One broken woman. One lost man. And the long-buried secrets tying them together.

After escaping an abusive relationship, Chelsea Spencer flees to Chickadee Creek—the town where her great aunt Rosemary owns a quaint little antique shop. There, Chelsea plans to help with the shop as her aunt heals from an accident—and perhaps find some healing of her own.

Liam Chandler was one film away from a leading role when his brother Jacob was stricken with cancer. After spending the last months of Jacob’s life with him in Boise, Liam heads to the vacation home he built outside of Chickadee Creek to get his life and his faith back on track.

While working to clean out a storage room in the antique shop, Chelsea finds an old violin. Aunt Rosemary says she may have the instrument, but they soon learn it is very valuable and once belonged to Cora Chandler, Liam’s great-great-grandmother.

Drawn together by the old violin and stories from the past, Chelsea and Liam begin to find answers for their present and the future God has in store for them.

4 Stars!

‘We’ve come a long way, haven’t we, God?’

I’ve been a Robin Lee Hatcher fan for a lot of years and never miss one of her good books. She certainly pulls on the heart strings here. A sweet time slip, we meet such wonderful characters. Folks with real problems, some very hard, but who have learned that trusting God will make all the difference. I loved it from the beginning to the end. This story is poignant, moving and such a pleasure to read. Well done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

For lovers of happily ever afters—this collection of three light and sweet romance stories will sweep you off your feet.

In A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter, you’ll meet free-spirited Allie Adams, who undertakes a road trip to deliver her grandparents’ newly restored ’57 Chevy in time for their fiftieth anniversary party . . . along with Luke Fletcher, the former boy-next-door who callously crushed her heart.

Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson invites you to a cozy Virginia mountain town where Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. Only problem? He’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. 

Last but not least, He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Kathleen Fuller will transport you to a small town in Arkansas where thirty-five-year-old Sophie Morgan has spent years making her flower shop a success. But when this workaholic decides she’s ready to make time for dating again, she finds herself with two handsome men vying for her attention.

Whether your perfect romance involves rows and rows of Fraser firs and white pines glinting in the moonlight, childhood love that never ends, or a second chance at a happily ever after, you’re sure to find a story within this collection to warm your heart any day of the year.

Praise for This Time Around:

“Cozy up and prepare to lose yourself in this enchanting collection. Each story is as inviting and wonderful as the last. Reunion romances and heartwarming second chances are sure to delight readers.” —Nancy Naigle, USA TODAY bestselling author

“Romance readers are in for a sweet treat! Authors Denise Hunter, Melissa Ferguson, and Kathleen Fuller have joined forces for a novella collection all about second chances, making the most of them when they’re right in front of you, and fighting for them with everything you’ve got when necessary. Come for this trio of talented storytellers and stay for the humor, heart, and confident hope that there will be a happily ever after, This Time Around.” —Bethany Turner, award-winning author of Plot Twist

• Perfect for lovers of sweet happily-ever-afters
• Stand-alone novella collection
• Book length: 80,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 35 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 Club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest and two beautiful granddaughters.

You can learn more about Denise through her website http://www.DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter

About Melissa Ferguson

Melissa Ferguson lives in Bristol, Tennessee, where she enjoys chasing her children and writing romantic comedies full of humor and heart. Her favorite hobby is taking friends and acquaintances and turning them into characters in her books without their knowledge. She is confident you should read all her novels, starting with this one.

Connect with her (and prepare for the possibility of becoming her next character) at:

Instagram: @melissafergusonauthor

TikTok: @melissafergusonlife

Website: https://melissaferguson.com/

Facebook: MelissaLeighFerguson

About Kathleen Fuller

Best-selling author of Amish fiction. Also a wife, mother, crafter, coffee addict, football fan, and chocolate aficionado.

My Rating: 4 Stars

What a delightful trio of novellas this way! I thoroughly enjoyed each story. I have long been a fan of Denise Hunter’s work, so I pretty much knew hers would be good. I’ve read the second author a time or two and the third none at all. I really enjoyed their contributions. This would make a great vacation read. Neither are very long and all are satisfying.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: July 13, 2021
Buy Link: This Time Around: Three Romances – Kindle edition by Hunter, Denise, Ferguson, Melissa, Fuller, Kathleen. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

“So, what’s your name? I mean, if you’re going to be my plus-one for the parade, I should at least know your name.”

“Plus-one?” He shook his head. “Boone Buckam. And I can’t believe you got me into this.”

“Well, Boone Buckam, you’re about to find out exactly how much fun Fish Pic can actually be. Think of it like it’s a happy accident.”

He’s in Deep Haven to relax.

Detective Daniel “Boone” Buckam is more than burned out. After fourteen stellar years on the job, one bad judgment call—and, fine, a whole lot of cynicism—has forced him into a mandatory vacation. If he can get his head on straight, there’s a job as Police Chief waiting for him back in his Minneapolis suburb.

