inferno | excerpt + giveaway

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about the book

BIG CITY CRIME. SMALL TOWN HEROES.

An epic finale.

Detective Samantha Jesse is determined to hold on to what she has. Whenever she gets too happy, life corrects that mistake and takes the joy from her. Her new partner, Detective Romeo Alvarez, was there the day of the biggest correction, but despite his assertions, that doesn’t mean they’re forever connected. Unless her worst fears come true and he changes his ways because he fell in love at first sight with her sister, Bristol. As if Samantha needs that complication in her quiet life.

A love rekindled.

Fire Department Captain Julio Espinoza-Vasquez has never let go of the love of his life. Raised by deaf parents, he sees the world in ways no one else around him ever will. And he’ll put it all on the line to protect his colleagues—the family that the department has given him. When a spate of suspicious fires and one death make it clear something is happening in Benson, Julio lands on an inter-department task force. Working with Samantha is his one shot at getting her back.

As the hunt for the arsonist turns to targeted attacks, Julio puts it all on the line to save Samantha while she investigates these deadly crimes. Only together can they uncover the culprit.

But not before Benson becomes an inferno.

Each Benson First Responders book is a stand-alone Christian Romantic Suspense.

publisher: two dogs publishing, llc

release date: september 4, 2024

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other books in the series

allegiance

blackout

collateral

detection

knockout

nightfall

fallout

duplicity

what's the story, morning glory? | excerpt + giveaway

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about the book

“DEAR LORD, JULIE … OUR WHOLE LIFE IS IN THIS BOOK!”

My heart went out to my sweet husband as he walked into our kitchen one day with a noticeable gulp, ashen-faced after reading my latest novel.“Yes, I know, babe,” I said with a repentant smile and a conciliatory hug, “but nobody really knows that.”

Ahem. Until now …

Trust me, What’s the Story, Morning Glory? A Memoir Devotional with a ‘Novel’ Approach to Practical Christianity is not a book I wanted to write. As a novelist, I have never been partial to nonfiction, either reading it or writing it, but I had little choice when God convinced me otherwise through a number of point-blank arm-twistings I couldn’t deny and not-so-gentle proddings from family and friends.

Despite all the encouragement, I wasn’t really sure where to begin. “It will be fiction and nonfiction combined,” the Holy Spirit whispered within, and just like that, the idea for this book took flight. First, I would tell my “real” and very personal story behind the life-lesson stories in my novels, then I would follow it up with the excerpt from my books where I teach that same life lesson to my characters, finally culminating in corresponding Scriptures, a bulleted “Takeaway” list, and a related prayer.

Thus, What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity was born. A memoir devotional that when combined with scenes from my novels, becomes a “novotional” where I relate the life lessons God personally taught me through His Word. I am simply a child of God who applied these lessons and Biblical precepts to every situation in my life and consequently, saw nonstop answers to prayer and blessings galore. It is my profound hope and prayer that through my own very simple and personal stories and examples, I can do the same for others. Therefore, the format for each chapter of this book will be as

1. The Real Story (How I learned and applied the spiritual lesson in my own life)

2. The Novel Story (The scene where I teach the spiritual lesson to my characters)

3. The Scripture Story (Scriptures applicable to the spiritual lesson)

4. The Takeaway Story (Bulletized points for spiritual lesson in easy-to-read/apply format)

5. The Prayer Story (Specific prayer related to the spiritual lesson)

I pray this bottom-line, albeit somewhat quirky, 1-2-3 devotional blesses you as much as God’s spiritual life lessons have blessed me!

Hugs,

Julie Lessman

publisher: julie lessman llc

release date: october 1, 2024

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k-9 ranch protection | book review + giveaway

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about the book

A killer on the loose.

A K-9 keeping watch.

Police constable Izzy Tremblay knows her father’s death was no accident, so when she finally discovers a lead and is immediately attacked, her suspicions are confirmed. The ambush leaves her in the hospital with three hours of crucial memory missing, which she knows holds the key to finding her father’s murderer. For protection, she takes refuge with her ex-partner, Austin Murray, on his K-9 ranch while she races to uncover the truth. But with danger still lurking, can they stay alive long enough to take down a killer?

publisher: love inspired suspense

release date: september 24, 2024

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other books in the series

fatal forensic investigation

explosive christmas showdown

mountain abduction rescue

buried grave secrets

yukon wilderness evidence

the christy award finalists 2024 | spotlight + giveaway

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about the gala

The Christy Award Gala will be held on Thursday, November 14 at 7 pm central in Downers Grove, Illinois, at the DoubleTree Conference Center, just outside Chicago. Winners from each category, plus the Christy Book of the Year and Amplify Award, will be announced during the celebration.

