Spotlight: His Road to Redemption by Lisa Jordan

HIS ROAD TO REDEMPTION by Lisa Jordan (on-sale Dec.28, Love Inspired): A veteran in need of a fresh start will get more than he bargained for…Veteran Micah Holland's scars go deeper than anyone knows. An inheritance from his mentor could be a new beginning—if he shares the inherited goat farm with fiercely independent Paige Watson. Now the only way they can keep the farm is to work together. But first Micah must prove he's a changed man to keep his dream and the woman he's falling for.

Excerpt

“You’re an inspiration, Micah.” She stared at him, as if the intensity of her gaze could convince him.

“No, not even close. I’m just a guy who was stuck in the mud and was handed a shovel to dig his way out. Someone reached out and gave me a hand up. I want to do the same for others. Because of Phil and Ian, I had the break I needed to change. That’s why it’s important to stay on track with meeting our goals. A Hand Up isn’t a handout, but a second chance. Everyone deserves that. Now I can be the one to hand out a shovel.”

“But your compassion helps change lives. That’s evident by what you’re doing here.” She shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe God allowed you to go through everything you did so you’d be in a place to help someone else. Maybe you had to become homeless to understand their pain and give them the security they needed.”

Micah laughed, the tone a bit raw and ragged.

“Seems ironic that I had to lose an arm to give a hand up to others.”

“I’m sorry for everything you’ve gone through.” Paige reached for Micah’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “God has a purpose for you. For this house. And for the men who will be living here.” She tapped his chest. “And it started here. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have come home for Ian’s funeral. You wouldn’t be going through all this to get the transitional home set up. You wouldn’t be talking to men like Jerome, encouraging them to take the next step.”

And she wouldn’t need to guard her heart to keep from falling for Micah. Because he was right—they needed to stay on track to meet their goals. And she couldn’t lose sight of that, either, by doing something silly like falling for a man who had a hard time recognizing love in his own family.

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About the Author

Lisa Jordan: Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Happily married for over 30 years to her real-life hero, she and her husband have two grown sons. Lisa enjoys family time, good books, and creative time with friends. To learn more about her writing, visit www.lisajordanbooks.com.  

Spotlight: Her Hometown Hero by Jacquelin Thomas

HER HOMETOWN HERO by Jacquelin Thomas (on-sale Jan.25, Harlequin Heartwarming): Can a wounded hero let go of the past? Wounded marine Trey Rothchild has returned to Polk Island. People call him a hero, but will he ever feel that way after losing his team? Reuniting with high school crush Gia Harris buoys his spirits. Though she’s focused on making her physical therapy clinic a success—and avoiding romance with patients—Gia can’t bear watching the former athlete sit on the sidelines of life. Could helping Trey recover include loving him fearlessly?

Excerpt

“Justrelax and float…”

Trey hadn’t felt this relaxed in months. He closed his eyes, allowing his body to become one with the water. Regaining this small sense of movement was a defining moment for him—he felt a sense of freedom he’d thought was long gone.

“You’re doing fantastic,” Gia murmured.

At every encouraging word and smile from her and Gia’s obvious faith in him, Trey’s heart turned over in response. There was no fighting it any longer. He wanted something more than friendship from her. He’d been crushing on her at first like before, but what he felt now defied words.

However, reality sank in. What could he offer Gia?

Yet…the way she looked at him motivated him to take a chance with her. After all, she was his biggest cheerleader and she often reminded him that he could continue to improve his quality of life, including having a family.

At the end of the aquatic therapy session, Gia assisted him back into his wheelchair.

He decided to take the leap. He didn’t just want to be her friend. He wanted more. He wanted Gia.

“How do you feel about mixing business with pleasure?”

She dried herself off. “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

His eyes traveled over her face, studying her expression. “Will you have dinner with me? As in a date.”

Gia gave a slight nod. “I’d love it.” She handed him a towel. “But I can’t unless you fire me, or I quit. It’s not ethical for me to date my patients.”

“Then you’re fired.”

Grinning, she responded, “In that case, I have a replacement in mind for you.”

He was surprised. “Were you planning to quit on me?”

Gia laughed. “No, I simply wanted to be prepared in case something happened to me, or if we decided to be more than friends.”

