Coming in 2012 from Guideposts & Summerside Press

It's been a bit quiet here the last few days!  I've been caught up with my eldest's 14th birthday, work Christmas functions and no doubt, as Christmas approaches posting will be sporadic.  That said, I couldn't help but share with you some more sneak peeks!

Late last year Guideposts acquired Summerside Press and together they are continuing to release a range of titles to appeal to their readers.

Enjoy checking out these 2012 releases ~ any catch your eye?  Love the cover of Baroness, A Sweethaven Summer and Wedding Belles are cute, the others just the usual fare for me.

A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh

Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother’s history. Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter wrote letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne’s three friends—Lila, Jane, and Meghan—haven’t spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne’s letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers.

With the help of a handsome local man and her mother’s three friends, Campbell hopes to finally uncover her mother’s twenty-five-year old secret. In the process, she discovers a family she never knew and the friendships she’s always wanted.

As the women reconnect over the pages of the old scrapbook, wounds are mended, lives are changed, and friendships are restored—just as Suzanne intended.

COURTNEY WALSH is a freelance writer and author of two craft books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. A Sweethaven Summer is her debut novel.

February 1, 2012 ~ Guideposts Books

Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota by Tracey Bateman

Rosemary Jackson has traveled all the way to the frozen tundra of North Dakota territory to visit her twin sister, Rachel. It’s been three long years since Rachel left Kansas with her new husband for this wild place. But Rosemary arrives to find only a grave, a grieving brother-in-law, and an underfed baby. She has no choice but to stay and see her sister’s family through the long winter.

Finn Tate has just buried his beloved wife, and he cannot seem to take care of himself or his infant daughter. He needs help. But he cannot stand the sight of Rosemary, who reminds him so much of Rachel, standing at his cook stove.

When Rosemary settles into a neighboring homestead, Finn realizes she is far more strong-willed than he ever anticipated. But after a series of mishaps on Rosemary’s property threaten her livelihood, it becomes clear that Finn is not the only one who wants her to go back to Kansas.

When the wildflowers arrive with the spring, will Rosemary be forced to leave everything she’s come to love in Wildrose, North Dakota?

TRACEY BATEMAN is the award-winning author of more than thirty titles and has nearly a million books in print. She lives in Missouri with her husband and four children, where she is active in music ministry at her church. Read more at traceybateman.com. 

February 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Love Finds You in New Orleans, Louisiana by Christa Allan

1841—Ever since her parents died of yellow fever when she was a child, Charotte LeClerc has lived with her grandparents, who rarely speak of their son and his wife. They are on the verge of negotiating a marriage contract with a suitor, a man Charlotte dreads, when they discover that she enjoys the company of Gabriel Girod, a young Creole man.

Charlotte’s future hangs in the balance as her grandparents consider whether to stop keeping secrets and reveal the truth that they’ve known since before her birth—a truth that will make the difference between a life of obligation and a life of choice for Charlotte.

CHRISTA ALLAN is the author of two acclaimed novels. A former high school English teacher, Christa was born in New Orleans and has lived in Louisiana for most of her adult life. She and her husband have five grown children and three grandchildren. Read more at christaallan.com

February 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Baroness by Susan May Warren

Coming of age in the turbulent Roaring Twenties, two daughters of fortune can have anything they possibly want—except freedom. Expected to marry well and take the reins of the family empire, Lilly and Rosie have their entire lives planned out for them. But Lilly longs to flee the confines of New York City for the untamed wilds of Montana. Her cousin Rosie dreams of the bright lights of the newly emerging silver screen. But following their dreams—to avant-garde France, to dazzling Broadway, to the skies of the fearless wing walkers—will demand all their courage.

When forced to decide, will Lilly and Rosie really be able to abandon lives of ease and luxury for the love and adventure that beckons? At what cost will each daughter of empire find her happy ending?

SUSAN MAY WARREN is the best-selling author of more than thirty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have earned her acclaim from readers and reviewers alike. She is a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the RITA Award, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award and a nominee for the Christy Award. She is the founder of My Book Therapy, a community that helps other writers find their voices. Susan and her husband have four children and live in a small Minnesota town on the shore of beautiful Lake Superior. Read more at susanmaywarren.com.

March 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Tales from Grace Chapel Inn: Prayers and Pawprints by Diann Hunt

When two very special dogs descend on Acorn Hill, Alice wonders, Could a dog be an answer to prayer? Alice’s prayer is for Paula Middleton, a new resident who lives alone and suffers from seizures. After Paula is injured in a fall, Alice determines the town must do something for the young woman—and a service dog may be just the thing. But will the church board approve the expense? In the meantime, who owns the mysterious black dog that’s been watching over the citizens of Acorn Hill like a guardian angel?

