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.

She Shot the Spy: A Regency Meet-Cute with a Secret by Camille Elliot

The Meet-Cute That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen

Phoebe Sauber—steady, observant, and far more capable than she appears.

Some stories begin with a dance. Others begin with a conversation over tea.

This one begins with an arrow.

⸻

When Everything Changes in a Single Moment

Miss Phoebe Sauber is not the sort of heroine who waits quietly for life to happen to her.

She is practical and steady, the kind of woman who notices details others overlook. And she is not afraid to act when something feels wrong. But even she does not expect her life to change in the middle of an archery tournament.

One misfired shot. And suddenly, what should have been an ordinary social gathering reveals something far more dangerous—a thread leading to a clandestine world.

⸻

Phoebe had fallen near her uncle’s ornately carved wardrobe, which stood against the wall between two large windows, and she’d just missed having her head smashed against the wooden edge. God had perhaps saved her from a more nasty injury.

As a child, when she’d come to her aunt’s house to play, she’d spent hours fascinated by the ridiculously elaborate and intricate carvings on the door. It was like a treasure map that would lead to something wonderful if she could decipher it. Staring at the wardrobe door again, the memories came flooding back to her.

Now, she rolled over onto her stomach and reached out her hand to trace the familiar carvings. Those had been the days right after her brother had been born and her mother had died. Right when her father had changed from a parent doting on his only child to a distant man who barely remembered her existence compared to his newborn heir. At the time, she had only been eight years old and hadn’t understood what had been happening, and while her nanny had tried to fill the gap, it had left her feeling lonely and abandoned.

So she had retreated to fantasy stories that were fueled by this old wardrobe.

And then it happened.

It was seeing the wardrobe and remembering those days that did it. She had a flash in her mind’s eye of a wooden floorboard, and a tiny symbol carved into the surface of the wood. The symbol had been barely visible since it hadn’t been filled with blacking to make it stand out, but with a child’s curiosity, she’d seen the strange flaw in the grain of the wood and crawled closer to investigate it.

It had been near the wall, next to the back edge of the wardrobe. Here, in her uncle’s bedchamber.

It had been the same symbol she’d seen just today, on the torn scrap of paper that had been caught by her arrow.

“Aunt Laura!” Phoebe turned and began crawling frantically toward the far wall, to the right of her uncle’s portrait. “Aunt Laura! Where was Uncle’s wardrobe before you moved it?”

“The wardrobe?” All trace of languor was gone from her aunt’s voice. Her light footsteps sounded as she crossed the room toward Phoebe. “No, farther to your right. Yes, there. It stood right there.”

Phoebe began running her hand over the floorboards near the wall. “I interrupted Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones today. He was most certainly doing something illegal, but knowing his personality from years ago when I first knew him, I doubt it was anything treasonous.”

“Treasonous?!” Aunt Laura’s voice was just a tiny bit alarmed.

“My arrow hit the papers he had been holding … or perhaps the other man had been holding them …”

“Your arrow?! Did you shoot at him?”

“Not deliberately.”

“That is not ‘interrupting’ the man, that is attempted murder.”

“It was purely by accident. They were hidden in a copse having some clandestine meeting. Ah!” Phoebe’s fingers felt the rough edges of the circular symbol carved into the floor. It was smaller than she remembered, but the same strange shape of the five-leaved, five-stemmed flower.

Aunt Laura squinted at the floor, then shook her head. “That is impossible for my eyes to see. I will fetch a lamp.”

While her aunt left in search of light, Phoebe was still on her hands and knees near the wall. She rubbed the symbol with her finger. It was still rough, as if it had been carved into the wood only yesterday, since it hadn’t been worn down by feet or furniture in the years since she’d first seen it. What did it mean? Why was it carved into the floor? Did it point to something in the floor, or the wall, or perhaps in the wardrobe, which had been standing beside it?

And what was the connection between her dead uncle and Mr. Coulton-Jones?

The moment everything begins.

⸻

A Heroine Who Steps Forward

What I love most about Phoebe is not that she is fearless, but that she chooses to move forward anyway.

She doesn’t fully understand what she has uncovered, but she recognizes that something is wrong.

⸻

The Beginning of Something Much Larger

That single moment on the archery field is only the beginning. It sets into motion a story that stretches far beyond one mystery, one relationship, or even one book.

Phoebe meets a handsome stranger who knows far more about these shadowy figures than she does and who brings his own questions, his own past, and his own reasons for seeking the truth.

⸻

A Book Designed to Reflect the Story

The Special Edition hardcover of Archer, designed to reflect the story’s hidden layers.

I designed the special edition hardcover to reflect the heart of the story.

Small details in the design echo the elements that shape Phoebe’s journey—the pocketwatch that draws her into the mystery, the archery skill that sets her apart, and the mysterious symbol that reveals this secret war beneath the surface of Regency society.

