Lyn Cote's Third Free Ebook for 2024--Why not tell a friend?

 

This book is very dear to me. It was my first published book and is set in the northwoods town where I live! (The name has been changed of course. If you find Eagle Lake on a map, that's not where I live. :-) 

A HEART OF STONE-Free Ebook Sale Ends July 3^rd—A baby girl’s future hangs in the balance and sparks a heart-rending family mystery~Available on Kindle Unlimited~

After Cash’s sister dies, she leaves her infant in her best friend Jane's care. Cash asks why but to avoid a legal custody battle, grudgingly agrees to raise his young niece alongside Jane. Can the two overcome their differences--and build a new family together? Only if his heart of stone can be softened. A faith-filled, second chance romance with a touch of mystery. “What a scenario for a custody battle. Expected a different kind of mystery. Was surprised but certainly not disappointed. Kept me on the edge of my seat at times following Jane, Angie, and Cash as they struggled with their new reality. Jane leaned on God for guidance while Cash depended on himself. Could they work things out for Angie's best?”

“Good, Clean, Edge of your seat read.” Click here for more info.--Lyn Cote

New Release From Laura Scott

 

Greetings from Laura Scott! 

Wow, is this summer going by fast or what? It's hard to believe the Fourth of July holiday is right around the corner. I hope you're able to spend the extra days off work with friends and family. Maybe you'll spend time swimming and boating on the lake, or have a barbecue picnic. 

Or maybe you'd like to spend a little time reading? If the heat gets to be too much where you live, I vote for sitting inside and getting lost in a good book!

I'm excited that Roscoe the fifth book in my Oath of Honor series available on July 2nd. Roscoe features a secret baby trope which is one of my favorites. I really enjoy writing these honorable cop heroes and I hope you like them too.

Roscoe by Laura Scott $3.99

Oath of Honor - To protect and serve!

Betrayed by love...

Tactical police officer Roscoe Turner is shocked when his former girlfriend Libby Hall shows up on his doorstep six months pregnant with his child. Bullets fly before they have a chance to talk. A killer has followed Libby all the way from Texas and it's up to Roscoe to keep her and their unborn child safe.

Angry and frightened, Libby knows this mess is Roscoe's fault. If he hadn't lied to her, she wouldn't be in a killer's crosshairs. Yet as they dodge danger at every turn, Libby comes to realize Roscoe is the only person standing between her and a painful death. Will they survive long enough to have a second chance at love?

Amazon B&N Apple GooglePlay Kobo

Lyn Cote's Free ebook ends July 3rd!

 

A HEART OF STONE,  A Christian Romantic Suspense

A wounded hero, an orphaned baby and a heroine with a secret.

He lost his only sister and then her child.

After his sister’s death in an auto accident, Cash Langley expects to raise his niece. But when her will is read, he gets a painful jolt. Instead, Dena left the baby in her best friend’s custody, not him. How could she betray him like that?

When she learns this, she is shocked too.

Jane Everett grew up next door to the Langleys. When Dena was a child and Cash, a teen, their mother abandoned the family. Afterward Dena spent more and more time with the next door neighbors.

They come to a compromise.

 Cash grudgingly agrees to raise his young niece alongside Jane, uprooting his business and moving to the northwoods. Having Cash in her daily life stresses Jane. The closer Cash is the more the chance that he’ll find out her secret—she’s loved him silently for years. In the midst of this chaotic situation, strange and concerning things begin happening at Jane’s dress shop. Who is sabotaging her business and why?

 Can these two wounded hearts overcome their differences--and perhaps build a new family together? Only if his heart of stone can be softened. Perhaps by the truth—why the baby was given to Jane. From a Carol Award-winning author, a faith-filled, secret love romance with a touch of mystery.

“What a scenario for a custody battle. Expected a different kind of mystery. Was surprised but certainly not disappointed. Kept me on the edge of my seat at times following Jane, Angie, and Cash as they struggled with their new reality. Jane leaned on God for guidance while Cash depended on himself. Could they work things out for Angie's best?”