DIANN HUNT began writing after her children left home and published her first novel in 2001. She has since published more than a dozen books. Diann and her husband live in Indiana, where they love to spoil their grandchildren and their dog. Read more at diannhunt.com. 

 April 1, 2012 ~ Guideposts Books

Tales from Grace Chapel Inn: Empty Nest by Pam Hanson & Barbara Andrews

It’s spring in Acorn Hill, which means the garden is in full bloom and the air is filled with the song of birds returned from their winter adventures. A visit from Louise’s daughter, Cynthia, adds to the joy of the season, but her colleague, a dreamy poet, makes life troublesome for all the Howards with her forgetful ways. Meanwhile, Louise is distracted by a serious legal matter, Jane busies herself with a new hobby, and Alice does her best to offer her help and sweet encouragement wherever needed. The wonders of spring ensure that Grace Chapel Inn is always blooming with new adventures.

PAM HANSON and BARBARA ANDREWS are a daughter-mother writing team; they began working together in the early 1990s and have had twenty books published, including fifteen under the pseudonym Jennifer Drew. Pam is the director of advising for West Virginia University’s School of Journalism. She and her husband have two sons. Prior to their partnership, Barbara had twenty-one novels published under her own name. She is the mother of four and the grandmother of seven. Barbara lives with Pam and her family in West Virginia.

April 1, 2012 ~ Guideposts Books

Shakespeare’s Lady by Alexa Schnee

For centuries, readers have debated the identity of the mysterious Dark Lady in William Shakespeare’s sonnets. Emilia Bassano—lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and one of the first women poets in England—could be the answer.

In Shakespeare’s Lady, Emilia Bassano is one of the most dazzling ladies at court when she meets the little-known playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare sees the world like no one ever has before, and despite everything—his wife in Stratford-Avon, Emilia’s husband and young son, and the will of the fiery and unpredictable queen—they fall in love. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and the Virgin Queen does not take lightly to her ladies straying. These star-crossed lovers must fight for their love—and, eventually, their lives. Meanwhile, William, courting the Queen’s favor for his new theater, pens some of the most memorable stories ever written, and encourages Emilia to write; he helps her compose, and eventually steals, a little bedtime story she calls A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

From the plague-ridden streets of London to the throne room of Greenwich Court to the stage of The Globe Theater, Shakespeare’s Lady is a meticulously researched and gorgeously written story about grace, forgiveness, and the forbidden love between the greatest poet the world has ever known and the woman who inspired him.

ALEXA SCHNEE is the youngest-ever recipient of the Mount Hermon Most Promising Writer Award and a first place winner of the Authors of the Flathead 2010 High School Writing Contest. She lives in Kalispell, Montana.

April 1, 2012 ~ Guideposts Books

Forever Hilltop by Judy Baer

Two charming Forever Hilltop books in one volume. This new two-in-one format features the much-beloved first book in the series, An Unlikely Blessing, along with its brand-new sequel, Surprising Grace.

Book One: An Unlikely Blessing. Meet Alex Armstrong, former city dweller who has just accepted his first parish assignment to a small community in the wilds of North Dakota. In Hilltop Township, Pastor Alex becomes familiar with the colorful residents and their odd traditions, from julebukking to King Oscar’s fish balls. And then there’s the excitement the single pastor creates among the unmarried women in the community! Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he has to teach them, providing all with An Unlikely Blessing.

Book Two: Surprising Grace. Alex Armstrong is settling into his new role as pastor of Hilltop Church, and he’s even starting to understand the strange ways of the people who populate this barren stretch of North Dakota prairie. But he also finds that his flock needs help and counsel like he never imagined. In this cozy and entertaining read, Alex must choose between the woman he once loved—and the home he’s come to love.

JUDY BAER, award-winning author of nearly eighty books, is a North Dakota native who writes from her home in Elk River, Minnesota. As well as being a full-time writer, Judy is a writing and life coach, a mother of two daughters, and a stepmother of three. Read more at judykbaer.com. 

May 1, 2012 ~ Guideposts Books

Kate’s Song by Jennifer Beckstrand

Kate Weaver returns home to her family’s farm in Apple Lake, Wisconsin, battered and bruised and hiding a secret. She is not yet baptized and has spent the past year at a music conservatory in Milwaukee, living among the English. Music is Kate’s passion, and she is very good, so she faces a difficult choice: she must either give up her family and home to pursue the gifts God has given her, or come home and be baptized and give up on her dreams. And with Nathaniel King, the handsome neighbor boy she grew up with, paying attention to her, the choice of whether to return to school in the fall is even harder.

