Wednesday, April 2, 2025

About the Book

Book: The Rancher’s Unexpected Bride

Author: Lauralyn Keller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 25, 2025

In the rugged Montana Territory, a Boston socialite’s bid for freedom collides with a rancher’s quest for a family.

According to Boston’s elite society, Ella Mountbatten has it all: status, prestige, and a bright future. What they don’t know is that her life as a socialite has become a gilded cage of abuse and oppression under the control of her cruel fiancé and domineering parents. Desperate to escape, Ella flees Boston and seeks refuge in the small town of Harmony Springs, Montana Territory, where her former friend now resides as the sheriff. But with her family determined to drag her back to Boston, Ella’s hard-won freedom—and her very life—hang precariously in the balance.

Rancher, Cody Brooks, is ill-equipped to be the guardian of three orphaned children. But that’s the situation he’s in after the death of his best friend. Now, what he needs is a wife to help provide love and stability to his makeshift family. So when a runaway heiress arrives in need of protection, it seems a marriage of convenience may be the answer to both their prayers.

But with danger closing in from Boston and the challenges of building a new life together, Cody and Ella must confront their deepest fears and desires. Can their marriage of convenience blossom into true love, or will the shadows of Ella’s past tear apart the fragile hope they’ve found in Harmony Springs?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lauralyn Keller loves to combine history and romance in stories that touch the heart. She lives in beautiful Colorado and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading.

More from Lauralyn

Stories have a funny way of percolating in my mind. I’ll be driving or doing dishes or some other mundane activity, and all of a sudden, an idea pops into my head. What my mind does with it then determines the course of a story.

Here’s a peek at my thought process for The Rancher’s Unexpected Bride.

Marriage of convenience stories are fun—maybe I could write one. Oooh, and I love Montana. It should take place there. Historical, of course, since stepping back in time is also fun. Hmmm….who should the characters be? Maybe a socialite….or an heiress….where would someone like that be from? Philly? New York? Ooh, I know—Boston! Yeah, Boston. Let’s see, her name can be Ella, though that doesn’t sound terribly high society. Maybe Ariella, but she prefers being called Ella. And she wants to leave town because she feels that society life is suffocating her. Hmmm, that doesn’t quite seem like a strong enough reason. Oh! She comes from a stuffy family….with harsh parents….and an abusive fiance. That’s why she runs away. I can iron out the details later. Okay, so Ella runs from Boston to Montana. Now, who’s her love interest? A farmer might work, but why would they agree to a marriage of convenience? I suppose Ella could be a mail-order bride….hmmm, no, that might not work. She needs to leave in a hurry (the why to be determined later). Maybe the guy (let’s call him Cody—that’s a good name) is a widower raising young kids and needs a wife to help. Or….no, he took in the kids after their parents died. That’ll create an immediate need for a wife. Perfect! Actually, I think he should be a rancher instead.

And just like that, a story is born. Sometimes it comes to me in moments, other times in weeks. This story developed over a couple of years. I wrote one draft, decided it was too fluffy, and ended up giving it a complete rewrite. I’m very happy with how Ella and Cody’s story turned out. It’s a sweet, love-comes-softly romance, and I hope you enjoy it.

MY REVIEW

There is nothing better than to read about a character who finds hope, protection and love in an unexpected way. I loved the time period and how marriage of convenience was a reality for many. As we get to know Ella there is a feeling of hopelessness settling inside her. It was hard to understand why her father was so adamant about her marrying someone who physically abuses her. Ella is desperate to get away and finds her chance with the help of her sister. I liked how brave Ella was as she began a new chapter in her life.

Cody sure has his hands full when he becomes the guardian of three young children. He sometimes feels like giving up but his love for the children keep him going. The author does a great job of describing the struggles he faces and how exhausting it is running a ranch and raising these precious children. When it is suggested that he needs a wife hope starts to come over him.

I liked how Ella and Cody find a way to help each other out. Cody is gentle and kind with Ella but he is very protective of her. Standing up to Ella’s father gives her a sense of security. The story does deal with a sensitive topic but is handled with grace. Their relationship starts slowly but oh how beautiful it is. I appreciate how Ella steps up to care for the children and helps them with the loss of their parents.

