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"When the unthinkable happens, mother and daughter are forced to look deep within themselves for the truth. Achterberg takes you for a ride that you won’t forget. I loved this book." —Barbara Conrey Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye Blind Turn An examination of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. Liz Johnson single-handedly raised an exemplary daughter—honor student, track star, and all-around good kid—despite the disapproval of her father and her small town. How could that same teenager be responsible for the death of the high school’s beloved football coach? This is Texas, where high school football ranks right up there with God, so while the legal battle wages, the public deals its own verdict. Desperate for help, Liz turns to a lawyer whose affection she long ago rejected and attempts to play nice with her ex-husband, while her daughter struggles with guilt and her own demons as she faces the consequences of an accident she doesn’t remember. Can one careless decision alter a lifetime? A tragic, emotional, ultimately uplifting story, BLIND TURN could be anyone’s story. AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | BOOKSHOP.ORG In the author's words . . . Writing Blind Turn allowed me to explore how life could spin in a completely different direction as a result of one tiny action, something that seems like nothing at the time. It was a chance to write through some of my greatest fears as a mom and to ponder the weight of forgiveness, and whether one bad decision invalidates a good life. Enjoy an Excerpt from Blind Turn “You need to take this.” Avery shoves my cell phone at me. “I’ll deal with the party.” “Who is it?” I glance at my watch. Eleven-thirty. I rarely work on Sundays, but it is Edna Mae’s 100th birthday and her entire family is here for a birthday brunch, as well as a reporter from the paper. She probably doesn’t even know the party is for her, but I wanted to be on hand to be sure it went okay. Her great-grandchildren have just blown out her candles and a cheer goes up. “He kept calling,” Avery says. “He says it’s an emergency.” The residents break out with an enthusiastic but out of tune rendition of For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow. Their time-worn voices always center my heart, reminding me that life wasn’t always so complicated and on-demand. One time when my daughter Jess was maybe eight, she heard them singing and asked, “Don’t they know she’s not a fellow?” I take the phone and slip into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind me. The call is from Jake, my ex-husband. I have not talked to him in weeks; parenting is mostly a side gig for him, something he squeezes in between fishing season and the latest bimbo. “What do you need, Jake? I’m busy.” I glance back through the narrow window in the door to watch Avery lean down and kiss Edna Mae on her crinkly cheek, leaving a faint red trace. Edna Mae smiles, pats her arm. “It’s Jess.” It is the sound of his voice that frightens me. Instead of the cocky boy-man he has become, I hear a scared kid, the one who proposed to me because he didn’t know better. “She’s been in an accident,” he says. “It’s bad.” I hurl questions at him as I sprint to my desk, grab my purse, and run for my car. “Is she okay? Where is she? What happened? Why didn’t you call me sooner?” “I’m calling you now. She’s at Memorial. They’re checking her; they said the injuries aren’t life-threatening…” The phone goes quiet and I think it has cut him off, but then I hear him talking to someone, muffled voices, Jess’ name. “Jake?” I shriek as I open my car door. “She hit someone,” he whispers. He says nothing more. I wait for him to explain, but all I hear is the buzz of a hospital corridor. He takes a breath, and I can hear it catch on the inhale. Is he crying? He exhales loudly, slowly. “She hit someone? What do you mean? With her car?” I have always operated at a much higher speed than Jake Johnson. He’s a good old boy from Texas, a guy used to taking his time, never in a rush to say anything he doesn’t need to say. As he has done for the better part of twenty years, he ignores my questions. “Lizzie,” he says now, clearly, calmly. “It’s real bad.” “I thought you said her injuries weren’t life-threatening?” “It’s not her, it’s the guy she hit—he’s dead.” “What?” My world teeters sideways. Skidding to a stop. For a moment, just a moment, I thank God it was someone else and not Jess. And then I dig in my purse for my keys, toss out receipts, mints, and earbuds, leaving them where they scatter on the pavement. Finally, my keys. “She was taking Sheila home,” Jake says, as I slam the door behind me and crank the engine. “She hit some guy on Elm.” “I don’t understand! You’re not making any sense!” I scream as I back blindly out of my spot, slamming on the brakes when a nurse jumps out of my path. I wave an apology, and she scowls. I take a breath. “I don’t understand,” I say again, calmer now as I carefully back out of my space. “Is Sheila okay?” “I think so, nobody said. The guy was walking on the side of the road.” “Then how did she hit him? That makes no sense,” I insist. I wonder if Jake got all the details or if he was only half-ass listening, as usual. “That’s all I know, I just got here. I’ll call you when I know more.” “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” The yellow light turns to red as I press the pedal to the floor, my dragging tailpipe banging through the dip in the intersection. The entire way to the hospital, I chant, “No, no, no, no,” as if I can change whatever has already happened. Excerpt © Cara Sue Achterberg. Shared with permission. The Author Cara Sue Achterberg is the author of four novels, two memoirs, one work of non-fiction, and multiple blogs. She is the cofounder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a nonprofit initiative to raise awareness and resources for shelter dogs. Cara currently lives in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, and Bentonville, Virginia with her husband and far too many animals. For more information visit CaraWrites.com . Genre: Women's Fiction Type: Novel Publisher: Black Rose Writing Release Date: January 7, 2021 Content Rating: 3 Hearts / PG View our rating system "From its life-shattering opening on, pages will seemingly turn themselves as you seek resolution for this novel’s imperfect yet courageous characters, and for one eye-opening reason: these events could have happened to any of us. An important story about how taking responsibility for our actions—even if accidental—can turn a nightmare into rays of hope." —Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"Murphy chillingly evokes some social ills of 19th-century America, including