Release Day: Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, Washington

Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, Washington

It's finally here! Release day for the second book in my Washington Island Romance series: 

Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, Washington!

Release Day!

This novel has been in my heart for a long time, and it's so fulfilling to see it launch into the world. 

A little behind-the-scenes info: About ten years ago, I dreamed up a series of location-based novels set in Puget Sound. I knew this would be the second one, and I knew the heroine's name: Jenna-Shea Brown, but I didn't have this plot until last year! 

Yes, this is book two in the Washington Island Romance series, but this novel also stands alone, which means you do not have to read book one in order to follow what happens here. You'll find themes of forgiveness, PTSD, romance, psychology, healing, love languages, humor, and hope as the hero and heroine get a second chance at love.

Here's the summary:

Neither of them is ready for a relationship, but love may not give them an out.

Jenna-Shea Brown considers herself a broken therapist. Years ago, she witnessed something that caused PTSD. She can’t let her boss or her patients know about her battle. Who would want to trust her to help them, when she can’t help herself? She’s finally able to find a fresh start in her family’s beach cabin, but the renovations aren’t complete. Her parents have hired her ex-boyfriend to finalize them, but his negligence led to her being in the wrong place at the wrong time all those years ago.

Liam Barrett is trying to prove he’s nothing like his deadbeat dad. He’s working hard, yet still failing. Adrenaline and adventure offer him a diversion, but maybe he can’t escape his genes. He’d like to make things right with Shea, but he’s unsure if she’ll forgive him. Meanwhile, he’s challenged to forgive his father. He’s also worried about Shea and all these episodes she won’t explain. Now that they’re back in close proximity, he’s falling for her again. But can anything heal the past? 

And here's what an early reader had to say: "Love, love, love this story and the characters! I cheered for them and cried for them. Great story!" ~ Melissa Henderson, reviewer

This novel is available in both print and e-book formats on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you're a Kindle Unlimited member, you can read both Finding Love in Friday Harbor, Washington, and Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, Washington, for free!

If you get a chance to read them, I hope you'll write a review and tell your friends. Happy reading!

Introduing My New Book: Finding Love in Friday Harbor, Washington!

FLI Friday Harbor, WA

Have you ever been on a whale tour? The characters in my new novel take whale tours nearly every day! 

I'm so excited to share that the first book in my new series, Washington Island Romance, will release on September 1, 2017. You can pre-order the e-book version of Finding Love in Friday Harbor, Washington now. Very soon the pre-order link for the print copy will be available as well!

Here's some info:

Will keeping his promise lead to another broken heart—or help them find love again?

Professor Mikaela Rhoades has a plan: she’ll encourage her students’ marine biology research through an exclusive program while helping an old family friend’s whale touring business stay afloat. The challenge is the tour captain is her first love and ex-fiancé. Mikaela longs to help his family in the wake of his father’s death, but she’s keeping secrets. She’ll have to face her past and overcome her concerns about the future to make it through the summer.

Captain Hunter Cahill has taken over the family touring business after his father’s death. Unfortunately, he’s drowning in grief and accumulated debt. He’s hoping the incoming stodgy professor will help resurrect the failing business, but he’s not prepared when that professor turns out to be Mikaela, his former fiancée. To make matters more difficult, he’d promised his father to pursue her if she ever returned to the island single. The more time they spend together, the easier it is to keep that promise, though she still plans to leave at the end of the season. How much will it cost him to spend the summer romancing Mikaela?

I wrote this book because I love beaches and summertime reads, but this book will transport you to the beach any time of year. And if you've ever had to wait on God for answers or breakthroughs, if you've ever felt like: hoping for positive changes is hard, but what other option do you have? You've been a prisoner of hope, and this book is for you. 

Return to the stronghold,
You prisoners of hope.
Even today I declare
That I will restore double to you.

(Zech 9:12 NKJV) 

I developed the characters in this story to take readers deeper than a surface-level. I wanted both the setting and the Lord to be active characters. You'll smell the salty air, taste the rich fudge from the Granny's Fudge Shoppe, and hear the gulls cry overhead. You'll watch the orcas play in the strait and root for these characters to overcome their hardships, with the Lord's help. You may relate with my hero as God woos him, or my heroine who is afraid to ask God for His opinion because she may not like what He says. 

If this sounds good to you, click the pre-order link for the special intro price, or add this book to your wish list. Don't miss out. And if you enjoy the book, please leave a review on Amazon. 

Happy reading, friends!

Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman

Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman

Today I'm thrilled to share my review for Steven Curtis Chapman's autobiography. Have you read it? Check out the info below:

Let’s begin with the description:

For decades, Steven Curtis Chapman's music and message have brought hope and inspiration to millions around the world. Now, for the first time, Steven openly shares the experiences that have shaped him, his faith, and his music in a life that has included incredible highs and faith-shaking lows.

Readers will be captivated by this exclusive look into Steven's childhood and challenging family dynamic growing up, how that led to music and early days on the road, his wild ride to the top of the charts, his relationship with wife Mary Beth, and the growth of their family through births and adoptions. In addition to inside stories from his days of youth to his notable career, including the background to some of his best-loved songs, readers will walk with Steven down the devastating road of loss after the tragic death of five-year-old daughter Maria. And they'll experience his return to the stage after doubting he could ever sing again.

