Drumroll…………….love sharing new books with you and Bethany House always has a lot to offer and the range below which will be hitting shelves mid 2012 are looking great, don’t you think?
Let’s talk! First covers ~ I love Ann’s sepia coloured cover and J. Mark Bertrand’s, themed with his others in the series. As far as the historicals go, more of the same although I quite like Tracie & Judith’s with the couple in the background – they remind me of Gilbert and Anne! Mary’s just don’t appeal to me but her writing is fun so it won’t put me off reading it.
I love discovering new authors so keen to read Dani, Becky and Todd’s books (I never go past a great legal thriller!) and I’m delighted Don has brought back Jack Hawthorne. I’m tipping Ann, Karen W and Mark’s will be fantastic and I can assure you Karen Hancock’s Arena is a brilliant read as I have it in its original form.
All in all, I’m excited about these offerings ~ what do you think?
NB. Some of the title links to Amazon aren’t working yet but they should be soon. I’ll be back tomorrow with Revell’s releases so be sure to drop back.
Jane Morrow has a dilemma. She’s engaged to Seth Ballantine, a member of the National Guard’s 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and he’s returned from Iraq severely wounded. Jane hasn’t seen him for nearly a year, and with trepidation, she heads to the VA hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is being treated.
Seth isn’t happy to see her. He’d asked her not to come. He wants to end the relationship. But Jane loves him, and despite his injury, she’s determined to convince him that they can have a life together. Her faith has never been strong, yet she hopes God will answer her prayers and tell her what to do.
Beautifully written, Travelers Rest takes readers on a journey through pain and tragedy to a place of hope and redemption.
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a small town. She’s returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn’t appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge.
She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he’s not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?
May, 2012
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance, takes a leave of absence from her job as a social worker, and the two of them set off.
Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man her grandmother has hired to renovate the house. From the first moment she meets Matt, Kate can’t help but be attracted to him–he’s got a combination of good looks and charisma that draw and tug at her.
But she knows there’s zero chance of a romance between them. Matt’s in love with his dead wife, and even if he weren’t, Kate realizes that she’s way too ordinary for him. For Matt Jarreau is no ordinary guy. Kate discovers that he was once a great NHL hockey player who left the sport when his wife–an honest-to-goodness former Miss America–was diagnosed with brain cancer. Matt’s been hiding from people, from God, and from his past ever since. Yet Kate is absolutely determined to befriend him, to try to reach him, to help him in some small way.
No, Kate’s not looking for love. She knows better than that by now. But when the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she
ever dreamed?
May, 2012
When Laura Marquardt first meets Brandon Reid, their encounter is anything but pleasant. But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests–Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon, as a white officer over colored troops, eagerly supports her cause.
When Laura’s sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears plots to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister’s trust and possibly endanger her sister’s life. And when Brandon’s motives for pursuing her come into question, her heart is even more conflicted. Where is God leading her?
June, 2012
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.
Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can’t bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?
June, 2012
When costume-maker Ellie Moore suddenly finds herself out of a job in the middle of a bleak Chicago winter, she uses her knowledge of theatrical disguise to secure a position as an undercover operative with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Her assignment: find the culprit behind the theft of silver shipped from the mines near Pickford, Arizona.
Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie begins her investigation. Soon she finds she must also pose as the dazzling young Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.
Mine owner Steven Pierce is about to lose his business after the theft of several bullion shipments–until hope arrives in the unlikely form of Lavinia Stewart, who offers to invest in Steven’s mine. In his wildest dreams, Steven never expected to be rescued by an inquisitive gray-haired widow… or to fall head over heels for Lavinia’s captivating niece, Jessie.
But then the thieves come after both Lavinia and Jessie. Ellie isn’t safe no matter which character she plays! Will she be forced to reveal her true identity before the criminals are caught? What will Steven do when he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t exist?
June, 2012
Amy Knackstedt moves with her children to Weaverly, Kansas, to escape the speculation surrounding her husband’s untimely death. She hopes the new location will provide a fresh start for them all. But her neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have a Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. When the children try to befriend him, he resists.
Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn’t want any reminders of his former life. Yet Amy and Tim find their paths colliding far more than either could have foreseen. Will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?
July, 2012
Just three years after the recovery of Elisha’s bones, Dr. Jack Hawthorne has given up teaching and resumed the practice of archaeology, although his frequent absences have put a strain on his relationship with Esperanza. Things heat up when Esperanza receives a call from an antiquities dealer with troubling news about Jack, and her fears are confirmed. Jack has gone to Libya in search of another biblical artifact: the Nehushtan, the serpent staff of Moses.
After Jack arrives in Libya, he soon discovers he isn’t the only one searching for the Nehushtan. Later, in attempting to steal it, he finds himself in the hands of a man who just might be his match. Jack and his friends must stay one step ahead of the Libyan government, an overambitious member of the Vatican hierarchy, and an Egyptian assassin–if they stand any chance of staying alive long enough to recover the staff.
