interesting story.

More from George

I tried to make the story protagonist, Gideon Bates, unique in a different sort of humorous way. Born into a Puritan Missionary Family in early America, Gideon’s mother raised him to aide others when they were in need.

Gideon had no desire to be a missionary but desired to be in the military. He learned many fighting moves from his uncle who was currently a ranger in the New England Militia. He also participated in village wrestling matches and usually won.

However, whenever he got into a fight and the foe was vanquished, Gideon’s mother’s teaching kicked in. He would attempt to help his foe recover by giving him a helping hand or leaving a little money for lunch.

An Interview with George

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? Creating the plot. Telling the story.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? How incredibly hard it is to be a successful writer.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book? I attempt to write something that I would enjoy reading. If I like the story, others probably would like the story also.

What was the best money you spent as a writer? Getting some coaching.

Why do you write in your particular genre? I like adventure stories with a Christian theme.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 18

Devoted To Hope, September 19

Artistic Nobody, September 20 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, September 21 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 22

Fiction Book Lover, September 23 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, September 24 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, September 25 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 26

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 27

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, September 28 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, September 29 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 29

Vicky Sluiter, September 30 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Pilgrim, October 1

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, George is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/p5Nek/the-missing-captive-celebration-tour-giveaway

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Laura DeNooyer

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Laura DeNooyer

I'm a big fan of Laura's work, so I'm thrilled to have her visit today. Her books are fabulous. Read on to learn more about her and her stories. 

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? I have four published books. House of Wind, my fourth, just released on September 8. Additionally, I have 10+ Unpublished novel manuscripts in different stages of revision! Keep in mind that I’ve been writing since 2nd grade. 😀

It’s tough to pick a favorite because I’m emotionally invested in each one and love them all for different reasons. Many authors say their favorite is the one they’re working on, and I could probably say that too. But maybe that’s a copout.

If I have to choose, I’ll pick A Hundred Magical Reasons because learning about The Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, was fascinating and I would love to have met him and spent time with him on his Lake Michigan porch in the early 1900s. I get to do that vicariously through my character Charlotte.

That book is a dual timeline story, rather epic in proportion, and most definitely literary with a lot of Americana and my own family history woven in.

What was your inspiration for the story? The inspiration for my newest release, House of Wind, came from walking alongside my friend as she was unraveling from a destructive marriage. She went through a horrific seventeen years of emotional abuse from her narcissist husband.

After she sought help and healing, she started sharing her story with others. Women started coming out of the woodwork with their own horrific tales. Sadly, some of these situations took place in Christian families with “Christian” husbands who were active in church ministry. Some women were hearing about emotional abuse for the first time—even though they’d been victims of it for years.

I wanted to write a story that would reflect this phenomenon and show readers what emotional abuse looks like and how to break free. It’s a tough book, but it’s also hopeful and encouraging.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)? My characters need to suit my purposes, but they also take on minds of their own—which can prove both exasperating and fun.

In House of Wind, I shaped Wendi according to her various roles as wife, mother, and pastor’s wife, but I also had to consider how the emotional abuse would have impacted her over the years. I knew I wanted to show her emotional roadblocks as well as her growth, so I started with that framework, then fleshed out the story events to accommodate that.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit

you knew you had to include? After learning a lot from my friend’s and other women’s experiences, I read more about narcissism and emotional abuse. Though no one woman’s experience is exactly the same, I was amazed to discover all the similarities. Saddened by so much darkness, I was also encouraged to find great resources for women who face these situations. There is help! No woman needs to walk this road alone.

I list resources in the back of the book, but I’ll mention two here: Lysa TerKeurst’s podcast Therapy and Theology, and Leslie Vernick’s podcast Relationship Truth: Unfiltered. Their scripture-based ministries seek to bolster women through relationship trauma and destructive marriages in order to heal spiritually and emotionally.

How are your characters like you? Different? Wendi, the protagonist in House of Wind, was trained as a teacher, but was denied the opportunity to teach elementary school as she so wanted. I was a teacher who taught for decades.

Wendi’s a natural as a pastor’s wife in regard to hospitality and cooking for guests. Though I enjoy having people over, that is definitely not my gift!