the complete control of women by their husbands. Readers will hope Amelia returns soon." – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review A Deadly Fortune A historical mystery in the vein of The Alienist , in which a young woman in Gilded Age New York must use a special talent to unravel a deadly conspiracy. Amelia Matthew has done the all-but-impossible, especially for an orphan in Gilded Age New York City. Along with her foster brother Jonas, she has parleyed her modest psychic talent into a safe and comfortable life. But safety and comfort vanish when a head injury leaves Amelia with a dramatically-expanded gift. After she publicly channels an angry spirit, she finds herself imprisoned in the notorious insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. As Jonas searches for a way to free her, Amelia struggles to control her disturbing new abilities and survive a place where cruelty and despair threaten her sanity. Andrew Cavanaugh is familiar with despair. In the wake of a devastating loss, he abandons a promising medical career—and his place in Philadelphia society—to devote himself to the study and treatment of mental disease. Miss Amelia Matthew is just another patient—until she channels a spirit in front of him and proves her gift is real. When a distraught mother comes to Andrew searching for her missing daughter—a daughter she believes is being hidden at the asylum—he turns to Amelia. Together, they uncover evidence of a deadly conspiracy, and then it’s no longer just Amelia’s sanity and freedom at stake. Amelia must master her gift and use it to catch a killer—or risk becoming the next victim. AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND More purchase options at Simon & Schuster Enjoy an Excerpt from A Deadly Fortune Amelia returned to herself a sense at a time. First a woman’s voice, brusque and echoing: “This way please, gentlemen. Set her down, thank you. We’ll take her from here.” Throbbing pain filling her head to bursting. Mewling with it, clutching her temples with her hands. A foul taste in her mouth and a stench in her nostrils that she dimly recognized as coming from herself. Filth and bile and rust. Slow, shallow breaths. Slitted eyes opening against piercing light. She blinked slowly, orienting herself. She was lying on the floor—on a stretcher—in a large, tiled washroom. And she was not alone. Three women wearing identical brown-striped dresses and stern expressions looked back at her. One opened the folder she held and looked down, making notes with a pencil. The scritching sound was as loud as a scream in the echoing room. The second held a cloth bundle and a limp canvas sack. The third stepped forward. “Good. You’re awake. Do you understand me?” Amelia tried to speak but found her voice wouldn’t obey. She managed a shadow of a nod. “Do you know where you are?” Shaking her head was beyond her capacity. She closed her eyes again. Frowned. “This is the city lunatic asylum at Blackwell’s Island.” Shock forced Amelia’s eyes wide open. The light assaulted her, sent a bolt of pain through her head, forced a strangled groan from her throat. Her stomach heaved, but it was empty, and all she did was retch pitifully. “None of that. We’ll not be cleaning up after you.” One of the others spoke. “Let’s get her seen to.” Hands pulled her upright, and the room whirled sickeningly. Amelia closed her eyes again. One of the women probed at her head, yanked at her tender scalp. “What on earth have you done to your hair?” Amelia reached up with a trembling hand. Felt coils of hair, stiff with filth. “I’m not going to waste all day trying to get this mess cleaned and combed out. We’re going to have to cut it off.” The speaker nodded to the one with the folder. “Make a note: there was an infestation of lice.” Amelia ignored their chuckles as the woman reached into her pocket and produced a pair of scissors. Clumps of hair fell to the floor. “There. Let’s get her cleaned up.” Two of them held her on her feet while the third stripped her, grumbling over the muck caked on her clothes. Naked, she was lifted into an enormous tub. The water was cold. “In with you,” one of them muttered, prodding her hard in the back. Amelia’s feet slipped out from under her, and the frigid water closed over her head. Her breath went out in a rush. She came up sputtering, the chill already seeping into her bones. But it brought her further back to herself. She took more note of her surroundings as she was scrubbed with stinging soap and a coarse brush. Her hands and feet were blue with cold when the women finally lifted her out of the tub. She shuddered as they dried her with a length of rough toweling. They dressed her in a coarse linen shift and shapeless calico dress made for someone much taller. There was writing along the hem, illegible from her vantage point. A white cap and a pair of thin slippers completed her new wardrobe. Amelia’s own clothes disappeared into the sack, probably fit only to be burned. “Now then,” the one with the folder said. “Carolina Casey, found in fits in a public park, possibly drunk, uncommunicative.” She tutted. “No known family or friends, adjudged destitute, committed by judicial order until such time as the asylum superintendent finds her fit to be released.” Carolina. Who was . . . ? “Lina,” she muttered. The cloak Jonas had saved for her. It had Lina’s name in it. “Lina,” one of the nurses repeated, scratching something in the file. Amelia opened her mouth to protest, to tell them her real name, to insist they let her go. Then some practical part of her mind, awake now for the first time since the park, realized how it would sound—half the women here must insist all those things with their every breath. No one would believe her; anything she said would be only further evidence of her madness. And Lina had no further need of her cloak or her name. She was gone to California. Amelia stilled, keeping an iron grip on the terror beating its wings against her chest. Her name didn’t matter. She could be Lina for now. Excerpt © Stacie Murphy. Shared with permission for the blog tour. The Author Stacie Murphy grew up near Nashville, TN. She began writing A Deadly Fortune in 2017 as a way to force herself to stay off Twitter in the evenings. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and the worst cat in the world. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS Genre: Historical Mystery Type: Novel Publisher: Pegasus Crime Release Date: January 5, 2021 Content Rating: View our rating system Enter to win a copy of A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy & a $50 Gift Card to Amazon or your favorite Indie store. Winner’s choice. The giveaway is open to US only and ends on February 5, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

