 Happy May! I love this month - the weather is beautiful, wildflowers are cropping up everywhere, and it just makes me feel cheerful. It also means school is starting to wind down for the summer. I don't know about you, but I find it's great to have some books waiting for me on my Kindle for those moments when I get some time to myself. Thankfully, there are a number of fabulous books coming out this month. I hope you'll take some time to browse around and pick a few for yourself! If you missed last month's new releases, you can find them here. April 30th  No Greater Love by Gina Holder One Book Changed Her Life…and Her Eternity He said he’d never risk leaving a widow. She said she’d never love a man in uniform. Paige McDonald collects antique literature and works at the largest bookstore in Portland, Oregon. When her grandfather, a firefighter, was killed, she vowed never to fall in love with a first responder. An old Bible leads to an unexpected discovery and disrupts everything she knows about herself, her family, and God. Her desire to know the truth sends her to the town of Whitman directly into the radar of Patrol Officer Hamilton Bryant. After the loss of his best friend and fellow officer, Hamilton vowed never to marry. He won’t risk leaving a widow. Instead, he reserves his passion for serving his family and the town he’s sworn to protect. When a series of robberies and threats against the mayor correspond with Paige’s sudden appearance in Whitman, their paths intersect. May 1st  Find You Again by Jan Thompson Firefighter Cheyenne Endecott is grateful to Savannah Senior Living Resort Director Roger Patel for providing a safe place for Aunt Gemma to live in her widowed years. When Roger needs a trustworthy confidant to help him deal with a skeleton in his family closet, Cheyenne is more than happy to pray for him and do what she can. She feels that she is returning a favor. One thing leads to another, and the favor starts to affect their friendship. Pretty soon, bachelor Roger is reconsidering his self-imposed moratorium on dating and relationships…  A Body in the Woods by Steve Demaree Cy has a new friend, he of the four-legged variety. On the morning of the winter's first snowstorm, Cy's new friend finds a body in the woods. When an autopsy reveals that the man was murdered, Cy and Lou, sometimes accompanied by Cy's new friend, go traipsing through the woods, driving through the most sparsely populated part of the county, and occasionally drive into town, to try to figure out who murdered the man. They soon learn that it is easier to deduce why he was murdered than to figure out who killed him. But eventually, Cy and Lou, with a little help from Cy's new friend, are able to bring the case to a conclusion and retreat to the warmth of their homes.  The Ranger's Forgiveness by Bree Livingston A conspiracy theorist, the high school sweetheart whose heart she broke, and the threats that bring them together. Taylor Mabrey runs a conspiracy theory satire website. It’s something she loves to do, and since it’s anonymous, she doesn’t think twice about it. But the fun stops when she starts getting ominous threats. Thinking she just needs a break, she goes home to spend time with family, where she comes face to face with Elijah Emerson—the only boy she’s ever loved . . . the one she dumped right after graduation. Elijah Emerson returns to his hometown to take care of his family’s estate after his mom passed away. But his plan for a quick trip goes awry when he sees his high school sweetheart, Taylor Mabrey. Nine years ago, they were supposed to run away and get married, instead she broke his heart, and he still doesn’t know why. When the threats follow Taylor and her home is burned down, Elijah feels compelled to protect her. Forced together, old feelings bubble to the surface as they confront their past, along with the reason Taylor ended things. May 2nd  Charmed by the Daring Cowboy by Melanie D. Snitker She's a landscaper on a deadline. He's a cowboy assigned to help. Will their growing attraction get in the way, or blossom into true love? Alyssa Reid has never shied away from a challenge, but she may be in over her head this time. The single mom is juggling two landscaping projects with strict deadlines. Having her young son and an ornery runaway goat underfoot certainly isn't helping. A handsome cowboy is assigned to help her, and she finds herself losing focus in a whole new way. Dare Jackson knows what it's like to be raised by a single mom. When the Sage Valley ranch hand meets Alyssa and her son Noah, he's immediately drawn to them. The more he gets to know them, the more he wants to be there for them both. But with every attempt he makes, he can feel Alyssa pulling farther away. He needs to change his game plan, and fast, because he's already having trouble imagining life without her. Alyssa is afraid to trust her heart--and her son's--to the kind cowboy. Dare doesn't know how to convince her he's worth the risk. Can they meet in the middle? Or, like Hopscotch the goat, will true love escape their grasp?  