⸻

A Reading Experience Meant to Be Discovered

One of my favorite aspects of this edition is how the design unfolds as you read.

The book opens with full-color title pages, setting the tone immediately that this is something a little more special.

Each chapter begins with a two-page color header spread. Delicate floral corners echo Regency artwork, while a small illustration on the left page hints at the tension or turning point ahead.

Along the margins, you’ll notice vertical scroll designs running beside the text, with subtle variations between the main story and the front and back matter.

And when the book is closed, the sprayed edges feature a coordinated scroll motif, giving the entire volume a finished, elegant look even before you turn the first page.

Even the smallest elements—like the decorative page numbers and scene dividers shaped around a pocket watch—don’t just tell the narrative, they echo the emotions in it.

⸻

If You Enjoy Stories Like This…

You might enjoy beginning this series if you like:

• Strong, capable heroines
• Gentle romance that grows over time
• Intrigue hidden within polite society
• A sense of unfolding mystery

⸻

A Gentle Invitation

This story begins with a single, unexpected moment—but it doesn’t end there.

If you’d like to step into that world, you’re welcome to read the first few chapters and see where that first arrow leads.

And for readers who enjoy beautifully designed books, I offer special edition hardcovers through Kickstarter.

⸻

About the Series

Lady Wynwood’s Spies is a Regency-era romantic suspense series set in 1811 London, where secrets move quietly beneath society’s surface, and where courage, loyalty, and love are tested in unexpected ways.

Spring is here! by Janice Lynn

All around me life is starting to bloom. Things that were dull and brown are now brightening to glorious greens. And flowers. I adore flowers, so seeing the bursts of color popping up just makes me happy. 

Life renewing itself, getting to witness that each year, is definitely one of my favorite things about spring. 

Oh, and that Daylight Savings time ends. I'm not a fan of it being dark at 5 PM when I head home from work.

To fit with the fresh and new theme, I'm working on a new book project. Yay! 

What about you? What's your favorite things about spring? 

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. www.janicelynn.com  

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Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy https://amzn.to/47wB8qW

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They Just Don't Let Us See It by Merri Maywether

When you live in a small town, there is an interesting truism. Two equally important and opposite events tend to occur at the same time.

I write about them. The first — everyone knows your business. Sometimes, before you do. 

The second — someone is secretly working behind the scenes, helping in ways that allow the recipient to maintain their sense of dignity. And the only people who will know about it are their best friends.

I've been in the best friend position, and it is hard.

One time, one of the "quiet helpers" was inquiring about another person's well-being. They weren't asking to be nosy. They were trying to determine whether the person needed help.

Then I had to listen to the person who would receive the kindness verbally obliterate the quiet helper.

Given the nature of the situation, I could only use the typical defenses. That's not how we should talk to each other.

And of course, when a person gets really feisty, they do not care. They feel like they are right, and the conversation is done.

At the time, I couldn't understand why the quiet helper handled the situation with such grace.

If it were me, I'd have behind-the-scenes sassed. My husband would have had to listen to the one-sided, strongly worded discussion. (Actually, he did. But we'll save that story for another time)

The quiet helper didn't have time for that. They were too busy helping.

And the feisty person—once they realized someone was watching out for them, someone they can never properly thank—they could only carry the goodness.

In the days, weeks, and years that followed, they were a little kinder to others. Still feisty, but softened with humility.

Because deep down, they knew that someone who didn't have to—cared.

So while I'll never divulge the kindnesses I've witnessed, I can share the love. I do it in my stories. I love writing about people being kind.

I’m sharing Liz and Hayes’s story. They’re in the Concordia Cove Christmas series. Everyone knows the Madison brothers’ story and that they are generous. They don’t know that Liz helps him, and it shows in how they treat her. 

It’s a short read, meant to take about an hour to finish. And I wrote it so people would feel better about the world, because there are a lot of kind people. They just don’t let us see it. 

For three days only,  the third book in the Concordia Cove Christmas series is available as a gift. After that, it'll return to its regular retail price.

So get your copy of Concordia Cove Christmas Book-3 grab a cup of your favorite beverage and a snack, and enjoy. 

Consider it a little kindness, from me to you.

It's Pi Day Again by Merrillee Whren

 

Every year when I do my blog post for March 14, I can't help but mention Pi Day. I know it's a day that refers to something mathematical, but it's also fun to think about that other pie, the one you can eat. My favorite kind of pie is peach with blueberry coming in a close second. What is you favorite kind of pie?

I have a couple of books in which characters bake and eat pies, none of them my favorite. My book, A Family to Call Ours, takes place mostly in the fall. What kind of pies do we think about in the fall? Apple and pumpkin pies. You can find more information about this book here. 

 In my book, A Baby to Call Ours, a marriage of convenience story, my heroine is trying to learn to cook and wants to make her new husband his favorite foods. His favorite pie is apple. Here's a short excerpt from the book. 

