Lyn Cote Asks Have you discovered a new author lately?

His Holiday Prayer by Tina Radcliffe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm really becoming a fan of Tina Radcliffe. She writes such lively characters, so believable and with such real lives. I enjoyed the vet clinic aspect of this, since I love animals, especially my two cats. And the love story was very really believable and the country conflict between the two was very believable, and the end was very satisfying. Thank you Tina.

View all my reviews

I try to read everyday. And I love trying new authors. And I just discovered this lady. I enjoy Love Inspired books. I wrote about 20 books for them and so have other of our authors here, such as Roxanne Rustand, Merrillee Whren and Jean C Gordon. This review appears on Goodreads. Are you a member? It's a great place for readers to find new authors!

You're worth more than gold

Have you ever had a song come on that feels like it was written just for you—right when you needed it most?

That’s what happened to me when “Gold” by Britt Nicole played while I was writing Gone Missing, a story about a woman who had lost everything and was trying to believe she still had worth.

Let me introduce you to my heroine, Joslyn.

She's a young woman who has had to fight for everything she has. Growing up without much, she's been putting herself through school in computer programming while working at an electronics store in Los Angeles—the kind of quietly determined heroine you can't help but root for.

Then her world is shattered when her ex-boyfriend murders her father, and she's forced to flee everything she knows, landing in Oregon with nothing but grief and fear.

By the time the story begins, Joslyn has lost almost everything—her father, her baby, her education, her job, and the future she had carefully planned.

But in the middle of all that loss, something unexpected is taking root—faith. A kind woman who helped Joslyn through her darkest moments spoke openly about Christ, and those seeds have stayed with her, slowly changing her.

Now she's found a new beginning working for Liam and Elisabeth at their skip-tracing agency in Sonoma, California. They rescued her when she had nothing, and she is fiercely loyal to them for it. She gives everything she has to help their business succeed.

The skills she learns there become the key to finding her missing friend, Fiona, before it’s too late.

At its heart, Gone Missing is a story about a woman learning that she is not defined by what has been done to her or what she has lost. No matter where she's been or what has happened, she is deeply loved—she’s worth more than gold.

That was my prayer when I wrote every page of this book, that each reader would set it down feeling truly seen and treasured.

If you've ever felt like you were starting over, or like your story was too broken to be worth telling, I hope Joslyn's journey speaks to your heart the way that song spoke to mine.

Because sometimes the story that feels broken is only just beginning.

If you enjoy stories where faith grows in the middle of danger—and where finding someone missing might uncover something far more dangerous—you might love Joslyn’s story.

Start reading Gone Missing here.

The Little Moments That Tell the Biggest Stories by Merri Maywether

Every once in a while, I step away from my story world to share what I’m writing with people. 

When I have to explain my stories at signings, I say that I write what would happen if the Hallmark Channel were set in Montana.

Two wonderful things happen. That she’s-writing-about-me light brightens their faces.

And we both know that through my stories, I’ve validated their world.

The next thing that happens is they begin to see the beauty in day-to-day life. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been with friends, laughing about something or commiserating when things don’t go as planned. Eventually, one of them will say, “I know this is going in one of your books.”

Or I’ll get a tap on my forearm and hear, “It’s okay if you write this in one of your books.”

Or they’ll call me and say, “I have something you’ll want to write in one of your books.”

And I love it.

This is where I admit to you, Bookish Bestie, in a whisper voice—their stories are not in my books.

But I am proud because, through my storytelling, they’ve developed an eye for those nuggets of life worth cherishing.

In my stories, love is messy, sometimes complicated, and—most importantly—intentional.

It’s easier to see when we honor the moments where it shines.

Those moments of laughter after things don’t turn out as planned—that’s love.

Talking through a problem with a heart of understanding—that’s love.

Sharing something that happened so the other person can live it with you—again, love.

And while our Montana communities may be small in population, the abundance of love more than makes up for it.

If you think about your own week, what’s a moment that made you smile and think, this is love? I’d love to hear it.

What History's Boldest Women Never Waited For by Josie Riviera

April always makes me want to fling open the windows, clear out the clutter, and, for reasons I can't entirely explain, read about Tudor England.

Maybe it's because the women in that era are fascinating. They lived in a world that handed them almost no power, and yet many of them were brilliant and strategic, despite the constraints. Anne of Cleves negotiated her way to freedom and outlived them all. Katherine Parr published books. Bess of Hardwick built an empire from scratch, four times over.

Which is a good reminder for spring, when we're all tempted to wait. We wait until the kids are older, the timing is better, the budget is bigger, and the confidence arrives. It rarely does. It tends to show up after we've already started.

This month I'm offering my sweet/spicy Tudor short story, Seeking Catherine, as a free read. 

In fact, this book is always free, so pick up your copy today. (Fun fact: This is the first book I ever wrote and published.)

What do you love about April? Please leave your comments below.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

The Retrospect Ends ~ Jean C. Gordon

My last and final new release was a holiday novella, His Thing about Cats, Honestly, all I can remember for tidbits on writing it is that the novella had such a fun premise that it was a joy to write. After that, writing or trying to write new love stories became more of a chore than a delight. So with this blog, I'm "demoting" myself from Sweet Romannce Reads Author to Sweet Romance Reads Reader. I'm hoping to continue my Find the Difference Sweet Romance Reads Covers on Facebook. So look for them.

