April 2016 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on
the ACFW Fiction Finder
website.
Contemporary Romance:
A Twist of
Faith by Pepper
Basham -- A high class speech language pathologist and an unrefined
cattle farmer cause sparks in this modern retelling of the beloved classic My
Fair Lady. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
Coast Guard
Sweetheart by Lisa
Carter -- Second Chance Sailor When coast guard officer Sawyer Kole
is stationed again in Kiptohanock, Virginia, he's ready to prove to Honey Duer
that he's a changed man--and the right man for her. But it's not smooth sailing
when a hurricane blows their way. To save the family inn she's restored to
perfection, Honey will ride out the storm. But can she handle the turbulence of
seeing Sawyer again? Years ago he walked away, taking her dreams of love. Now
as Hurricane Zelda barrels down, Honey may have no choice but to trust Sawyer
to save her life and--just maybe--her heart. (Contemporary Romance from Love
Inspired [Harlequin])
Better than
Fiction by April W
Gardner and Michelle
Massaro -- While creating a fictional romance, a novelist
dissatisfied with her marriage falls prey to an emotional affair with her
spiritual, sensitive friend, Curtis, who inspires her handsome hero. Meghan
Townsend imagines the whole thing as harmless...until it isn't. Under Meghan's
skillful pen, her characters, a 1916 heroine and a reckless racecar driver,
embark on a thrilling, adventurous romance. But she finds that writing those
love scenes with Curtis's face in mind takes her heart places it shouldn't go.
Will she realize in time that real life can be better than fiction?
(Contemporary Romance from Plaited Press)
Close to
You by Kara
Isaac -- A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur
chasing his future find themselves thrown together--and fall in love--on a
Tolkien tour of New Zealand. (Contemporary Romance from Howard [Simon &
Schuster])
Historical:
Counted With
the Stars by Connilyn
Cossette -- Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man
she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes
pleasure in her humiliation. When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in
the middle of it all. To save her older brother and escape the bonds of
slavery, Kiya flees with the Hebrews during the Great Exodus. She finds herself
utterly dependent on a fearsome God she's only just beginning to learn about,
and in love with a man who despises her people. With everything she's ever
known swept away, will Kiya turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and
her future to Yahweh? (Historical from Bethany House [Baker Publishing])
Historical Romance:
Stitching a
Life in Persimmon Hollow by Gerri
Bauer -- Living with her aunt and uncle, housekeeper Josefa longs for
the glamorous life of a fashion designer far beyond her small town. But her
dreams alarm her Tia Lupita, who fears Josefa's ambitions are unrealistic for a
girl of her station. When Lupita announces a plan for Josefa to move away from
Persimmon Hollow to live with distant relatives in Texas and prepare for an
arranged marriage, the headstrong beauty knows she has to make an audacious
choice. And when a decision arises between two suitors, will she choose a rich
man who could give her all the outward trappings she desires, or a quiet
carpenter who has fewer material goods but a bigger heart? (Historical Romance
from Franciscan Media)
The Lady and
the Mountain Call by Misty M.
Beller -- Trapper Reuben Scott planned only a quick visit to his
parents' homestead to tan his winter hides, but the strange woman standing at
his mother's stove is a shock. And then this Cathleen Donaghue tells him his
father's dead and his mother is losing her mind. The sad news may bring an end
to the life he's loved--trapping, living in the wild freedom of these
mountains, no one demanding he measure up. But he'll do anything for his
family, even deal with this city woman since she seems to connect with his
confused mother. When tragedy strikes Cathleen's family, this impassive
mountain man may be the only one with the skills to save her. But can she trust
him with her heart, too? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Where the
Heart is Romance Collection by Andrea
Boeshaar, Carol
Cox, Rhonda
Gibson, Sally
Laity, Claire Sanders, Connie
Stevens, Pamela Kaye Tracy, Erica
Vetsch, and Jane West --
Journey along with nine women who find themselves on the move out of their
comfortable lives and into the unknown as they set up new homes, take on new
jobs, seek out loved ones, and encounter romance. Will their faith endure the
hardships, and will love form when life is in transition? Written by nine
inspirational romance authors who have a passion for American history and
faith. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Mail Order
Mix-Up by Christine
Johnson -- When school teacher Pearl Lawson sees an ad for a
mail-order bride, she leaps at the opportunity to find a husband for her best
friend. Roland doesn't know how an ad seeking a wife for his brother found its
way into print. But now he has to handle the hopeful applicants--women who
think he's the future groom. Not to mention the feisty, matchmaking
schoolteacher who is just as determined not to marry as he is. Will this mix-up
push Roland and Pearl to forget their plans of staying single and allow love
into their lives? (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Losing
Lincoln by Stephenia
H. McGee -- Among the thousands of captured and hopeless Confederates
in Elmira prison, Annabelle searches to find the one man who could be the key
to saving her inheritance. Matthew will do everything in his power to protect
the woman he loves--even if it means keeping her from the truth. Especially given
his ties to a desperate madman seeking vengeance. In the final dark days of
war, Matthew sets his hopes on Annabelle. She could be the lighthouse that
guides him out of the ever encroaching sea of chaos. But first they must allow
love and trust to overcome their prideful hearts. (Historical Romance,
Independently Published)
Rumors and
Promises by Kathleen
Rouser -- Sophie Biddle, an heiress on the run with a child in tow,
seeks to start over in a small town that doesn't like secrets. Reverend Ian
McCormick has come to Stone Creek to escape past mistakes and prove himself a
worthy servant of God and his congregation. They are drawn together by their
love for music and her child, Caira, who Sophie tries to pass off as her little
sister. Will the scandals of her past destroy his hope for their future?
(Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
The Reluctant
Duchess by Roseanna M.
White -- Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland
earldom, but she has never felt good enough. After a shocking attack, she's
willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar. While Brice
Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has never shied away from manor-born ladies,
the last thing he needs right now is the distraction of Lady Rowena's desperate
situation. When Rowena's father tries to trap Brice into marrying his daughter,
Brice makes a surprising decision. Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but
she's reluctant to marry a notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is
mixed up in dangerous business with a stolen treasure, she feels pushed
directly into the path of everything she was trying to avoid. (Historical
Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Romantic Suspense:
Silence in
the Dark by Patricia
Bradley -- Two years ago, Bailey Adams broke off her engagement to
Danny Maxwell and fled Logan Point for the mission field in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Now she's about to return home to the States, but there's just one problem.
After Bailey meets with the uncle of one of the mission children in the city,
she barely escapes a sudden danger. Now she's on the run--she just doesn't know
from whom. To make matters worse, people who help her along the way find
themselves in danger too--including Danny. Who is after her? Will they ever let
up? And in the midst of the chaos, can Bailey keep herself from falling in love
with her rescuer all over again? (Romantic Suspense from Revell [Baker
Publishing])
Picture
Perfect Murder by Rachel
Dylan -- When photographer Lily Parker escapes an attack, she doesn't
want any help from the FBI agent who is convinced she's a serial killer's
latest obsession. But after one of her photographs is found at a murder scene,
it's clear that Special Agent Rex Sullivan was right. Lily, a former CIA agent,
isn't used to relying on others, but she won't survive without Rex at her side.
And Rex quickly sees that Lily isn't a typical victim in need of his
protection, but a valuable partner who can help him bring down a madman. With
the murderer growing bolder, Rex has to convince Lily to trust him with her
safety--or she could become the killer's next victim. (Romantic Suspense from
Love Inspired [Harlequin])
What Happened
on Beale Street by Mary Ellis
-- When a talented musician is found dead in Memphis, Nate and Nicki are
determined to find their friend's killer with a list of suspects longer than
the Mississippi River. (Romantic Suspense from Harvest House)
Reunion
Mission by Virginia
Vaughan -- Lured into a dark classroom, high school teacher Claire
Kendall stumbles over the body of a dead student--and into the clutches of the
killer. Certain she's about to die, Claire is shocked when DEA agent Matt Ross
bursts in and rescues her. The former army ranger who broke her heart ten years
ago is back in town to bust a drug trafficking ring operating at the school.
With Claire being framed for the young informant's murder, she has to put aside
their past and trust her handsome ex to keep her safe. But someone is dead set
on bringing their hometown reunion to a permanent end. (Romantic Suspense from
Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Speculative:
Tainted
by Morgan L
Busse -- A young woman discovers she can control the laws of science,
but every time she does, she kills a part of her soul. If she doesn't find a
cure soon, her soul will die and she will become something else entirely. After
a devastating personal loss, Stephen Grey leaves the World City Police Force to
become a bounty hunter. He believes in justice and will stop at nothing to
ensure criminals are caught and locked up. However, when Kat Bloodmayne shows
up in his office seeking his help, his world is turned upside down. Together
they search World City and beyond for a doctor who can cure Kat. But what they
discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic.
(Speculative from Enclave Publishing)
A Desperate
Escape by JC
Morrows -- The palace is scrambling to recover from a brutal assault
. . . the country is in disarray . . . and the royal security team is on edge
like never before. Kayden entered the palace under a lie . . . a lie that has
now been exposed. Now Prince Dvarius has to decide what to do with his
reluctant assassin. (Speculative from S&G Publishing)
The Xerxes
Factor by Anna
Zogg -- USF special agent Kelli Layne has one goal in life—find the
girl who was abducted on her watch. Confident and self-sufficient, she doesn't
need anyone. Including God. When she is nearly killed, she is forced to
question her ideology. Only one person believes Kelli wasn't involved in the
kidnapping, fellow agent Jayden Song. He risks his career to help her follow
the clues to Xerxes IX, an alien planet with a humanoid population. To rescue
the missing girl, Kelli and Jayden have no choice but to become fugitives from
the law. Can they save the child without forfeiting their own lives?
(Speculative from Next Step Books)
Thriller/Suspense:
The Tenth
Plague by Adam
Blumer -- Water turns to blood. Flies and gnats attack the innocent.
Marc and Gillian Thayer's vacation resort becomes a grisly murder scene, with a
killer using the ten plagues of Egypt as his playbook for revenge.
When their friend turns up dead, Marc and Gillian put their
vacation on hold, enlist the help of a retired homicide detective, and take a
closer look at the bizarre plagues as they escalate in intensity. Meanwhile, a
stranger is after the Thayers' newly adopted baby. Will they uncover the truth
behind the bitter agenda before the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn
son? (Thriller/Suspense from Kirkdale Press)