“We have gotten pretty close,” Trey said. “I’ve tried to keep it professional, but I really care for you.”

“I feel the same way,” Gia responded.

Her words thrilled him. Clearing his throat, he stated, “If you don’t mind coming to the 

house later, I can order some food from the café. I really don’t enjoy eating alone. I never really have.”

“How about I cook something?” she suggested. “I’ll have to check your refrigerator to see what I have to work with.”

He chuckled.

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About the Author

Jacquelin Thomas' books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award, and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. She was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction in the Young Adult category. Jacquelin has published in the romance, inspirational fiction and young adult genres. 

Spotlight: Her Christmas Dilemma by Brenda Minton

HER CHRISTMAS DILEMMA by Brenda Minton (on-sale Nov.30, Love Inspired): Searching for a safe haven and a new beginning. Returning home for the holidays after an unexpected pregnancy, Clara Fisher needs a fresh start. And working as a housekeeper for Tucker Church and his teenage niece is the first step. Clara still has hard choices to make, but Tucker might be just the person to help her forget her fears. Could the path to her new future also lead to love?

Excerpt

“I’ll take the job,” she said, as if they’d been discussing the job.

“I’m sorry?”

“Have you hired someone?” She glanced at her watch. “In the past fifteen minutes?”

“No, I haven’t. I…” He didn’t know what to say. This woman had secrets. She had a brokenness that scared the daylights out of him.

But she made his niece smile. For that matter, she made him smile.

“If you’d rather find someone else, I understand. I’m obviously not experienced. I’ve already admitted that I can’t cook and I’m also only here temporarily, but I could fill the spot until you find someone more suitable.”

“What made you change your mind?” he asked, glad that his niece had wandered ahead to talk to a friend.

She shrugged a shoulder and glanced around. “A lot of reasons. Shay needs someone who understands what she’s going through. I do know how much it hurts to feel abandoned by the people who should care the most. Also, I feel the need to do more than sit by myself in Nan’s boat shop. Plus, Nan fired me this morning.”

“She fired you?” He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Yeah, she did.” Her eyes briefly twinkled. “She said I’m in her way. She likes her solitary time. She doesn’t mind my help, but she doesn’t want me to become a fixture in her shop.”

“Shay is a challenge,” he warned.

If she worked for him, could he remain impartial, not getting involved, not caring what her story might be? He doubted it. But he had to do what Shay’s parents hadn’t done: he had to put his niece first. For some reason, he thought this woman might be the right thing for Shay. For the time being.

“I need a challenge.” She smiled.

“I get weekly calls from the school. I think she thinks if she’s bad enough, her parents will ride to the rescue. They won’t.”

“I’m sorry about that. Parents aren’t always what we need them to be. Sometimes they can’t be, sometimes they choose not to be.”

It made him angry to think about his sister and brother-in-law, the choices they’d made putting them first and Shay last. Could this woman put Shay first? “She needs people who will support her but not allow her to get away with the trouble she’s causing.”

“I can be that person,” she assured him with a subtle lift of her chin. “Give me a week. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll go back to boats.”

He grinned. “I guess we can give it a one-week trial. Can you be at the house tomorrow at six?”

“So early?”

“Second thoughts?” he asked.

“Only for a moment,” she admitted. Then they were next in line to get plates, so they spoke no more on the subject.

Tucker was generally an optimistic person, but he knew that letting Clara into his home—and his life—was going to bring an array of problems.

First and foremost, he liked her. He liked

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About the Author

Brenda Minton lives in the Ozarks. She's a wife, mom to three, foster mom to five and grandma to a princess.  Life is chaotic but she enjoys every minute of it with her family and a few too many dogs. When not writing she's drinking coffee on the patio, wrangling kids or escaping for an evening out  with her husband.  Visit her online at www.brendaminton.net

Spotlight: Christmas Vendetta by Valerie Hansen

CHRISTMAS VENDETTA by Valerie Hansen (on-sale Nov.30, Love Inspired Suspense): Is she a mistaken target…or next on an enemy’s hit list? Sandy Lynn Forrester's Christmas holiday takes a terrifying turn when someone breaks into her home and attacks her roommate…thinking it's her. But no one believes that an imprisoned man from Sandy Lynn's past is behind the attacks—except for her high school heartbreak, ex-cop Clay Danforth. Can she trust Clay to keep her safe in the Ozark wilderness long enough to stop a ruthless criminal’s vengeance?