But then he meets Vivien.

Actress Vivien Calhoun isn’t really a drama queen. Sure, she gets swept up in the emotions of life—but please, she’s an actress. Or, um, was until a stalker made her flee the bright lights of Broadway. Now, she’s passionate about directing her local theater production. But when she accidentally ropes an uptight police detective on vacation into her cast, she can’t help but wonder if he might be the leading man she’s always longed for.

Of course, she’s in trouble.

Boone can’t help but like Vivien. He might even have a type—vivacious and bubbly, with a penchant for attracting danger. He can smell trouble even if she can’t, and is pretty sure her stalker has hunted her all the way to Deep Haven. He’ll have to stay by her side—even if it means being in her silly play—to keep her safe. But Vivien is more than he expected as she helps him discover a part of him he’s locked away…the part that said he could never love again.

So much for relaxing.

It’s summertime in Deep Haven, and the fun is heating up in this laugh-out-loud, charming story.

‘Every Sunday morning, she sat in the same pew, singing the same hymns, wondering if she could ever trust God enough to let down her guard.’

Here we go back to Deep Haven again, that most wonderful small town in Minnesota created by Susan May Warren years ago and the setting for seven books by her. How I love that place and it’s inhabitants. Now, she and Rachel D. Russell bring us book four in the new Deep Haven Collection. And it is a great offering, too!

Detective Boone Buckam comes to Deep Haven to relax-well, more like ordered to relax by his boss. If he wants a shot at the police chief job back in Kellogg, he has to learn some things. Like how to relax, control his anger and get his blood pressure down. But Boone didn’t count on Vivien Calhoun, who nabs him his first day in town to help her get away from someone she doesn’t want to see. From the moment he lays eyes on her, she has pulled him into her drama and Boone kinda likes it. She’s just so irrepressible and precious. And…it seems as if she has a stalker. Boone can’t turn off the detective in him, despite being in Deep Haven to relax, and is determined to discover who is tormenting Vivien.

‘I’ve learned you have to embrace the life you have, not the one you expected you’d have–or the one others expected you to have.’

Boone has a lot of things to think about in this story and not just Vivien and his growing feelings for her. Will he let others’ expectations of him determine the course of his life or is he willing to step out in faith for what HE wants to do with his life? Even if it shakes him to the core.

I loved every single minute of this story. Russell gives us a hero that is struggling with inner turmoil and wants desperately to do what’s always been expected of him. But you know what? God just may have something else in mind for Boone. I loved Vivien, but to me, this is Boone’s story front and center. Russell has crafted a great hero and I just loved him and his heart. This is my favorite of the Deep Haven Collection so far. And it was so great to be back there and see old friends again. There are a few fictional places I’d love to visit or live and Deep Haven in right up there at the top. Warren and Russell have created a winner here and one for the keeper shelf! Well done!

My thanks to Sunrise Publishing for a copy of this book. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinion here is completely my own.

As a police officer in Table Rock, Oregon, Leah Radcliff puts her life on the line to help others every day. But at home, Leah’s battling her own personal nightmare: Brad, her abusive husband, a fellow officer, celebrated hero, and beloved son of a powerful prominent family. Brad’s violent outbursts and suspicious activities have left Leah physically and emotionally scarred, until one desperate action to put a stop to his abuse results in deadly consequences.

Though public opinion seems ready to convict Leah, Officer Clint Tanner is one of the few to believe she acted in self-defense. As he works with Leah’s attorney to produce the evidence they need, new truths about Brad’s dark side come to light—and reveal a deep-rooted problem in Table Rock. There are some who have breached their sworn duty to serve and protect . . . and they’ll do anything to keep their secret safe.

‘She hadn’t prayed in years, and she found herself wondering if God would listen to anything she did pray.’

I was all in from the first page of this book. When Officer Leah Radcliff answers a domestic violence call, Leah herself is drawn into the drama more than anyone else would be, because she herself lives with an abusive husband. A husband who is a fellow police officer. But her husband also has a wealthy family, is a hero and well loved. But no one knows the side of him that only Leah sees. Then one dark night Leah’s life takes a most dramatic and horrific turn. And it only gets worse.

‘The minutes ticked away in a blur of agony, regret, fear, grief, all whipped together as if in a Ninja blender. They hit Leah in changing and shifting degrees, like the colors of a kaleidoscope.’

I have read a few of Janice Cantore’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Suspense is my favorite genre and criminal justice has long fascinated me. Cantore’s twenty two years as a police officer have proven to be of great worth to her writing career. And this is incredibly well written. Cantore gives us loads of knowledge of police procedure and it totally intrigued this reader. I was captivated through the entire book. Not only was I well entertained with great writing, a well formed plot and really good characters, I also learned a lot about how the police department works. I loved it! Nearing the ending, I found myself gasping many times because no matter how hard I tried to figure out what was going down, failed. Cantore totally surprised me.

