Heartsong Presents: August new releases

July 30, 2013July 24, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

Narelle here. My first fiction book release with Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents line, Falling for the Farmer, is scheduled for February 2014. On the last Tuesday of each month, I’m posting information on the new Heartsong Presents releases for the following month.

Harlequin publishes four Heartsong Presents books each month: two contemporary inspirational romances and two historical inspirational romances. They also publish the Love Inspired books, including contemporary romance (Love Inspired), historical romance (Love Inspired Historical) and romantic suspense (Love Inspired Suspense).

International readers outside the USA and Canada can purchase the print books online from Amazon and The Book Depository (free international shipping). If you’re looking for inspirational (Christian) romances to read, please check out the Heartsong Presents and Love Inspired books.

Megan Conley can’t believe her eyes.

That handsome man who keeps popping up all over town looks a lot like her boyfriend, Michael. But Megan hasn’t seen him since he vanished unexpectedly, leaving her searching for answers. Turns out the stranger is Michael’s cousin, Noah, and he seems to have her best interests at heart. Could Noah help explain Michael’s absence?

Noah can’t deny his attraction to Megan. But he made a promise to his cousin, and he’s a man of his word. He’ll help her move on with her life—but he can go no further. Unless the key he holds to Michael’s disappearance is also the key to Megan’s heart…

Read Lessons in Love excerpt at Amazon.com

Laura Bell is home for good.

Twelve years ago she left her home behind—but she could never forget the boy next door. Now, hurting from a broken engagement and fed up with city life, Laura returns to her family’s ranch. But her homecoming is bittersweet. Twelve years apart has changed Eli Hawthorne. Yet the bond they once shared has only deepened with time.

Eli never gave up hoping that someday Laura would return to their small ranching town in the California foothills. But the battle-scarred soldier is a world away from the carefree boy he once was. And Laura has her own wounds to heal. Together they just might fill the empty places in their hearts and find the love of a lifetime.

Read The Rancher’s Second Chance excerpt at Amazon.com

Lady Winter Renton will marry only for love.

As the sole heir of her family’s country estate, Lady Winter is plagued by greedy aristocrats looking for a marriage of convenience. Perfectly capable of running the estate after her father’s death, she is infuriated by their scandalous proposals. She wants more than a heartless merging of property and bloodlines. Until she meets true love, Winter vows to carry on alone.

Winter’s appointed guardian, the dashing Earl of Alistair, is intrigued by his lovely young ward, and whisks her to London for a season of elegant balls and lavish soirees. As his admiration for her turns to love, Lord Alistair finds himself ensnared in rumors of political conspiracy and social scandal. Can Lady Winter trust in Lord Alistair’s love, and have faith that God has a plan for the two of them—together?

Read A Proper Guardian excerpt at Amazon.com

Jared Callahan’s mysterious bride.

Rancher Jared Callahan eagerly awaited the arrival of his mail-order bride. But instead of the kindhearted woman who wrote about escaping her constrained city life, the beauty who arrived in his remote frontier town couldn’t remember anything. Not him, not their long-distance courtship, not even her own name. What is he going to do with this petite spitfire?

Dazed and confused from a railway accident, Rebecca Layne finds herself saying “I do” to the handsome stranger who claims to be her betrothed. But as feelings for Jared blossom, the mysteries of her past threaten to unravel her life at the seams. Only when the truth is finally revealed can this marriage of convenience ever become a true union of love.