Excerpt

The lack of explanation from Clay caused her to glance over at him. Instead of paying attention to her, he was frowning and looking in the car mirrors.

Sandy Lynn whipped around as far as her seat belt would allow. Since the snow had stopped, more people had ventured outside, evidently to take advantage of the respite. The street was crowded. “What? What do you see?”

“Probably nothing.”

“Okay,” she drawled, “then why are you making scary faces?”

“I’m not.” Clay flashed her a lopsided smile. “This is my normal face.”

“Maybe it’s the black-and-blue eye socket that makes you look odd,” she said, not believing that excuse for an instant.

Again he stayed silent. She felt the car begin to accelerate. The tires slipped in the slushy street, and they fishtailed several times before Clay got it under control.

“Okay. That does it. What is going on?”

“We’re being followed,” Clay said as he sped up, sliding again and again. “I’m heading for the police station.”

“Finally, something that makes sense.” Bracing with her left hand on the dash, her right gripping the over-the-door assist handle, Sandy Lynn did her best to anchor herself on the seat.

Clay turned corner after corner until she was unsure of their position. “I thought you said—”

A hard smack jolted her car and snapped her head back against the support at the top of the seat. She wanted to shout orders at him, to tell him how to get them out of this situation, but truth to tell, she didn’t have a clue.

Prayer would be good, she reasoned, if she had the words to pray or knew what to ask for.

Survival leaped into her thoughts as she called out wordlessly to her heavenly Father.

The car was hit again. Clay righted it.

A harder smash followed quickly.

Clay hollered, “Hang on!”

They went airborne, diving nose-first into a drainage ditch.

Sandy Lynn saw his head snap forward just as the airbag engulfed him. The passenger side of the dated vehicle was not equipped with crash protection, so the seat belt was the only thing keeping her from flying through the shattering windshield.

Breathless and shocked, she just sat there, wondering if this was as bad as it was going to get or if their pursuers were going to stop to finish them off.

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About the Author

Valerie Hansen resides in the rural Ozarks where she writes the books of her heart, primarily for Love Inspired Romance and Suspense. She is married to her childhood sweetheart and has worked as a teacher's-aide, EMT, fire dept. dispatcher, dog breeder, commercial artist, dulcimer builder, Veterinarian's asst., 4-H leader, Sunday School teacher, antique restorer and certified Storm Spotter, etc. See ValerieHansen.com for more!

Spotlight: Kiss and Tell A Limited Edition New Adult College Romance Collection

What could go wrong when the good girl gets stuck with the bad boy? After all, it's just chemistry...

This limited edition collection takes readers on a whirlwind through new adult college romances where the good girl is stuck with the bad boy and she's not happy about it, until their chemistry together makes her question everything she thought she knew about him.

This collection will include the following stories by the authors listed below:

Kings of Study Hall - Mandy Melanson, USA Today Bestselling Author & Colleen Key

Journey to Cheshire Bay - H.M. Shander, USA Today Bestselling Author

The Science Club - C.A. King, USA Today Bestselling Author

Study Games - Sofia Aves

Guarded - Lizzi Stone

What I Love about You - Kari Shuey

Making the Grade: a Woodbridge Park story - Kira Cunningham

Heartbreaker - Amy Stephens

Playing for Her - Sienna Grant

A Play called Pretend - Ainsley Jaymes

Truth or Dare - Corinne M Knight

Imperfect Chemistry - Lynn Stevens

The Good Girl Con - Sunny Abernathy

Ropin' Her In - TB Mann

Right Now - Rachel A. Smith

TBD - Krista Ames, USA Today Bestselling Author

Love on Campus Radio - Danielle Jacks

Broken Lies - C.N. Marie & Lizzie James

Easy A - Samantha Baca

Tempting - Zepphora

Bad Chemistry - Maci Dillon

TBD - Lissa Lynn Thomas

Precious Soul - Adina D. Grey

Campus Legend - Jennifer Sucevic

Collision Course - LJC Fynn & Hope Sherrill, International Bestselling Authors

TBD - Leanne Davis

Rescuing Griffin - Kaye Kennedy

TBD - Lexi Noir

Loft Mechanics - Rhylie Matthews

How to Catch the Bad Guy - Helena Novak

In Session - Kay Blake, Award Winning Author

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Featuring:

The Science Club by C.A. King 

The Science Club is out to prove there is one universal equation for love.

