~ Breaking News What a summer I've had! Since before Memorial Day I've been in our California home all of 3 days. In June and July I embarked on the Thriller Tour with fellow B&H authors Jim Rubart, Robin Caroll, and Tosca Lee. We started in St. Louis and eventually wound up in New York City. I had a wonderful time meeting readers, who drove as long as two hours one way to attend the signings. View the 50 photos of the Thriller Tour here in my Facebook album. Also this summer: our annual July 4th bash with lots of guests at our Idaho home, a family reunion in Kentucky, and the annual authors' retreat at our Idaho home. Somewhere in the mix was the ChiLibris retreat (which I attended only for a few hours due to book signings), ICRS, and a business trip with hubby to Sun Mountain Resort in Washington State. Before leaving on the tour I turned in the manuscript for Over the Edge, my novel about Lyme Disease. Over the Edge will release in May of 2011—during Lyme Awareness month. The book is another Seatbelt Suspense® story, this one interwoven with information about Lyme Disease and the "Lyme wars" in the medical community, pitting doctors who won't treat the disease long term against patients who desperately need help. I'm already excited about the release of this novel. For incredible stories of people fighting Lyme, check out my new blog Lyme-Over the Edge. A final bit of fun news: Two of my novels are finalists for this year's ACFW Carol Awards (formerly called the Book of the year Award): Exposure in the suspense category, and Always Watching (co-written with my daughter, Amberly) in the young adult category. Winners will be announced at the awards banquet in Indianapolis on September 19.

~ A Novel Gift ~

Visit your local Christian bookstore after reading this newsletter. What books of mine do you see on the shelf? Of all my books that you've read, which one did you enjoy the most—and why? To qualify you must include your name and address as well as the name and address of the Christian bookstore you visit. Please e-mail your answers to my assistant. Don’t hesitate to enter the contest if it takes you a number of days to get to the store. Winning responses often don’t come in immediately. (This contest is open to those who reside in the continental United States and Canada and who have not won in the past six months.)

~ Facts on Fiction ~

Contemporary

Never Without Hope by Michelle Sutton (Sword of the Spirit Publishing)

Sacred Vows series #1. Hope believes she is above sexual temptation; that she would never break that commandment like her husband's previous wives had done. She has no reason to stray ... until her husband starts neglecting her needs and things begin to look hopeless. Though she clearly communicates her pain to her husband, he refuses to get help. She starts to wonder … Will she never have sex with her husband again? She soon learns that she, too, is capable of such betrayal when she succumbs to the unthinkable. But things that first seemed sweet and reasonable given her painful situation soon produce a bitter taste when combined with the overwhelming guilt. No substitute will ever replace her love and desire for her husband. She misses him so much and wants to tell him the truth hoping it will propel him to do something to fix their problem, but she fears his rejection. Yet, she can't continue living such a hypocritical life. Steeped in the quagmire of adultery, Hope must find her way back to solid ground to save her marriage. But will she lose everyone she loves in the process?

Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky (Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishers, a division of Random House)

Marnie has her life just where she wants it.  At least that’s what she tells herself—her past is hidden, her regrets locked tightly in a box on her shelf, and her bookstore and coffee shop business is booming.  No one knows what she’s done, who she’s been.  That is, until the man she once loved finds her again and brings startling news—she’s now the guardian of her 15-year-old nephew, a boy she never knew existed.  And to make matters worse, when the boy arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome.  The past collides with the present, the box of regrets is exposed, and Marnie’s world shattered and rebuilt through the love of one special boy who makes all things new. 

Cozy Mystery

Missing Mabel by Nancy Mehl (Barbour Publishing)

"client" named Mabel, she realizes she's got the wrong body—and when she points this out to her employer, she's promptly accused of theft! What's going on—and where's the real Mabel?

Middle Grade

Rebecca & Heart by Deanna K. Klingel (Storyrealm.com)

 is considered "odd." Her mathematical mind doesn't like odd; she longs to be "even." When stray mutt Heart enters into her autistic realm she and he become an even two. Together they grow up in their private world, facing adventures and personal growth that puzzles the outside world, while creating a sense of peace and understanding for Rebecca and Heart.