Read The Substitute Bride excerpt at Amazon.com

NARELLE ATKINS writes contemporary inspirational romance and lives in Canberra, Australia. She sold her debut novel, set in Australia, to Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents line in a six-book contract. Her first book, Falling for the Farmer, will be a February 2014 release. http://www.narelleatkins.com Narelle is a co-founder of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA) http://www.acrba.blogspot.com

ACRBA Tour No Substitute by Susan Diane Johnson

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

1 – 5 July

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

No Substitute

(Pelican Book Group, November 30, 2012)

Susan Diane Johnson

The Book Depository

About the Author:

Susan Diane Johnson aka Suzie Johnson

I live on an island in Northwest Washington. A writer of Christian Fiction, my debut novel, No Substitute, is now available from Pelican Book Groups. During the day I work at my local hospital as a cancer registrar. During the evenings and on weekends, I write novels that I hope will bring joy and uplift the hearts of readers. I am married and have one grown son. I love to travel and see new places – especially by train. My favorite destinations are Victoria, B.C.; Williamsburg, Virginia; Disneyland; and Avila Beach in California. I love to read, write, go to baseball games, and ride roller coasters with my son. I am a member of American Christian Fiction Writers; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope and Love; National Cancer Registrars Association; and Washington State Tumor Registrars Association. You can find me on Inkwell Inspirations, a daily Christian Women’s blog where I am a regular contributor. You can also find me on my personal blog, Suzie’s Writing Place where I share my faith, my writing, and my love for books. I’m also on Facebook and Pinterest where I can explore my love of beautiful historical clothing, the South of France, beaches, and certain television shows.

About the book:

Amy Welsh knew when she came back to the small Washington town of Goose Bay she’d eventually run into her high school sweetheart—the one who broke her heart seventeen years ago. Only Quentin Macmillan isn’t the boy she remembered. He could potentially be everything she’s ever dreamed of. But remembering the past reminds Amy that she and Quentin aren’t a pair of teenagers in the bloom of first love. Letting him into her life resurfaces all the hurt she’s tried to ignore. Forgiveness isn’t as simple—or easy—as it sounds, especially after Quentin and Amy discover his teenage daughter has been manipulating their feelings. If Amy can open her heart to healing, she’ll find the future God prepared for her.

Narelle: I loved reading No Substitute and my book recommendation from December 6, 2012 can be found at the following link.
https://30minutebiblestudies.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/book-recommendation-no-substitute-by-susan-diane-johnson/

Heartsong Presents: July new releases

June 25, 2013June 24, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

Juan Antonio has a problem.

Juan Antonio Fuentes wants to sell his father’s mango plantation. But before he can leave Mexico and head back to the U.S., he has to bring in a good crop. And that calls for the best fruit inspector in the region. But when a beautiful woman sets foot on his land, his life and his heart are turned upside down.

Dealing with difficult men is all in a day’s work for Carina Garza. But she’s never met anyone like Antonio before. He’s both strong and sweet, and soon she’s falling head over heels for the handsome plantation owner. When he proposes marriage to her—with the condition she never work again—Carina is stunned. Can this modern woman earn both love and respect from her traditional man?

Read The Marriage Ultimatum excerpt at Amazon.com

Natalie Wentworth’s past is about to catch up with her.

Natalie once dreamed of finding true love. Then Lane Gray broke her heart. After running wild to fill the emptiness inside her, she heads back to her hometown to heal. But when she sees the cowboy she once loved so much, she finds him hard to resist.

Lane Gray is a changed man. The handsome cowboy wants Natalie’s forgiveness—and more. Natalie has made plenty of mistakes in her life, but so has Lane. Could falling for each other again be the worst one yet? Or the path to redemption?

Read Rodeo Regrets excerpt at Amazon.com

Marie Bolden might be learning more than she’s teaching.

Wealthy, privileged Marie Bolden lives a life of comfort. So her father can’t understand why she’d leave her family in North Carolina to teach in a one-room schoolhouse. After all, there couldn’t possibly be anything to capture her interest in isolated Cades Cove, Tennessee. Except for the mysterious Daniel Watson.

Daniel is a jack-of-all-trades. He’s a farmer, a rancher—and possibly a moonshiner. But he is not a believer. And that makes him the wrong man for Marie. Yet their affection for each other cannot be denied. When Marie is suddenly kidnapped, Daniel must turn to God for help before he loses the only love he’s ever known.

Read A Love to Treasure excerpt at Amazon.com

Tabitha is in search of adventure.