“Good, Clean, Edge of your seat read.”

Click here to download from Amazon. 

Change is Scary, but Moves Us Forward - Cheryl St.John

I have always had a rule I teach and that we practice in my critique group: Don’t ever budge on that one element that excited you about a story in the first place. That spark that inspired you to write the story is what will carry you through the middle and to the end. Not all books are easy, even when you love your subject matter and characters, but books are double down hard to write if you lose the joy.

As writers, we do our best, but the lack of joy eventually shows in our work, our health, our personal lives. I had been under contract for over twenty-five years, writing two or three books a year, and everyone knows a career isn’t a writer’s only responsibility. Most of us have spouses, children, grandchildren and parents. I realized I needed a change.

By fate or a stroke of luck or God’s timing, whichever your belief, a line closed and I didn’t have an option book. I’d been in that place before and it had felt scary. This time it felt good. Like someone had taken an 800-pound boulder off my shoulders. And in this timing of events, I also had a new grandchild due.

To my daughter’s immense relief, I told her I’d care for the baby for the first year. I had a few weeks to decompress and prepare, and then the baby came. I had forgotten how exhausting it is to take care of an infant, but it was a good exhaustion, and I enjoyed every minute of it. After the baby was a year old, my daughter had a neck surgery, and I cared for both of them at their house every day, so this hiatus stretched into about sixteen months. During that time, I eventually missed writing. I got ideas. The desire was there to tell stories, but I knew I didn’t want to go back to where I’d been before. I wanted to write, but I didn’t want to experience the pressure of deadlines.

I made a decision to only write books that I love from that moment on. And to do it in a manner at and a pace that I set for myself. Choosing to make a change was a huge step. Indie authors don’t have the distribution advantages of traditional publishers. They don’t get advances. They do all the work. But they can choose to do the writing and marketing at a pace that’s comfortable for them, and there’s a lot to be said for comfortable.

ANSWER: The heroes in those stories are all steadfast and honorable.

Beautiful Kauai! by Susan Aylworth

Natural beauty can heal and revive, or so we are told. I tested the theory recently when a friend invited me to join her for a week in Kauai.

I’ve known Janice since we were toddlers. Our families lived on the same block and our moms were friends. We can’t remember meeting. When she offered me the chance to join her at her timeshare on the north shore, I jumped.

Is there a more beautiful place on earth than the north shore of Kauai? I’ve been many places and seen much natural beauty, but rarely have I seen such lovely scenes as we found everywhere we looked on Hawaii’s Garden Island.

Picturesque little towns sprang up among rainforests in all shades of green, blossoming in a variety of amazing colors. Until this trip, I didn’t realize plumeria could grow into trees a hundred feet tall, nor did I know this signature Hawaiian blossom comes in brilliant red-orange. Among the plumeria and all along roadsides and riversides, other trees bloomed with bright yellow flowers that opened slowly over the day, turned orange in the afternoon, and fell in showers of red by dusk.

As fascinating as I found the foliage, I was equally astounded by the birds. Hawaii has its own local species, such as the Nene, a goose unique to the islands. The 50^th state also boasts its own species of cardinal with a brilliant red-crested head but body and wings in shades of black, gray, and white.

Most amazing to me is the Laysan albatross, a bird well known to sailors (think “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”) and which I’ve read about for years, but had never  seen. We visited a place where the birds nest unafraid on the grounds of the Makai Golf Course. The adults had flown, abandoning their chicks and forcing their young, through hunger, to prepare for their first flights. The newly fledged chicks, just babies, were the size of geese. In time, they’ll become like their parents with a wingspan as great as 11 feet. Amazing! With  the birds, foliage, and flowers, the beauty of Kauai is astounding.

Janice, who has frequently visited the island, made a point of showing off her favorite places. We spent time enjoying the beach at Hanalei, where “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” a spiny mountain, winds around the bay. We splashed in the waters there and admired beaches in a dozen other lovely scenes. We ate at Tahiti Nui, a lovely local eatery which has made cameo appearances in Hollywood productions.