Poignant, gut-wrenchingly honest, yet always hopeful, Steven offers no sugary solutions to life's toughest questions. Yet out of the brokenness, he continues to trust God to one day fix what is unfixable in this life. This backstage look at the down-to-earth superstar they've come to love will touch fans' lives and fill their hearts with hope. Includes black-and-white photos throughout.

And now, my review:

My fiancé and I began hearing about SCC around the time we got engaged, perhaps just before. His song I Will Be Here inspired us so much we chose to use it in our wedding twenty-six years ago. (I’m sure many couples did the same—great commitment lyrics.) Later we were attending a young married couples’ home group with folks from our church and the leader played the intro of The Great Adventure to us because it inspired him as a musician. As singer-songwriters ourselves, my husband and I were inspired by his music, especially in those early years.

Fast-forward to spring, 2008. I was driving home from running errands when the Christian music radio station DJ shared the heart-breaking news about the Chapman’s dear daughter, Maria, and their son, Will. My heart broke! As a mother, I couldn’t imagine the anguish for everyone in their family. I prayed for them a lot after the death by accident of their daughter/sister. I’ve prayed for them over the years, especially as late May rolled around, because the timing stuck with me; their pain and journey stuck with me.

When I learned this book had come out earlier this year (Revell, March, 2017), I was curious about Steven’s perspective—about his life story and his account of that horrific day.

The book reads like a first-hand account, though author Ken Abraham did the actual writing. Humility and honesty take center stage throughout. You find yourself relating and moved. If you’re a musician, you can relate with some of his story. (He’s won something like 60 Dove Awards, so at some point the relatability becomes an exercise in imagination for the rest of us. 😉 Well done, SCC!) If you're a parent, you'll relate in other heartfelt ways. Readers get to know his precious family, and learn about their journey to adoption. (They adopted three daughters from China and now help others adopt children as well.)

I learned that SCC is a wordy type of guy, which makes sense of the book’s tiny font and the expansive page count, but I was still hooked throughout. Though it’s an emotional read, at times, it’s also a hopeful one. Anyone who has suffered a tragedy will see ribbons of truth in the fight to hold on to faith, the battle to keep one’s head above water when every force seems determined to drown you and those who’ve also been affected. I so appreciated Steven’s honesty. He and his family absolutely honor Maria and her life by sharing their story and portraying an overcoming attitude which leans on God, hope, and the love of family.

I hadn’t yet read his wife’s book, (Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman, also Revell, 2010), so I picked up a copy of her story too.  

If you’re looking for real-life accounts that bring honesty, with hope, add these books to your TBR pile.  

Highly recommended!

Paper Angels by Jimmy Wayne with Travis Thrasher

I know we're a little past Christmas, but this story is timeless.

Let's begin with the summary:

Kevin Morrell is a forty-three-year-old husband and father who runs a successful design and marketing firm that's crashed into the suffering economy. Attempting to navigate the busyness of the mall at Christmas, Kevin is humbled when he stumbles across the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Project. His wife insists that he take a paper ornament.

The name on the ornament is Thomas Brandt, a fifteen-year-old still reeling from the implosion of his family—from years of verbal abuse from an alcoholic father to a mother who finally left him behind, only to find herself and her children penniless and struggling. The only thing has allowed Lynn to survive is her faith. Thomas shares that faith, but he also wonders why God has seemingly abandoned them.

This is the story about a man and a boy one December. A man whose life is changed by a simple expression of kindness, and a boy who takes that expression of kindness and shows the true meaning of Christmas.

And now, my review:

This story was all heart. And hope. Lots of hope. And though the story was set at Christmastime, I read it in January and didn’t feel the least disconnected from the plot.

I loved the humble, old soul character of Thomas. This ridiculed boy changed his community by responding unexpectedly to derision. From the looks of him, he doesn’t have much to offer. But he’ll surprise you.

Our other hero, Kevin, just wants to get it right. His business. His role as father and husband. Same is true for our heroine, Thomas’ mother. You’ll relate with these characters and root for them.

With a balance of hardships and hope, this book will inspire you. To give. To care. To love. Don’t miss it.

Cup of Hope by Hope Wilbanks

Recently a reader of my devotional blog contacted me to review her devotional book, "Cup of Hope." It is my pleasure to highlight her collection today. Though her name is Hope, the book was actually written (she explains in her opening pages) to provide hope to readers. But what a fitting name for her first book! And what's not to love about that cover?!

I enjoying picking up devotional books. Written for quick reading, they offer a lot of punch in few words. Oftentimes, our sovereign God orchestrates meeting with us as we read. I love that!

As I read Hope's devotional, I found moments like that. Hope also isn't afraid to tell the truth. Here's what I mean:

A bright light shone in my face. It blinded me. It startled me because I wasn’t expecting it. That light is called Truth. Truth is sometimes ugly. Sometimes painful. Sometimes sad. But truth is uplifting. Truth is powerful. Truth is the tool that, when taken in hand, will lead you out of your misery.

I couldn't agree more. Readers will enjoy her thoughtfulness and find nuggets of takeaway for their busy schedules. Hope has prepared meaningful pages (one page per day, mostly) to encourage and exhort readers, while glorifying Jesus (who is the Truth). I recommend this devotional.

For more information, see her website at www.hopewilbanks.com. You can purchase the book here. I wish her all the best as she pursues her dreams!