Romance—Contemporary

Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson)

Nantucket Love Story series #4. Meridith can handle anything: guardianship of three distant siblings, a dilapidated bed-and-breakfast, even an ever-present handyman who's dismantling more than her fireplace—or can she? When the death of Meridith's estranged father leaves her with custody of three siblings she's never met, she reluctantly goes to Nantucket to care for them—but only until their uncle returns from his trip. Little does she know the uncle is already there under the guise of her friendly handyman, with plans of his own. Will the love that grows between them be strong enough to overcome the secrets that brought them both to Driftwood Lane?

Heart of a Cowboy by Margaret Daley (Steeple Hill Love Inspired)

Helping Hands Homeschooling Series #2. Ten years ago Jordan Masterson left her hometown, heartbroken—and pregnant. Now, yearning for connection with her family, the single mother returns to Tallgrass, Oklahoma. But she's shocked to find her son's father—unaware he has a child—a vital part of the community. Zachary Rutgers owns the ranch that the local homeschoolers use for riding and recreation. Which means little Nicholas, Jordan and Zachary will be sending a lot of time together. Jordan must tell Zachary the truth about their son—and ask for answers herself, hoping the heart of her cowboy will still be hers for the taking.

Love Remains by Kaye Dacus (Barbour Publishing)

The Matchmakers series #1. Every grandmother wants to see her grandchildren happy, especially when it comes to their love lives. Join five active senior ladies—and one gentleman—who take a great interest in the lives and loves of their single grandchildren and become The Matchmakers. Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the first focus of meddling grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Will Zarah be able to forgive the man who years ago chose a military career over her—especially when she learns he is investigating the historic preservation agency for which she works?

Refining Fires by Erin Rainwater (Torn Veil Books)

A disfigured veteran. A ruined nurse. A tormented child. A kept woman. Strangers whose paths cross, bringing redemption into each other’s lives in ways none of them could have predicted. Her career in ruins, a desperate nurse answers an ad to care for a disabled veteran. Disfigured in the war, the antisocial businessman can’t get his mind off the nurse he had tossed out of his home. A young child who never leaves the confines of her mountain home must make a  treacherous journey alone to save her mother’s life. A woman kept by men all her life learns through an old love that she has been kept all along by Someone else. Three parts. One amazing story.

The Way to a Man's Heart by Mary Elli (Harvest House Publishers)

The Miller Family series #3. Leah Miller, a talented young woman in the kitchen, is living her dream come true as she invests in a newly restored diner that caters mostly to locals. Jonah Byler is a dairy farmer with a secret. Having just moved to the area, can he persuade this quiet young woman to leave her adoring fans and cook only for him? Once she discovers what he has been hiding from others, can Leah trust Jonah with her heart? Working at the diner introduces Leah to both Amish and English patrons. Though maturing into womanhood, Rumschpringe holds little appeal to the gentle, shy girl who has never been the center of attention before. When three Amish men vie for her attention, competing with Jonah, Leah must find a way to understand the confusing new emotions swirling around her.

Romance—Historical

Doctor in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing)

Sophie's Daughters Series #1. A burned out doctor is called in because he's a man, while the town's lady doctor does all the work and keeps the doctor from cracking up. In the wake of a stagecoach accident, doctor Alex Buchanan and Beth McClellan—who no one will allow to be a doctor even though she'd trained, discover that they're both skilled healers who work well together. Other than that, they have nothing in common! She's an idealist and he's a jaded army deserter fleeing a bounty hunter. Are his demons and her dreams too deeply rooted for either of them to pay the price required to find true love?