Hosted by award-winning novelist and radio host Chris Fabry, the Gala will feature the induction of award-winning speculative author Sharon Hinck into the Christy Hall of Fame with remarks from inaugural Hall of Fame novelist Lynn Austin. The evening will also include a keynote from Amanda Barratt, author of 2023 Christy Book of the Year Within These Walls of Sorrow and the presentation of this year’s awards by last year’s winning authors: Sharon Hinck, Amanda Barratt, Sara Brunsvold, Laura Frantz, Elizabeth Goddard, Kristi Ann Hunter, Anna Rose Johnson, Linda MacKillop, Katie Powner, and Sara Watterson.

In addition, the literary imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien will be honored throughout the evening by poet, scholar, and Anglican priest Malcolm Guite; accomplished agent of many of the industry’s award-winning speculative titles Steve Laube; and WaterBrook editor, who is the founder of the International Inklings Day Substack, Jamie Lapeyrolerie.

Learn more about The Christy Award Gala 2024

when the mountain crumbled | first line friday + the friday 56

first line friday is hosted weekly by reading is my superpower.
book beginnings is hosted weekly by rose city reader.
the friday 56 is hosted weekly by my head is full of books.

happy friday!

in a bit of a reading slump these days, but i'm hoping it breaks soon and i get some good reading done...

a thieving at carlton house | book review + giveaway

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about the book

Unlikely alliances form when a killer is on the loose… but who can be trusted?

The Home Office has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. And as with everything concerning the Prince Regent, discretion is paramount.

It’s the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother’s long shadow. Unfortunately, his superior, The Duke of Haverly, has a plan that makes him balk: in order to sell his cover, Bertie must play the part of a man looking for love, ready to reform his rakish ways. The duke is willing to let Bertie name his own investigative team, but his recommendation that the team include Philippa Cashel has Bertie on his guard. Does the duke–known for his behind-the-scenes machinations–have an ulterior motive?

Philippa Cashel escaped her life as one of society’s best-known courtesans, devoting her life to helping other women in dire straits. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about joining his team as an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. Why her? She’s focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not in cloak-and-dagger skullduggery. Her hope is that if she labors hard enough at her charity work, she might begin to feel worthy of God’s forgiveness of her past.

When one of Philippa’s rescued girls is arrested for stealing the royal jewels and another is murdered, Philippa will risk partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop the killer.

Two brilliant minds–with two wary hearts–and one cunning deceiver are on a collision course in Regency England.

Beloved Regency author Erica Vetsch begins this new series with all the elements that keep her readers coming back. From historical accuracy to rousing mystery to deep character faith journeys, A Thieving at Carlton House will please Regency lovers–and anyone else who loves a great story.

publisher: kregel publications

release date: september 17, 2024

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tales from the matthewsburg manse | excerpt + giveaway

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about the book

When city girl Viv’s husband Mark accepts his first pastoral charge in rural Matthewsburg, she wonders what to expect, and what will be expected of her. This collection of connected fiction stories, some humorous, some suspenseful, some even romantic, explores Viv’s new life as she tries to find her place in the community while dealing with local gossip, old rivalries, suspected murder, sabotaged car shows, and more. Who says life in a small town is boring?

“This book entertains us with our own humanity, we laugh at human foibles, nod our heads in the mutual pains of life’s adventures. Interspersed are poems expressing poignant moments. These provide a place to rest, ponder and even smile before we are once again taken on the life journey of being a spouse in a small town parish. I found myself laughing out loud on occasion. This book is a wonderful read and leaves us with the feeling that life is good.” – Nita Kotiuga, retired pastor, Director of Spiritual Formation at Bakke Graduate University.

publisher: the matthewsburg manse

release date: october 26, 2023

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bonding with the cowboy's daughter | book review + giveaway

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about the book

She’s left her old life behind

…only to find a new love waiting.

After a broken engagement, Callie Morgan decides to move to Aspen Ridge, Colorado, to fix up her late grandmother’s gift shop. But the shop is in bad shape and Callie runs out of money faster than expected. Old childhood friend and single dad Wyatt Stone comes to the rescue, offering her a job at his family’s ranch, Stone River Ranch. While their friendship is rekindled, will Callie ever risk loving again… even as Wyatt’s little girl is already stealing her heart?

publisher: love inspired

release date: august 20, 2024

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other books in the series

rescuing her ranch

redeeming the cowboy

the life in Christ bible | book review + giveaway

about the book

God has a purpose for your life in this moment. You have a part to play in what He is doing in the world. But knowing why you are here starts with knowing who God says you are:

You are an image bearer. A worshiper. A ruler and cultivator. In Christ, you are known. Loved. Forgiven. Redeemed. Reconciled. Complete. A member of God’s family. An ambassador sent into the world to make Christ known to all people.

God says that you matter.

This is who God says you are in His Word. This is who Christ is making you to be through the gospel. The Life in Christ Bible invites you to embrace your identity and purpose as you:

- Discover why you matter—not because of anything you do, but because you are made in the image of God.

- Explore how the gospel of Jesus Christ makes you a new person.

- Learn how who God says you are changes how you think, speak, work, and move through the world.

