November 2014 ACFW New Fiction Releases

Amish Romance:

Snow Globe (Amish of Jamesport) by Laura V. Hilton — Victor Petersheim has left the Amish and works on a river boat on the Mississippi River, spending three months on the river then having three months off. During his off-work months he returns home to his Amish community and helps out on his grandparents’ farm. When he returns home after his most recent absence, he discovers his grossmammi has developed health problems and they’ve hired Esther Beachy to be a “mother’s helper.” Victor is unsettled by this woman living in their home, but has to accept it. Esther loves listening to Victor’s grandmother’s stories and while puttering around in a store while the grossmammi’s in the hospital, she discovers a snow globe that depicts an area where the Petersheims used to live. She buys it as a gift for the grossmammi to cheer her up during her hospitalization. Victor is touched by Esther’s gift and her care for his grossmammi, and strives to be friendlier. Will Esther’s gentle heart draw him back to the community? Or will he return to the river once again? (Amish Romance from Whitaker House)

Biblical Fiction:

A Soft Breath of Wind by Roseanna M. White — A gift that has branded her for life. Zipporah is thirteen when the Spirit descends upon her, opening her eyes to a world beyond the physical goings-on of the villa outside Rome she has always called home. Within hours, she learns what serving the Lord can cost. Forever scarred after a vicious attack, she knows her call is to use this discernment to protect the Way. She knows she must serve the rest of her life at Tutelos, where the growing Roman church has congregated. She knows her lot is set. Yet is it so wrong to wish that her master, the kind and handsome young Benjamin Visibullis, will eventually see her as something more than a sister in Christ? Samuel Asinius, adoptive son of a wealthy Roman, has always called Benjamin brother. When their travels take them to Jerusalem for Passover, the last thing he expects is to cross paths with the woman who sold him into slavery as a child, the mother he long ago purged from his heart. His sister, Dara, quickly catches Benjamin s eye, but Samuel suspects there is something dark at work. When Dara, a fortune-teller seeking the will of a shadowy master determined to undermine the Way, comes into the path of Zipporah, a whirlwind descends upon them all. Only the soft wind of the Spirit can heal their scars…with a love neither divination nor discernment could foresee. (Biblical Fiction from Whitefire Publishing)

A Little Lower Than the Angels by Caryl McAdoo — Seduced by evil, Cain kills Abel then flees with his sister to the land of Nod. Bereaved of all their children in one day, Adam and Eve are heartbroken, but not until they both see a vision of Abel in Paradise with their childhood pets Lion and Lamb does Eve find the strength to wait upon the Lord for His blessing. Though dead, Abel’s soul lives on in Paradise, resting, learning from the old Cherub who God sent to teach the murdered son of Adam. He listens to the war songs the legions of angels sing that battle for his brother and sister and even his mother’s soul. But best of all, the angel elder tells him stories of Heaven and how one day, man and God will be reconciled. Again the first couple is tested, and must wait upon the Lord’s blessing to begin again. Can they walk in obedience for seventy long years? And Cain’s offering is finally accepted, but by whom? (Biblical Fiction from Independent Author)

Contemporary Romance:

Winter Brides: A Year of Weddings Novella Collection by Betsy St. Amant, Denise Hunter and Deborah Raney — The honor of your presence is requested at three winter weddings . . . “A February Bride” by Betsy St. Amant: History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day-wearing a dress that has ushered generations of the family’s brides into failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus, but fears repeating her family’s mistakes. Months later, Allie and Marcus are thrown together for another wedding and discover their own story might be far from over. “A December Bride” by Denise Hunter: When Layla O’Reilly and Seth Murphy make their engagement public, it’s only to impress her high-society client. But for Seth, who has secretly loved Layla for years, this is his chance to finally win her heart. “A January Bride” by Deborah Raney: Novelist Madeleine Houser arranges a peaceful writing getaway in a local bed and breakfast, but ends up falling in love via daily notes with the inn’s owner–a man she’s never met. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

