A soldier and a pacifist make the unlikeliest of pairs, but when passion sparks, there’s nothing that can prevent their love from igniting.
Winifred Cunningham, the adopted daughter of a portrait painter, hopes that her new close friend, Owen Ware, will soon ask for her hand in marriage. But when Owen introduces Winifred to his elder brother Nicholas, the late Earl of Stratton’s second son, the slow burn between them begins.
Nicholas is a cavalry colonel—a hardened soldier whom Winifred at first despises. She finds him intimidating and cruel-looking, while he finds her strange and startlingly forthright. During a summer at Ravenswood, however, Nicholas and Winifred are unwillingly thrown together on several occasions, until they realize the passion that drives their disagreements is not due to dislike—it is because of attraction.
Winifred still awaits Owen’s proposal, and Nicholas has made his intention to marry his commanding officer’s daughter quite clear. With allegiances to other marriage prospects and brotherly bonds at risk, not to mention the age difference between them, Nicholas and Winifred know it would be wholly improper to pursue a romance…
And yet, romance is irresistible. Perhaps even inevitable.
Released: January 6,2026
About the Author: Mary Balogh grew up in Wales and now lives with her husband, Robert, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series.
Book: The Search for the Shadow Cat: Book 3 of the Jaguar Oracle Series
Author: Kurt Mähler
Genre: Magical Realism Fantasy
Release Date: October 26, 2025
Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.
After a long absence from the Rio Grande Valley, the majestic jaguar named Oracle returns for a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat.”
With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, Oracle navigates a richly-drawn landscape, pressing through pain and perplexity to rediscover ancient wisdom that will awaken creation, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to treasured knowledge. Along the way, Oracle finds an unexpected ally in a conflicted young entrepreneur, while a hermit holds the key to unlocking the jaguar’s destiny.
Blending magical realism, mythology, and environmental advocacy, this pulse-pounding adventure will captivate readers with its tale of courage, honor, and the power of reclaiming our forgotten roots.
Kurt helps those who built someone else’s dream finally build their own.
As a speaker, advisor, and award-winning poet, he draws from twenty years of lived experience in forty nations.
He is a sought-after voice on five continents, advising expats in places as challenging as Cuba, Persia, and North Korea. He has published multiple books , hundreds of articles, and well-respected poetry.
Kurt and his wife Karen have been married since 1993 and raised their family in Afghanistan, where they founded a community development agency. They are Americans living in the Emirates with ties to the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, Louisiana, and New England.
He writes in the poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation, the mysteries of the Ancient Faith, and the drama of the nations. Guiding sources for his work include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien.
Why? Because thought leaders go back to the beginning to find the way forward.
The key to the future begins with a memory. Our calling comes from the original self the Creator had in mind when He said, “Let there be you.”
More from Kurt
How do you begin again? How do you take the first step alone?
Sometimes we don’t need a how-to manual to answer these questions. We need an encounter. We need a story.
That’s why I wrote this epic tale.
Saturated with poetry, proverbs, parables, and prayers, this book is in the tradition of the Christian poets and the Hebrew prophets. It is an immersion in a mystically supercharged natural world alongside a very real human drama.
Why? Because poetic storytelling, when done well, gives prophetic insight for the decisions we face. Then we can begin again. Then we can take the first step alone. Then we can do the thing that is in our heart to do. The thing the Creator placed there. Your calling: the original self He had in mind before the Fall when He said, “Let there be you.”
That’s what this story is about.
An epic quest for redemption and self-discovery
Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.
A long, mysterious absence and the fulfillment of a legacy
The majestic jaguar named Oracle has returned to the Rio Grande Valley to pick up the trail left by the last guardian of this endangered realm, Kahoo the Grave. Awakening a dormant legend, Oracle embarks on a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat”—to their rightful place as stewards of the animal kingdom.
With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, the jaguar navigates a richly-drawn landscape where created things have a voice. Oracle must press through pain and wrestle perplexity to rediscover the wisdom of the Days of First Things and restore the fragmented animal realm. As he does, creation awakens, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to ancient knowledge.