In the Market for Love by Megan Squires Sophie Potters’ life is in full bloom. Running both a thriving flower farm and successful Farmers’ Market, she’s living out her dreams in the idyllic Northern California town of Fairvale. While Sophie might be able to create stunning bouquets, she withers when it comes to romance. Content with her single status, she resolves to focus on her work, until a lost piece of luggage lands a handsome stranger on her porch. Landscape architect, Cole Blankenship, has always lived in his father’s shadow. When he’s selected as the designer for a popular backyard contest, a trip out west offers an opportunity to finally prove himself. He meets the charismatic florist who farms the same plot of land and tensions grow, along with unexpected feelings. But any sort of relationship is prohibited and could cost Cole the first place title and Sophie, her livelihood. Will Sophie and Cole let a contest dictate their love lives? Or will they discover that love grows best when you follow your heart and not the rules?  Monster of the Asylum by B.T. Lord and J.S. Stephens Sixteen year old Addison Monroe and her friends think they’ve hit the jackpot when they win a contest that will allow them to go on a televised ghost investigation with the nationally renowned TV paranormal investigative team, The Ghost Dudes. With cameras rolling, the two groups arrive at the infamous Meadowlark Asylum. Suddenly shut down nearly a half century before under mysterious circumstances, it’s become shrouded in stories and legends about the darkness, nicknamed Monster of the Asylum, that allegedly stalks its abandoned hallways. It isn’t long before Addison realizes something is terribly wrong. What was advertised as a Halloween night TV special takes on a sinister note when, as her team’s reluctant psychic, she begins to see visions that show what really happened all those years ago. Visions that warn her they are all in danger. Things escalate when one of her teammates suddenly disappears while the others, including members of The Ghost Dudes, slowly come to the horrifying realization that the legends about Meadowlark Asylum may actually be true. And the Monster won’t rest until it claims another victim. This is Book 1 in The Ghost Seekers Paranormal Mystery series. May 3rd  Not Until You by Valerie M. Bodden She clings to the past like a treasured antique. He’d rather toss it in the trash. But if they can learn to trust in the God of second chances, they might just discover a future together. The past is all she has… Since her husband’s death three years ago, Violet has struggled to keep their antique store afloat and her grief at bay. She knows it’s time to move on, but she’s not sure she wants to. So when Nate moves in next door, she tries to ignore the feelings he stirs in her—feelings that were supposed to have died with her husband. The past haunts him… Nate’s star was rising in the world of Christian music. But all that was erased with a single, life-shattering mistake. One he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven for. One that means he doesn’t deserve a future—and definitely not with his beautiful new neighbor. Can they have a future? As the two work together to save her store, neither can deny the feelings that are starting to develop. But when Nate’s secret is exposed, they have to decide if they should walk away—or trust that the God of second chances has a plan for their future. May 11th  An Unusual Adventure by Anne Perreault She needed more than her small town could give her. Judith Stone longs for an adventure, something to challenge her busy mind and her thirst for more. Austin Harding, her childhood friend, and the boy she has secretly loved all her life, returns after several years of absence and offers her exactly that. She jumps at the chance to spend her life with him and to see places of wonder. Along the way, they are met with unexpected danger. Austin Harding is about to take the trip of a lifetime, and he's decided to make Judith part of it. As they embark on their journey, he quickly finds out that trying to keep her safe is not as easy as he thought. Judith and Austin find themselves in the thrall of an unusual adventure, set in the barbaric middle east. Will they make it out alive?  