The story is not without a little danger as Ella’s father is determined to get his daughter away from Cody. It surprised me at how far her father will go to control his daughter. Her father tries everything to break up Ella’s marriage but I think it brought her and Cody closer together. I like how they each share their past and learn to trust each other. Will this marriage become more than a convenience for Ella and Cody?

“Family is a place where those hurts and struggles can be shared and eased in a healthy way, through love and grace.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Maureen’s Musings, April 1

Texas Book-aholic, April 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 4

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 5

Devoted To Hope, April 6

lakesidelivingsite, April 7

Stories By Gina, April 8 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 10

Simple Harvest Reads, April 11 (Guest Review from Melissa)

For Him and My Family, April 12

Holly’s Book Corner, April 13

A Reader’s Brain, April 14 (Author Interview)

Bizwings Book Blog, April 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauralyn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54189

Monday, March 31, 2025

THE PEACEMAKER BY WABDA BRUNSTETTER

In book two of A Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s disappearance continues to cause suspicion and pain to swirl in the Big Valley.

Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa’s disappearance. Now Rosa’s younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can’t be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?

MY REVIEW

Welcome back to another exciting book in this series. A young woman has been missing for a year and the community stills wonders what happened to her. I think not knowing would be so devastating and could keep people from moving forward. Ada misses her best friend so much. She longs for the times they spent together and feels empty inside . Grief has overwhelmed Ada as she tries to think of her future. She thinks of Rosa a lot and it feels like she doesn’t feel like she should find happiness because perhaps she feels like it would mean she has given up hope of ever seeing her friend again.

Ephraim moved away from his family to help take care of his grandmother. He misses Rosa but knows that some people think he is a suspect in her disappearance. That would be such a big burden to overcome. When he comes home for a visit a friendship starts to develop between him and Ada. I did like Ephraim’s relationship with his grandmother. He was patient, helpful and protective of her. I appreciate how the author illustrates how grandparents are important to a family.

With a look inside the Amish community you see people who help each other, love unconditionally and work had. I love how they live simple lives and grow much of their own vegetables, fruits and herbs. Working long hours they appreciate what God has given them. Their commitment to faith is encouraging and also share meals together after services.

It was interesting to read about Ben and Susan. Neither of them have joined the church yet. As they share pizza together they talk about the challenges they face. Ben doesn’t like all the rules that he would have to abide by if he joined. Susan mentions that her dad is the bishop for their church district and believes that most of the rules come from the Bible. I wonder why Ben is so against joining the church? It bothered me that he was trying to influence Susan not to join.

I loved how Ada was always trying to help others and relied on God to give her words of encouragement. The story is emotional and filled with faith as we follow characters who share their struggles. Will Ada and Ephraim be able to find a way to grow their relationship? Can Susan trust Ben? Who will solve the mystery of Rosa?

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion.

Saturday, March 29, 2025

About the Book

Book: When the Sky Burned (A Day to Remember Book 6)

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction

Release date: March 1, 2025

A Tornado of Fire and Embezzlement Sweep through a Community

Enjoy a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Promising painter Mariah Randolph longs to have her canvases displayed in the world’s best museums, and Hollis Stanford, the heir of a railroad tycoon, is her ticket to success. The railroad’s bookkeeper, Jay Franklin, discovers discrepancies and is convinced that Hollis is stealing from the company. But any proof of his dirty dealings go up in smoke when fire utterly destroys the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, October 8, 1871.

The fire leaves Mariah blind, but Jay befriends her and even helps her to start painting again. But a trip to Chicago to return Hollis’s daughter to him could put both Mariah and Jay in more danger than even the fire that devastated the town and their lives.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

More from Liz

I stared at my computer screen in front of me. For years, I had been searching for my great-grandmother, Anna. I got no good information. Census records in the US weren’t helpful. Some listed her birthplace as Czechoslovakia, while others had it as Austria. I had heard before that she might have been born in Czechoslovakia before, but never Austria. There were no records that I had come across that listed the city or town where she was born.