Tabitha McClelland knows accepting a job as a Harvey House waitress can be risky. Traveling alone to the rough-and-tumble West just isn’t done by young ladies of good breeding. But far more dangerous is her powerful attraction to Adam Foster. Family means everything to the widowed chef, but the self-sufficient Tabitha cherishes her freedom above all else.

Adam is captivated by the fiercely independent Tabitha. Fraternizing with the female employees is strictly forbidden, but the Harvey Girl awakens feelings too compelling to ignore. Can Adam convince Tabby to share his dream of a future in California—together?

Read Cooking Up Love excerpt at Amazon.com

Narelle is a co-founder of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA) http://www.acrba.blogspot.com

Heartsong Presents: June new releases

May 28, 2013June 24, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

Narelle here. My first fiction book release with Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents line is scheduled for February 2014. On the last Tuesday of each month, I’m posting information on the new Heartsong Presents releases for the following month.

Matchmaking is not in Courtney’s job description

As assistant to a famous actress, Courtney is used to fulfilling ridiculous requests. Then her boss demands a date with handsome cowboy Adam Greene while on location in Montana. Delivering up Adam just doesn’t seem right. Especially since Courtney’s got her eye on him, too.

Adam’s not interested in high-maintenance actresses. But he can’t deny his attraction to sweet, fresh-faced Courtney. How can a small-town guy compete with glitz and glamour? Leave it to a cowboy to wrangle himself a Hollywood ending….

Read Lights, Cowboy, Action excerpt at Amazon.com

Josiah has a secret on his hands

When Josiah Byrd opens a thirty-year-old letter addressed to his late father, his world is shaken. He’s determined to leave the truth firmly in the past—where it belongs. But he can’t do it without the help of the beautiful young woman who mailed the letter.

Leah Wright made a huge mistake. Yes, he mailed the letter, but she never meant to hurt anyone. And now she’s promised Josiah that she’ll do whatever it takes to make things right. But the more they try to ignore the past, the more they realize that love just might be the remedy that heals old wounds and unites two families.

Read Unintentionally Yours excerpt at Amazon.com

A Soldier’s Protection

When Roman commander Lucius Tindarium finds an injured woman in the desert outside Jerusalem, he rescues her and offers her a safe haven at his mother’s home. Something about the lovely and mysterious Anna touches a chord deep inside him. But how will he safeguard his heart from the truth of her painful past?

Fleeing a cruel father and an unwanted marriage, Anna is extremely grateful to the powerful warrior who saved her life. Though she knows she can never have a future with a man who’s not a believer, she cares for him deeply. Can Anna make this hardened Roman soldier believe that their love can overcome all?

Read Love’s Pardon excerpt at Amazon.com

Everyone knows Olivia Shepherd loves Charles Waverly

It’s as plain as the aroma of peach pie in the kitchen of the Quincy School. The only person who doesn’t seem to notice is Charles. For years, Olivia has been his friend and confidante, hoping one day he would return her love. She never expected that tragedy would bring them together.

After his marriage proposal is rejected by Helen, Charles is eager for a fresh start. As he and Olivia spend more time together, he starts feeling more than friendship for the lovely pastor’s daughter. When a forest fire threatens everyone in the school, will Charles come to the rescue—and admit his love—before it’s too late?

Read A Touch of Autumn excerpt at Amazon.com

NARELLE ATKINS writes contemporary inspirational romance and lives in Canberra, Australia. She sold her debut novel, set in Australia, to Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents line in a six-book contract. Her first book, tentatively titled Falling for the Farmer, will be a February 2014 release. http://www.narelleatkins.com

Narelle is a co-founder of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA) http://www.acrba.blogspot.com

Heartsong Presents: May new releases

April 30, 2013June 24, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

Jennifer Edwards is back home again…

When she traded small-town life for the bright lights of Chicago, Jennifer Edwards yearned to discover a world beyond Faith, South Dakota. So when her father’s illness calls her home to run their cattle ranch, she tells herself it’s temporary. Then why is she even thinking about a future with archaeology professor Brett Lange—the boy she left behind—whose life’s work is digging up the past?