“Wow! What a series. I guarantee you won't be able to stop reading.” – Pioneer Hearts Reader ⇛ Grab your copy ⇚ Wild Montana Winds What happens when a mountain man tries to tame the heart of a Highland lass? Ainslee McConnell turns down every eligible bachelor who asks for her hand, for she knows none can quiet her adventurous spirit. When she travels from Scotland to visit family and seek new experiences, she discovers a life more rewarding than she could have imagined. Raised in the wilds of the Montana mountains, Colton Dawson lives as rancher, mountain man, and tracker. He is content . . . until one day a spirited Scottish lass crosses his path on her way to Hawk’s Peak. When a moment in Colton’s past revisits him, he fights to keep safe those he loves most. Return to Briarwood and Hawk’s Peak to experience a timeless western romantic adventure that will sweep you away on the wild Montana winds. "MK McClintock is a gem among historical writers. She has another perfect novel in Wild Montana Winds ! She has put the words on a page to describe the heart and soul of Montana and it’s magnificent heritage. She has replaced Louis L’Amour in my heart, and that is no easy feat. Please, please, please pick up this, or any of the Gallagher book, and simply enjoy!" — Amazon review

"Fast-paced, deep character development, page-turning action, what more do you need." — Netgalley review The Last King They sent three hundred warriors to kill one man. It wasn’t enough. Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters. Coelwulf, a fierce and bloody warrior, hears whispers that Mercia has been betrayed from his home in the west. He fears no man, especially not the Vikings sent to hunt him down. To discover the truth of the rumours he hears, Coelwulf must travel to the heart of Mercia, and what he finds there will determine the fate of Mercia, as well as his own. AMAZON US | AMAZON UK In the author's words Q&A with MJ Porter Were there alternative endings you considered for this book? What were they and why did you change them? When I first decided to write The Last King , my initial idea was to make it a lengthy volume, covering the entire time period that King Coelwulf was king of Mercia. But, I quickly changed my mind, and considered turning it into a trilogy. If I’d written only one book, or just a trilogy, it would have resulted in a very different ending, and also a different story to the one the reader ultimately gets. After finishing the first book, I realized it was fun to write about the characters and I changed all my expectations about how I was going to cover the time period. Readers now have four books all taking place very quickly, one after another, but still in AD874. It means that there’s more scope for future books, which is fantastic, because I don’t want to stop writing about Coelwulf, and I have nearly of decade of his life to cover. What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it? The greatest challenge about being a writer is to stay motivated and positive. This is a hard business, and people will knock you, or try to knock you all the time, and it’s not always intentional. There have been occasions, most notably four years ago, when I really didn’t think I could do it anymore following some niggles from a review website and a bad experience with a literary agent, on top of other things. It was so hard, and there was so much negativity, and obviously, financially, it can be a real burden when you’re starting out. I hope that I’ve managed to overcome it, even if only for now, and I’ve certainly learned resilience and that it’s okay to believe in yourself and your characters. What special challenges did you face making your story stand out from others in the genre? The Last King is set in AD874 in Mercia, and that’s prime Bernard Cornwell and the Last Kingdom territory. For many years, I stayed well away from covering the same historical period because it was firstly, daunting, and secondly, because I would need to do something different with the characters than have a running battle between Christianity and Paganism, kings and Raiders (Vikings), which isn’t that easy when that’s what people are expecting to happen. Luckily, an archaeological find in 2015 (the Watlington horde), has already put a fresh spin on the time period, but I still needed to make it both different, and similar. I wanted to write a bloodier, more violent book, and one where the focus wasn’t all on politics and political one-upmanship. I first had the idea of writing about King Coelwulf, in 2017 after finishing writing The Lady of Mercia’s Daughter , but although I picked up the idea a few times, it didn’t seem to quite work. And then I had a break through, where two of my characters came to me in a particular scene (not even a very exciting one), and from there, the rest grew. But I was still searching for something unique, and it was while watching The Gentleman film directed by Guy Ritchie, that I had the idea for giving a hook straight away, and then telling the story of how the characters came to be in that situation. I know that readers really enjoy it. I also think that the ‘potty mouths’ the warriors have make it standout from others, as does the humour. How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? When I first began writing, it was a laborious process. I wanted everything to be perfect before I committed it to the laptop, and I fell into the trap of editing everything I’d written previously, before I could start writing afresh. I don’t do this anymore. I’ve learned that my stories come together in the edits, of which there are three or four extensive ones before I count a project as ready to share with beta readers. For me, it’s about honing my characters and storyline once the outline story is written, and once I’ve determined how the story will develop. I am not a planner although I always have an end in mind, but it can change if the characters or the storyline evolve away from it, and I let them, or rather, they just do it without my say so. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? I have two half-finished books at the moment, the one I’m working on, and one that I started last year. Both of them are not my usual genre – one is historical fantasy and the other is a historical murder-mystery. The first one remains unfinished because The Last King and the follow-up books took over much of my writing time throughout 2020. I will get back to it, soon. I quite like knowing I’ve got something in the background that I could polish and publish if I ever needed to. The other story will, hopefully, be finished sooner. Both of them have been NaNoWriMo projects, when I allow myself a month off from my usual writing to try something a bit different. I find it refreshing and reinvigorating. I also have some other projects that range from being just a title, to those where I’ve written maybe 10,000 words before putting them to one side, and at the moment I’m also working on the next Earls of Mercia book. The Author I’m an author of fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed) and historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest). I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it’s little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents! I write A LOT. You’ve been warned! WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS Genre: Historical Thriller Series: The Ninth Century, Book One Type: Novel Release Date: April 23, 2020 Content Rating: R-2 View our rating system Enter to win a copy of The Last King by M.J. Porter! Two paperbacks are up for grabs! The giveaway is open to US only and ends on January 22, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