July, 2012
Marc Royce stares down from the helicopter on the Rift Valley slashing across Africa like a scar. Tribal feuds, drought, and dislocation have left their devastation. And he sees a new wound–a once-dormant volcano oozing molten lava across the dry landscape-and clouds of ash obscure his vision. His undercover assignment is similarly obscured. Supposedly dispatched to audit a relief organization’s accounts, Marc finds himself amid the squalor and chaos of Kenyan refugee camps caught in a stranglehold of corruption and ruthlessness.
But his true task relates to the area’s reserves of once-obscure metals now indispensible to high-tech industry. The value of this rare earth inflames tensions on the world’s stage as well as among warring tribes. When an Israeli medical administrator, Kitra, seeks Marc’s help with her humanitarian efforts, they forge an unexpected link between impoverished African villages and another Silicon Valley rising in the Israeli desert. Precious metals and inventive minds promise new opportunities for prosperity, secure futures, and protection of valuable commodities from terrorists. As Marc prepares to report back to Washington, he seizes a chance to restore justice to this troubled land. This time, he may have gone too far.
July, 2012
Publishers Weekly calls J. Mark Bertrand’s writing “gritty and chilling.” He returns once more to the streets of Houston for another twisting mystery featuring Detective Roland March. This time, a new case is launched by the discovery of a headless corpse… only the investigation quickly becomes complicated when a blood sample analysis brings a phone call from the FBI.
The body was an undercover agent working to bring down Mexican drug cartels. The feds want the case closed rather than risk exposing other agents in the field, but March can’t abide letting a murder go unsolved. And he doesn’t have to dig long to figure out something isn’t right. Someone is covering something up, and it seems that everyone has something to hide. Maybe even March, as the case soon intersects, unexpectedly, with the murder that led him to become a homicide cop, all those years ago.
Lizzie Engel is used to running away. At eighteen, she left her Mennonite hometown, her family, and her faith with plans never to return. Five years later, Lizzie finds she’ll have to run again. False accusations at her job, a stalker, and a string of anonymous threatening letters have left her with no other options. This time, however, her escape is back to Kingdom, her hometown.
As Lizzie becomes reacquainted with Kingdom, she realizes she may not have left her Mennonite roots and her faith as firmly in the past as she thought. She draws on the support of Noah Housler, an old friend, as she hides out and attempts to plan her next steps. When it becomes painfully clear that the danger has followed Lizzie to Kingdom, suspicions and tensions run high, and she no longer knows who to trust. With her life and the lives of those she loves at risk, Lizzie will have to run one last time–to a Father whose love is inescapable.
July, 2012
When Jared Neaton grew tired of the shady ethics of his big law firm and left to go out on his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big case collapsing on him has pushed him to the brink and it’s all he can do to scrape by. He can’t risk another bad loss.
Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father’s death, she found a slim piece of paper–a deposit slip–with an unbelievable amount on it. Ten million dollars. Only the bank claims it has no record of the deposit and stonewalls her attempts to find out more. This lawsuit, her last chance, has brought only intimidation and threats. Now she needs to convince Jared to take a risk, to help her because the money is real. And both need to watch their backs as digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats.
July, 2012
Callie Hayes is living a life of fear and disillusionment when she is dropped into a terrifying world where a battle rages between good and evil. With limited resources and only a few cryptic words to guide her, Callie embarks on a life-changing journey.
Award-winning author Karen Hancock mesmerizes readers with vivid imagery as her compelling characters navigate the devious terrain of an alien world.
July, 2012
Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman
Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She’s overwhelmed and burned out, and in today’s unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.
The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that “living simple” is no simple matter.
With the camera watching every move, Susan’s drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of “going Amish” gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.
July, 2012
After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.
Cassie’s arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she’s kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But Lucas Engstrom decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.
Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father’s dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?
August, 2012
To Love and Cherish by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller
When Melinda Colson’s employer announces they’ll be leaving Bridal Veil Island to return to their home in Cleveland, Melinda hopes her beau, Evan, will propose. But Evan isn’t prepared to make an offer of marriage until he knows he can support a wife and family. Evan works as the assistant gamekeeper on Bridal Veil but hopes to be promoted soon.
Letters strengthen their love, but Melinda remains frustrated at being apart from the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Then she learns of a devastating hurricane in Bridal Veil and knows she must give up her position as a lady’s maid and make her way back to Evan.
The destruction on Bridal Veil is extensive, meaning every available person is needed to help with cleanup and repairs. Melinda finds a new job on the island, but Evan seems even busier than before, meaning she still never gets to see him. Has she given her heart to the wrong man?
And when Melinda overhears a vicious plot against President McKinley, who is scheduled to visit the island, is Evan the one she should turn to? Will Melinda and Evan ever get the chance to stand at the front of a church and promise “to love and cherish”?
August, 2012
Over the Edge by Mary Connealy
Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he’s never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he’s gone over the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back crazier than ever.
After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he’s got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn’t happy to find out Seth doesn’t remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she’s come to the Kincaid family’s ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband.
Callie isn’t a long-suffering woman. Once she knows her husband is alive, she wants to kill him. She’s not even close to forgiving him for abandoning her.