You are more valuable than you realize and more loved than you know. You have a greater purpose than you can imagine. God wants you to believe it—and rejoice!

publisher: thomas nelson

release date: september 3, 2024

publisher | amazon | barnes & noble | bookshop | christian book | peek inside

order your copy of the life in Christ bible today!

the art of writing 2024 | spotlight + giveaway

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about the conference

The Art of Writing conference will be held on November 14 in Chicago at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center, Chicago/Downers Grove. The focused four-session conference will bring together writers, storytellers, and publishing curators for training and connection. Hear from Christian publishers, agents, authors, and thought leaders on the Art of Writing for today’s market.

Session One: The Balance of the Art of Writing and the Business of Publishing

A panel of Christian fiction publishers and agents discuss market changes and current trends and address your most important questions with Tyndale Fiction publisher Karen Watson and agents Danielle Egan-Miller and Cynthia Ruchti.

Session Two: Processing Pain through Writing and Reading Christian Fiction

In a special LIVE Moody Radio conversation, author and host Chris Fabry will lead a discussion of how pain helps writers process their lives and can help readers do the same with therapists turned authors Amanda Cox and Kelly Flanagan

Session Three: Authors as Marketers: How to Build a Thriving Ecosystem

Join Andrea Garcia, senior marketing manager at Tyndale House Publishers, as she helps you navigate how to be an author-marketer, explains how your author channels can work together, and assures you that you can have fun spreading the word about your books.

Session Four: What Is Christian Fiction? Writing for a Broader Audience

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, has the audience for Christian fiction shrunk or broadened? Does that or should that change the way you write your novels? How much should you write with your audience in mind versus letting your creativity lead and find its own audience? A panelist of authors will cover these questions and more!

Learn More about The Art of Writing 2024!

a proposal for her cowboy | book review + giveaway

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about the book

Family brought her home…

Can love make her stay?

Now that she’s finally back in Three Springs, Texas, Deputy Sheriff Lacey Nash wants nothing more than to reconnect with her nine-year-old daughter, Aspen. Carefree Caleb Sloan is just a distraction—even if he is surprisingly helpful. He not only pitches in to train Aspen for the junior rodeo contest, but he also makes Lacey feel both welcome in town and truly special. Though will that be enough for by-the-book Lacey… to let this fun-loving cowboy prove he’s ready for an instant family?

publisher: harlequin heartwarming

release date: august 20, 2024

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other books in the series

the texas seal's surprise

trusting the rancher with christmas

her cowboy wedding date

falling for the cowboy doc

his christmas cowgirl

the rancher's secret crush

lethal standoff | excerpt + giveaway

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about the book

Justice can be elusive. Family secrets can be deadly. The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking in a volatile criminal case filled with unanswered questions. And Carrington Reed is running short on time to piece together clues that will solve the puzzle.

Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed is called to the scene when reports come in that fifteen hostages are being held by the Kendrix brothers in an abandoned house in south Texas. When she arrives on site, Carrington quickly learns that the brothers are armed and refuse to release their victims, a group of undocumented immigrants, until the local police identify their father’s murderer.

Working closely with Levi Ehrlich, a handsome investigative reporter who has covered some of Carrington’s negotiations in the past, she finds herself being undeniably drawn to him. Carrington digs deeper into the death of the Kendrixes’ father and begins to notice that some details surrounding his death aren’t adding up.

As Carrington investigates the brothers’ claims and tries to piece together their motive for taking innocent people captive, it soon becomes clear that they are trying to hide something and that revenge for their father’s death may not be what they’re really bargaining for after all. To protect the hostages and ensure the brothers don’t carry out the rest of their sinister plot, Carrington must get to the bottom of one family’s secret and the truth they’re trying so hard to hide before time runs out.

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers pulse-pounding romantic suspense about secrets, betrayal, and finding a path to forgiveness.

- Includes discussion guide for book groups.

- A clean contemporary thriller from Christy Award-winning author DiAnn Mills

- For fans of action-packed romantic suspense in the vein of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Dani Pettrey

- From the popular author of Facing the Enemy

publisher: tyndale house publishers

release date: september 3, 2024

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shield of the mighty | book review

about the book

Captured by the Philistines as a young boy, Zevi has grown into a formidable warrior. As a captain in King Saul's army, he is assigned a crucial mission: Recruit soldiers, gather tribute for the royal coffers, and find talented artisans for the king's court. But when he is sent to Maresha, the town he was forced to leave as a child, he faces a startling truth--the elder council rejects King Saul and his campaign against their enemies.

Yochana, a widow and skilled woman of business, is captivated by a stranger who enters her perfume shop. Upon discovering he is not only a soldier but a captain responsible for enlisting young men to die in battle, fury and pain from her past loss resurfaces, threatening to consume her. But when Zevi's actions in Maresha entangle Yochana in his radical scheme, they're forced to confront present dangers and past scars.

Embark on a journey through ancient Israel with bestselling and award-winning author Connilyn Cossette in this exhilarating tale of vengeance, justice, and healing.

publisher: bethany house publishers

release date: august 20, 2024

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other books in the series

the wedding gift

voice of the ancient