Twelve years ago, Brett had a crush on Jennifer the size of the T. rex that put his hometown on the map. Now she’s a citified magazine editor who prefers designer duds to dungarees. Except that’s not the real Jennifer. Brett needs to make her see how a little faith can go a long way in uniting two perfectly in-sync hearts.

Read Wedding on the Rocks excerpt at Amazon.com

The Bride’s Second Chance

Two years ago, Olivia Shea was trying on her wedding gown, dreaming of marriage and motherhood. But her fisherman fiancé was lost at sea and Olivia fled, unable to stay in the New England fishing village. Now she’s back in Fairport, determined to face her fears by working on a whale boat tour. But the charter’s captain is the sole survivor of her fiancé’s ill-fated voyage—a man of danger and memories.

Jonathan Barrotta’s scars from the night he nearly died run as deep as the vast Atlantic. To prove himself and to honor his friend’s memory, he vows to fulfill his dream of piloting his own boat. But a life at sea means a life without Olivia—the woman he’s always secretly loved. How can he ask her to be a fisherman’s wife? Only with the Lord guiding their way will Jonathan and Olivia chart a course toward home—together.

Read Love’s Stormy Gale excerpt at Amazon.com

Mary Anne is on the run.

Her father’s been murdered, and now the mob’s after her, too. Leaving New York City behind is the only way to stay alive. Yet Mary Anne Lamont finds herself stuck in Maple Notch, Vermont, when her car crashes straight into Wallace Tuttle’s truck. Wallace and his family offer her warmth and welcome, no questions asked. But she doesn’t dare give them her real name—not without risking their safety too.

At first, Wallace chides himself for being distracted by the glamorous flapper. Mary Anne certainly doesn’t fit his image of a future wife. But underneath the bleached bob and big-city ways is a courageous, caring woman. When the danger she’s been running from draws close, Wallace must risk everything to prove his faith in Mary Anne, in God’s plan, and the dreams they’ve come to share.

Read Hidden Dreams excerpt at Amazon.com

Abby’s all grown up. She just needs Will to notice.

When WWII soldier Will Judge brings home an orphan boy from Europe, it turns his world upside down. His fiancée might be ready to marry him, but not to mother a war orphan. As Will struggles to figure out his next move, he turns to Abby, his childhood friend.

Since they were teenagers, Abby Richardson’s feelings for Will have always been more than friendly. Once she was willing to be his pen pal and his confidante, listening as he poured out his heart. But now Abby wants so much more: to be part of Will’s ready-made family. What will it take to open Will’s eyes—and his heart?

Read Always, Abby excerpt at Amazon.com

Narelle is a co-founder of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA) http://www.acrba.blogspot.com

Book Recommendation: Her Minnesota Man by Brenda Coulter

April 16, 2013April 9, 2013 / Narelle Atkins / 2 Comments

Back Cover blurb:

A HEARTWARMING CHRISTIAN ROMANCE NOVEL

Rock star Jackson Bell has just given his heart to God. Resolved to abandon his wicked lifestyle and eager for instruction in Christian living, he heads home to Owatonna, Minnesota and the girl-next-door he’s secretly loved for years. Dismayed to find Laney Ryland in the midst of a faith crisis, “Jeb” quickly formulates a plan: He’ll help Laney get her faith back, and then he’ll find her a good Christian man to marry so she can get started on that big family she longs for.

It won’t be easy, watching another man slide a ring onto Laney’s finger. But she deserves only the best, and Jeb means to see that she gets it. Now if only her great-aunts, those pesky 79-year-old matchmaking triplets known as the Three Graces, will just stay out of his way . . . .

Narelle: I really enjoyed reading this book. Jeb and Laney were fascinating characters with a complex history that set the stage for a compelling romance. Jeb’s desire to turn his back on his old rock star lifestyle and learn how to live according to his new found faith was both realistic and endearing. Laney was juggling the many responsibilities in her life, and struggling with her faith and her inability to meet ‘Mr. Right.’