Until that one day. While searching for my great-grandmother, I ran across a passport application recorded in Warsaw, Poland, for an Anna with the same last name, though spelled differently. Her birthday was listed as 1903, which matched the birth year I knew for my great-grandmother’s niece. As I read through the application, my heart was pounding. This Anna was born in the United States but went to Dubne, Poland, with her family in 1906. It was now 1923, and she wanted to return to the US, and she would be living with…

I started to cry when I saw who her sponsor was. My great-grandfather. The name and address were correct. There could be no doubt about it. It had taken me years, but I finally made the jump to Europe and discovered that my great-grandmother was not born in Czechoslovakia but in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now Poland.

Of course, good little researcher that I am, I had to find out all I could about Dubne, the town they were from. That’s when I first came across the term Lemko. What on earth was that?

Lemkos are a Slavic people that settled in the Carpathian Mountains of Southern Poland, Northern Slovakia, and Western Ukraine. They are also known as Lemko Rusyns, Rusyns (especially those born in Slovakia, like my great-grandfather), and Carptho-Rusyns. The mountains kept the world at bay, and they developed their own language, customs, and form of Christianity. For the most part, they were very poor, many of them eking out a living from the rocky ground.

They lived in “black houses,” called that because the poorest people couldn’t afford to have a chimney built. The smoke from the cooking and heating fires stayed inside the house and covered the walls with black tar. If you look at the cemetery records from Dubne, you would be old if you lived into your fifties. Conditions were brutal.

The most the average Lemko could afford was one sheep or one pig. Since this was their most prized possession, they couldn’t take the chance of a wild animal or a neighbor taking it away, so it lived in the house with them.

With all of them. Up to eleven people would live in a two-room house. When I mentioned that in What I Left for You, my editor questioned if I had made a mistake. No, I didn’t. I have no idea how they fit all those people in there, but they did. As I was tracking one branch of our family tree, I kept coming up with people living in house 43. Over and over and over. They stuffed that house full. Grandparents, parents, and children all lived together. They may not have had much, but that forged the Lemkos into strong and resilient people.

I’m proud to be Lemko-Rusyn, and I’m thrilled to share this story with you. I infused Helena, the historical heroine, with as much of the Lemko spunk and spirit as I could. Last October, my daughter and I had the privilege to travel to Poland and Slovakia and see the Lemko homeland for ourselves. It helped me to write a better, richer story because I now understand where they came from and who they were. Enjoy Helena’s story and her journey during WWII and beyond. I hope you come to understand and appreciate the Lemko people as much as I have.

MY REVIEW

Another stunning story in this series. I couldn’t believe how it was easy to smell the smoke as the author brilliantly describes the scene. I appreciated all the research that was done to capture the realistic tragedy. The fire mentioned in the story was captivating. Historical facts bring this story to life as I witnessed the destruction the fire caused. People were devastated and loss was overwhelming.

Mariah is a young woman who loves to capture beauty by painting. Her desire is to have her work shown in a museum. Now I didn’t particularly like her fiancé as I found him to be demanding and controlling. Mariah looks forward to becoming a wife but will she recognize that her fiancé may not be honest?

Jay is humble, hardworking and maybe has a crush on Mariah. When he discovers that there is something fishy going on with the books he keeps for the railroad he starts t9 get suspicious of a certain someone. He has his hands full though as fire breaks out in the town. Blisters ravaged his hands as he fought alongside the other men hoping to spare lives, homes and businesses.

Have you ever experienced smoke that takes your breath away? As I read this story I thought back to the fires that California has not to long ago. Well known buildings were destroyed as well as homes. The devastation made me cry. Reading how the town in this story had to endure smoke for so long made me think how quickly disaster can happen. Did God allow this fire because of the town being packed with saloons and other sinful things? Or was it done to test the people’s faith?”

“Don’t give into despair. The Lord will deliver us.”

