Overcome by guilt Brooks returns with the intention of returning the deed to Raven Creek Ranch but finds John on the floor dead from an apparent suicide. After graduating finishing school, Keri Langston can think of nothing better than returning to her home, pulling on a pair of overalls, and riding the range of Raven Creek Ranch. She arrives at Shoofly to discover that the ranch she expected to inherit was lost in a card game by her uncle and that he committed suicide because of it.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Coming soon from River North Fiction
Overcome by guilt Brooks returns with the intention of returning the deed to Raven Creek Ranch but finds John on the floor dead from an apparent suicide. After graduating finishing school, Keri Langston can think of nothing better than returning to her home, pulling on a pair of overalls, and riding the range of Raven Creek Ranch. She arrives at Shoofly to discover that the ranch she expected to inherit was lost in a card game by her uncle and that he committed suicide because of it.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Coming in late 2011 from Bethany House
Bethany House continues to be one of the premier publishers of historical fiction as you can see from the many historical novels below.
Don't miss the contemporary stories from Alice Wisler, Patti Lacy and Tracie Peterson hiding among all those historicals!
Author Jody Hedlund was chatting recently on her blog about the early release of covers. Do you enjoy the anticipation of seeing a new cover and synopsis months in advance or would you prefer for it only to be revealed shortly prior to a book's release? I'd love to know your thoughts.
Enjoy these ones....months in advance....so I guess you know my answer :)
To Have and To
Hold by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller
Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?
September, 2011
The Mercy by Beverly Lewis

Rose's lingering feelings for her wayward friend refuse to fade, but she is frustrated that Nick won't return and make things right with the People.
Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, is living in her parents' Dawdi Haus. Her estranged "English" husband, injured and helpless after a car accident, has reluctantly come to live with her and their young daughter during his recovery. Can their marriage recover, as well? Is there any possible middle ground between a woman reclaiming her old-fashioned Amish lifestyle and a thoroughly modern man?
September, 2011
Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry.
While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans. But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything.
Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.
September, 2011
A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay and his stepsister, Vivian, arrive in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athabascan people. Clay is totally focused on this goal... until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.
September, 2011
The Doctor's Lady by Jody HedlundSeptember, 2011
Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

October, 2011
A Wedding Invi
tation by Alice J WislerWhen the search for Lien's mother reveals surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.
October, 2011
The Still of Night by Kristen Heitzmann (Repackaged) Known professionally as the "success guru," Morgan Spencer is the turn-around genius who revitalizes failing corporations. His gift for identifying problems and finding solutions extends to the personal lives of his friends and acquaintances. But the one life he can't seem to set straight is his own. Behind his charming rebel facade is a need that drives him toward success--and emptiness.
Then Jill Runyan reenters his life with news that will either set him free or bring him to his knees.
October, 2011
Reclaiming Lil
y by Patti Lacy A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Wang meet in a Dallas hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, a rebellious, hurting teenager whom Gloria adopted from China and is the sister Kai hopes to reclaim.
Kai is a doctor who had to give up her baby sister during the cultural revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.
When their best hope rests back in China, a desperate journey brings Gloria and Kai to the brink of despair. But God has plans for both women to reclaim Lily and fulfill destiny in a way that exceeds their wildest imaginations.
October, 2011
Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