I loved journeying with Jeb and Laney as their unique friendship became something more. The ‘Three Graces’ were adorable and interesting characters who added many moments of humour to the story. I highly recommend this book to those interested in reading a fun and inspiring contemporary romance.

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com

Available in multiple electronic formats from Smashwords.com

Heartsong Presents: April new releases

March 26, 2013June 24, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

Symon Sinclair grew up in the caretaker’s cottage.

Now a successful writer in New York, he’s returned home to Savannah to thank his mentor, Miss B, for all her support. But it’s her niece Annabelle who greets him at the door. Symon remembers the little rich girl who never gave him a moment’s notice. Now she’s a beauty who has more depth than he’d ever imagined. As they spend time together, Symon begins to question his attitude toward life—and Annabelle.

Former beauty queen Annabelle Yarwood had her life all planned out—until she came face-to-face with the caretaker’s son. Suddenly those plans seem stifling. Just as Annabelle begins letting Symon into her heart, she discovers he’s been keeping a secret about his life in New York. Has their love story ended before it’s even begun?

Read The Caretaker’s Son excerpt at Amazon.com

Does Callie have a second chance at love?

Callie Dawson has spent the past five years caring for her terminally ill parents and working as a hospice nurse, and now her small-town roots have called her home to Tennessee. Used to healing others, she needs to make peace with God…and start over. But first she has to face the past. A terrible misunderstanding separated her from Kirk Jacobs, the rancher she once loved with all her heart. Is this her chance to make things right?

Kirk can’t believe Callie’s back—working at his family’s B and B and rekindling powerful feelings. The rancher knows he should take things slowly, but his heart tells him something else…. And when a devastating diagnosis threatens their newfound bond, Kirk has to show Callie that he’ll always be there for her. Because he can’t lose her a second time.

Read A Heart Healed excerpt at Amazon.com

Adrella always noticed him

Everyone took notice of the handsome lighthouse keeper when he visited the mainland. Especially shopkeeper’s daughter Adrella Murphy. But the enigmatic man never said a word to anyone. When Adrella is stranded with him on an isolated island during a storm, will she give up her dreams of true love and marry him to save her reputation?

As a doctor in the Civil War, Dathan Adams saw too much suffering, and he withdrew from the world to his beloved lighthouse. Now a hurricane forces a spirited Irish lass into his care. To stay alive, he must set aside his solitude and work side by side with Adrella. When her strength and faith erode his defenses, a tragedy might just yield unexpected love.

Read There’s Always Tomorrow excerpt at Amazon.com

She has the perfect life…or so she thought

Barbara Richardson is living a charmed life. Perfect family, beautiful voice, wealthy fiancé. But when she realizes her soon-to-be husband only values her for her pretty face, her life is suddenly in turmoil. Then a handsome young man comes to her rescue when she’s stranded in a storm on Christmas Eve. And the world suddenly seems full of possibilities….

Unlike her former fiancé, Jackson Judge loves Barbara for everything she is, inside and out. But how could so lovely and talented a woman ever love a scarred monster like him? All he can see, shut away in his room, are his wounds from Pearl Harbor. Jackson finds himself questioning God’s plan, but Barbara knows real love looks deeper than beauty or scars. Eyes of love see straight to the heart.

Read With Eyes of Love excerpt at Amazon.com

NARELLE ATKINS writes contemporary inspirational romance and lives in Canberra, Australia. She recently sold her debut novel, set in Australia, to Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents line in a six-book contract. Her first book, Falling for the Farmer, will be a February 2014 release. http://www.narelleatkins.com

Narelle is a co-founder of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA) http://www.acrba.blogspot.com

My first fiction book contract

February 26, 2013February 26, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

by Narelle Atkins

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve signed a six book contract with Harlequin Heartsong Presents. The contract is for two 3-book series of contemporary inspirational romances set in Australia.

The first series is set in a fictitious small town near the Snowy Mountains. Book 1, currently titled Running to Love, is a runaway bride story scheduled for release in North America in February 2014.