‘A Scottish lord and an American socialite discover love during WWI in this gorgeous historical romance from Ciesielski …The undercurrent of mystery and Ciesielski’s unflinching approach to the harsh realities of wartime only enhance the love story. Readers are sure to be impressed.’ – Publishers Weekly Beauty Among Ruins In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected. American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming. Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light. Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love? AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BAM | INDIEBOUND More purchase options at Thomas Nelson In the author's words Q&A with J'nell Ciesielski Books & Benches: A Scotland setting, stunning cover, and interesting description will surely appeal to readers (it has this one). We're delighted to welcome J'nell Ciesielski and share her new book with our readers. Let's start with a little something about your newest release, Beauty Among Ruins . Life should always be enjoyed from one exciting moment to the next. At least it was until American socialite Lily Durham is banished overseas to England in hopes of curbing her frivolous ways. When the Great War breaks out, she joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming. Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off bit by bit of his family history. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to a horse accident that left him with a limp, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light. Clashing like the sun in a thundercloud, Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to strip Kinclavoch away. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late or will their greatest distraction be falling in love? What is your favorite scene in Beauty Among Ruins ? I love nothing more than a scene filled with romantic tension and Lily and Alec have tension exploding moments in abundance. None more so than a when they are standing hilltop in the Scottish outdoors. Up until this point Alec has been too afraid to allow anyone inside his high walls of defense. Until Lily barreled through them without hesitation. Finally ready to confide in her, he takes her to his favorite spot overlooking a majestic valley full of Scottish drama and offers her his journal where his heart’s most private thoughts and pains are contained. It’s a turning point in their relationship. I won’t give it away but I will say that Lily catches Alec a bit off guard with her delighted and most unreserved response. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? It’s so difficult to know what they’re thinking! As a woman, I think a certain way. Everything is connected, many things are tied together by emotions, I can have a million thoughts all at the same time, and I perceive situations more by personal connections rather than fact. When I write the male POV I have to make sure that the sentences are more direct and to the point. No flowery speech, no asking a bunch of questions, and keeping a tight rein on those emotions. At least until he’s ready to finally open up to the heroine. Most of the men I write are doers and fixers. They don’t sit around idly for the problem to be solved so it is my duty to have them up and about all the time. What appeals to you most about your chosen genre? I love history, and for it to be a good story to me it needs a healthy dash of romance. Sweeping away to another time and place is bewitching because it allows one to forget their cares of present day and step back to eras where conversation was key, manners were a must, and fashion was gorgeous. Now of course this is all experienced through rose colored glasses, but that’s what fiction is for! And above all else stories should have happily ever afters. If you were to genre-hop, which genres would you most like to try writing? Fantasy. I love alternate worlds populated by mystical, magical, and mythical creatures. I am so in awe of writers who can come up with stories like that quite simply blow the imagination. The Author With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com . You can also find J’nell on Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest , Instagram , and Goodreads Genre: Historical Fiction/Scottish/Romance Type: Novel Publisher: Thomas Nelson Release Date: January 12, 2021 Content Rating: 1 Heart View our rating system 5 lucky readers will win a paperback edition of Beauty Among Ruins ! The giveaway is open to US only and ends on January 22, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

MK McClintock and Samantha St. Claire are celebrating cozy winter reading with a 2-book giveaway. Scroll down to enter, and good luck! It's so easy. Journey to Hawk's Peak One woman’s desperation to escape will become the greatest journey of her life. Amanda Warren arrives in Briarwood, Montana, with one satchel and a dream. After death destroyed her happiness, she flees, unwilling to believe it is the end, yet her weary spirit thinks only of survival. Then she meets the Gallaghers. They take a chance and give her a home and a family, but is she strong enough to make a new start? Ben Stuart has seen more of life than he wants to remember, but with the Gallaghers he has found a place where he can forget times gone by and live the life he always wanted. When Amanda arrives at Hawk’s Peak, Ben sees a woman hiding from secrets and running from her past. How will he convince her that the journey is over? Join us on a journey to Hawk's Peak for a romantic adventure you'll never forget. “ Journey to Hawk's Peak by MK McClintock is one of the most gripping and thrilling western novels that anyone will ever read. This novel is a serious page-turner, and for fans of western fiction, it is a must-read." — Readers' Favorite Comes the Winter Alena Sommer isn’t one to run from adversity. But