Can you help me with a book cover? Roxanne Rustand

 What season do you love the most?  For me, it's October, and it's finally here! I've been counting the days, looking forward to sweater weather and the beautiful autumn leaves we see in the Upper Midwest. The blazing colors can take one's breath away.

But as much as I want to be outside enjoying every second of that glory, I've been working long hours in my office and wondering why I ever thought that having three book releases this fall was a good idea. LOL!

DEADLY NOEL will be released October 18th.

DEADLY BETRAYAL will be released  November 14th. 

And both of them are now at a bargain pre-order price!

Just click on the book titles above to read more about them. 

The books in this series can be read in any order.

I have a question, though. 

My Christian romantic suspense and mystery books have underlying themes about family and faith, and often include a dog important to someone in the story. The dog then becomes an element on the bookcover. 

I goofed with DEADLY BETRAYAL. I really liked the cover and didn't realize until now that I'd forgotten to request the dog! 

Should I request a new cover? Do details like this matter to you? Would it hint at this romantic suspense having a warmer tone than a very gritty, hard-edged suspense?

I would love to hear your opinion. Leave a comment, and you will be in a drawing for a free e-book, your choice, from any of my series published in the last three years.  

Wishing you a lovely autumn,

Roxanne Rustand
USA Today Bestselling Author

Sometimes You Can Go Home ~Jean C. Gordon

 

I disagree with Thomas Wolfe. I think you can go home. Granted, if you take his quote as you can't return to a place at another time and find everything the same, I accept that he's right. I disagree from a more optimistic view that understands that while some things may change, some others remain the same, and yet other things might be better. 

In my writing, I've made a return home this year. I've picked up a freelance gig with a financial newsletter publisher. And I have my first Christian--rather than sweet-- romance release in six or seven years. I'll have another Christian romance for you in 2023, too. I feel very comfortable in both positions. But that doesn't mean I won't release more sweet romances. In fact, I'm currently working on another Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge story. Nor that I would want to go back to writing financial articles full-time. I'm simply finding joy in what was my past writing genres and my recent one.

How about you. Have you "gone home" successfully in any way in your life?

RELEASES TODAY

HIS CHRISTMAS STAR, Paradox Lake Romance, Book 7

Connor Donnelly is done with romance.

Five years ago, Natalie Delacroix, the woman he thought he'd spend forever with, turned down his proposal and left their small community of Paradox Lake to pursue her dreams. Dreams that didn't include Connor Donnelly. Since then, Connor has devoted himself to the community. Now pastor of the local Community Church, he's determined to make the first Christmas pageant he’s directed a success. If only he can avoid the matchmaking of his family and friends who don't want the handsome bachelor to spend the holidays alone.

Natalie Delacroix is back in Paradox Lake.

The successful broadcasting career she left the mountain town and Connor for hasn’t turned out quite the way she’d expected. This well-needed break that she’d intended to use to rechart her future is disturbed by family and friends pushing her to help the church—and Connor—with the holiday pageant.

With Natalie’s musical talents, long admired by Connor, the couple might just succeed in making it the success he wants. And because working so closely with Natalie stirs up old feelings, Connor starts to hope for a second chance with the one who got away.

As much joy as they've found working on the pageant together, Connor worries that Natalie will never be content with small-town life. Natalie knows she'll have to earn his trust.

Will the best intentions of family and friends backfire, or will Natalie and Connor find their love again under the Christmas Star? Find out in this heartwarming holiday reunion romance.

Welcome to Paradox Lake

Any fan of sweet romance will love the stories of small-town love in the Paradox Lake Sweet Romance series. Grab your tea or coffee, settle into your favorite chair, and be swept away into the cozy Adirondack town, where complex characters navigate challenging situations as they find their way to love. Whether it’s love at first blush, old flames reuniting, or second chance romance, you’ll find pure reading enjoyment and satisfy your craving for sweet, wholesome romance.

Part of an ongoing series full of familiar faces, each story will stand on its own. With novel and novella lengths available, there’s something for everyone. Paradox Lake is written by USA Today Bestselling sweet romance author Jean Gordon, who’s penned stories for the Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge, No Brides Clubs, and Indigo Bay multi-author sweet romance series—as well as her own series and Harlequin Love Inspired.

BUY OR READ FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

(His Christmas Star is an updated release of one of my Love Inspired books)

Lyn Cote Asks "How did you meet your true love?"

 I love to write about Opposites Attracting--since my husband and I are just that! He was an electrical engineer and I was a school teacher and now an author--one of numbers, the other words! No wonder we have a hard time communicating! We met at a church couples New Year's Eve Party and were married the first week of October. We fell in love and married and have not regretted it but sometimes I think we're some different planets! How about you and yours?

Here's my true love. Yes, he loves the outdoors and I like to browse libraries. Ah, true love! '-)

Here's my unlikely couple in my October 20th new release!

LUCY'S UNLIKELY LOVE

What happens when a “thinker” and a “live wire” collide? Sparks? Or a 5-alarm fire? 

Small town Pleasant Prairie has been slowly dying. Then an influx of Hispanic Americans gives the town much needed new life and possibilities. Pastor Tanner Bond hopes to connect the longtime families and the newcomers for the good of all. But he wants to make the right decisions and has prayed for help. 

But he didn't expect God to send him Lucy Kirkland. Bold, brash, and bilingual, Lucy swoops in to help Tanner take action among the new Hispanic residents. But she's also Tanner’s complete opposite—she is impulsive and confident while he ponders and second-guesses himself. 

Growing up as a PK, “preacher’s kid,” Lucy resented the restrictions put on her. So she doesn't want to have feelings for Tanner. But she does. Will her rush to bring harmony to the small town do more harm than good? And will this preacher’s daughter realize that she would make this preacher’s perfect wife?