Last Second Chance by Robert Goluba A convicted murderer. A caring family. Under one roof. Rick Powell’s relentless dedication to succeed serves him well. He expects the same results when he gets sucked into the family business. He’s wrong. Things implode, and the bank wants its money back. Generations of hard-work look to be lost forever. Out of options, Rick and his wife accept an inmate into their home to gain some quick cash….and provide a second chance. At first, it appears to be a stroke of genius, but incarcerated felons are unpredictable. Nothing goes as planned. Will granting an inmate a second chance be a deadly mistake? May 12th  Tortured Soul by Theresa Linden A single woman thrown out of her family home. A terrifying specter that only she sees. A dark connection between his past and hers… After her father’s tragic death and her mother’s more recent passing, loss leaves an emptiness she can’t fill. But now thirty-two-year-old Jeannie Lyons must leave her family home, the one place that lets her keep alive the memory of her parents. She moves into an old house on the edge of town, one too big for just her and her three-legged cat, but she soon gets the impression she’s not alone. Her brother thinks she has an overactive imagination. Her sister-in-law thinks she needs counseling. The man her brother’s been trying to set her up with is the only one who seems to believe her, but can she trust him? Having nowhere else to turn, she must face her inner demons and confront this soul from beyond the grave... May 14th  Game Plan by Kayla Tirrell I’ve got one shot to win his heart. I’ve had a crush on Preston Royce for as long as I can remember. Only, I’ve never told him, or anyone, because he doesn’t see me that way. (And because his sister, Charlie, happens to be my best friend!) But when Preston’s girlfriend breaks his heart, Charlie comes up with a plan to get them back together—a plan that involves Preston and me pretending to date. Yeah, it’s a bad idea cozying up with a guy who’s still in love with his ex, but it may be my only chance to get close to him before we graduate high school. He thinks we’re faking. Meanwhile, I’m falling more in love with him.... May 15th  Fourth of July at Barbecue Corral by Irene Onorato Rachel Valentino is anxious to get back to business when her bistro is finally repaired after being damaged by a tornado. But everything is turned upside down when her self-centered older sister unexpectedly sends Amy, her pre-teen daughter, to live with Rachel without permission or foreknowledge. Fate brings handsome and kindhearted Seth Garrison, an old high school crush, back into Rachel’s life. But with a bistro to run and the responsibility of surrogate motherhood suddenly resting on her shoulders, the chance for romance seems slim. When disaster strikes, Rachel must find a way to face seemingly insurmountable challenges. To start over in business, master instant parenthood…and accept unconditional love. May 16th  Inspired by the Creative Cowboy by Bree Livingston A woman who’s lost her trust, an artist who’s lost his inspiration, and the broken-down barn that brings them together. Summer Brown is back at Sage Valley Ranch nursing the loss of her job and desperate to prove herself. Her Nanna has given her the task of restoring the old barn used for events. When the contractor she’s hired skips town, she’s left high and dry—until Julian Wolf steps in. He sure is good-looking, but her trust is shot. Artist Julian Wolf has wandered aimlessly since the failure of his last gallery showing. When he hears the cute blonde lamenting the loss of her contractor, he offers to help. His plan was to fix the barn, maybe do a little soul-searching in hope of finding his inspiration, not lose his heart to a girl he’ll have to leave. May 27th  Bad Things, Small Packages by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick She's a barista... and an accidental spy. Someone is chasing ICS agent Brent Peterson for the contents of a microSD card. The problem is... he doesn't have it. Emily is just trying to adult: make ends meet, save for college, and keep from getting sick and missing work. But the microSD card Brent stashed on her car is making more trouble than either of them could have guessed. Getting it to the decryption genius before it self-destructs, and understanding its contents is going to take both of them. The spy agency needs saving, but Brent and Emily don't even know it. Are they up to the task? May 24th  Surprised by the Billionaire by Remi Carrington Canadian billionaire Antoine Bergeron has spent the last seven years alone and is content to stay that way. Loving and losing once is enough for a lifetime. But a surprise encounter with a beautiful American stranger has