As one highlight, we enjoyed a fire show near Anahola. This was Janice’s eleventh year and she knew many of the performers who also recognized her. This show is largely the work of one extended family and it is nothing short of fascinating. Two days later, on Janice’s birthday, we returned to the same venue for a Kanakapila, essentially a local jam session featuring music rather than dance. Both were great fun.

Janice and I enjoyed the island’s wonders, and I believe we both found the time  healing. She has been widowed almost three years. Since it’s just over a year for me, she was able to coach me on  what may come next. That too was healing.

I’ve seen great natural beauty in many places. For those with eyes to see, it comes with wide variety. Last month, I was in Monument Valley which is about as different from Hanalei as possible and also astounding in its scope, breadth, and beauty. I’m sure I will see more different, beautiful places, but I will return to the Garden Island any time I get the chance.

Susan Aylworth is the author of 25 published novels including two small-town sweet romance series set in and near the Navajo Nation and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. as well as five books in the Christmas Town series. Susan lives near Utah's Rocky Mountains. Watch for more books coming this summer and fall in both the Rainbow Rock and Christmas Town series.  ALWAYS A RAINBOW, Book 7 in the Rainbow Rock series, released on Mother's Day. Book 8, THE PROMISE OF RAINBOWS, releases this month. Contact her at her website: susanaylworthauthor.com,  or via susan.aylworth.author@gmail.com, also @SusanAylworth. Susan loves travel, music, her large and scattered family, perfect raspberry jam, and hearing from readers. 

I Prayed For Your Children by Pat Simmnons

 

I recently returned from a family vacation in Portugal. Our plane arrived at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri at about nine at night. All the gates were empty as travelers had already departed for their destinations.

As passengers from my flight made our way to the mostly deserted baggage claim area, a group of youngsters stood out near the USO (United Service Organization) office.  This wasn't a field trip or drill. 

The "youngsters" stood erect, in formation, under the direction of a tall, imposing uniform commander. I called them youngsters because, in my mind, they were children, some barely looking old enough to be teenagers. 

Although they stood to the side, they stood out. Making my way to the carousel for my luggage, I  tried not to make eye contact with them for fear of distracting them and causing them any disciplinary action.

Men and women sign up to protect and serve. Maybe this was a summer camp as a prerequisite for an ROTC program. 

I got my luggage and walked outside for my ride. At the curb was an over-the-road bus, engine running. Within minutes, I watched as the same group of youngsters, in a single line, hurried to board. Their bus ride would no doubt take them to Ft. Leonard, Missouri, about two hours away from St. Louis, where those who enlist go for basic training. 

As I watched them load up, God whispered to me to pray for them, and I did until the bus drove off. I prayed for their safety if they decided to serve. I prayed they would mature into responsible adults and would be proud of their accomplishments, that they would never see combat (despite the conflicts in the world), and that they would have family and friend support.

They may be out of sight, but my mind has recorded the date stamp for me to never forget. Those "youngsters" who are our future will forever be "my babie***

Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth and, a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance and the 2022 winner of the Leslie Esdaile “Trailblazer” Award.

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 twenty years. She is on the Christian Book Lovers Retreat (CBLR) board as a publicist. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.

Check out her newest release in the Intercessors series: DAYS ARE COMING at www.PatSimmons.net/the intercessors.

I’m coming for the children.

Minister Jude Morgan has a strong relationship with the Lord but doesn’t know what the latest message means. He is determined to intercede for his young mentee, Carlton Oliver, and children worldwide. 

Nine-year-old Carlton wants to get to know his estranged dad, but at what cost? He’s about to discover many things he doesn’t know about the man who fathered him, and he’s on a mission to worship the Lord.

Sinclaire Oliver regrets getting her ex, Harrison Wakefield, involved in her life and that of his son Carlton. He’s more trouble than the monthly child support payments she had to sue for. She knows he’s angry but never expects it to take a dark turn. Sinclaire learns that God makes no mistakes, even when things don’t make sense.