Her Tycoon Hero (Heartsong Presents) by Narelle Atkins — Set on proving to everyone that she’s no longer a party girl, Cassie is focused on her career as an event planner. But her dad’s top executive, Ryan Mitchell, proves to be a handsome distraction. Especially when someone from Cassie’s wild past tries to get her tangled in the life she’s worked hard to escape. Ryan is taken with his boss’s beautiful daughter. But having been fooled by a brother who ran in her same circles, he is slow to trust. When Cassie’s newfound faith works its way into his heart, Ryan soon finds he wants to claim both her faith and Cassie as his own. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Sweetened with Honey by Valerie Comer — Gabriel Rubachuk returns to Galena Landing, Idaho, once the setting of a charmed life before an accident killed his pregnant wife. Will he embrace hope for a new life or escape once again? Beekeeper Sierra Riehl has spent three years helping to keep Gabe’s health food store afloat while he worked with orphans in Romania. Now he’s back, but it looks like he might bolt. Can she hold him still long enough to spark a romance? But Sierra’s hope falters when she begins to suspect she can’t give Gabe the life he deserves. Is new love sweet enough to overcome the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Hope for the Holidays-Contemporary Collection by Mary Connealy, Audra Harders, Ruth Logan Herne, Sandra Leesmith and Tina Radcliffe — Six heart-warming romances remind us of the true spirit of Christmas: faith, hope–and love… Hope for Christmas by Mary Connealy: Kelsey is alone, lost, pregnant, stuck in a blizzard and surrounded by wolves. Tanner Harden finds her but with trouble coming and a baby at risk, can they stay alive long enough to fall in love? Her Christmas Cowboy by Audra Harders: Single mother Shayna Leon has disappointed her community once and hopes a successful Christmas pageant will restore their faith in her. Then disaster strikes – her accompanist is unable to play. The prospect of disappointment looms again until a reclusive cowboy steps up to save her day. Longing for a Miracle by Ruth Logan Herne: Christmas dimmed when an automobile accident claimed Tasha Sorkos’s little girl… could saving Rafe Karralis’s sick daughter bring the light of faith, hope and love back into her eyes? A Heart Full of Hope by Sandra Leesmith: Elena Delgado loves her father’s new business partner, Stephen Edwards. As they work together to find funding for the project that will bring jobs and hope to their small community in time for Christmas, will Stephen notice her? Or is he still in love with the fiancée who left him? I’ll be Home for Christmas by Tina Radcliffe: Dr. Matthew Christopher doesn’t believe in happily ever after. Can wedding planner Patience McCord melt the heart of the last bachelor in time for Christmas? One Perfect Gift by Missy Tippens: In this sweet Cinderella story with a country music twist, a homeless single mother with a secret may get more than she expected for Christmas, including hope, love and home, sweet home. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Love Without End (A King’s Meadow Romance) by Robin Lee Hatcher — Chet Leonard’s life was forever changed when his seventeen year old son died and then, soon after, his wife walked out on their family. Over two years later, all he wants to do is hold onto his horse ranch and raise his remaining sons to be honorable men. Kimberly Welch, widowed mother of Tara, a rebellious fifteen-year-old, has reached the end of her finances and nearly the end of her rope. She and Tara come to King’s Meadow to try to piece their lives back together again. Kimberly has no intention of opening her heart again. Then 84-year-old Anna McKenna returns to King’s Meadow and to the Leonard ranch and brings healing to the two hurting families. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

Swept Away: Quilts of Love Series by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven — Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned. Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer’s granddaughter. Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts researching him online. What she discovers could change her life-and her heart-forever. (Contemporary Romance from Abingdon Press)