when the child she’s been governess to dies, she boldly seeks a new life in Idaho Territory by accepting a marriage proposal from a man she’s never met. When she arrives in Sawtooth City she finds the mines are in financial trouble and the man she was to marry is dead. Determined to stay, she ignores the warnings about harsh winters known to plague the Sawtooth Mountains. Will the same man who warns her to leave be the one who gives her the strength to stay? Surviving winter’s threat will take more than courage; it will require mettle forged of two strong wills. "Reading this wonderful book, Comes the Winter , is like finding yourself in your favorite chair, near a crackling fire, when it’s cold outside. Weather is changeable and so is life, but you are in a warm and happy place." — The Constant Reader The Giveaway Excerpt from Journey to Hawk's Peak A HAWK AND ITS mate soared high above their heads. White clouds tipped with gray created a continuous patchwork in the vast, blue sky, casting shadows over the snow-capped mountains. A cool, spring breeze caressed Amanda’s face and whipped her unbound hair over her shoulders. She’d left the house wearing only a shawl, preferring to relish in the warmer air after the long, harsh season. The winter of ’84 had been one of the coldest in Amanda’s memory. Although it had been her first in Montana, she was no stranger to the hardships of the western frontier. No matter how settled the land became or how many people from the East ventured in search of the same dreams which brought her parents west, she loved the wildness the land fought to retain. “I’ll never tire of this sight.” Not a soul within one hundred miles could miss the grand mountain ranges that crisscrossed the land and protected their valley. “I won’t either.” Brenna wore a heavier wool shawl, the edges gathered over her growing belly. Amanda smiled at her friend—one of many she’d made since arriving at Hawk’s Peak—and imagined Brenna as a new mother once again. Brenna and Ethan Gallagher already had one son, Jacob, named after Ethan’s father and born in Scotland, Brenna’s homeland. The courage to leave behind everything and everyone she knew at Cameron Manor to journey across an ocean and vast continent impressed Amanda. She’d embarked on her own journey when she left home, but it compared nothing to what Brenna must have experienced. Brenna stopped at a point in the meadow and bent over to pick a few sprigs of wild lupine and add them to the basket she carried over one arm. Calves frolicked in the nearby pastures, another sign that spring had come regardless of winter’s efforts to linger. In her lyrical voice with her refined Scottish accent, Brenna said, “When I first stepped foot off the stage, the sheer enormity of what I’d done paled in comparison to the beauty of these mountains. I abhorred the circumstances that forced me to flee, and yet without those trials, I wouldn’t be here now. I wouldn’t have Ethan or Jacob.” She patted her belly and smiled. “Or this one.” “I envy you, Brenna.” Amanda continued walking, but it was Brenna who stopped, surprised by the quietly spoken words. “What a dear thing for you to say, but there are many who could say the same of you.” Amanda was quick to assure Brenna. “Please, don’t think me ungrateful for what I have. I’ve been blessed many times over in my life. I envy the way you approach life, every day with such hope.” “It got me into trouble often as a child,” Brenna said with a smile. “Give yourself time. I often feel as though you’ve always been a part of our lives, but it wasn’t so long ago when you arrived.” Amanda stared across the quiet meadow, fixated on the swaying grass. “Before you met Ethan, did you ever . . .” “Did I ever what?” Brenna asked. “You may ask me anything, and I’ll answer if I can.” “Did you ever wonder if you were strong enough to live the life you always wanted?” End of excerpt. Copyright © MK McClintock Excerpt from Comes the Winter LENA awoke with a start. Disoriented, she sat up, blinking back sleep. So cold. She pulled at the heavy quilt, drawing herself into a small ball to conserve body heat. And with the chill on her face came the return of memory: the trip up the mountain, the shock of discovering that Samuel Nash had died, the breathtaking beauty of the mountains surrounding this isolated community. She shivered and knew she'd be warmer inside, but something held her there. Just beyond the porch a movement caught her eye. Straining to see through the gray light of predawn, she watched the bulky creature lumbering along with obvious lack of concern for her presence. It rose on its back legs, standing quite still, its beady black eyes observing her. She was certain his eyes were more adapted to the dark than hers, likely both seeing and smelling her. She'd seen one once in captivity when she'd visited the Lincoln Park Zoo with Miranda. It was a bear cub much like this one. If she'd known more, she might have flown back into the house and under her covers. But the moment held so much magic that all she could do was gaze in wonder at the creature. Apparently, finding little amusement in his study of her, the young bear fell back onto all four paws and lumbered along the length of the house before turning to the creek. Letting out a long-held breath, she settled back into the chair, the quilt tucked beneath her chin. High on the tallest peaks, a faint pink glow heralded a new day. As she held her breath, waiting, the sun spread its light down the face of the mountains, flowing like golden water into the high valleys. Lena listened to the songs of birds unfamiliar to her city trained ears, their songs announcing the morning as surely as the milkman on his daily rounds. But this was so different, quiet, and yet not. The longer she sat there absorbing the growing presence of day, the more she heard. How unlike the gray skies of Chicago! How lovely! In the east, rays of gold fanned out along the horizon, chasing back the last shadows of night to foreign lands, far beyond the mountains in the west. Her breath caught as the sun emerged from behind the hills, drawing with it a canopy of pale blue. If anyone had witnessed this greeting between them, they would have seen Lena’s face aglow in sunlight. And had Evan seen her, his thoughts of her as an angelic being would have seemed confirmed. Sounds of waking life drifted from inside the house. Someone had stoked the fire in the wood stove; a kettle, metal on metal. Men's voices drifted from the rooms, reaching to her ears here in her warm cocoon. Reluctant to leave this peace, she pushed her feet from beneath the quilt. Holding it tight to her body she padded across the cold wood floor and slipped inside unobserved. End of excerpt. Copyright © Samantha St. Claire Thank you for visiting!