 

     Jimmy never talked about his work, but she had a feeling he was trying too hard to please his uncle. But what reason did Jimmy have to rush home at night other than his workshop? Certainly he didn’t rush home to see her. She wasn’t sure why that made her sad.

     Now everything was different. She had no baby on the way. Did Jimmy feel trapped in this marriage? She wanted to talk to him about it, but she didn’t know how to bring it up or what to say. He still needed a wife. A divorce wouldn’t look good to his uncle. She wished she knew what Jimmy wanted. She wished she knew what she wanted. Her emotions floundered in a sea of confusion.

     Shaking away all the troubling thoughts, Kelsey got out of the car. Jimmy would be home tonight after another out-of-town trip. She wanted to buy some groceries to make him a special supper to celebrate his return. She had surprised herself at how much she enjoyed cooking. Besides fried chicken, Mary had told Kelsey that he loved steak and baked potatoes. That should be easy to fix, if she could figure out how to light the grill.

     Kelsey grabbed a shopping cart and pushed it into the store. She headed for the produce department in search of the perfect baking potatoes. After she selected two, one large and one small, she spied the apples. Did she dare try to make an apple pie, another one of Jimmy’s favorites? She would try.

     After she selected the apples, she moved on to the large display of cheeses. Jimmy loved cheese in the sandwiches he often took in his lunch, and she wanted to get him something special. While she perused the cheeses, she heard two women talking as they stood on the opposite side of the display. The mention of Jimmy’s name caught her attention.

     “Do you know who’s back in town?” asked one woman, not waiting for the other woman to respond. “Whitney Hamilton.”

     “She hasn’t been back in years, even to visit. Why is she back?”

     “Her dad’s health has really declined in the last six months. I think her mom begged her to come home to help.”

     “I wonder what she thinks about both Mitch and Jimmy being married.”

     “I don’t think she cares that much about Mitch. She always had her sights set on Jimmy. He was the one she was in love with, even when she dumped him for Mitch.” The woman sighed. “Jimmy Cunningham can sure turn some heads with those good looks of his.”

     “Yeah, but then he runs off and marries some young thing that he barely knew.”

     “Someone told me they thought she was pregnant, a one-night stand that resulted in a rush to get married.”

     “I heard they don’t even live together. Is that true?”

     “I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me, if Whitney has her way, that Jimmy won’t be married for long. Those two couldn’t stay away from each other even when she was engaged to Mitch.”

     Kelsey wanted to run out of the store. If those women saw her, would they know who she was, or were they just talking about some nameless, faceless woman who was part of the small town’s rumor mill? She would forget the cheese, grab the steaks, and get out of this store.

     Hoping the women couldn’t see her, Kelsey kept her face turned away as she found her way to the meat department. Hurriedly she looked over the steaks and grabbed a couple of packages and threw them into her cart and barreled down the aisle toward the checkout lane.

     When Kelsey finally reached her car, she tossed the plastic bags containing her purchase on the passenger seat as she slid behind the wheel. While she drove home, she let those women’s comments replay in her mind. Had people guessed about her pregnancy? Well, now there was no baby.

     Kelsey’s heart twisted, and the tears flowed. She wasn’t even sure she knew why she was crying. The loss of her baby. All the pretending. The thought of losing Jimmy. Maybe all of it pressed down on her spirit. What had happened to the cheerful college student she’d been last fall when she’d first met Jimmy?

     In the last three months she’d cried more than she’d probably cried in her whole life. Her mind replayed the conversation from the grocery store again and again as she drove into the garage. She kept hearing what the one woman had said. Those two couldn’t stay away from each other. Did Jimmy still love Whitney? Did she still love Jimmy and intend to go after him even though he was married, as those women had surmised?

 

 You can find more information on this book here.

Do you plan anything special for Pi Day? 

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

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This sale ENDS MARCH 15TH! Click here to purchase. Why not tell a friend?

The Luck You Make for Yourself by Josie Riviera

There's a reason we love everything about Ireland in March. The green, the legends, the sense that magic is lurking just around the next stone wall. But here's what I've thought about lately: Is luck something that really happens to us?

The women I admire most didn't wait for the stars to align. They made a decision, took a step, and figured out the rest on the way. That's not luck. That's courage.

Spring nudges us toward that kind of bravery. The days are longer. The air makes it seem like anything is possible. This is the time to try something you've put off: a class, a trip, a conversation, and a dream you tucked away for "someday."

This March, I want to celebrate; I'm offering my Oh Danny Boy, my sweet Irish romance novel and reader favorite, as a free download for a limited time only. Set in Ireland and full of second chances Grab it, curl up, and let yourself believe in magic.

After all, the luckiest thing any of us can do is to begin.

Also free on Kindle Unlimited.

What do you love about March? 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