Healer by Linda Windsor (David C. Cook)

Brides of Alba Trilogy #1. In the Scotland of the historically documented warlord Arthur and his merlin advisor comes the story of a family caught up in clan war for power and the tug-o-war between the early church and pagan culture for knowledge and souls. A mother's dying prophesy to her slayer, that her infant daughter will grow up to divide the enemy O'Byrne house and bring about a peace beyond his understanding, forces Brenna of Gowrys to live in hiding for twenty years. Yet Brenna is a healer, born of the line of Joseph of Arimathea, not the warrior her clan seeks to lead them against the O'Byrnes or the crazed wolf-woman her superstitious enemy seeks to destroy. When Brenna's wolf companion saves a stranger who was ambushed and left for dead, Brenna takes the gravely wounded man to her cave, even though it could cost her life. She has no choice. She's a healer. And perhaps, the stranger is the answer to this lonely woman's prayers. What she can not know is that this tormented man she saves was there as a child when her mother was slain and is her worst enemy. While Ronan O'Byrne is soon enchanted by Brenna's loving nature and unwavering faith and is heart-bound to protect her, will their forbidden love be enough to overcome twenty years of hatred and bloodshed when he can't even identify the enemy who wants him dead?

A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Bethany House Publishers)

Soon after enrolling in a 19th-century school for ranchers—and aspiring ranchers' wives—Tressa's convinced she'll never have what it takes to brand a calf, ride a horse, or "cook up a mess of grub." Kansas-born Abel Samms would have to agree—but there's something about Tressa that captures his attention anyway. Is she the partner he needs?

Hope's Promise by Tammy Barley (Whitaker House)

The Sierra Chronicles Trilogy #2. Jake Bennett is finally wed to the love of his life, Jessica Hale—but he isn’t convinced she won’t leave him. Life is a constant struggle for the Bennetts as they battle drought and live in fear of raids on Southerners, and he is not sure that Jess knew what she was getting herself into when she married him. Jess, however, despairs for another reason—she is unable to conceive a child. While trying to prove their unconditional love for each other, the Bennetts must defend against attacks on the Paiutes, the doubts that haunt them both, and an unknown force that threatens to destroy all they hold dear. Together, they must stand in faith through betrayal, barrenness, and a very real threat, trusting that God will reward their hopes for a better future.

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington  by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss (Summerside Press)

The war has stolen Rosalie’s fiancé, Vic, from her forever.  But rather than wallow, Rosalie distracts herself by cramming her days full of activity—mainly by shooting rivets into the B-17 bombers that will destroy the enemy. When a reporter dubs her “Seattle's Own Rosie the Riveter,” even more responsibility piles up. Her strong arms bear all this, but when intense feelings surface for Kenny, the handsome, kind-hearted, and spiritually unwavering reporter, the fear of losing another love propels Rosalie to leave. It’s only when Rosalie realizes that God has brought her to this place—and this person—for a reason, the sparkling grace of God compels her to let go of her own strength and lean on His, as well as open her heart to love.

Ransome's Crossing by Kaye Dacus (Harvest House Publishers)

The Ransome Trilogy #2. Charlotte Ransome, desperate to reach Jamaica to see her secret fiancé, disguises herself as a midshipman for a convoy led by her brother, Captain William Ransome. Meanwhile, William and his new bride, Julia, face the rough swells of the sea and of marriage as they try to adjust to life together. When yellow fever befalls Charlotte and her identity is discovered, she begs first officer, Ned Cochran, and Julia to keep her presence and illness from her brother. But could this secret create insurmountable waves between Julia and William? And will Ned’s tender care of Charlotte change the tide of her affections forever?

Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall (Barbour Publishing)

Surrender to Destiny series #1. On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must marry to unlock her inheritance. Without the money, her mother can’t receive medical care and her sister will be destitute. But when Noah walks out on their engagement party, Marianne chases him down and ends up on his merchantman out at sea. The situation worsens when Noah’s ship encounters a British man-of-war and the couple are impressed into the British navy. While a young lad’s prophecy looms over them both, Marianne and Noah are forced to face their darkest fears as they desperately try to find a way to escape and fulfill their destinies—destinies that could change the course of the war and history forever.