“Hubbard writes of healing and brave new beginnings from a refreshingly feminist perspective.” — Booklist First Light in Morning Star Founded by five enterprising Amish maidels, the new Morningstar Marketplace is a joyous success. What’s even more remarkable is the gift the business bestows upon each of these unmarried women—the unexpected blessing of love . . . Leaving Flaud’s Furniture to teach at the community’s new school is a joy for Lydianne Christner. Old Order Amish, but new to Morning Star, she’s grateful that the congregation trusts her with the position—but she panics when handsome Bishop Jeremiah Shetler asks about the life she left behind. If anyone discovers the secret she’s hiding, she would, quite rightly, be shunned. A widower, Bishop Jeremiah admires young Lydianne’s youthful energy and skill with the children. He’s also curious about her past, and the burden he senses on her heart. When his request to court her is refused, he’s stung, and lonelier than ever. It isn’t until a crisis prompts a tearful Lydianne to confess to him that Jeremiah is faced with a choice that requires all of his faith—and teaches them both that love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org | Apple | Kobo IndieBound | GooglePlay | BAM Additional Order Options Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this post! Enjoy an Excerpt from Frist Light in Morning Star “Miss Christner, we’re pleased to offer you this teaching position,” Bishop Jeremiah said as he grasped her hand, “and if you need time to consider your answer—” “Oh, no, I’ll be happy to accept!” Lydianne interrupted gleefully. “Denki so much for considering my application. What I lack in experience, I’ll make up for with careful preparation and my love of learning. I won’t let you down.” “That thought never entered our heads,” the bishop put in. “And with Lorena Flaud and Clarence’s Lucy being in their final year of school—and with their sisters right behind them—you’ll have plenty of eager assistance as you teach the youngest ones the basics of reading and arithmetic. I anticipate a productive—and fun—year for our scholars.” “This is so exciting!” Lydianne said as she shook each man’s hand in turn. “Maybe this sounds silly, but I still love the smell of fresh packages of notebook paper and new bottles of glue, and the joy of opening a fresh box of crayons—thinking of all the drawings and reports and projects that lie ahead of us.” As she left the schoolhouse and drove down the road, Lydianne floated on a cloud of euphoria. After she turned off the main county highway to head for home, she paused at the sight of a little blond girl chasing a butterfly on the front lawn of Tim and Julia Nissley’s place. With the sunshine shimmering on her golden hair and upturned face, six-year-old Ella Nissley looked for all the world like a little angel. Her laughter rang out as she ran and reached eagerly for the butterfly, followed closely by a little brown puppy that yipped and yapped. Lydianne’s heart overflowed with a wave of emotions. Her dream had come true: she would now be Ella’s teacher. But she would have to be very, very careful. Ella was the apple of her adoptive parents’ eyes, and Lydianne had no intentions of interfering with their happy family. No one else, including Tim and Julia, knew that Ella was the newborn baby Lydianne had given up when she’d been an unwed mother. End of Excerpt . Copyright © Charlotte Hubbard Learn more by visiting the author's website. First Light in Morning Star released December 29, 2020 from Zebra Books. Meet the Author In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Vera. www.charlottehubbard.com Facebook -- www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1 First Light in Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard Genre: Amish Romance/Inspirational Publisher: Zebra Books Release Date: December 29, 2020 Available in Print and E-Book Type: Novel Content Rating: 1 Heart Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B&N gift card to one randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Don't forget to tell your friends about this beautiful book! Must be 18 years or older to enter giveaway. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you for visiting, and happy reading!

Congratulations to Anna Belfrage, author of His Castilian Hawk , winner of the December 2020 Readers' Choice Cover Contest! Thank you to all those who participated and voted.

