Welcome to December’s new releases.
Congratulations to with a new release. Check the end of the post to see if you are the November gift card winner.
Reclaiming Hope by Carolyn Miller
Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing (Released 7 December 2021)
Opposites attract—and repel. But which is more powerful?
Callie Steele might be a bit… focused on work, but despite what her employers say, she enjoys her well-ordered, productive life.
When she’s sent to meet the owners of an estate requiring post-hurricane landscaping, Callie meets their son, Kai Brody, a super-chilled pro surfer, who is as opposite from her as they come. Though initially smitten, Callie knows a relationship with Kai is a bad idea—a very bad idea.
Kai, however, can’t help but be intrigued by someone who challenges him to make something of his life again. He’s determined to pursue her, if she’ll give him half a chance.
The more time they spend together, negotiating the challenges of work, illness, and family, the more their opposing outlooks clash and connect. What do these unlikely friends really want from life? Is it best to focus on work or recreation?
As Kai and Callie answers from the Lord, they also must consider if such complete opposites have enough in common to make a relationship last.
Reclaiming Hope concludes the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
The Breakup Project by Carolyn Miller
Independently published (Date to release December 29, 2021)
As the twin sister of hockey’s hottest forward, romance-loving Bree Karlsson is used to being ignored, leading to a New Year’s resolution to not date any athlete in her attempt to find Mr. Right. But what happens when the man who might prove to be her personal Mr. Darcy is her brother’s hockey-playing best friend?
Mike Vaughan might be happy playing in Boston, but he’d be even happier if Bree could one day see him as more than a good friend. He agrees to help Bree with a special project in the hope she’ll finally see him as something more. But when a misunderstanding ends in a Valentine’s Day disaster, Bree realizes that her breakup project may have broken her friendship with Mike in two. Can she ever redeem her mistake?
This friends-to-more romance has plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy kisses in this first book of the Original Six, a sweet, slightly sporty Christian contemporary romance series.
The Planting of Ulster: Of Visionaries and Builders by Donna Fletcher Crow
Independently published (Released: November 30, 2021)
Mary returns to Scotland in the summer of 1996, her head brimming with wedding plans. But Gareth has quite different ideas. He is off to work in a reconciliation center in Northern Ireland, made possible by the recent ceasefire in the Troubles. Filled with trepidation, Mary agrees to go with him. But what if those mad Irish start throwing bombs at each other again?
Desiring to understand the history of the conflicts that have torn this beautiful island for centuries, Mary turns to their friend’s family journals.
In 1610, Calum Lanark, refused the hand of his beloved Deirdre, joins the Scots settlers seeking to make a new life in the Ulster Plantation–where Lady Montgomery introduces planting potatoes into Irish agriculture. Amid new friends and bountiful opportunities, Calum seeks a future where he and Deirdre can live. Until disastrous strife destroys all his efforts.
What Matters Most by Carol Ashby
When faced with impossible choices, how do you decide what matters most?
For ten years, the incorruptible Tribune Titianus enforced Rome’s laws. He’s four days from leaving the Urban Cohort to teach at his brother-in-law Kaeso’s school when Emperor Hadrian and the Praetorian Prefect draft him to secretly investigate and thwart an assassination plot…one that might involve his own commander. He can’t refuse, but if Hadrian’s enemies discover his Christian faith, will it mean death for everyone he loves?
Titianus’s cousin Sabina returns as a widow to her father’s house after six years of misery in a marriage that sealed a political alliance. She’s dreading the next marriage Grandfather will arrange with someone seeking his support. When her brother’s best friend Kaeso offers the encouragement and friendship she’s longed for, can she escape the chains of society’s expectations to gain what her heart desires?
The new tribune Glabrio wants two things as Titianus trains him: to discover for their commander who Titianus is investigating and to gain the support of Titianus’s powerful relatives. Marrying Sabina would secure the backing of her grandfather, but because of the teacher, she’s making choices no noblewoman should. As he gets closer to both his goals, will he realize in time what matters most?
I won’t have the Amazon and Kobo links to the sales pages until I put it up for preorder on the 28, but these will get any buyer to my author page at Amazon.com or the search results on Carol Ashby at Amazon AU, which would let someone buy. I don’t know why there’s no author page at the AU subsidiary, but if there is, I don’t know how to get one.
I’ll try to remember to send the updated sales page for AU when I get it.
Deck the Halls (And Bring a Hammer) By Hannah Currie
A Novella from Hannah Curries Blog
Emily Mitchell has plans for this December—finish the school year, build a life-sized stable for the nativity play, bake an insane amount of gingerbread, and figure out how to tell her overly protective big brothers that she’s moving. To the other end of the country. Not one of those plans involved entertaining, much less dating, any of the four men her brothers have sent her way because she once—many years ago—joked about them finding her a husband. The last thing she needs right now is a relationship.
Matt McLaughlin would do anything for his best friend, but keeping an eye on said best friend’s very attractive little sister was never part of the deal. But, with Luke out of the country, and four pesky suitors coming Emily’s way, someone has to. And it’s not like he’s going to fall in love with her. He’s just there to protect her. Right?
The Labyrinth by By: Mark Worthing (Editor), Pete Court (Editor), Claire Bell (Editor)
Stories of Life (Published: 18th November 2021)
The Labyrinth is the sixth instalment of the Stories of Life series. It contains a great variety of subject matter. However, one recurring thread in this year’s stories is that of disaster experiences, from boating wrecks, car accidents, plane crashes, to natural events like tornadoes and bushfires. Some are set within hospital wards and Intensive Care Units. Many of the stories this year are transformation stories, that is, accounts of lives that have been radically altered by a caring intervention of others, recognised as the hand of God at work. The writers of this year’s stories of life are to be commended for their willingness to share about the place of God in their lives and their deep gratitude for divine support in times of crisis.
Winners
The winner of the October gift card is Mazzy Adams. Congratulations, please contact us via the contact form to claim your voucher.
‘And bring a hammer’ that made me laugh! Congratulations to everyone releasing a book.
WOW they all look really good! Love seeing new writers.
Thanks for stopping by.