him changing travel plans and rearranging his life to surprise her again and again. His one rule: he doesn’t discuss his past. For Gemma Tyler, life is almost perfect—a cute apartment, good friends, and a successful personal shopping business—until she spills wine on a charming stranger with a delicious accent. Since they live in different countries, his interest surprises her, but she decides there’s no harm in spending time with him while he’s in town. But after only a couple of dates, she’s close to breaking her one dating rule: no long-distance relationships. All the money in the world can’t move Texas and Toronto closer together. Maybe some rules are made to be broken. And when Gemma gets an unexpected surprise that sends her running, Antoine will finally have to face his fears and open up about his past. May 29th  How to Date a Genie by Jessica L. Elliott All she wants is a normal life, but normal is hard to come by when you're a genie. Oriana Codona is enjoying a brief reprieve from the demands of an unreasonable wisher while staying with her brother. But her past isn't going to let her go that easily, and it's going to take more than wishes to become free. Perhaps with the help of a sweet, new friend, Oriana can be free not just from this wisher, but from all of them. Trent Moss finds himself caught between the world he's always known and one he never believed existed. But when Oriana is in danger, he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if it means losing his heart in the process. May 30th  Sweet Complications by Stacy Claflin He can have any woman he wants… except her. NFL quarterback Dylan Manley's life revolves around his career and the fame associated with it. He's only back in Indigo Bay to help with a fundraiser in memory of his best friend. But then finds he has to work with Brooke—the one person who has always made him trip over his own feet. Brooke Davenport is a far cry from the girl next door who left town years ago. Focused on her political aspirations and still recovering from the loss of her doting brother, she wants nothing more than to return to DC for good. But first she has to get through the fundraiser with Dylan, who she blames for her brother's death. When a family emergency pulls Brooke's parents out of town, the success of the fundraiser depends on Brooke and Dylan. He'll do whatever it takes to show her he's a new man, but every attempt only makes him look worse. If he can't make things right, he'll lose her forever.  Ninety Days to the God Habit by J. Traveler Pelton Has your spiritual life hit a ditch? Instead of peace and prayer in the morning, do you find yourself dashing out the door, apologizing to God for being in a rush, feeling regret as you charge off to the meet your day? Is there a glass ceiling over your prayers, worse, have you felt He isn't listening anymore, and you know it's probably your own fault? Do you feel as if you're drifting, like flotsam in the river, instead of riding the flood of God's strength; is your worship life down to what happens at church, fed to you by others, predigested and ground like baby food, better than nothing but not very filling, giving you no lasting joy? What's the excuse you give yourself to cover the guilt you feel over leaving Him waiting for you? When the chaos of life become all too encompassing, leaving you feeling battered, helpless and exhausted, there is hope. It's time to break the destructive routine and get a new one going that works. This book helps you understand how to climb out of the rut of mediocrity, how to start a habit of living in the Presence of God, and it gives you a path, clear, simple and scientifically proven, to a triumphant relationship with God. Recover your faith, renew your love, revive your soul. Isn't it time you fell in love all over again? May 31st  Drowned at the Rat by April Anderton The bass player's dead and no one's talking. When the lead singer of a local punk group turns up dead at the infamous night club known as The Rat, it looks like a clear-cut case of band envy. Boston reporter, Ali Loukas, isn’t so sure. Something smells off and with the help of her boyfriend and homicide detective, Ryan McGuire, Ali sets out to sniff out the real killer . . . or killers. It's 1997 and The Rat is slowly dying. Underground violence and cutthroat competition have become the norm, but Vinny G.'s death threatens to close the curtains. Can Ali help find the killer and save the club or will she end up six feet under?  Martha by Phillipa Nefri Clark 1972. It is four years since Martha Ryan’s world crashed around her. Fleeing to England to study teaching, she had left everything behind. Her beloved seaside town of River’s End, her big sister, Dorothy, and the one man she loves beyond reason. After the untimely death of her father, she finds a new home in Ireland. There, she buys a cottage, embarking on a career as a teacher in the small town, and travelling during every long school holiday. She finds friendships, relationships, and adventures. But dreams haunt her. Deep down, she longs for her home town in Australia, and to see Dorothy. Will a life well lived be enough, or is one letter the turning point to risk everything she’s come to love?  Check out these new releases from authors involved with American Christian Fiction Writers. You're sure to find a new favorite! Contemporary Romance:
When Love Won’t Wait by Roger E. Bruner — Laugh at Pastor Dan’s impulsive efforts to get out of the ministry and marry a woman of his own choosing by going against his domineering widowed mother’s wishes. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) A Perfect Amish Match by Vannetta Chapman — After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah’s perfect match becomes clear—it’s Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn’t planned on love or marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she’s been missing? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) Sing a New Song by Candee Fick — Songbird Gloria Houghton has always needed to be the center of attention, but the spotlight has shifted. Seeking fame and a fresh start, she finds a new stage in Branson, Missouri…only to risk being replaced by a manipulative rival. If Gloria can’t be the star, who is she? Jack-of-all-trades Nick Sherwood is just one leaf on a vast family tree that includes a restaurant chef, hotel owners, and even the headline act at a family-owned theater. He’s seen how fame can blind a person with jealousy and is more than content to stay in the background thank you very much. If only he wasn’t so fascinated–and irritated–by the newest addition to the staff. After a disaster of a first impression and financial difficulties land Gloria in the humblest of jobs—with Nick as her boss—it might be time for her to learn to sing a new song. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) Pigtails and a Tool Belt by Janetta Fudge-Messmer — The Christian Romance where circumstances seem impossible. But with God – all things are possible. (Contemporary Romance from Winged Publications) Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner — After four years of dating Will, Cadie questions his love for her and sends him packing. Their breakup only makes Will more determined to become the man Cadie wants him to be. With the help of his work buddies and tactics drawn from Cadie’s favorite romantic comedies, he devises a “foolproof” plan. What could possibly go wrong? (Contemporary Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing) General Contemporary: Over the Waters by Deborah Raney — As “Dr. Botox” to the bored rich women of Chicago, plastic surgeon Max Jordan was shocked by the decision of his son, Joshua, to focus his medical talent on Haitian orphans. Embittered by Joshua’s death, Max searches for resolution in the very place his son called home. The selfless labor of Joshua’s coworkers stuns Max. He is particularly taken by American volunteer Valerie Austin, whose dream of a honeymoon on a tropical beach were crushed, replaced by a stint working in the impoverished orphanage. But Valerie’s view of Joshua’s sacrifice challenges everything Max has lived for. Now Max wonders if he can ever return to his “Max-a-Million” lifestyle, or if the doors to his gilded cage have finally opened. (General Contemporary from Raney Day Press) Historical: True Freedom by Carol Ashby — When a Roman slave rescues his master’s daughter from the kidnapping arranged by her own brother, will his sacrificial service earn the freedom and love he never dreamed possible, or will it only end in death? (Historical from Cerrillo Press) Historical Romance: The Daughter’s Predicament by Mary Eileen Davis — Can a patient love win her heart? As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle–always the unfavored daughter–becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Isabelle loves her sister, but with three suitors interested, will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet? (Historical Romance from Mountain Brook Ink) Mail-Order Mishaps by Susan Page Davis, Linda Ford, Vickie McDonough, and Erica Vetsch — In The Bride’s Dilemma by Susan Page Davis, Eve Martin arrives in Cheyenne to learn that man she came to marry is in jail, accused of a violent murder. But has God brought her here to help save Caleb Blair’s life? In Romancing the Rancher by Linda Ford, Amelia expects a safe home for herself and her niece in Montana as mail-order bride to Zach Taggerty. Only Zach has never heard of her. In The Marriage Sham by Vickie McDonough, Texas mail-order bride Zola Bryant is a widowed newlywed. Worse, they were never truly wed because the officiant was an outlaw not a preacher. What will she do now that her life and reputation are in tatters? In The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch, a mail-order mix-up sends Irish lass Maeve O’Reilly to the Swedish community of Lindsborg, Kansas. Will Kaspar Sandberg consider it a happy accident or a disaster to be rectified as soon as possible? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing) Lord of Her Heart by Sherrinda Ketchersid — Lady Jocelyn Ashburne suspects something is amiss at her family’s castle because her father ceases to write to her. When she overhears a plot to force her into vows—either to the church or a husband—she disguises herself and flees the convent in desperation to discover the truth. Malcolm Castillon of Berkham is determined to win the next tournament and be granted a manor of his own. After years of proving his worth on the jousting field, he yearns for a life of peace. Rescuing a scrawny lad who turns out to be a beautiful woman is not what he bargained for. Still, he cannot deny that she stirs his heart like no other, in spite of her conniving ways. Chaos, deception, and treachery threaten their goals, but both are determined to succeed. Learning to trust each other might be the only way either of them survives. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) Love’s Belief by Linda Shenton Matchett — When the Third Reich implements mandates that require Jewish babies and other “undesirables” to be killed as part of The Final Solution, is midewife Pia Hertz’s new faith in Christ strong enough to defy the laws of man? Dieter Fertig is relieved he’s no longer part of Hitler’s army, despite the reason–a battle that cost his arm. After he returns to Berlin, only to discover the Nuremburg Laws require his best friend’s baby girl to be killed, he must find a way to spirit the child out of Germany before the Nazis discover her existence. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press) Shelter Bay by Pamela S. Meyers — Adventurous bicyclist Maureen Quinn and her best friend, Preston Stevens, a member of the U.S. Life Saving Service, find love and face life-altering events on the shores of Lake Michigan. (Historical Romance from Mantle Rock Publishing) Mystery: Fallen Leaf by Julie B. Cosgrove — When a DNA kit reveals blond, blue-eyed Jessica Warren is half Cherokee, she confronts her adoptive parents and learns her birth father is in prison…for murder! Now he wants her help in exonerating him. Can Jessica trust the handsome, young Tulsa district attorney to help, or does he have an agenda of his own? (Cozy Mystery from Write Integrity Press) Bitter Pill by Richard L. Mabry, MD — Things were going along just fine until the miracle fouled them up. (Medical Mystery, Independently Published) Latter-day Cipher by Latayne C. Scott — Kirsten Young, a well-known and rebellious Utah heiress, is found murdered in Provo Canyon. The strange markings carved into her flesh and the note written in 19th century code seem to cast a shadow on ancient Mormon laws. Journalist Selonnah Zee is assigned to cover the story– and it quickly grows out of control. (Historical Mystery from Moody) Romantic Suspense: Running Target by Elizabeth Goddard — A routine patrol turns deadly when marine deputy Bree Carrington’s boat is sunk by men carrying illegal weapons. Fleeing a barrage of bullets, she’s suddenly rescued by DEA agent Quinn Strand—her ex-boyfriend. Quinn’s return threatens more than Bree’s heart…because he’s the one the men are really after. As criminals hunt her to get to him, can Quinn and Bree take down a drug ring? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) Speculative: The Pages of Her Life by James L. Rubart — Allison Moore’s dad was living a secret life and left her mom in massive debt. As she scrambles to help her mom find a way out, she’s given a journal, anonymously, during a visit to her favorite coffee shop. The pressure to rescue her mom mounts, and Allison pours her fears and heartache into the journal. But then the unexplainable happens. The words in the journal, her words, begin to disappear. And new ones fill the empty spaces—words that force her to look at everything she knows about herself in a new light. Ignoring those words could cost her everything…but so could embracing them. (Speculative from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
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