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 27

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 28

Pens Pages & Pulses, March 28

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 29

Simple Harvest Reads, March 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Texas Book-aholic, March 30

Betti Mace, March 31

Lily’s Corner, March 31

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 1

Devoted Steps, April 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 3

Blogging with Carol, April 4

Connie’s History Classroom, April 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 5

For Him and My Family, April 5

Stories By Gina, April 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 6

Bizwings Book Blog, April 7

Cover Lover Book Review, April 7

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 8

Jodie Wolfe, April 8

Holly’s Book Corner, April 9

Pause for Tales, April 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54187

Friday, March 28, 2025

About the Book

Book: Above the Circle of Earth

Author: E. Stephen Burnett

Genre: Science Fiction

Release date: March 4, 2025

The fight for the space mission begins in his homeworld.

Brock Rivers never wanted to be a repairman on Mars. Years ago, he failed to protect his family, and now he labors across a frontier planet to keep his children alive and escape CAUSE. But the spacefaring humanist regime is taking over Martian colonies, forcing all to join the secular state.

Back in Brock’s homeworld, his people summon him to fulfill old hopes with a new dream. After decades of cultural isolation, they plan to restore missions for the 22nd century, voyaging beyond Earth to share the gospel in space. Brock must find a ship and recruit a team of misfit believers. They expect opposition from the formidable CAUSE, but not from a more deceptive enemy.

One adversary attacks from the shadows to destroy the faithful. Others unify to oppose the project. Brock and his family must fight to resist these enemies of the space mission or else return to exile forever.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

E. Stephen Burnett creates sci-fi novels as well as nonfiction, exploring fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He is coauthor of The Pop Culture Parent and other resources for fans and families. Stephen and his wife, Lacy, live in the Austin area and serve in their local church.

More from E. Stephen

Today’s earthly life seemed especially rough.

My day job had issues. A family member is facing worse challenges. Home-repair projects are piling up. Oh, plus our two dogs stormed out of the house and, for no discernable reason, attacked the neighbor’s pet (zero injuries reported, so far).

It’s not all bad. As I write, my wife and I aren’t sick. Times of rest are coming soon. We have good work and freedom to worship Jesus. We enjoy shelter and supplies.

Also—we’re not forced into exile on Mars because of secular persecution on Earth.

That last is the scenario of my debut sci-fi novel Above the Circle of Earth. Its creation began with an “original” teenage thought like, “Hey, what if someone made a sci-fi adventure, only with Christian characters?” That grew into a complex futuristic world of fantastic space exploration, but also mixed results for believers in Christ.

ACE isn’t all dystopia. You can still enjoy freedom to practice your faith on Earth. But you need to stay in your religious preserve. If you try to live like a Christian outside that homeworld, the spacefaring humanist regime CAUSE won’t appreciate that.

That’s how Brock and Alicia Rivers ended up fighting to survive on Mars, laboring in the settlements and raising their three children in a dry and weary, waterless land.

Then comes their call to adventure. This is not just a mission, but the Space Mission, the first restored missionary outreach in fifty years. They’ll have to return to Earth and face the death of a loved one, intimidation by the secular CAUSE, and many challenges and greater threats from their own Christian brothers and sisters—all forming a fantastical adventure about how we long to defend our homeworlds.

I started my first version of ACE decades ago. But to tackle big themes like this, I now realize I needed more experience to understand these kinds of struggles. Of course, I’ve never had to diagnose a leaking dome on another planet or resist a technocratic humanist regime. But I have felt the pain of lost job opportunities, grief after the loss of a parent, and the futility of researching odd subjects (from biblical theology to Martian calendars!) that seemed to lead nowhere.

Well, plot twist: All those hard times made this science fiction more realistic. You can’t build spaceships or stories without those struggles. Otherwise the tale ends up bad—inauthentic and corny, with simplistic morals and shallow heroes. Ugh. Few readers want that. And the few who do will barely remember such a book.

Maybe that’s one reason our Author allows the real-world challenges. He’s not just making us holy and more like Jesus Christ. He’s making us to be more human, well-rounded heroes with dimension and realism, for His glory and our good.

Here’s hoping Above the Circle of Earth launches a different kind of Christian-made science fiction, helping us see all hard times in light of our Author’s amazing future.

Godspeed and #GoTherefore!

Stephen Burnett

MY REVIEW

Space has always fascinated me ever since I was a child. I remember watching science fiction movies where astronauts would travel to Mars. This book feels just like reading a movie script. It has action, vivid descriptions of another world and a nice blend of faith to make this a must read for speculative readers.