" I promise that this one is an emotionally filled story that you won't want to miss ." — Goodreads review The heart wants what the heart wants... Fresh out of college with a psychology degree, Molly Stillman was searching for the meaning of life by taking a summer volunteer gig building houses. The meaning in Molly’s life became apparent when her path crossed Lincoln Abbott’s. With his brand-new Yale MBA in hand, Linc was Mississippi bound, ready to spend the summer rebuilding houses after a devastating hurricane. He had a plan, lots of them, actually. But after meeting Molly, he realized plans have a way of showing you who’s boss. One look from the intelligent beauty working by his side on the house project, and Linc knew everything had changed. His long-time goal of studying at Oxford before joining his family’s finance business was abandoned in favor of helping to grow Molly’s charming family business in Vermont. Too bad Linc’s father had other ideas about how his future should unfold, and when forced to make a choice, Linc chose Molly. He chose Vermont and the Green Mountain Country Store, and he never looked back. Until a phone call from the past forces him to confront the choices he made decades ago and the consequences of saying goodbye, including telling his ten grown children why they’ve never met his family—a subject that’s always been off-limits until now. When Linc decides to go to Philadelphia to clear his conscience and see his father one last time, his wife and children insist on going along. Let them see what came of this choice you made, his eldest son, Hunter, says. As they wander down memory lane, Linc and Molly revisit the unforgettable summer that changed both their lives and look back on forty years of happily ever after. A Butler, Vermont Novel Amazon | Goodreads THE AUTHOR Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont, Quantum and Miami Nights. Her books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany. Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news. Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Genre: Contemporary Romance Type: Novel Series: Butler, Vermont Publication date: December 24, 2020

" This is a nice collection of stories, something for everyone ." — Goodreads review A MASTERPIECE OF HOLIDAY STORYTELLING... Enjoy this stunning holiday collection from some of your favorite Dragonblade Publishing authors in this collection of never-before published seasonal tales! Imagine, if you will, that it is Christmas Eve. The candles are guttered, one by one, and a hush falls over the parlor. The children have gone to bed, and a tall, gloriously decorated Christmas tree looms in the shadows of the hearth’s dying embers. A tattered copy of Charles Dickens’ masterwork, “A Christmas Carol” sits, cold and lonely, upon a table nearby. A small gust of wind, hurling from the seam of an ill-fitting window, blows the cover open. The first chapter appears… “Marley’s Ghost”… The clock on the wall chimes midnight. Now, the magic happens. From the gaily bedecked halls of Regency England to the cold and crisp air of the Scottish Highlands, and everything in between, enjoy the magic of a holiday collection that has drawn inspiration from Charles Dickens’ most beloved literary works. Where the ghosts of Christmas, the incandescent spirit of a tiny disabled boy, and the joy that is the very heart of the Christmas season come alive. USA Today and internationally bestselling authors bring you their version of a Dickens’-inspired holiday in O NIGHT DIVINE. Amazon | Goodreads This collection includes stories from: Kathryn Le Veque Caroline Lee Chasity Bowlin Hildie McQueen Maggi Andersen Mary Lancaster Meara Platt Violetta Rand Alexa Aston Anna Markland Anna St. Claire Aubrey Wynne Charlotte Wren Elizabeth Ellen Carter Elizabeth Johns Elizabeth Keysian Emily E K Murdoch Emily Royal Lynne Connolly Maeve Greyson Whitney Blake Genre: Historical Holiday Romance Type: Collection Publication date: December 17, 2020 Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing

"A must read book." — Goodreads review Galeren MacPherson never met a lass who wasn’t willing to offer herself up to him. But he doesn’t want that life. In fact, he swore a soon to end six-year vow of chastity to help him dedicate his life to one thing. Battle. As captain of John Stewart, High Steward of Scotland’s army, Galeren is the only man trusted to bring the high steward’s niece to Scotland. The last thing Galeren wants to be is an escort to a novice from a nunnery. Especially when he sees her in the early morning dawn weeping on the cliffs. Throughout his life, he has felt the urge to flee from things, on the field and off. But he never fled. He conquered the urge and faced whatever it was, head on. But he never faced a force like the one placed in his path. Novice Silene Sparrow is on her way to Scotland, where she will speak to the church council on her uncle’s behalf so that one day he may gain their support, being next in line for the throne. Raised in the priory and groomed to give her life to the Lord, she rarely leaves the church’s land in Bamburgh, so she is unprepared for her rough and rowdy Highland escorts. Their leader is a tall, broad, golden warrior who vows to protect her, and does. He is a savage and she does everything to resist him. But how does one resist a man with a kitten cuddled in the crook of his neck? No matter what he has trained to be, he is patient and gentle with her. He begins to get into her blood, her bones. When he kisses her, slowly, passionately, eager for more, he makes her question her future vows. But Silene’s heart is forbidden. If she lets Captain MacPherson have it, her uncle will lose the church’s support and they likely won’t live a day before he has them hunted down and possibly killed. How much will Galeren and Silene risk for love? Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Amazon | Goodreads THE AUTHOR Paula Quinn is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling multi-published author of Scottish historical and paranormal romance. Paula also writes fantasy romance under her pen name of Genevra Thorne. She is moved by music, beautiful words, and the sight of a really nice pen. She lives in New York with her three beautiful children, six over-protective chihuahuas, and three adorable parrots. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She's a faithful believer in God and thanks Him daily for all the blessings in her life. She loves all things medieval, but it is her love for Scotland that pulls at her heartstrings. Visit the author on her website , Amazon , or Facebook . Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Series: Hearts of the Highlands, Book 6 Publication date: December 15, 2020 Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing Content Note: 5 Hearts View our rating system