I’ve also never had to go through what she went through in this story. I really put her through the wringer.

How has your book changed since your first draft? After several revisions, I gave the manuscript to some beta readers, some who had gone through similar experiences to Wendi’s as victims of emotional abuse. My tale is fiction, but I needed to know if the story rang true. The readers were able to identify what worked and what needed to change. I was very grateful, and revised accordingly.

What was the best money you spent as a writer? In my younger years, I spent a lot of money on books—learning the craft of novel writing. I studied them, taking profuse notes. They definitely helped me improve my craft. But another great investment was writers’ conferences for in-person training and networking with other authors.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist? My occupation as a teacher was vital in becoming a novelist. Since I (mostly) taught high school art and creative writing, I loved inspiring students’ creativity and stretching them to improve their problem-solving skills as they developed their stories, poems, drawings, and paintings.

One thing I emphasized was that the creative process is more important than the product. It’s more about what we learn along the way. The first solution to a problem isn’t always the best one, so learning to brainstorm and follow the necessary steps as part of the process was vital—no shortcuts allowed.

That’s a lesson I’ve taken to heart many times as I compose my own stories. In fact, numerous times I promised myself I was done, done, done with a particular manuscript. No matter what, I wasn’t going to change anything more. Nada. Never. Not one more word. I’d done everything I could.

And then … I’d get feedback that actually made good sense. After some metaphorical screaming and hair pulling, I’d jump back in for another rewrite. And voila! I had a better, stronger story. So I learned to never say never … and to embrace the journey!

What is your next project? My next novel is Rain in the Wilderness, due to launch on January 26, 2027 by Scrivenings Press. This one is Biblical fiction set in the time of Christ.

I’ve never been good about staying in my literary lane! I’ve published Southern historical fiction, dual timeline fiction (2x), and contemporary women’s fiction. Why not throw Biblical fiction in the mix?

I write the story of my heart. I starting writing Rain in the Wilderness almost thirty years ago. It was inspired by the tragic tale of the Bethlehem massacre in Matthew 2. After becoming a mother, I viewed that catastrophe in a new light. I got to thinking . . . what if a mother who lost her baby that night later found out that the event was connected to Jesus of Nazareth—the one baby who got away? That got the ball rolling . . .

Blurb for House of Wind:

Wendi Burkham lives in an emotional prison she unwittingly walked into. Nobody understands, and her captor holds the keys.

Married to a respected pastor, Wendi lives a life others admire—with two children and a home that reflects faith, stability, and love. But behind closed doors, Wendi is trapped in a cycle of control, manipulation, and emotional abuse no one else can see—and no one would believe. How do you escape when no one thinks you need to?

For sixteen years, she has stayed silent. Stayed faithful. Stayed afraid. Until one night forces her to choose between the life she has built … and the truth she can no longer ignore. Her husband's warning echoes: "Planting wind only reaps a harvest of tornadoes.” But what if the storm is the only way out?

This powerful novel exposes the reality of emotional abuse—and the courage it takes to break free. Readers who enjoy thoughtful fiction with emotional depth will appreciate this novel in the vein of Amanda Cox, Katie Powner, Susie Finkbeiner, and Erin Bartels.

 
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/45Zx5nj

Website: http://www.lauradenooyer-author.com
Monthly newsletter signup: https://www.subscribepage.com/standoutstoriesnewslettersignup
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256325187-house-of-wind

About Laura:

Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and a multi-award-winning author of heartwarming historical and contemporary fiction. She’s an active member in her church and American Christian Fiction Writers. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.

Photo Credits:

Author photo and book cover: Courtesy Laura DeNooyer

Podcast Logo: Courtesy Therapy and Theology

Classroom: Pixabay/DeltaWorks

Wartime Wednesday: The Federal Reserve System During WWII

 

Wartime Wednesday: The Federal Reserve System During WWII

What is the Federal Reserve System (AKA Federal Reserve Bank)? Simply put (and per its website http://www.federalreserve.gov), the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 “established the Federal Reserve System as the central bank of the United States to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system.” The impetus for its founding was a history of bank banks, the most recent being the Panic of 1907 when a massive credit crisis almost caused the collapse of the financial system. Several private financiers stepped in to save banks which was a wakeup call to Congress that realized the country had no central lender to give banks emergency loans during a panic. Per Wikipedia “Although an instrument of the US Government, the Federal Reserve System is considered an independent central bank due to its structural insultation from political interference as it is managed by a Board of Governors.