Kate wins a starring role in an upcoming opera, and as she wrestles with pressure from her family and her newfound feelings for Nathaniel, she is also haunted by what happened to her just before she left school: she fought to protect her friend against an angry ex and landed the man in intensive care. Will the consequences of that battle be the end of everything she’s ever wanted anyway? Will Nathaniel wait around while she decides what God really wants for her?

JENNIFER BECKSTRAND has a degree in mathematics and a background in editing. After six children, Jennifer decided to pursue a career in writing. One of her manuscripts, Rachel’s Angel, won first place in two writing contest. Jennifer is a member of the RWA and coordinates the Utah RWA Great Beginnings Contest. She lives in Utah. 

May 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas by Pamela Tracy

Annie Jamison is the sister who keeps the peace. So when her mother goes missing, Annie’s the one sent to retrieve her.

There’s one problem. It seems the town Willa Jamison (willingly) ran off to—Sunflower, Kansas—doesn’t exist. Sure, it’s on the map, but when Annie drives there, she finds herself in the middle of a field. Of sunflowers. In nearby Bonner Springs, Kansas, Annie finds her errant mother…and Joe Kelly, a handsome veterinarian who thinks Annie is part of a team of con artists out to swindle his father. It takes some time, but eventually, Joe’s working with Annie instead of against her to bring their wacky parents to their senses. When this unlikely team turns into an unlikely couple, Annie no longer wants to leave her field of sunflowers. She wants happily-ever-after with Joe Kelly. But when evidence of the con resurfaces, will Joe have enough faith in Annie to recognize the truth?

PAMELA TRACY is the author of more than twenty romance novels and novellas. She is a winner of the ACFW Carol Award and a finalist for both the Holt Madallion and RITA Awards. Pamela lives with her husband and young son in Nebraska. Read more at pamelatracy.com.

May 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma by Janice Hanna

In 1912, two years after a tornado left many children homeless, the town of Daisy, Oklahoma, needs help with its orphanage. Enter Rena Jewel, 38 years old and still single, who longs to do something important with her life. A lover of flowers, Rena believes the letter from Daisy to be a sign from the Lord, and she promises to help.

Sheriff Gene Wyatt is a widowed father struggling to control 23 unruly orphans—and to keep his own two boys from burning down the town. So when he receives word that help is on the way, Gene rejoices. Until he meets Rena, that is—a genteel and far too pretty woman whom he assumes is not up to the challenge. And after meeting the children, Rena begins to agree with him! At her wits’ end, she helps the children plant a garden and slowly earns their respect and obedience. The new orphanage director arrives just as the garden begins to bloom, and Rena must decide whether she can leave the town, the children—and the man—she’s come to love.

JANICE HANNA (also published as Janice Thompson) is the author of over seventy books for the Christian market, most of them light-hearted romances. An avid theater buff, Janice directs musicals at a Christian theater near her home in the Houston, Texas area.

May 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Wedding Belles by Janice Hanna

Scene: Beautiful Estes Park, Colorado, 1912. Tomboy Lottie Sanders would do just about anything to help the fella she secretly loves. When Gilbert Parker’s family lodge faces financial ruin, he suggests putting on a melodrama to draw in a crowd. He appeals to Lottie to direct the show. Her plan to bring in actresses from across the country is sabotaged when the local single men turn it into a hunt for brides. Lottie finds the drama shifting from the stage to real life.

Filled with villains, vixens, heroes, and enough actresses to fill a theater, this tale is sure to please lovers of historical romance.

JANICE HANNA (also published as Janice Thompson) is the author of over seventy books for the Christian market, most of them light-hearted romances. An avid theater buff, Janice directs musicals at a Christian theater near her home in the Houston, Texas area. 

May 1, 2012 ~ Summerside Press

Oil by Jeff Nesbit

Global powers race to exploit the chaos that has erupted overnight. Terrorist attacks against three of the world’s largest oil fields in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq threaten to cripple the global economy. Clues link to a rogue, nuclear-armed country and a radical Sunni group, but not all are convinced they’re the perpetrators. Who had something to gain? All roads seem to lead to Israel, where Russia and America are locked in a titanic struggle over Israel’s large, undeveloped oil shale reserves.

Nash Lee, an NGO entrepreneur, is thrust into the tumultuous politics of the powerful Saudi kingdom. Dare he trust Saudi’s Prince Abdul with the information he and his team uncover about a deadly plot to spark dissension among the Arab nation-states? Will the Arab Spring revolts spill over into a fight for control of the Saudi kingdom and push the entire planet to the brink of war?

JEFF NESBIT has been a national journalist, the director of public affairs at two federal agencies in Washington, DC, and the communications director of a former vice president at the White House. He’s written more than a dozen successful novels.

June 1, 2012 ~ Guideposts Books