Don’t miss this heartwarming story of love and faith by USA Today bestselling author of over fifty romances. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE. It's on pre-order for $1.99 till Oct 19th. Don't miss the discount!-Lyn

Reunions by Pat Simmons

Recently, I attended my class reunion, not high school or college, but grade school! The old Catholic school building was razed decades ago and townhouses took residence. When I did a Google search, the intimidating larges that seemed to have eyes as school children walked by are still standing so passerbys can appreciate their majestic architecture. 

As smart as I am, it wasn't an easy task to calculate what year I graduated from grade school. Subtracting four years from my high school graduation seemed too simplistic.

 

About fifty alumni attended. Some I remember, some I didn't. For some reason, more people remembered my mother than me and my sister.I was impressed by those who graduated grade school in 1969 and looked amazing. They were also some of the first on the dance floor in the Soul Train line. I saw dance steps I had forgotten about. 

My graduating class had two sets of twins. It was surprising what we remembered during our time at school. I remember going to the twins' house and breaking a vase because their cat scared me.

If their mother was alive, she would still be expecting payment. I'm not joking. They remember my sister writing answers to our math problem on the school board.

Then there was my "play brother," who the girls loved. It was through him I met my very best friend. They broke up, but his ex-girlfriend became like family. Our friendship continues today.

Of course, there were some from my class who had recently passed on and others who died tragically young. We recalled names and wondered what happened to them. My former classmates who organized the event allowed me set up a table display and sell my books.

One older classmate and I share a genealogy history from Clay County, Mississippi. In grade school, we had no idea that our lives were interconnected from centuries ago.

The venue was held at a  country club tucked away in a historic area of St. Louis that had homes with garages built to accommodate automobiles. Streetcars and buses were the norm for transportation back then. The food was scrumptious, and the backdrop around the patio was picturesque. so Kerry and I took a picture. Rumors say it was the last class reunion. I hope out. It was great catching up and enjoying each other while we can remember.

******

Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-

proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors then 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 fanatical 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 twenty years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.

Pre-order her latest release: Contempt: Grandma BB's Shenanigans. 

Read Camy's book for free in Amazon Prime Free Reads

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer in Amazon Prime Free Reads

Hi there, it’s Camy! My book Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer (writing as Camille Elliot) was chosen to be included in Amazon Prime Free Reads. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll be able to borrow my book for free. Now’s the chance to read Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer if you haven’t yet!

Read Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer free on Amazon Prime

Libraries to Spark a Love of Reading by Janice Lynn

I recently saw a photo of a library that really caught my attention. It was a photo of the children's area and I was delighted to learn that it was in my home state and only about an hour from where I live. I visited their website and their Facebook page and think I've completely fallen for their program. It appears quite magical and someplace where I'd like to go and sit and read for hours and hours--which is what I imagine whomever designed it intended. The library is the John P Holt Brentwood Library. Just looking at the photos makes me wish I worked there...although I might get fired for hiding away with a great book. :) 

That got me to thinking about libraries and what a great resource they are to communities. My local town has a small library, but they offer summer reading programs that I believe are wonderful. I brought my kids when they were small (and may be hauling to Grand to Brentwood soon for a library visit). I think I enjoyed those summer programs as much as they did. I think how much fun it must be for children to come here to check out their favorite books and to discover new stories to take them on imaginative adventures and what a great way to inspire kids to develop a love of reading.

(All library photos credited to John P. Holt Brentwood Library)

Does your town/community have a local library? Do they offer programs for children and adults? When is the last time you visited a library? What's your favorite library and why?

Janice's latest Medical Romance novel is available here. Or if you're ready to start your Countdown to Christmas a little early, check out Janice's Wrapped Up in Christmas books from Hallmark Publishing.

Buy Your Copy HERE

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, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com  The WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS books are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART & many other place where you buy books. WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS LOVE is coming Christmas 2024.

The Flavors of Fall by Merri Maywether

 

As the leaves change color and a crisp breeze fills the air, autumn brings us new opportunities for fun. Everyone is sharing the bounty from their gardens, which means zucchini breads, muffins, and cakes. People are canning and jarring. It’s the start of Friday Night Football games, trips to the apple orchard, and visits to the pumpkin patch.

It is also the season of pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice is one of those like-it or no-way seasonings. Last year, I wanted to have fun with the pumpkin spice debate. So I wrote a character who didn’t like the flavor but made an award-winning recipe. To add to the fun I named her….Ginger.  

For the longest time, like Ginger, I shuddered at the thought of pumpkin spice. Then I made a pumpkin pie cheesecake for my uncle. Now I know it was the nutmeg and allspice ratios.

Once I knew the why behind my hesitance to try anything pumpkin spice, like Ginger, I made my own recipe. Here it is: 

• 

• 
  

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Now, I love autumn because it’s the season of pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins….(you get the idea) 

What is your favorite thing about autumn?

***

Ginger has always been the small-town girl with a big heart and a healthy dose of sass to go along with it. A weekend of family fun has her considering leaving the comforts of a life of blue-ribbon recipes and a home where everyone sees her simply as Sally and Joe’s sweetheart of a niece.

When Owen left Hope Springs, he thought he shook off the dust of his small town beginnings. However, his rags-to-riches life brings him back to, of all places, the pumpkin patch with the woman who believed in him all those years ago.

A weekend together brings Ginger and Owen together. The two childhood friends may need a map to navigate the maze of events to find the happily ever after everyone in Hope Springs knows they deserve. That is, if they’ll slow down and read the directions.

For the week of September 19th -September 23rd, Hope Springs Harvest Days is a part of the Kindle Countdown 99¢ deal. 

| Visit Amazon |