When America found itself at war in 1941, the board announced that it was “prepared to use its powers to assure at all times an ample supply of funds for financing the war effort.” Wars are won by those who can out produce their opponents which takes money, and America was going to need a lot of it. The military was small, numbering fewer than 200,000 soldiers, and its weapons were obsolescent. Thousands of ships, aircraft, and vehicles, and millions of guns as associated weaponry were needed. Add to that the recruitment, training, and deployment of soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Finance became a foundation of the war.

The question became how to raise the money. The Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department

teamed to create the plan and ultimately decided on taxation and domestic borrowing. They felt that taxes on current income would minimize inflation and prompt economic stability at the end of the war. For domestic borrowing, they created a variety of securities that would allow small savers to get involved as well as the wealthy or large corporations to invest at greater levels. The twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks organized Victory Fund committees and created campaigns to market war bonds; eight campaigns in all between 1942 and 1945. Thanks to posters, radio broadcasts, and wide celebrity endorsement, the total raised was $187.5 billion with more than eighty-five million people participating.

Another issue to deal with was to “keep the cost of the war reasonable.” At the Treasury’s request, the Federal reserve kept interest rates at low levels. The Banks purchased Treasury bills at three-eighths of a percent per year, significantly lower than the peacetime rates of 2-4 percent. Wartime can create inflation because of increased income and employment affected by limited consumer goods. As the Reserve put it: When more money chases fewer goods, prices typically rise. To combat the potential for inflation, regulations on the price of goods and workers, and a rationing program were implemented. Consumer credit was also regulated.

The War Manpower Commission declared the Reserve’s work as essential to the war effort, and as a result Reserve employees were not subject to the draft. However, hundreds did volunteer for military service.

_____________________

Swedish Sunrise

Espionage. Diplomacy. Resistance. Is there any room for love?

Weeks after being accepted into America’s Office of Strategic Services, Birgit Westgard finds herself in Stockholm, Sweden - “Casablanca of the North.” The job is supposed to be easy: typing and filing. Then her handsome boss taps her to be his “plus-one” at social events where they collect intelligence, plant propaganda, and dance the nights away. How much longer can she remain impervious to his charm?

Silas Cronin is one of the lucky ones, and his plane crash lands in neutral Sweden. Bored with cooling his heels in an internment camp, he raises his hand when the government comes looking for someone who can type. Suddenly, he’s in Stockholm, mired in intrigue and subterfuge, and more than a little attracted to his new secretary who wants nothing to do with him. Is she right that wartime is no time for romance?

Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RRqyv

Sources:
https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/feds-role-during-wwii
https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economic-perspectives/2021/2
https://www.federalreservehistory.org/topics/fed-in-wartime
https://www.atlantafed.org/who-we-are/atlanta-fed-history/first-75-years/world-war-ii
https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2022/nov/how-fed-served-during-world-wars
https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/california-state-university-east-bay/economics-for-managers-in-a-global-economy/federal-reserves-financing-role-during-wwii-1941-1945/128748873
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve
https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed.htm

Photo Credits:

Marriner Eccles, Chairman, Federal Reserve System 1934-1948: By Harris & Ewing, photographer - Library of CongressCatalog: Public Domain.

War Bond Poster: Public Domain

War bond rally to buy bonds, February 1944.  (Photo: Mark Goebel Photo Gallery/Archive Photos/Getty Images) 

Traveling Tuesday: Portland, Maine

 

Traveling Tuesday: Portland, Maine

First settled in the early 1600s as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, then formally founded in 1786, Portland, Maine was the first stop on our cruise. The city’s early history was fraught with attacks during colonial conflicts and suffered four devastating fires prompting the depiction of a phoenix rising from ashes on the city seal. As a deep-water port, Portland has a long history of commercial shipping and marine economy.