As God sends His judgment on the earth, the devil plants decoys to distract the saints from their mission to be on guard. Is the world doomed, or is there room for redemption?

Only 99 cents! Box set of Christian Historical Romances

Camy here! I’m in this great multi-author box set releasing in October. Right now, it’s on preorder for only 99 cents! This is a great deal for 12 Christian historical romances!

Here’s the back cover description:

Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection

A Limited-Time Collection of 12 books from 12 beloved Christian authors spanning rustic landscapes, elegant ballrooms, rugged cowboys, enigmatic spies, and daring pirates! Delight your romantic heart with Colonial, Regency, Victorian, Western, and Gilded Age Romance and preorder your copy today!

Mail-Order Millie by USA Today Bestselling Author Kit Morgan Imagine mail-order bride Millie’s surprise when she finds out her so-called husband is really a spy working for the president.

Courting Miss Darling by USA Today Bestselling Author Chautona Havig Muriel Darling thought her heart rode off with a cowboy, but when his boss writes letters, maybe romance is in Miss Darling's future after all.

The Privateer’s Prize by Christy Award Finalist Author MaryLu Tyndall Left at the altar, a woman must rely on the man who broke her heart to deliver a message to change the course of the Revolutionary War.

Grace in the Storm by USA Today Bestselling Author Tricia Goyer As hurricane winds howl, a feisty pirate and a captivating tavern owner find their destinies changed by the storm’s fury.

Leftover Mail-Order Bride by Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author Regina Scott When mail-order bride Victoria’s groom left her at the altar, she vows to find love, but meets Jack, seeking help on the ranch, love optional.

Clara’s Compassion by Critically Acclaimed Author Marlene Bierworth Clara’s compassion for workers on the frontier of the Canadian Rockies proves conflicting for railroad boss, Graham, in matters of the heart.

Miss Spencer Meets Her Match by Multi-Award-winning Author Linore Rose Burkard Miss Spencer attends a Cinderella Ball unwillingly, not knowing the “prince” is in disguise.

Lissa and the Spy by USA Today Bestselling Author Camille Elliot Seeking a marriage of convenience, plain Lissa becomes entangled with enigmatic Lord Stoude and a secret mission for the Crown.

Abiding Faith, Freedom’s Call by Multi-Award-Winning Author Louise M. Gouge A pacifist Quaker widow and a prisoner of war officer risk their lives. Will the gap between peace and the American Revolution be a chasm too wide?

Jory’s Story by USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa M. Prysock When a spy and local adversaries descend, can a governess protect the duke’s children and her heart?

Priscilla’s Promise by Award-Winning Author Teresa Slack Priscilla Channing wants to honor her father by marrying the man he chose. But he’s not the same man, nor she, the same woman.

The Gilding of Minnie Tucker by Multi-Award-Winning Author Marilyn Turk A Biltmore maid opens the wrong door and stumbles into a guest whose mutual attraction could be their doom.

Buy the book today!

Preorder ONCE UPON A COURTSHIP and get a free ebook every month!

My novella, Lissa and the Spy, will first be released in the multi-author box set Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection, and if you preorder now, you’ll be able to subscribe to a special Reader Club Newsletter. Every month from now until October 2024, you’ll get a free Historical Romance ebook from one of the authors in the box set.

1) Preorder Once Upon a Courtship

2) Fill out this form with your order number

3) Get the secret link and SUBSCRIBE to the Once Upon a Courtship Reader Club Newsletter

4) Get your first free book

The sooner you preorder, the more free books you’ll get!

You’ll also be alerted when the Once Upon a Courtship box set is available to read.

The newsletter will end October 2024 and you will NOT be automatically subscribed to the authors’ individual newsletters. You can sign up for their newsletters yourself if you wish.