The second series is set in Sydney. Book 1 of this series is the book I initially sold in September last year. I’ll post more information about my upcoming book releases over the coming months.

Book Recommendation: A New Resolution by Rose Dee

January 15, 2013January 9, 2013 / Narelle Atkins

Back Cover Blurb:

Resolution Island is a safe haven for Anika Deumer. A chance to fulfill dreams, find her place in the world, and a new life for her and young son, Kye. But her dreams of a future are shattered when her son’s security is challenged, and the rich and privileged Texan, Nate, sails into the bay. Now Ani must not only fight for her son, but also a growing attraction she has to the one type of man she loathes.

Nate Hollingsworth is on a mission. He needs to fulfill his mother’s last wish and change his life. Dropping anchor in the idyllic Resolution harbour, he didn’t anticipate becoming involved in illegal fishing, a murder or an unexpected attraction to the most exasperating woman he has ever met.

The Australian tropical Island, Resolution, sets the scene again for adventures, dreams and new beginnings. A New Resolution is the final book in the Resolution trilogy, following Back to Resolution and Beyond Resolution.

Narelle: I enjoyed reading this book. Anika (Ani) is a fascinating character with an indigenous islander heritage. She lacked parental guidance as a youngster and was rescued by distant relatives, Aunty and Uncle. Starved for love, Ani made a decision that changed the direction of her life.

Nate has lived a life of privilege in Texas and his decisions follow in the pleasure seeking footsteps of his father. His mother’s untimely death sends him on a sailing adventure to far North Queensland.

The first third of the book provides the lead up to Ani and Nate’s first meeting at Resolution, which I would have liked to have seen happen earlier in the story. The sparks fly when they finally meet and a fun romance develops along with a mystery surrounding the source of the illegal fishing on nearby islands.

Ani and Nate discover their faith during the story and they have both experienced intimate relationships with previous partners. This aspect of their lives is explored in a realistic manner in the story. The level of sensuality is higher than the typical Christian romance and includes a bikini top wardrobe malfunction scene that could potentially offend some readers.

The story portrays the very real challenges facing those who seek to uphold Biblical standards of purity outside of marriage. It doesn’t sugar coat the struggles facing people who are not used to suppressing their lustful desires.

I recommend A New Resolution to those looking for a realistic and edgy contemporary romance set in an Aussie tropical island paradise.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com

Book Recommendation: No Substitute by Susan Diane Johnson

December 6, 2012December 6, 2012 / Narelle Atkins / 2 Comments

Back cover blurb:

First loves never last . . . except when they do. When Amy Welsh returns to Goose Bay as a substitute teacher, she has no intention of seeing Quentin Macmillan, the man who once left her waiting in the rain clutching her suitcase and dreaming of becoming his wife. Seventeen years later, his teenage daughter shows up in Amy’s class with plans to reunite her widowed father with the woman he has always loved. When the assignment is forgiveness and healing, will this young teacher pass the test?

Narelle: I’ve squeezed in an extra fiction book recommendation this week because I’m delighted that my dear friend, Suzie Johnson, is celebrating the release of her debut novel. Suzie is also one of my critique partners and it’s wonderful to finally see No Substitute in print.

I really enjoyed reading No Substitute, a fun and light hearted reunion romance between childhood sweethearts Amy and Quentin. Amy returns to Goose Bay, hoping to get past her teenage infatuation with Quentin once and for all. She never knew the real reason why their teen romance ended and Quentin married someone else so soon after she left town. Quentin’s teenage daughter is in Amy’s class, and she sets in motion a plan to push her father and Amy together.

Amy and Quentin are fascinating characters who deal with situations that challenge their faith. Amy grows in her faith as she rediscovers Goose Bay and her love for Quentin. He is a lovable hero who is doing his best to raise his teen daughter on his own. We see Quentin’s faith in action and his willingness to forgive in difficult and challenging situations. A very cute duck named Rufus also features in the story, set in Washington State. I highly recommend this book to those looking for an entertaining and inspiring Christian romance with a forgiveness theme.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com