Yuletide Baby by Deb Kastner — When Pastor Shawn O’Riley finds an abandoned baby at his church, his whole life goes into a tailspin that only foster mother Heather Lewis can calm. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Cajun Christmas Miracle: A Belle Camellia Novel by Marian P. Merritt — Thirteen years ago, Mandy St. Pierre and Bridger Mathews were in high school and hopelessly in love. When his parents moved to Colorado in his senior year, Mandy was left behind with a broken heart and a secret. Then Mandy married and became mother to a child with special needs, only to have her husband abandon her. Bridger married, but lost his wife to cancer three years later. When mandy moves back to Belle Camellia, the River Road, Louisiana plantation home of her youth her Autistic son, she finds Bridger is working next door with a rescue horse his best friend has saved. Mandy’s son bonds with Bridger and his horse, but Mandy wrangles with letting Bridger back into her life, letting him into her son’s life, her unnatural fear of horses, and her wavering faith in God. Can both Mandy and Bridger open their hearts to trust one another in order to give Daniel an experience that may unlock his world and allow him to interact like never before? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Calculated Risk by Zoe M. McCarthy — Whoever said opposites attract was right, of course…but no one ever said what they attract. Jilted by her father’s latest choice of a son-in-law, Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list,” but is he trying to take advantage of her vulnerable emotions over the holiday? Nick only invited Cisney out of pity, now he’s stuck with her and her sticky notes and her quirks. To make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem-he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist. (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Historical Romance:

Hope for the Holidays-Historical Collection by Mary Connealy, Ruth Logan Herne, Myra Johnson and Julie Lessman — Four old-fashioned Christmases featuring inspirational romance at its best. “Sophie’s Other Daughter” by Mary Connealy: Laura McClellen is just answering a call for her big sister, Doctor Beth, at the Reeve’s home when Ike Reeves, shows up exhausted, and filthy, for a surprise Christmas visit. Ike claims the right to escort Laura home and outlaws after Ike turn a simple ride into a fight for their lives. “A Town Called Christmas” by Ruth Logan Herne: When gruff English pioneer Edward Stillwell offers a former prostitute a job, he gets more than he bargained for: a wagon train more! With winter rollng in, can Sylvie’s faith, hope and optimism be just what the guilt-laden Idaho rancher needs to love Christmas-and people– again? “Designs on Love” by Myra Johnson: Ranch foreman Jacob Collins has had designs on Vera Mae Beasley since their schooldays. When the pretty seamstress returns home to settle her late family’s affairs, Jacob hopes his Christmas surprise will win her heart and convince her to stay. “A Whisper of Hope” by Julie Lessman: With a husband dead-set against adoption, Charity O’Connor Dennehy has barely a whisper of hope for more children, but if hope doesn’t disappoint … could it be enough to find a precious bundle under her tree? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Rocky Mountain Dreams (Love Inspired Historical) by Danica Favorite — The last thing Joseph Stone expects to discover upon arriving in Leadville, Colorado, is a newfound little sister. Hoping to find his late father’s silver mine and hopefully keep his siblings back home out of an orphanage, Joseph needs an ally. The preacher’s lovely daughter agrees to care for the little girl. She’s just not as willing to trust the prospector…. Annabelle Lassiter has seen what men do in pursuit of riches. Yet for all the hardship he’s known, Joseph still shows tenderness and warmth. Annabelle’s plan has long been to leave Leadville far behind. But Joseph’s quest for silver could cost them a more precious dream-one of family, love and new beginnings. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Love Never Fails (The Homeward Journey) by Martha Rogers — At odds over their beliefs and separated by the war, Molly and Stefan must learn to depend of God. In book three of the Homeward Journey series, Daniel and Sally Delaney’s daughter Molly finishes school and returns to her home to teach. When old friends of her parents come for a visit with their son, Stefan, Molly is attracted to the young man, but all he is interested in is talking about his position in the army. When he leaves to rejoin his regiment, Molly is both relieved and saddened. Can they overcome their differences and find love? (Historical Romance from Realms [Charisma Media])

Romantic Suspense:

Hawk by Ronie Kendig — Staff Sergeant Brian “Hawk” Bledsoe is a man of his word. But when he gives a promise to the green-eyed Afghan woman named Fekiria, the short-fused soldier never knew how much it could cost him. Fekiria Haidary is keeping secrets and telling lies. Going against her strict traditional upbringing and estranged from her family, she is a pilot with the Afghan Air Force. On a mission to track down the terrorist who has plagued Raptor and the U.S. military with corrupted intel and planted information, Brian and his brothers-in-arms are nearly killed when their location is bombed. Hunting the attacker, Brian stumbles upon Fekiria and her friend, who are protecting several young girls from the Taliban. Fleeing for their lives, Brian is embroiled in a daring escape into the mountainous Tera Pass. As frigid temperatures, crippling injuries, and friction between Brian and Fekiria strain their survival prospects, Brian uncovers a lethal threat against Raptor and is faced with an impossible decision: save Raptor or save Fekiria and the girls. (Romantic Suspense from Barbour Publishing)

Identity Withheld by Sandra Orchard — After exposing an illegal adoption ring, newly named “Kara Grant” is promised safety in Witness Protection. But someone has found her-and wants her dead. If only she could trust the handsome firefighter who catches her fleeing from a suspicious fire. Jake Steele seems to think she’s guilty of burning her own home. But how can she tell him who she really is and what she’s been through without bringing danger to the widowed single father’s door? Yet with the criminals quickly closing in, taking such a risk might be her only chance at survival. Because the price she’ll pay for her silence could be her life. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Secrets and Lies (Redemption’s Edge #2) by Janet Sketchley — Carol Daniels thinks she out-ran her enemies, until a detective arrives at her door with a warning from her convict brother. Minor incidents take on a sinister meaning. An anonymous phone call warns her not to hide again. Now she must cooperate with a drug lord while the police work to trap him. Carol has always handled crisis alone, but this one might break her. Late-night deejay Joey Hill offers friendship and moral support. Can she trust him? One thing’s certain. She can’t risk prayer. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Silent Night Standoff by Susan Sleeman — When armed robbers strike her bank, hostage negotiator Skyler Brennan’s life is on the line. Rescue comes from the last person she thought she could count on-the ex-boyfriend who chose his job over their relationship. FBI agent Logan Hunter knows how much is resting on this case. The promotion of his dreams…and the safety of the woman he’s never been able to forget. But when an unexpected twist in the case pulls Logan in two separate directions, he’ll have to make an impossible choice. Will he manage to have it all by Christmas-a career and love-or will he lose them both? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction:

Vanquished by Katie Clark — When Hana’s mom is diagnosed with the mutation, she is denied the medication that might save her life. Fischer, a medic at the hospital, implies there are people who can help-except Hana’s not sure she can trust him; Fischer is involved in a religious group, and religion has been outlawed for the last hundred years. Hana embarks on a dangerous journey, seeking the answers Fischer insists are available. When the truth is uncovered does Hana stick to what she knows? Or does she join the rebellion, taking a stand against an untrustworthy society? (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)

Deliverance by Katie Clark — Hana is Greater. It’s a future she never envisioned for herself, but she’s not about to ignore the opportunity she’s been given–the opportunity to find answers about her Mom, Jamie, and Fischer. This could be an opportunity to tell others the truth about God and uncover the secrets the Great Supreme has been keeping from their small, struggling nation. When Hana’s search brings her to the mysterious prison she’s only heard of in rumors, the desire to get inside drives her to dig deeper for answers, but what she uncovers may be bigger than them all. Can she save herself and the others before the Great Supreme realizes what she’s doing, or will she give up everyone she loves in her quest for the truth? (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)

Redeemer by Katie Clark — In this final chapter of the Enslaved series, Hana is faced not only with a new life, but an entirely new way of thinking. Unexpected friends give insight into who the Greaters truly are. Deciding what to do with this information sends Hana on what may be her very last journey. Ever. (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)

Techno-Thriller:

Triple Threat by H L Wegley — Two brilliant PhD candidates’ discovery of a cyber-terror plot sends them on a dangerous mission, an adventure that spans the Pacific Northwest from the shores of the Olympic Peninsula to the mountains of Whistler, BC, a conspiracy you might read in tomorrow’s paper, but pray you never will. (Speculative Fiction from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Note: This list is compiled from those books registered by ACFW member authors on Fiction Finder and reprinted with permission of ACFW.