During the American Revolutionary War, Portland heavily supported Patriot activities and at one point humiliated British Captain Henry Mowat in an incident known as Thompson’s War. In retaliation, Mowat bombarded and burned the town on October 18, 1775. About four hundred buildings were destroyed leaving hundreds of residents homeless. The event served a catalyst that moved the Continental Congress to establish a naval defense. As a strategic port, Portland also saw action during the War of 1812. On September 9, 1813, a major battle occurred between the USS Enterprise and Britain’s HMS Boxer. Britain lost the battle, and tragically, both captains died. The Civil War brought a Confederate raid that led to the Battle of Portland Harbor, one of the conflict’s northernmost battles.

With the completion of the Grand Trunk Railroad to Montreal, the city became the primary ice-free

winter port for Canadian exports. The Portland Company manufactured locomotives as well as engines for ships, trains, and fire engines. Many of the company’s employees were Canadian immigrants.

Portland’s growth was exponential, increasing from a population of 8,500 in 1820 (the year Maine was established as a state) to 12,500 in just ten years. By 1860, the city more than doubled in size, doubling again by 1900.

World War II saw Portland become a strategic naval base with the establishment of the US Naval Station in late 1941as well as the location for shakedown training for new vessels and anti-submarine warfare exercises, refueling and repairs at the Long Island Fuel Annex, outfitting of destroyers for convoy escort, and major anchorage for the Atlantic Fleet. Located off the coast of Portland, the Casco Islands were also commandeered during the war, with fifty-eight military structures on Peaks Island alone. From gun emplacements and watchtowers to barracks and fire-control posts, the islands were transformed.

Education plays a key role in the city with three major universities all founded from 1865 to 1878. Healthcare is also well-represented with US Marine Hospital in 1855, Maine General Hospital founded in 1868, Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1891, Children’s Hospital in 1898, St. Barnabas in the early 20th century, and Northern Light Mercy Hospital in 1918. When Maine General opened, it was the first hospital in the state available to the general public.

Commercial fishing and lobstering continue to play large roles in the city’s economy, but rife with history, Portland also has a strong tourism industry, including the arrival of multiple cruise ships each day during season. An interesting and beautiful city to visit any time of year.

__________________

Swedish Sunrise

Espionage. Diplomacy. Resistance. Is there any room for love?

Weeks after being accepted into America’s Office of Strategic Services, Birgit Westgard finds herself in Stockholm, Sweden - “Casablanca of the North.” The job is supposed to be easy: typing and filing. Then her handsome boss taps her to be his “plus-one” at social events where they collect intelligence, plant propaganda, and dance the nights away. How much longer can she remain impervious to his charm?

Silas Cronin is one of the lucky ones, and his plane crash lands in neutral Sweden. Bored with cooling his heels in an internment camp, he raises his hand when the government comes looking for someone who can type. Suddenly, he’s in Stockholm, mired in intrigue and subterfuge, and more than a little attracted to his new secretary who wants nothing to do with him. Is she right that wartime is no time for romance?

Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RRqyv

Sources
https://www.discoverconcordma.com/articles/697-the-destruction-of-falmouth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Maine
https://www.visitportland.com/
https://www.mainehistory.org/maine-connection/casco-bays-front-line/
https://www.portlandpaddle.net/6-historic-forts-you-can-see-from-a-kayak/
https://www.islandinstitute.org/island-journal/world-war-ii-left-a-big-footprint-on-casco-bay-islands/
https://sphistory.pastperfectonline.com/Archive/56EA2046-A54C-4C8C-BC6B-403953237868
https://www.mainememory.net/record/67327/image/67327


Photo Credits: All photos taken by Linda Shenton Matchett

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Susan Page Davis

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Susan Page Davis 

I'm a big fan of Susan Page Davis's books, so I'm thrilled to welcome her back to my blog. 

How do you deal with the pressure of deadlines? I’m one of those people who thrives under deadlines. When I have one, I tend to start right away and plan out my work, so much per day or week on the project. If there’s no deadline, there’s no push to start and see progress. I need that push to get me going and keep me on track.