In 1904 Texas Ranger Luke Palmer arrives in Brenham, Texas, with one goal--to capture the gang of outlaws led by Frank Comer. Undercover as a telephone repairman, he uses his days on the range to search, not realizing there's another pair of eyes watching him.
Georgie Gail, switchboard operator and birder, heads out on a birding expedition, but instead of sighting a painted bunting, her opera glasses capture her telephone man, armed and far away from telephone lines. Palmer is forced to take this alluring troublemaker into his confidence and unwittingly puts her in harm's way. The closer he comes to the gang, the further she works her way into his heart--and into trouble. Soon it's more than just love that's on the line.
October, 2011
House of Secre
ts by Tracie PetersonWhen her father orchestrates a surprise trip to the summer house of her childhood, Bailee Cooper is unprepared for what follows. What is intended to be a happy reunion for Bailee and her sisters, Geena and Piper, quickly becomes shrouded by memories from the past. Together again, the three sisters sift through their recollections of fifteen years ago... of an ill mother, and of their father making a desperate choice. They vowed, as children, to be silent--but one sister believes the truth must now be revealed. Yet can they trust their memories?
Mark Delahunt arrives in the wake of this emotional turmoil. Determined to win Bailee's affection, Mark becomes the strong fortress for her in this time of confusion, and what was once a tentative promise begins to take root and grow. Caught between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to heal the past and ultimately to embrace love?
October, 2011
Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling
Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go. Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised on a giant hand.
With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.
November, 2011
A Lasting Impression
by Tamera Alexander To create something that will last is Claire Laurent's most fervent desire as an artist. It's also her greatest weakness. When her fraud of a father deals her an unexpected hand, Claire is forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville, only a year after the War Between the States has ended. Claire's path collides with that of Sutton Monroe, and she considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But when they meet again and he refuses to come to her aid, she realizes she's sorely misjudged the man.
Trading an unwanted destiny for an unknown future, Claire finds herself in the middle of Nashville's elite society and believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art may finally be within reach. All that Sutton Monroe holds dear lies in ruin. He's determined to reclaim his heritage and to make the men who murdered his father pay. But what he discovers on his quest for vengeance reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined.
Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s, A Lasting Impression showcases the deep, poignant, unforgettable characters that set Tamera's stories apart and provides an inspiring love story that will capture readers' hearts and leave them eager for more.
November, 2011
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Coming in September/October from Bethany House
Here's a preview of some of Bethany's releases for later this year. I have to admit that I am looking forward to the contemporary novels the most and am thrilled to see Kristen's A Rush of Wings getting a new cover and new audience - great book!
As always, I'd love to know your thoughts on covers or story and which one appeals to you the most. Stay tuned for more from Bethany soon:)
Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River--a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is also here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for. Love begins to slowly bloom but is the affection they share strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?
The Thorn by Beverly LewisSeptember, 2010
September, 2010
In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel SawyerThere's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: the Bailey Place, a fabulous old home where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons, a place that has now fallen into disrepair because of its outrageous price tag. When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey Place, Jackie is sure God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to question her own motivation. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?
October, 2010

She struggles to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated. When secrets, tragedy, and poor decisions cause rifts in Amy's relationships, she must come to terms with who she's become, her unrealized aspirations for her life, and the state of her faith. Can she dare to hope that she will find love and fulfillment despite it all?
October, 2010
by Kristen Heitzmann (repackaged)Though her panic is real, Noelle St. Claire is uncertain what danger she is fleeing. Fragmented images and slivers of memory have driven her to abandon her wealthy, sheltered life for the hope of a haven--remote and safe.
Noelle's arrival at the Rocky Mountain horse ranch owned by Rick Spencer and his brother Morgan causes more than a little stir. Beautiful, vulnerable, yet strangely secretive, Noelle is an enigma the two contrasting brothers seek to unlock. Is her impenetrable shell protecting her from true danger--or imagined fears?
Sunday, 5 July 2009
How Sweet It Is by Alica J Wisler
Leaving behind a broken romance and her job as a chef in Atlanta, Deena Livingston reluctantly agrees to teach cooking to middle schoolers in North Carolina. But how can she convince the kids that home cooking is better than fast food?
Will a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber, a handsome social worker, and eight rambunctious youngsters change Deena's outlook on life?
My take:~
Alice Wisler's sophomore novel is a delightfully surprising tale full of depth and authenticity as a young woman searches for the courage to face her fears and her future.
With a scarred body and wounded heart, Deena's journey to healing is both challenging and moving. Beautifully drawn by Alice's skilful writing, tender characterisation and emotional intuitiveness, How Sweet It Is has a lasting impact as Deena and her recalcitrant students move towards forgiveness and grace. Relz Reviewz Extras
Visit Alice's website and blog
Buy Alice's books at Amazon or Koorong
Friday, 6 February 2009
Cover change for Alice J Wisler's How Sweet It Is
Here is part of the fascinating process of publishing! Bethany have recently changed their cover and synopsis for Alice J Wisler's May release, How Sweet It Is.
Here's the original:~
Deena Livingston leaves behind a broken romance and her chef job in Atlanta to spend time at her grandfather's cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. But her grandfather has an odd request: he wants Deena to teach cooking classes to the ragtag group of middle-schoolers who attend the local afterschool program, The Center. Reluctantly, Deena agrees, but how is she supposed to convince these kids that cooking at home is better than eating at McDonalds?
And after all she went through in Atlanta, why is she attracted to Zack, the social worker at The Center? Can a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber, a curly-haired basketball player, and a group of middle-schoolers change Deena's outlook on life?
And here is the most recent from Bethany's website:~
When Deena Livingston moves into her grandfather's cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, she plans to keep to herself, start a cake-decorating business, and recover from the heartbreak she left behind in Atlanta. But a special request from Grandpa Ernest compels her to interact with the Bryson City locals, who have some surprising stories to share with the new girl in town.
Can a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber who shows up at the most unexpected times, a handsome social worker who seems to know exactly what Deena is thinking, and a classroom full of mischievous middle-school students teach Deena to once again embrace the sweet things in life?
Tell Rel
I'd love to hear your thoughts on which cover appeals to you more as well as your comments on the synopsis changes - do you think it has been changed for the better?
Why or why not?
Relz Reviewz Extras



