PARADOX LAKE SWEET ROMANCE: Hurtling down a mountain on a sheet of ice at 90 mph is nothing to Ty Johnson. That's why he's a former Olympic bobsled champion. Holding a cute little fluffball cat for an endorsement—well, that's a deal-breaker. He's had a fear of felines since childhood, but this opportunity could not only give his custom furniture business a boost, but it would also allow him to give back to the sport that defined his life. He's got no other choice but to get over his ailurophobia to book this massive deal.

Dr. Julianna Hill wants to help Ty work through his issues, but she has to say no. At least professionally. She can't deny the immediate attraction, and there's no way she's going to let a man jeopardize the career she's finally starting to build, especially since returning to her childhood hometown. But Jule can't stop thinking about the man who has unexpectedly become her landlord. Perhaps she can help him as a friend—or more.Ty may be more nervous than a cat on a hot tin roof, but he's not the only scaredy-cat in this relationship.

Broken promises at critical moments mean this relationship is going to need nine lives to last. Hold on. This is shaping up to be the ride of a lifetime.

BUY

Lyn Cote Shares How She Met Her Husband

 Last month I asked you, my readers, to submit questions for me to answer. 

And here’s the first question:

I'm always interested in how people met their spouse, so how did you and your husband meet? How long have you been married? My husband and I will have been married for 49 years this year.

Blessings, Linda Reville

Thanks for asking, Linda. I met my husband when he was invited by his friend (who attended the same church as I did) to our church couple’s New Year’s Eve Party, 12/31/73. The attraction didn’t “take” till about a month later. His friend invited him to a special concert on a Sunday evening at our church. That night he “attracted” my attention. At the same time, our church was forming a young married and singles group and I invited him to the first get-together which was at my apartment. Things moved rapidly because though very shy, he let me know he was attracted to me! Good. 

Our first date, he took me flying. He has a private pilot’s license and at that time, belonged to a flying club where he could rent a plane. A very interesting first date! Anyway he proposed to me March 1. I told we better not tell anybody because they would think we were nuts. So we waited till early May. We married the first week of October. 

We celebrated our 50^th anniversary in 2024. We hit a rough patch in our thirties but went to counseling and worked matters out. I say this because many think that a long marriage means no ups and downs, but that’s false. Fortunately we decided to stay together and every day we are glad we did. So that’s my true love story! (And I’ve offered Linda a free ebook for her participation.)

If you have a question, you’d like to ask me, please  Click here to add yours!

How about More Women of Courage? My new series starts with 

a New Book on Pre-Order, Debuting June 10th!!!

A Life for Verity

Book 1 “More Women of Courage” series

A courageous widow, a wary Union veteran, and a dangerous mission in the aftermath of the Civil War…

Verity Hardy lives up to her name—true, steadfast, and unafraid. Raised in a Quaker family who risked everything to aid runaway slaves, she once stepped outside her faith to marry. Now widowed by the Civil War, she is determined to help rebuild a broken nation. Answering a call to teach for the Freedmen’s Bureau, Verity travels with her young daughter, Beth, to Fiddler’s Grove, Virginia—only to discover the school she was promised doesn’t even exist yet.

Matthew Ritter, a Union veteran returned to his Rebel hometown, has seen firsthand the cost of change. After four years of war and a crushing defeat, his town is poor, humiliated, and angry. Tasked with building the school, he knows the truth Verity refuses to accept—Fiddler’s Grove is not ready. And the people who oppose progress will not stop at words.

But Verity will not be turned aside. Refusing to live in fear, she begins teaching anyway—driven by faith, conviction… and a secret mission of her own.

As tensions rise and violence escalates, Matthew must build the school—while somehow keeping Verity and her daughter safe. She believes reconciliation is possible, but he knows that hope may come at a deadly cost. How far will he have to go to keep Verity—and her little girl—alive?

Can a love born amidst conflict survive a town determined to tear them apart?

Book One in the sequel series to Lyn Cote’s Three Women of Courage—featuring another determined, courageous heroine.

Click here to pre-order for $2.99. After June 10^th, the price will rise to $4.99.--Lyn

The Last AudioBook That Scared Me by Pat Simmons

Are you pro-audiobooks? When I was working outside the home, audiobooks kept me engaged during the drive to and fro. Now, I rarely listen to audiobboks because my mind wanders and I would constantly rewind. But that changed a few years ago. A dozen of my books are on audio, and the last sampler I listened to was DAYS ARE COMING. The narrator scared me so that I couldn't finish, even though I wrote the story. When I told a friend and avid reader, she laughed and just had to listene. This was her assessment:

So, I'm going to stay in my lane and keep on reading paperback books and let audiolovers enjoy the pictures Narrators create. If your interest is piqued, my publishers has put four on sale at the same time. The sale is good for about a week, so stock up, and get back to me.

Pat Simmons is a St. Louis native and multi-published author of fifty-plus Christian romances and spiritual warfare novels. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors and casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance and the 2022 Leslie Esdaile Trailblazer Award recipient. Christmas Dinner was also an Emma Award winner for Book of the Year. Christmas Dinner and Here for You were featured in Woman’s World Magazine. As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has converted her sofa-strapped, sports-obsessed husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in Mass Communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for over 20 years. She serves as a publicist on the board of the Christian Book Lovers Retreat (CBLR). Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.