Preorder Once Upon a Courtship

Volunteer trip of a Lifetime-Normandy, France by Janice Lynn

Volunteering can change ones life. It certainly has mine. In 2023, I had the opportunity to volunteer with a group that was bringing WWII veterans back to Normandy, France .(Honoring Veteran Legacies). My military son was able to volunteer with me for that trip and my love and appreciation for my country and for France grew. Although my son was unable to go this year due to his own military career obligations, I was blessed to be able to volunteer again this year to accompany 7 WWII veterans during their time in France in observance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. We also were able to spend time with veterans from other groups such as the Best Defense Foundation.

Like my heroine, I'm totally in awe of the men of 'the greatest generation' and my travels this summer continue to reinforce that respect and awe I feel for these men (and women as there were also Rosies there. :) ) I could go on and on about all the amazing things these individuals did in their roles to stop tyranny and how they continue to be amazing. For example, one of the veterans retired last year--at 98 years old! He didn't have to financially work, but chose to. These men love their country, love their family, and carry themselves with pride. I adore them. 

Y'all know I was already very pro our military and readily acknowledge how I owe my freedom to their sacrifices, but my appreciation pales next to how the people of Normandy honor our veterans. Their emotion is so powerful that you truly have to experience it to believe how genuine their gratitude is. 

In real life there were no romance during my volunteer trip (that I am aware of at any rate), but fortunately for the heroine in my upcoming release, Risking It All with the Paramedic, Dr. Ivy falls for paramedic Caleb. They say to write what you know and I drew from my own experiences as a volunteer as the backdrop for their romance during their time as volunteers with a fictitious group that returns veterans to Normandy. Caleb is a hero I adore as he's a wounded warrior himself who now works as a paramedic in the civilian world. Ivy's grandfather was a WWII veteran and she had longed to accompany him on the trip and goes in honor of his memory. I've fallen in love with France and its rich history and attempted to weave some of that into the story without overwhelming the reader (hopefully!) with what has become a personal passion. 

 If you are looking for a way to enrich your life, I challenge you to volunteer. Find something that interests you and volunteer. An animal shelter. A nursing home. A community charity event. A veterans group. A children's advocacy group. A quilting group that makes quilts for veterans, babies, foster kids--you get the idea. There are so many great places out there that need involvement. I truly believe that by volunteering it's me who receives the greatest blessing by the people I meet and the friendships made, and that I get to help others in the process by donating my time--it's a win-win. Find your win-win.

Risking It All With the Paramedic

Two weeks of temptation for the medical volunteers! Join them on a life-changing trip to France in Janice Lynn’s latest Harlequin Medical Romance novel.

FROM FRANCE TO FOREVER?

 

When unlucky-in-love doctor Ivy leads a medical team on a veterans’ trip to Normandy, her sole thought is for the patients in her care. So she’s unprepared for the frisson of attraction she feels at meeting fellow volunteer Caleb! It’s clear the good-looking paramedic has ghosts of his own, but over the fortnight they’re together an undeniable connection forms... Only when they return home will they be brave enough to risk everything and turn temporary...into happy-ever-after?

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  

WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS LOVE is coming November 2024 from Tule Publishing

 

Discovering Bookish Treasures In The Most Unexpected Places by Merri Maywether

I stepped off the plane in Amsterdam, not expecting much beyond the usual hustle and bustle of an airport. On top of that, we had a four-hour layover and didn’t know what we would do. 

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered a hidden gem within Schiphol Airport: a library!

Yes, you read that right—a library in the airport! For a book lover and sweet romance writer like me, this was akin to stumbling upon a secret oasis in the middle of a bustling desert. Our long layover suddenly turned into an adventure that felt like it was straight out of one of my novels.

Our first stop was the library's art wall. A screen scrolled through pictures. People could sit on a bench and watch for however long they liked and would never grow bored. 

There were books in Dutch and English and titles for adults and children. 

One of the most charming corners was the coloring center. 

The reading corners were abundant. I settled into one of the comfy seats to write this quick note. 