Brock along with his family have been living on Mars for a while. He is determined to keep his family safe but a mission may find him being put in danger. I loved reading how Brock is gifted to repair crafts and keep a calm head. His only goal is to always keep his faith and never lose hope.

I love that Brock wants to share his faith with others. Being banned from Earth has been hard for him and his family. His family has been through so much but their faith held strong. I appreciate the scriptures used during the story. Their desire to return to Earth may be possible but will there be danger?

Incredible story that shares the gospel in a way that is easy to understand. The different beliefs where Christians question other Christians is very well written. Get ready for an adventure where sharing your faith can be dangerous but the rewards are so much greater.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 25

Novel Notions, March 25

Guild Master, March 26 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26 (Spotlight)

A Reader’s Brain, March 27 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, March 28 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, March 29

The Lofty Pages, March 30

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 31 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, April 1

Fiction Book Lover, April 2 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 3

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 4 (Spotlight)

Blogging With Carol, April 5

Simple Harvest Reads, April 6 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 7

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, E. Stephen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54184

About the Book

Book: Mary’s Redemption

Author: Lena Nelson Dooley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 11, 2025

Her childhood friend wants to rescue her from her responsibilities, but she can’t abandon her grieving family.

Despite being adopted, Mary Lenora Caine was always “God’s Blessing” to her mother. But after her mother passes, and her father can barely cope, Mary bears the burden of running the home on her own. Her drudgery hides any blessings for her future, until her childhood friend, Daniel, begins courting Mary with promises to take care of her.

For years, Daniel Winthrop has carried a torch for Mary, but his vision for their future together clashes with her duty to her family. Can’t she see he’s offering a better life? But when Mary’s faced with her worst possible scenario, Daniel isn’t sure he can handle the burden.

Mary and Daniel seem set on a path that will test their dreams and the boundaries of their love. Can they trust God’s plan for them and overcome the obstacles between them and their future together?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 1,000,000 copies of her 50+ books sold. Her books have appeared on the CBA, Publisher’s Weekly, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as Amazon bestseller lists. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW – DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network. She likes to create characters and stories that grip her readers hearts.

More from Lena

My mother died when I was 7 years old. Back in my growing up years, grown-ups didn’t tell children a lot of things. My aunt, who was living with my mother and father and older brother when I was born, gave me some surprising information when I was in my 30s. After my mother came home from the hospital with me, she had to go back in a little while later. She had surgery to remove a mass of bones and tissue they believed was my twin that didn’t develop.

I found that interesting, because there had been times over the years when I felt as if part of me was missing. I became fascinated with the connections between twins and other multiple births. This fascination planted the seed that became the stories of the McKenna Sisters series.

At one time, there was a lot of discussion about which influenced people more—heredity or environment. These discussions added depth for the story of the triplets. I prayed a lot when writing these books, and God helped me see how to connect the girls when they didn’t know about their other sisters.

They were definitely reared in totally different environments, and Mary’s was the hardest. It was difficult for me to put her through so much anguish.

MY REVIEW

I absolutely loved this story so much. The main character Mary, is loyal, strong, grounded in faith and vulnerable. The sacrifice made for her to have a loving home made me cry. As she turned seventeen Mary finds herself caring for her younger siblings while her father ignores everyone. Grief is handled in different ways and Mary’s father has never gotten over the death of his wife. Mary faces many obstacles that test her faith yet she never gives up.

Daniel has admired Mary for so long and he feels that now is the time to share his feelings. He is kind, hardworking and anxious to start a relationship but sometimes has a lack of patience. Once he starts to court Mary he finds that she is overwhelmed with caring for her siblings. When faced with trials, will Daniel be able to support Mary?