What was your inspiration for the story? I love writing historicals, and I’d read several nonfiction accounts of women on sailing ships. I had the idea of a captain dying in a foreign port and his wife taking over to sail the ship home, but having to raise a crew of women after all the men disappeared. My son Jim, who had spent time in Australia, thought the Australian Gold Rush would be the perfect backdrop for this, as many ships were abandoned in harbors there when it occurred. We decided to write the first book in the series with this premise, and The Seafaring Women of the Vera B was born. We followed it up with The Scottish Lass, and now we’re bringing out the third book, The Seafaring Women of the Faithful. All follow the same main cast of characters. Each book can be read alone, but I know readers will love the series most if they read all three books.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)? In this book, the

vocations were easy. They all ended up as sailors. But their backgrounds were a little harder. We tried to give them some major differences. This included their names, ethnicity, and accents. Sri is one who moves from the Malay culture into the British culture, and we show some of her struggles with language, manners, etc. For Bessie, a former slave, we’ve tried to be sensitive in showing her growth into a free society and being an equal with the other sailors.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? We had to do a lot for this book, as with all historicals. We used several resources, both online and off. A history timetable gave us several key events happening that year to fit into the story. It would have been odd if the characters hadn’t commented on events happening back in Australia, for instance. We did a lot of geography research on eastern Britain, southern Scotland, and the North Sea. As always, our study of sailing ships and methods helped us keep it realistic. But there were a lot of minor things too, such as fashions for an Edinburgh wedding “back then,” and divorce laws in England at the time.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? I don’t think we did at first, but it soon became obvious that Book 1 could not contain the women’s full story. We took them as far as Batavia (Jakarta) in that one, and in Book 2 sent them on an Indian Ocean adventure. In #3, they are back in the British Isles—or, for some, for the first time.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why? Maybe Sonja Frantzen, the Norwegian girl who has never been in the northern hemisphere before. She’s traveling to America to find her extended family, and the story could go in any direction.

How do you come up with story lines? Jim and I discuss our ideas extensively before starting to write, and we prepare an outline. That can be amended as we go, but it gives a little structure and helps us to know where we want to end up. Then we go on and plan it more thoroughly.

What is your next project? Susan: I’m polishing up a novel I started and laid aside for a few years. Hope I finally get to write “The End” this time. Jim: I'm working on a young adult modern thriller involving a fictitious island nation. I began the story over 30 years ago and it got lost, so I'm making a much better version of it now.

About Susan:
Susan Page Davis and James S. Davis are a mother-son team. Originally from Maine, they’ve relocated father south. Susan is the author of more than 100 novels and has won the Carol Award, three Will Rogers Medallions, two Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Awards, and more. Jim is a fiction writer in multiple genres and has produced novels, short stories, and serial fiction.

Social media links:

Website (Susan): https://susanpagedavis.com
Website (Jim): https://jsdauthor.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Page-Davis/e/B001IR1CGA
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-page-davis
Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/255473.Susan_Page_Davis

BOOK BLURB:

Their ship was declared lost. Their courage was not.

Captain Alice Packard and the women of the Vera B have crossed the ocean and reached England, only to discover their ship has been written off and marked for the wreckers’ yard. With no clear path, Alice and her crew face an impossible choice: scatter in search of work and family, or fight for the vessel that has carried them through danger.

When a wedding calls them north to Scotland, hope seems to rise with the tide. But at Dunbar Castle, Sarah Fiske is refused entrance to her husband’s home, two young women vanish, and the crew is drawn into a dangerous scheme of greed, kidnapping, and betrayal.

As secrets surface and danger follows them from castle walls to the open sea, the women must rely on faith, friendship, and hard-won courage.

Then a brutal North Sea storm places beloved friends in the path of disaster.

Read The Seafaring Women of the Faithful and set sail on a historical adventure where found family, fierce loyalty, and faith hold fast through every storm.

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/4i9UfP3

Photo Credits:

Author headshots and book image: Courtesy Susan Page Davis

Globe: Pixabay/lrewolede

Release Day! Swedish Sunrise

 Release Day! Swedish Sunrise

Swedish Sunrise is book four in the exciting "Resistance Chronicles" and features the third sibling in the Westgard family who serves in occupied Sweden during World War II.

Espionage. Diplomacy. Resistance. Is there any room for love?