And if that wasn’t delightful enough, a young woman sat at the piano and played several classical pieces. When she finished, another traveler took her place. 

My librarian personality must transcend countries because a young child, mistaking me for the library staff, brought me to his parents to ask if I could check out a book for him. We all laughed. 

Who would have thought that layover became one of our trip's highlights? The Schiphol Airport library is a treasure trove of art, literature, and creativity.

Moments like these inspire my sweet romance stories. They remind me that we never know when something will happen that will make us say wow, I’m glad I took that risk. 

Share Your Bookish Treasures

Have you ever stumbled upon a bookish treasure trove during your travels? I’d love to hear your stories! Share your experiences in the comments below.

***

In 202 Canterbury Lane, our main character, Genevieve, goes on a bridal shower cruise looking for a rare chance for some girl time.

Life, however, has a surprise in store for Genevieve. On the cruise, she crosses paths with her childhood crush, and brother’s best friend, country singer Travis Trent. Travis, fresh from a painful divorce, is eager to rekindle his friendship with Genevieve, harboring hopes that it might blossom into something more. Yet, both carry scars from the past, making the journey to love anything but smooth.

As Genevieve and Travis navigate their emotions and rediscover their bond, they find that taking a chance brings moments they'll treasure.

So, pack your bags, grab a copy of 202 Canterbury Lane, and let the adventures of Genevieve and Travis inspire you on your own journey. Happy travels and happy reading!

You can find |202 Canterbury Lane | at your favorite online retailer. 

Lyn Cote's Newest Christian Historical Romance!

LOVING AGAINST ALL ODDS!

From fashionable 1820 New Orleans society, Miss Della Mott is now bound for frontier Spanish Texas where anything might happen.

When her stepfather hears of Stephen Austin's agreement with Spain to allow angloamericanos to settle on free land in colonial Texas, the impulsive man packs up family, slaves, and their remaining possessions in wagons, traveling north along the trading route to Texas. Della, the realist, knows she can't depend on her inept, volatile stepfather. Who will provide the protection and guidance they will need to survive? 

Quinn, son of an American scout and a Cherokee mother, is heading home to Texas. A horse trader, he has failed  in New Orleans to obtain a thoroughbred colt for breeding. Along the way he meets with Della’s family. He is struck by her dignity and strength.

But he also recognizes that Della’s stepfather will lead them into disaster and perhaps death. He can't ignore her need. And so begins their unspoken alliance into wild frontier Texas. 

Unfortunately someone else's twisted agenda will endanger them all. Click title.

LOVING AGAINST ALL ODDS!

Another authentic historical romance by Lyn Cote with over two million books sold~ 

AND IF YOU LIKE LARGE PRINT , HERE'S A NEW ONE OF MINE OUT THIS MONTH!

https://www.amazon.com/Suddenly-Frontier-Father-Wilderness-Brides/dp/B0CWX4Q945/

 

 

Flag Day by Merrillee Whren

Today is Flag Day in the United States. I have blogged about Flag Day on June 14th several times. The Flag Day celebration commemorates the adoption of the United States flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The flag above has fifteen stars and fifteen stripes and is the image of the flag raised at Fort McHenry near Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812, when the words of the  United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," was penned by Francis Scott Key. Today's flag has fifty stars to represent the fifty states in the US. The flag now has thirteen stripes that represent the thirteen original colonies. 

The first Flag Day was celebrated on June 14, 1877, but it wasn't until 1949 that Congress made the day permanent. There is a wealth of information about the United States flag at the National Parks Service website. If you are a US citizen, you might like to find out some things you didn't know about our flag. I didn't know that you could contact your senator or representative to request to buy a flag that has flown over the US Capitol.

Although I've never written a book in which the characters celebrate Flag Day, I have written a couple of books in which I mention the Independence Day celebration also known as the Fourth of July. One of those books has a flag on the cover, Hometown Proposal.

You can click or tap on the photo or this link for more information on the book or for buy links. 

What do you like best your country's flag?

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.