A beautiful story of endurance, trusting God and rebuilding relationships. Don’t miss this second installment in the series. I loved how the author captures real emotions and illustrates how God is always there during good and hard times. Forgiveness is also something the characters will face as they endure loss, redemption and unconditional love.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26

Stories By Gina, March 27 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 28

Vicky Sluiter, March 29 (Author Interview)

lakesidelivingsite, March 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 1

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 2

For the Love of Literature, April 3 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, April 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 5 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, April 6

Cover Lover Book Review, April 7

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 8 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lena is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54185

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

About the Book

Book: Intentional Fires (Book Two in the Sunrise Crik Series)

Author: Rebecca McLafferty

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: June 10, 2024

A widowed Christmas tree farm owner and her fiancé, a forest service special agent, deal with fires, thefts, and a 90-year family feud—stretching them to the snapping point.

After experiencing an attack, theft, and arson on the family Christmas tree farm, newly engaged Toni Stevens searches for those responsible, including disputed historic records. With two boys and a mother to support, the pressure is on her to increase profitability of the tree farm. Who is trying to ruin her? Can she put a stop to the generational feud?

Toni’s fiancé, U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Sam Duncan is hunting down a potential arsonist turned murderer. His rugged paths uncover Montana drug runners, feudal secrets—and a host of emotions that were buried alive.

MY REVIEW

This has been a great story that captures danger , suspense and faith. I enjoyed learning more about tree farms and how much dedication it takes to run it. It was interesting how the different types of trees grew and how much they were worth. The beginning gives us a hint of a feud between two families that started a long time ago. A promise broken causes rift in the families and carries over from generation to generation.

Toni is a great character with steadfast faith that helps her in her daily walk. She has her hands full running the tree farm, raising two boys and trying to figure out who is trying to sabotage her livelihood. I was so intrigued by the fires being set and who was behind it. Who is trying to ruin Toni’s business? Will she be able to keep her family safe?

Sam was my favorite character because his job was so intense yet he was able to keep calm during every challenge. He is determined to find out who is behind the danger around Toni, but will it cost him his life? I appreciate the research done to make Sam’s job more realistic. Just when I think I have the story figured out more suspects pop up.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Wisconsin resident Rebecca McLafferty began her writing career by co-creating a writers’ group and hosting writing conferences on her alpaca farm. Married for 51 years, mother of two, grandmother to five, and an Aussiedoodle mom, Rebecca cherishes writing, reading, and fellowshipping. Author of Intentional Fires, Intentional Heirs, and Devotions for Country Living: Prayer-Enriched Fields, she loves getting to know readers.

More from Rebecca

There is a saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Rebecca McLafferty totally agrees!

Rebecca is the author of the Sunrise Crik Series, which consists of action-packed romantic suspense novels set in current-day Montana. She and her husband have vacationed and explored the Livingston to Bozeman area where this series takes place. The town of Woodridge is fictious, but a number of area establishments mentioned within her stories are real.

The phrase “The Big Sky” was coined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author A.B. Guthrie in his 1947 novel of that name. In addition to the obvious vision of unobstructed sky, Big Sky Country—to Rebecca—represents big dreams and big faith. It symbolizes the backbone of Montana!

Are you wondering how Rebecca can authentically write about growing Christmas trees? It’s because she and her husband owned Country Memories Farm in Wisconsin where they raised alpacas, and planted and grew Christmas trees! She also operated Country Memories Mercantile (now downsized to an online store). Their love of educating others evolved into an operation that hosted school, family, and community events. That’s why she loves to interact personally with people from all walks of life!

And are you wondering how Rebecca knows about police department operations—even drug smugglers? She worked for a tourist-town’s police department—a fascinating place to get ideas!

Rebecca admits to having worked dozens of unusual jobs (great discussion material for another time). She wondered why she experienced such diverse occupations before God revealed to her that she needed authenticity for her novel writing. What she hasn’t experienced herself, she has visited or thoroughly researched.

The title, Intentional Fires implies forest fires. That’s obvious. But there are other types of fires that burn intentionally. Internal fires can sustain a 90-year feud and lifetimes of unforgiveness, resentment, and broken dreams. Do you suffer from an internal fire?

Whether you live in Montana or dream of visiting the west . . .
Whether you have an entrepreneurial spirit that wants you to succeed . . .
Whether you want to fall in love, rekindle your faith, or root for an underdog . . .

Come and experience the heartfelt struggles that Montanans fight with all their might to protect.