The Gunsmith's Gallantry by Susan Page Davis (Barbour)

The Ladies' Shooting Club series #2. The shy gunsmith has problems—women problems! Hiram Dooley’s sister Gert is about to leave him to get married—if Sheriff Ethan Chapman would ever propose; his sister-in-law, Rose, thinks Hiram should marry her, since they’re both widowed; and the woman he truly loves, Libby Adams, is blind to his regard. Schoolmarm Isabel Fennel has a different problem—a man claiming to be her uncle came to town … and then disappeared. She’s afraid her father may have killed him and buried him behind the barn. Hiram helps the sheriff end a brawl at Bitsy Shepard’s saloon, and a mysterious stranger claims to be heir to a mining claim. The mayhem continues when Cyrus Fennel shows up with a black eye and tries to sell his land. Can Hiram and the sheriff, along with Libby and the other members of the Ladies’ Shooting Club, discover what’s behind the mysterious events in Fergus? Will the uproar derail Hiram and Libby’s blooming romance, or can the Ladies’ Shooting Club save the day once again?

Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon (Revell Publishing)

Alaskan Skies series #1. She went looking for adventure … and found more than she bargained for. Kate Evans is an adventurous and independent young woman with a pioneering spirit. When she leaves her home in Washington State to follow her dream of being an Alaskan bush pilot, she knows it will be an uphill battle. But she never expected it to be quite like this. As the lone woman in a man’s world, she finds that contending with people’s expectations is almost as treacherous as navigating the wild arctic storms. When she crosses paths with a mysterious man living alone in the forbidding wilderness, she faces a new challenge. Can Kate break through the walls he has put up around his heart? And will fear keep her from realizing her dreams?

Twilight's Serenade by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House Publishers

Britta Lindquist left Sitka six years ago in an attempt to distance herself from the love of her life, Yuri Belikov. Upon her return, she finds Yuri absent and his wife about to deliver a child. When tragic circumstances ensue, Britta suddenly finds herself caring for Yuri's children—and her life intertwining with the man she's tried so hard to forget. But Britta's other great love is for the violin, and her talent is recognized by Brenton Maltese, a conductor from England. He proposes she accept the coveted first chair position in his orchestra ... and also his hand in marriage. At a crossroads, Britta must determine what her heart truly longs fo—and if she's willing to fight for it.

Suspense—Historical

The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis (Summerside)

Emma Shuster’s father is murdered, leaving his secret encryption project unfinished. Since she worked with him, the navy offers her the position they’d hoped her father would fill—breaking ciphers. It’s 1915, and saboteurs are doing their best to keep America out of the Great War by bombing ships and factories and fomenting unrest among workers. Can Emma discover their plans and unmask their leader? Adventure and romance beckon as she joins a band of cryptographers trying to stop their enemies within the United States. 

Suspense/Thriller

Deceit by Brandilyn Collins (Zondervan)

Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed Linda—his second wife and Joanne's best friend—six years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man. Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down, no matter what the police say. Using her skills as a professional skip tracer, she sets out to locate the only person who can put Jackson behind bars. Melissa Harkoff was a traumatized sixteen-year-old foster child in the Jackson household when Linda disappeared. At the time Melissa claimed to know nothing of Linda's whereabouts ... but was she lying? In relentless style, Deceit careens between Joanne's pursuit of the truth and the events of six years past, when Melissa came to live with the Jacksons. What really happened in that household? Beneath the veneer of perfection lies a story of shakable faith, choices, and the lure of deceit.

Nightshade by Ronie Kendig (Barbour)

Discarded Heroes series #1. This former Navy SEAL is fighting a new battle—the home front. Soldiers all across the globe are returning home to their families after brutal tours of duty. They are discharged from the service ... and on their own. Meet Max Jacobs, one of these discarded heroes, as he faces a wall of failure—in his career, his friendships, and his marriage. Failing again—this time to end his life—he is offered a thread of hope. Are covert government operations the answer for him, or will they only bring more danger and dissension upon his broken family?

Young Adult

Katy's Debate by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Zondervan)

Katy Lambright series #2. Just as Katy is feeling settled in her new school, everything falls apart at home. Her father, believing she needs a mother, starts courting a woman Katy refuses to accept. Tensions rise as Katy schemes to send the woman packing. Meanwhile, the pressure builds at school as Katy joins the debate team, encounters a teammate's scorn, and faces her growing feelings for a boy her father will never accept. Can Katy prove she doesn't need a mother's guidance even as she discovers more of what the world offers?

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BRANDILYN
Seatbelt Suspense®
www.brandilyncollins.com
www.forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com
http://lyme-overtheedge.blogspot.com