" Heart of Cruelty is an atmospheric gothic tale that is an emotional read filled with three-dimensional characters that you find yourself fully invested in their journey." —Amazon review Heart of Cruelty Gothic Secrets in Victorian Birmingham A forbidden love illuminates an unbearable truth. 1840 Jane Verity’s dream of a romantic life in the theatre ends in the workhouse, where she is subjected to violent abuse. When Coroner William Doughty rescues her on his way to an inquest on a young inmate who committed suicide, it alters the path of his life. Powerfully attracted to her, he employs her as his maidservant, to care for his ailing wife. In his household, Jane discovers the truth about the inquest and pieces together the dark secrets of a powerful abuser. As Doughty struggles with his passion for her, she must convince him to act, even though exposing the truth will destroy his marriage and his career. The twisting darkness of this story pervades a bittersweet romance and explores the risks of allowing desire to triumph over reason. Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound An Excerpt from Heart of Cruelty The fragmenting bones squirted putrid marrow up at us. Sweat soaked the armpits of my dress; my shoulders were burning, my hands blistering. The bone-meal had to be shovelled into sacks and a new load of bones fetched. It had been just after six o’clock in the morning when we had started; now the chapel bell was striking ten. ‘Are yer hungry in yer bellies now, yer idle bitches?’ Siviter demanded. ‘There’ll be nought for yer today, no bread nor water, only work. Let yer lying tongues go dry, teach yer a lesson.’ It was the day after Ash Wednesday, when we had already endured a fast, but we made no reply, and kept on banging the iron rammer down, its thuds reverberating in the stone enclosure. ‘Idlers like you get a night in the lock-up,’ gloated Siviter. I had been in there once before, for some infringement of rules I had not understood, hungry, thirsty and alone in the fetid gloom behind the iron door. ‘I won’t.’ I let go the rammer and stood doubled over, my hands dropping to my thighs. ‘It’s not right.’ ‘Get back on the job yer!’ Siviter lashed out with his cane. ‘I’ll kill yer, lazy drab!’ The blow jarred my spine and cold needles of pain shot down into my legs. I heard a man shout. As I tried to straighten up, another whack of Siviter’s cane caught my head and knocked off my cap. ‘Jane!’ Clara cried out, but she did not come to me. The pain was immense. I put my hand to my head; it came away wet, and red. I knew Siviter had not finished. I was overwhelmed by fear, and by the grotesqueness of the scene: the hideous walls of the workhouse yard, the fetid reek of the bones, the blood filling my palm. His next blow sent me crumpling forward so that I lay curling my arms over my throbbing head, my face to the slimy cobbles, one eye open to the red rivulet of blood that trickled between them. As I heard Siviter’s cane whistle again through the air, there came another shout from across the yard. Siviter stopped. ‘Coroner Doughty, sir, good morning sir,’ he called out, and to Clara and I he muttered that we should get back to work. I could not move. ‘Mr. Siviter.’ A cold, clear voice came closer to where I lay. ‘Mr Siviter!’ ‘Good morning to yer, sir, Dr Doughty, sir, a fine morning too.’ Then I saw darkness and heard nothing. After a time I smelt a gentleman’s cologne, and found I was lying on my side. My head throbbed as something pressed it down against the cobblestones. My first sight of Doughty was of his wrist emerging from a white shirt-cuff, of his black coat sleeve, and the corner of his handkerchief. He was kneeling beside me on the filthy cobbles of the Workhouse courtyard, applying pressure to my wound. As he lifted the handkerchief I raised my eyes to his: wide-open, dark, intent on mine… Excerpt Copyright © Maybelle Wallis. Shared as part of blog tour. The Author Maybelle Wallis has created many short stories, which are free to read on her website HistWriter.com, but her ambition has always been to write historical novels. She believes that men and women in other times were like us: dreaming the same dreams, committing the same sins, and falling in love with the wrong people. She is inspired by the 18th and 19th centuries, when science and reason started to shape the modern world, and enjoys the work of the greats of that era like Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens, as well as contemporary historical authors like Sara Waters, Essie Fox, Helen Dunmore and Laura Purcell. Maybelle is a doctor who trained in London, England, and has worked in Coventry, Birmingham, Sandwell and, since 2017, in Wexford, Ireland. She began studying Creative Writing with the Open University in 2011. Ever since, she has developed her fiction writing by sharing critique: studying with Writers’ Workshop (now Jericho Writers), and joining a critique group of historical writers from an online course with the University of Iowa. She has written with the Telegraph Creative Writing Group, Birmingham NaNoWriMo, and Wexford Write Club. Genre: Historical Fiction Type: Novel Publisher: Poolbeg Press Release Date: October 21, 2020 Content Note: View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!