Weeks after being accepted into America’s Office of Strategic Services, Birgit Westgard finds herself in Stockholm, Sweden - “Casablanca of the North.” The job is supposed to be easy: typing and filing. Then her handsome boss taps her to be his “plus-one” at social events where they collect intelligence, plant propaganda, and dance the nights away. How much longer can she remain impervious to his charm?

Silas Cronin is one of the lucky ones, and his plane crash lands in neutral Sweden. Bored with cooling his heels in an internment camp, he raises his hand when the government comes looking for someone who can type. Suddenly, he’s in Stockholm, mired in intrigue and subterfuge, and more than a little attracted to his new secretary who wants nothing to do with him. Is she right that wartime is no time for romance?

Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RRqyv

Talkshow Thursday: A Post by Lorri Dudley

 

Behind the Curtain of Regency London’s Ballet

by Lorri Dudley

Becoming a ballerina who floated across the stage with graceful movements was a childhood dream of mine that never came to fruition. But when I began writing The Ballerina’s Bargain, I discovered the next best thing. I could live that dream through my characters.

There is a romantic whimsy to ballet—the airy skirts, graceful movements, and illusion of defying gravity as dancers rise en pointe and extend their limbs with such elegance that they seem almost weightless. Yet my research took me behind the heavy stage curtains of Regency England’s opera-ballet, where I discovered that the fanciful world of the stage could be far darker than the enchanting performances suggested.

Ballet demands extraordinary physical endurance. Even today, dancers spend countless hours rehearsing, pushing through blisters, aching muscles, and injuries. During the Regency era, many ballerinas began training as children, often coming from families who struggled to put food on the table. For these girls, a career on the stage could offer an alternative to some of the grueling occupations available to working-class women. Instead of spending their days as scullery maids scrubbing floors and emptying chamber pots, laundresses laboring around scalding water and hot irons, or factory workers tending dangerous machinery, a talented young girl might find an opportunity to earn money through dancing.

But the stage offered no guarantee of an easier life.

It did hold the possibility of applause—provided the performance pleased the audience. And Regency spectators could be notoriously unforgiving. Performers might be heckled, shouted down, or even pelted with food. Fights were known to break out among spectators in the pit or upper gallery, turning an evening at the theatre into a spectacle both on and off the stage.

And then there was Fops’ Alley.

This area at the front of the theatre was notorious for attracting fashionable young men who came not

only to watch the performance but to admire the ballerinas themselves, and sometimes just for a scandalous peek at a ballerina’s ankles. To modern eyes, the attention might sound flattering. However, for many young women on the stage, the attention could carry a troublesome price.

Wealthy men could become what was known as a ballerina’s “protector,” offering gifts and financial assistance in exchange for the dancer’s exclusive attention and companionship. A pair of ballet slippers, ribbons, jewelry, or other small trinkets were luxurious gifts to a young woman whose family had little money.

Behind the applause, these arrangements could leave a vulnerable young ballerina with very little power of her own, and the word protector appears to be a misnomer. Becoming in a family way (or with child) brought a devastating end to her career. A dancer who could no longer perform might find herself without an income and facing the additional burden of supporting a child. For a family already struggling financially, the consequences could be heartbreaking.

The darker side of Regency ballet forms the premise behind The Ballerina’s Bargain. Yet I didn't want the novel to dwell upon the most sordid aspects of backstage life. Instead, the story focuses on two people’s heroic determination to spare the young ballerinas from a wretched fate by those who’d take advantage of their innocence.

Still, the danger is always there, lurking backstage.

Because sometimes the greatest threats in a theatre aren't waiting in the audience. They're waiting behind the curtain.

In The Ballerina’s Bargain, saving the theatre may require far more than keeping its doors open—it may mean fighting for the young women whose dreams depend upon it.

To learn more, check out my website at lorridudley.com or follow me on: 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-ballerina-s-bargain-danforth-theatre-book-1-by-lorri-dudley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254456688-the-ballerina-s-bargain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dudleylorri/

About The Ballerina’s Bargain

A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre may cost them both their hearts.

London, 1815
Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents’ execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate. 

Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father's secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.

 
But when Emmeline's hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.