Then more trouble shows up in the form of a secret Seth’s pa kept for years. The Kincaid brothers might lose their ranch if they can’t sort things out. It’s enough to drive a man insane–but somehow it’s all making Seth see things more clearly. And now that he knows what he wants, no one better stand in his way.
August, 2012
October 26, 2011 at 2:55 am
Oh my goodness – I'm super excited for My Stubborn Heart! It sounds really good!
October 26, 2011 at 2:57 am
Every one of these look absolutely fantastic! I do have to say that I'm super excited about Karen's new one out in June (LOVE her!) and Kim's out in July. Arena also looks very good and I've enjoyed Karen's works in the past. August won't be here soon enough for Mary's newest release either! Love me some Kincaid boys!
For those I didn't mention, it's because I haven't read anything by them yet. It just gives me a good excuse to find a new author or two!
I love these posts but it seriously kills my pocketbook and my over towering stack of books to read. Hubby may kick me and my books out soon! LOL
October 26, 2011 at 3:09 am
Oh, Rel, you are always so on top of things in the publishing world – and I love it!! Thank you for sharing these delicious cover and blurbs with us! 😀
The ones that most intrigue me on this list are Travelers Rest, Short-Straw Bride (I love Karen's books, and what an adorable cover!!), and Love in Disguise. Christian fiction covers always seem to be so lovely and bright and creative! 🙂
And as for Mary's book, after reading Out of Control I'm quite curious as to what Seth's story is going to be like!
~Amber
October 26, 2011 at 3:17 am
SQUEE!!! More new books to add to my WL! I was just saying today how much I loved you for posting about upcoming books. 😀
XOXO~ Renee C.
October 26, 2011 at 3:32 am
Thanks, Rel! Bethany House designs the most amazing covers, don't they? So appreciate your post!
October 26, 2011 at 3:44 am
BTW I already peeked at Revell's and they look ah-mazing too! 😉
XOXO~ Renee
October 26, 2011 at 5:38 am
Oh, some of these look so good! Too bad they are mid 2012 releases and not sooner.
October 26, 2011 at 12:20 pm
The difference between the books written by the men and the women are startling. Do they think that women MUST have faces on their covers? Karen Hancock's book is the only female author without faces but hers is also the only fantasy book. It's just very interesting.
October 26, 2011 at 12:46 pm
The Bertrand is by far my favorite cover in the bunch.
October 26, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Thanks, Rel, for posting all these new covers. It's always so fun to see what's coming. I met Dani Pettrey at the ACFW conference in Sept, and I can't wait to read Sumbmerged. Super sweet gal with an imagination just twisted enough for awesome suspense writing!
October 26, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Oh wow, Karen's new book, Short-Straw Bride, looks AWESOME!!! Love the front cover. Deff one I must read!
October 26, 2011 at 4:06 pm
What a great list! Love seeing more from new authors!
The one's that strike my fancy: Traveler's Rest, Submerged, My Stubborn Heart, Love in Disguise (love books about The Pinkerton Agency), Nothing to Hide, and The Deposit Slip. I'll probably try to read most of the rest of them as well.
October 26, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Absolutely looking forward to J. Mark Bertrand's Nothing to Hide. Love the similar theme used on his covers.
Attractive but won't read (don't do historicals): To Love and Cherish; Love in Disguise (very striking and I don't usually like full face covers)
Traveler's Rest is beautiful.
My Stubborn Heart looks like it fits the story.
Want to read Submerged – don't particularly like the half face on the cover.
October 26, 2011 at 8:21 pm
I cannot wait to read My Stubborn heart and Inescapable…great reads coming are way…:D
October 26, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Katie ~ looks like a great read. Can't wait to be posting your debut cover 🙂
Julie ~ yes, I have the same book creep all over my house, too!
Amber ~ you are so sweet! I'm with you on Karen's books and covers 🙂
Renee ~ your encouragement makes me smile! Thanks xo
Dani ~ my pleasure 🙂
Sara ~ patience, my friend 😉
Deborah ~ yep, I agree. I guess it is all about the audience the pubs believe they are targeting.
Wordlily ~ yep, I love it, too.
Katie ~ Karen is such a great writer 🙂
Jenny ~ a lot look good, don't they?
Nicole ~ thanks for sharing. I love Mark's themed covers – they look so good on my shelves, too – hehe!
Tina ~ it's going to be another great reading year, I think!!
October 27, 2011 at 12:11 am
♥♥♥ these! Wow that is so awesome to see so many new authors coming up! Though I see my TBR stack getting taller by the second. 😉
I love Carol Cox's novel. WOW what a cover! Thanks Rel. 🙂
October 27, 2011 at 10:26 am
Look good, don't they, Casey?
November 3, 2011 at 2:36 am
Weird. I know I commented on this but don't see it. There are SEVERAL on this list I want to read: Don Hoesel's, J Mark Betrand's, and Dani Pettrey's!! WOOT!
November 3, 2011 at 5:02 am
Great looking books! The cover of Whispers in the Wind she looks like a young Jessica Biel. Love it!!!