Reclaiming lost wisdom and honoring our connection to nature
But Oracle is not alone in his quest. He finds an unexpected ally in Tripp Menefee, the ambitious and conflicted young entrepreneur who runs the Eden’s Bend preserve and high-tech ranch, where a rhino, zebras, and other exotic beasts dwell alongside native ones.
Tripp and Oracle forge an invisible partnership as both seek to restore the animal kingdom while Tripp grapples with his own motivations—and the growing affection he has for the woman confronting him on the toll his development plans are taking on the delicate ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the hermit Brazos Ben, who had once nursed Oracle back to health, holds the key to unlocking the jaguar’s past and the secrets of the Lonely Tree at the heart of this landscape. As Ben is forced to confront his own painful history, he must decide whether to help Oracle complete his legacy or remain trapped in the shadows of the past.
My Review:
This series has been an interesting one to read. I have liked how we have a core group of friends from the first book who then find more along the way to help them in their quest. I like how each of the characters are striving to rediscover who God made them to be as they go on their adventure. I also love how unique they each are and how these unique talents and gifts help in the journey.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card; a high-resolution digital map of the entire series, a high-resolution cover, and the audiobook version featuring Nashville actor Zach Lazar Hoffman when it is released!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.
Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.
More from Dana
How could we be at the end of a series? I’ve been having a wonderful time with the Wolfe family and their house full of hounds. The last book is finally Beth’s story. She’s the matriarch of the family who has experienced the loss of a spouse. In this story, she will meet the son she never knew and explore the idea of learning to love again. I feel especially fond of this book because Beth is an older heroine who has some living under her belt. She’s learned how to carry on, with her old dog Arthur, and stand faithfully in the face of adversity. Now that’s a heroine I can root for! I hope you enjoy this final installment of the Security Hounds series!
My Review:
I enjoyed this story. I liked that we got to see Beth find love again. I liked seeing her reconnect with an old flame and seeing how they had both grown since they were young. I also liked the suspense in the story and that things were not always as they appeared to be. I liked how well Beth and Jack worked together and how they would do anything to protect each other. I thought this was a good conclusion to this series.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Magnolia “Mags” Davenport has not had an easy life. When the opportunity arises for her to move halfway across the country from Chicago to Horizon, will she get the new beginning her heart craves?
Four things of importance matter in Timothy Shepherdson’s life—faith, family, farming, and food. After a difficult start, will a beautiful newcomer to Horizon be added to his list?
Return to Horizon, Idaho, for Timothy Shepherdson’s story and meet newcomer, Mags, in this tender romance that reminds us that God is the author of new beginnings.
Penny Zeller is known for her stories of faith-filled happily ever afters with tender romance, humor, and memorable characters. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications. Today, Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books. She is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball. She resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers.
More from Penny
Sneak peek into Love on the Horizon
The best dreams were the ones that came true.
And Magnolia Davenport’s dreams were about to come true. She could feel it in her bones, as old Mrs. Fryman used to say.
She took a step back and scanned the bustling city. Hadn’t she read in a discarded newspaper that Chicago had reached over a million people? Yes, her decision to travel West would be a good one.
The train depot beckoned her, and she entered the stately brick Dearborn Station with its enormous clock tower. Folks hurried in every direction. Hopefully, with twenty-some railroad lines and countless departures, one of those departures would surely lead her to the new life that awaited her.
No one would be the wiser that a twenty-three-year-old woman would be boarding for free.
For what could she do? The two dollars she’d saved would only be for absolute necessities.
The lines to purchase tickets meandered through the building. Mags stood on tiptoe to see the departure signs when she noticed a wealthy couple in front of her in deep conversation.
“I anxiously anticipate seeing our grandchildren again,” the woman, who wore an elegant dress of the latest fashion, said.
“Yes, well, I’m never fond of visiting Horizon, but I know how much it means to you, and it’s been all of two months since we saw the grandchildren.”
“Indeed, Bertram. I miss them the second we board the train for Denver, and this time, having been in Maryland, I miss them all the more. Besides, Horizon is such a lovely place, and the people are so kind. I’ve actually made a few friends there.”
The man named Bertram, in the finest of silk hats, grunted. “Yes, Gladys, we all know you’ve made friends in Horizon.”