For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/4bVdTuc  

About the Author:
Lorri Dudley is the bestselling author of The Leeward Island Series and The Agents of Espionage Series. She has a master’s degree in psychology and lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

Photo credits:

Author Photo and book image: Courtesy Lorri Dudley

Ballet Shoes: Pixabay

Ballerina: Pixabay/mgnorrisphotos

Movie Monday: Cloak & Dagger

 

Movie Monday: Cloak & Dagger

Another in the plethora of the spy/film noir movies that came out after World War II, Cloak & Dagger stars Gary Cooper and Lilli Palmer. The film is based on the non-fiction work of Corey Ford and Alastair MacBain, Cloak & Dagger: The Secret Story of OSS. Winner of an Academy Award for his portrayal of Sergeant York five years earlier, Cooper plays a scientist who is sent by the Office of Strategic Services to Europe to contact Hungarian scientists working on the German nuclear weapons program. Palmer plays a member of the Italian resistance with whom he falls in love.

As with many of Hollywood’s films, there was plenty of “cloak and dagger” behind the scenes. Fritz Lang, a German who fled to the US after Hitler’s rise to power, was known for his anti-Nazi spy thrillers as well as being difficult to work with which often created tensions on the set. Another issue was the speed in which the screenplay was written, despite which producer Milton Sperling hoped Lang would be able to create a credible movie. The two men were said to have quarreled often. The final issue was the cutting of Lang’s original ending. He shot a scene where Cooper’s character leads a group of American paratroopers in Germany to discover the remains of an underground factory that held evidence of nuclear weapons. Then he says, “This is year one of the atomic age and God help us if we think we can keep this secret from the world.” Thinking it unrealistic, Sperling cut the scene further alienating the two men.

The film was not well received by critics, many of whom complained at the “belatedness” of the movie

being released a year after the end of the war, and of its inaccuracies (the Nazis were nowhere near producing an atom bomb). Box office response of $2.5 million against a budget of $2M may indicate audiences weren’t impressed either. Interestingly, I found more than a few websites that tout the movie’s value as a gripping thriller with excellent acting.

One site comments: “The stolid, plain-spoken Cooper is miscast as a man of science, but he credibly conveys his character’s transformation from amateur spy to ruthless operative. And while Palmer was by all accounts treated terribly by Lang on set, she turns in a strong performance as a hard-bitten yet tender-hearted partisan in her first American role.” Another site said, “While not the most flowing and psychologically satisfying of Fritz Lang films, Cloak and Dagger is replete with threat of danger…the settings delight, most specifically in their over reminders of fascism.”

In addition to Lang as director, Cloak & Dagger features several European actors who fled to the US in the mid- to late-1930s: Vladmir Sokoloff (Russia), J. Edward Bromberg (Hungary), Lilli Palmer (Germany), Ludwig Stössel (Germany), and Hella Petric (Hungary).

Have you seen this classic?

___________________

Swedish Sunrise

Espionage. Diplomacy. Resistance. Is there any room for love?

Weeks after being accepted into America’s Office of Strategic Services, Birgit Westgard finds herself in Stockholm, Sweden - “Casablanca of the North.” The job is supposed to be easy: typing and filing. Then her handsome boss taps her to be his “plus-one” at social events where they collect intelligence, plant propaganda, and dance the nights away. How much longer can she remain impervious to his charm?

Silas Cronin is one of the lucky ones, and his plane crash lands in neutral Sweden. Bored with cooling his heels in an internment camp, he raises his hand when the government comes looking for someone who can type. Suddenly, he’s in Stockholm, mired in intrigue and subterfuge, and more than a little attracted to his new secretary who wants nothing to do with him. Is she right that wartime is no time for romance?

Purchase: https://books2read.com/u/3RRqyv

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloak_and_Dagger_(1946_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038417/
https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2022/cteq/out-of-the-shadows-cloak-and-dagger-fritz-lang-1946/
https://www.classicfilmnoir.com/2023/11/cloak-and-dagger-1946.html
https://letterboxd.com/film/cloak-and-dagger/


Photo Credits: 

Movie Poster: Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17147257 

Movie Stills: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

 

September 2026 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

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

Contemporary Romance:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cozy Mystery:

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

General Contemporary:

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

General Historical:

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

Historical Romance:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:

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

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

Romantic Suspense:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speculative/Romantic Fantasy:

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

Western Romance:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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