It started as a joke. It continued as a tradition. Somewhere along the line, invites became an honour and joining an elite privilege. Now, the all-female member roster is shaking up the status quo.

Ten years after inception, they have a formula. All that’s left is to test their theory and the resident bad-boy just became their lab rat.

About the Author 

I was diagnosed with clinical depression after the loss of my mother, father and husband within three years of each other; all to cancer. 24/7 in-home care, coupled with the loss I felt, left its mark on my psyche.

Depression takes up a lot of my life. Reading and writing are the only things I have found that help (in connection with regular medication), even if only for a short time. To escape to a different world can make a big difference in my mood in real time.

To put things in perspective, when I was at my lowest point, I couldn't open mail, talk on the phone, or even drive to the store. Walls of sadness surrounded me. As they closed in, tears would fall. There didn't need to be a reason or trigger.

People ask me why I started writing. My answer is simple: I wanted to create a world into which other people with similar problems could escape. I wanted to share the one place that had helped me for many years.

I have always said that as long as one person finds a little bit of happiness out of my books, I am, in my opinion, an accomplished author. The same is true for every writer out there. Please don't ever let anyone tell you different.

I read books as well as write them and have visited the worlds many different authors have created. Those worlds not only make me feel better, but give me the strength to face real life again. I want to thank everyone who writes—I want them to know they are making a difference.

Fast forward to today...

C.A. King, USA Today Bestselling Author has over 60 books available across multiple fantasy sub-genres.

Awards include:

Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Award in the Best Local Author category 2017 & 2018 & 2019

Brant News Readers' Choice Award: Best Local Author 2017 

Readers' Favorite International Book Awards: Best Novella/Short Story 2017 Silver medal

2017 SIBA Awards - Best Novella

2017 SIBA Awards - Best New Adult

2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards: Gold Medal in the Fiction - Supernatural genre

2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards: Bronze Medal in the Fiction - New Adult genre

2019 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Fiction - Supernatural genre

2019 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban genre

City of Brantford Featured Artist February 2020

Burlington Post Readers' Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020

Toronto Star Readers' Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020

Cambridge Times Readers' Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020

Burlington Post Readers' Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2021

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Spotlight: SOFIA by Summer Leigh

(Romanoverse, #1)
Publication date: October 4th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Sofia Romano, eldest sister of the tight-knit Romano family, was one to be envied. A posh society darling since birth, proudly sitting atop the highest pedestal. So high that no one could see the cracks in her perfect façade, including that of her marriage, which was nothing more than a shelter from her parents’ death a decade ago.

And she was perfectly content, until now.

It’s the holiday season and she’s left alone, forced to face the cracks in her picture perfect life—the husband who’s never there, the home that’s always empty, and the heart that never had a place in her marriage.

All this culminates when she has a chance encounter with her brother’s new neighbor.

Eric Walker had just moved to New York. A big-hearted country guy exploring the city for his next book. He had a zest for life, no cares about what others thought, and a heart that leapt out of his chest the second he saw Sofia Romano waiting in his hall.

First impressions go awry; second impressions fail just as miserably, but as they say, third time’s the charm.

That country boy with a heart of gold is about to show this uptight city girl how great love can truly be. This will be a Christmas & New Year’s Sofia will never forget!

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About the Author

Dreamer. Creator. Storyteller.

Summer Leigh, author of the Incidental Fate 6-book Series (Gavin & Sadie) and the spin-off series Romanoverse® (Luca, Sofia, Stefano, & Giorgia Romano) coming to Amazon Summer 2021.

Her books have amassed over 3,000,000 reads on Wattpad.

Connect:

https://www.authorsummerleigh.com/

https://www.instagram.com/AuthorSummerLeigh/

https://www.facebook.com/authorsummerleigh/

https://www.pinterest.ca/AuthorSummerLeigh/_saved/

https://twitter.com/authsummerleigh

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16617690.Summer_Leigh

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