The Art of Love and Lies | August Book Club

Last month I dropped multiple books titles on you hoping summer would inspire you take some time to lose yourself between the pages of a good story (or three!). This month we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming, and I’m sharing just one; one really GOOD one!

It’s a work of historical fiction entitled,The Art of Love and Lies, by Rebecca Anderson.

In it, a free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michelangelo painting.

”Manchester, England, 1857

Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families.

When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in England opens in Manchester, Rosanna is excited to visit. She meets the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison, who is head of security, and is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and portrait-worthy good looks.

The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art, and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.

But when they discover the theft of some of the paintings—and all the evidence points to Rosanna—she must convince Inspector Harrison she is innocent and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.

It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michaelangelo’s The Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Inspector Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to paint their own happily ever after.”

I hope some part of each day finds you parked in the coolness of a big shade tree - or at least in front of an air conditioning unit! And when those moments arrive, I hope you’ve got a chilled beverage beside you and a book in your hands!

The Art of Love and Lies is the perfect story to get lost in while the heat of August rolls over us. Get your copy today!

ORDER: The Art of Love and Lies

To Capture His Heart | October Book Club

One of the BEST things about this radio life I’ve crafted for myself is the connections I’m able to make. Taking calls night after night from listeners willing to share their hearts with me has put me in the unique role of connecter. I not only get to connect with my callers, I get to connect them to one another! I love bringing people together, whether it’s a shared passion, like art or horses, or gardening or music… or love and romance!

I believe we are a sum of our relationships and while different people have different levels of need, it is our connections that provide stability, security, and a sense of belonging in a world that often makes no sense at all. I STILL believe in love. I always will.

Whether it’s hearing about, talking about, or reading about love, I’m in! Which brings me to my book club pick for October, a Proper Romance, “To Capture His Heart”, by Nancy Campbell Allen.

September was BUSY, my oh my, so busy! I welcome October, the calming influence of a fall routine, and a few stolen moments with a book that celebrates falling in love…

“Seaside, England, 1886

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished and well-known photographer who often works with the local constabulary to assist in documenting crime scenes, which means she also often works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. She appreciates his intellect and how he treats her like an equal, but Eva's heart is still healing from a past relationship, so, for now, she decides to keep her feelings for Nathan a secret.

One evening, Nathan arrives on her doorstep asking for a personal favor. Would Eva be available to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that Eva would also have to pretend they are courting in order for Nathan to avoid the many single women seeking his attention.

Though wary of the charade, Eva agrees. Spending a week with the two things she loves most--her detective and her camera--sounds simple enough. And if she wants to imagine that Nathan's pretend courtship of her is real, well, what's the harm in that?

But when a criminal from Nathan's past threatens revenge on the detective, Nathan must be extra vigilant to keep his mother and the rest of the partygoers safe. He confides in Eva, and as the two work together to solve the mystery and apprehend the criminal, they find that they might capture more than they expected--each other's heart.”

October, with it’s ever-shorter days, longer nights, and cooler temps, forces us to slow down. Don’t fight it. Let yourself enjoy a cup of tea and a few pages of historical fiction before you begin your daily routine or turn out the light in the evening. “To Capture His Heart” is a fine place to start.

Order: TO CAPTURE HIS HEART

New Movie | "Redeeming Love"

REDEEMING LOVE

I’ve long been a fan of author Francine Rivers. Her books are always meticulously researched, steeped in rich historical detail, and filled with complex, fascinating characters. Her stories are as layered and nuanced as life itself. It’s been a while now, but I have featured a few of them as my monthly Book Club choices.

One of her most beloved novels, REDEEMING LOVE, has recently been made into a major motion picture, and I hope you’ll all be going to see it when it’s released by Pinnacle Peak Pictures later this month.

REDEEMING LOVE is a skillful retelling of the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a setting that America has long romanticized, the Old West. It’s been called “a powerful story of relentless love and perseverance as a young couple’s relationship clashes with the harsh realities of the California Gold Rush of 1850” . It stars Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis and Logan Marshall-Green.

Coming to theaters January 21, 2022, REDEEMING LOVE shows there is no brokenness that love can’t heal.

Watch the TRAILER
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Miracle Creek Christmas | December Book Club

BUY Miracle Creek Christmas

Every time I crack the cover on a new book, it’s like giving myself a gift. I love to pass that gift on to you, my book club readers, and this December, this magical season, I have a delightful story to share, Miracle Creek Christmas, by Krista Jensen.

I was immediately drawn to the title, thinking how appropriate it would be for this time of year, but even more delightful was discovering the story is set in the Wenatchee Valley of Washington State! That’s a day trip from my home outside of Seattle, and there is no more picturesque place or better setting for a winter romance as far as I’m concerned.

The theatrical little Bavarian town of Leavenworth is exactly as described in the book; simply a sight to behold, and a place I love to take my family and friends visiting from far away places! The author does a fabulous job of describing the area, and I felt myself grinning every time a little burg, like Cashmere, was mentioned. If you’ve never been to these places, you’ll feel like you have after you’ve read about them here.

But setting aside, it’s the characters that will pull you in. Riley Madigan is a twenty-something city girl trying to outrun heartache. She leaves the city life behind to become a high school art teacher in the remote little town of Miracle Creek. Expecting to find solitude in such a place, she’s not prepared when she meets Mark Rivers on the ‘off-the-beaten path.’ Mark is working to rebuild his life after the devastation of losing his best friend and fire-fighting partner in a wildfire a year earlier, in which he suffered severe burns himself. He’s trying to come to terms with his altered appearance and his altered life.

Each carry heartache and injury, guarding themselves against any additional sorrows. So “just friends” it will have to be, despite those inconvenient feelings they keep trying to deny (themselves as well as others.) Well-meaning family members, and not-so-well-meaning community characters, had me fearful these two might not ever come to their senses, but - spoiler alert - they finally do!

Love blossoms in the middle of winter at Miracle Creek, and I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did, perhaps curled up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate, memories of when you last made a snow-angel in the back of your mind, while the lights on the tree twinkle in the corner…

ORDER "Miracle Creek Christmas”
(for you and all those who love a good romance)

Promised | June Book Club

Buy Promised

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Or so thought Margaret after she gave her heart to someone only to have it broken. She vowed this would never happen again.

Promised, by Leah Garriott, my June Book Club pick, is another delightful period-piece romance, set in Warwickshire, England, in the year 1812. It’s in the same collection that gave us Lakeshire Park, in March, Proper Romance®.

Margaret Brinton believes she’s devised an effective plan; marry someone that would mollify those whom demand a match, but choose a suitor that does not incite any real feelings, and thus protect her heart from further injury. But the plan goes awry and Margaret finds that her father has already promised her to a man that does, in fact, rouse some strong emotion in her - loathing…

This is the kind of romance fans of Jane Austen will embrace. It has memorable characters, plenty of plot twists, and is rich with historical detail. I’m going to love putting Promised, and Margaret Brinton in the hands of my young teenaged girls, and then watch the emotions cross their faces with each twist and turn, as the story unfolds before them.

Order Your Copy of Promised