‘Prayer was a powerful weapon and should be the first one drawn in any fight.’

I loved how the author correlated prayer as the greatest weapon in this battle on the pages of the book. She is right. Prayer is a powerful weapon God gives us. This book builds in intensity all the way through the story and careens into an adrenaline-laced, nail biting, and thrilling conclusion. This will go on my top reads of 2021 for sure and occupy a prized place on my shelves. Well done!

My thanks to Tyndale House and the author for a copy of this book. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed here are expressly my own.

Falcon Hunt awakens without a past, or at least not one he can recall. He’s got brothers he can’t remember, and he’s interested in the prettiest woman in the area, Cheyenne. Only trouble is, a few flashes of memory make Falcon wonder if he’s already married. He can’t imagine abandoning a wife. But his pa did just that–twice. When Falcon claims his inheritance in the West, Cheyenne is cut out of the ranch she was raised on, leaving her bitter and angry. And then Falcon kisses her, adding confusion and attraction to the mix.

Soon it’s clear someone is gunning for the Hunt brothers. When one of his brothers is shot, Falcon and Cheyenne set out to find who attacked him. They encounter rustled cattle, traitorous cowhands, a missing woman, and outlaws that take all their savvy to overcome. As love grows between these two independent people, Falcon must piece together his past if they’re to have any chance at a future. 

About Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison’s Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie’s daughters, and has man other books.
She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She’s a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She’s got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.
Find Mary online at:
Her website: maryconnealy.com
Her blog for aspiring writers: Seekerville
Her blog for lovers of western romance: Petticoats & Pistols
Sign up for her newsletter at maryconnealy.com/newsletter
Mary is on Facebook at facebook.com/maryconnealy
And Twitter at twitter.com/maryconnealy

My Rating 5 Stars!!

‘His pa was as worthless as perfume in a chicken coop.’

Mary Connealy continues her Brothers in Arms series here and I was so excited to read Falcon’s story when I met him in the last book! Cheyenne’s too, because she is a pistol. (Pardon the pun.) So these folks all find out they have a brother by their no good pa’s will. In two cases, they thought their pa was already dead, so apparently, he died twice.

I purely love anything Connealy writes. She is an auto buy for me. Her sense of humor is exquisite and her cowboy tales are the tops. These folks feel like family already and I’m invested in their lives. And that Cheyenne! Man, is she ever mean! She can do anything, well, except maybe cook real good, and she makes sure everyone is scared of her. Grown men want to get out of her way when she is riled up. But wait till you see what happens.

‘She oughta tie him up an drag him behind her horse at a full gallop for a mile or two, over rocks and scrub pines. Then back her horse over him.’ (See what I mean?)

Well done! I can’t wait for the next story in the series, which will be Wyatt’s story. I love these books so much.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinions here are expressly my own.

Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date :July 6, 2021
Genre: Inspirational Historical
Length: 320 pages
Buy Link: A Man with a Past (Brothers in Arms Book #2) – Kindle edition by Connealy, Mary. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing–it’s time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that’s gone wrong–and things are about to get worse.

For these bank robbers, it’s never been just about the money. It’s about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else–someone close to them–gets hurt . . . or worse.

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn’t an option.

‘Her goal was to eliminate the threat and make sure they didn’t open themselves to an attack.’

I’d never read anything by Lisa Harris until I read her 2020 novel, The Escape, which was the first in her US Marshals series. It was great and I started looking forward to the next book in the series. And let me tell you, my wait was more than well worth it. I was absolutely captivated by this story. The Chase is quite aptly titled, too, by the way. The two main protagonists are in a highly intenseful chase for fugitives who always seem to be one step ahead of them. Jonas Quinn and Madison James are partners in the US Marshals service and are incredibly good at their jobs. This time they are up against some bad guys who have every contingency all planned out, though, so they must find a way to up their game in order to capture these folks and stop the madness. I was so intrigued all the way by not only the writer’s skill at creating such a great story, but at how these two law enforcement officers went about their jobs, deciphering clues and chasing off on the next lead. It was so interesting!

‘She was the one who went after the criminals. Not the other way around.’

At the same time that Jonas and Madison are chasing after these fugitives, Madison still hasn’t solved a cold case from five years ago and one other devastating event. There is a spiritual thread here, a good, one, a smatter of romance, but the suspense is the king of this show! Hands down. It is high-octane suspense throughout! I could not stop reading, and I had chores to do. I couldn’t wait to get back to the book when life interrupted. And there is another book in the series!

Harris has created two main characters that nearly leap off the pages and who fit their roles so well that it’s like watching a good crime drama. Goodness, it’s even way better than a tv show! Honestly, this one is for the keeper shelf and to get read again. Well done!

My thanks to Revell Books for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinion here is expressly my own.