The topic that Bertram and Gladys spoke about intrigued Magnolia, and she stepped closer. Horizon sounded like just the place she’d like to live, especially if people were kind. Goodness knows she’d had her share of spiteful and cruel people in Chicago—many of whom were related.
My Review:
I enjoyed this story. I loved being able to revisit Horizon, Idaho and see beloved characters from the previous books. I liked that we got Timothy’s love story in this book and that he found his perfect match. I also liked seeing the struggles that Mags had and how she learned to trust the Lord. I have enjoyed the books by this author and would recommend any of them.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
He survived the war, but he didn’t come home whole. Hope of a ready-made family promises healing—until he learns the truth about his love’s adopted baby.
Beth Calloway has always longed for a family, but after a childhood marked by loss, she’s learned to live quietly—typing reports at the Boise Foundling Home and keeping her heart carefully tucked away. Until one snowy night, a baby is left on her doorstep. With no room at the orphanage and no one else to help, she takes the risk…never expecting the handsome wounded soldier next door to take notice.
Recently discharged from the army, Private Timothy McPhearson is a man on a mission. Haunted by his best friend’s death during WWII, he’s determined to uncover the truth—and escape the guilt that won’t let him go. Falling for his grandmother’s quiet tenant and the baby she’s sheltering isn’t part of the plan…but Beth and little Elly Rose begin to chip away at the walls he’s built.
Just as the three begin to imagine life as a family, a shattering revelation threatens to tear them apart. When the truth about baby Elly Rose comes to light—and danger closes in—Beth must fight to protect the child she’s come to love…even if it means letting go of the man who’s claimed her heart.
A heart-tugging postwar romance of second chances, found family, and love worth risking everything for.
Barbara A. Curtis lives in Connecticut with her husband, and they have one grown son, a blessing to their hearts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Novel Academy.
More from Barbara
In Gathered from the North, Mrs. McPhearson’s first step in solving a problem is to sit down with a cup of tea. During the same year of 1945, another tea drinker in real life—Ruth Campbell Bigelow—was enjoying tea in her New York brownstone and experimenting with finding a flavorful blend using black tea, orange rind, and sweet spices. When she hit upon the final recipe, Constant Comment was born, along with the Bigelow Tea Company.
While flavored teas are easy to find in grocery stores, tea shops, and online now, we can be grateful for Ruth Campbell Bigelow’s days of experimentation in her own kitchen, as Constant Comment was the first specialty tea in the United States. And where did the name come from? When she shared her new tea with others, one reported that this tea “caused nothing but constant comments.”
I hope you enjoy Gathered from the North—perhaps over a cup of tea, specialty blend or otherwise.
Blessings!
Barbara
My Review:
I have enjoyed the books I have read by this author. I like her characters and her settings. I liked how in this story both of her main characters struggled with forgiveness, whether it was others or themselves. I liked how once they forgave the were less burdened and were able to move forward in life. I also liked how they were able to open their hearts to love. I also like that these books follow the next generation in each book.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Book: Love in the Castle Library (In the Castle Library Book 2)
Author: Ann Swindell
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release Date: October 15, 2025
Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I.
Delphine’s split-second decision to hire Jack Worthington, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has long-lasting consequences when he steps in to protect her from an angry colleague determined to ruin her life. The only catch? That protection looks like Jack posing as her beau.
Jack Worthington believes that his instinct to protect Delphine was the right one, but he’s determined to stay focused on his research for Lethersby—and keep his emotional distance after reeling from a broken heart. Yet as the clues to discovering the Lost Queen’s story unravel and the Delphine’s future hangs in the balance, both Jack and Delphine must step out in faith, choosing to trust that what God has ahead for them is worth any risk.
ANN SWINDELL writes stories that point to Christ’s presence in our day-to-day lives and the hope He brings to our hearts. She is the award-winning author of multiple books and the owner of Writing with Grace, where she teaches Christ-centered writing classes for women. Ann lives in West Michigan, and she enjoys adventuring with her family…usually with a cup of Earl Grey tea in hand.
More from Ann
Love in the Castle Library is set in two of my favorite places—one imaginary, and one real. When I started the In the Castle Library series, the main character’s journey in book one (Christmas in the Castle Library) takes her to Lethersby, a small, fictional European country full of tradition, beauty, and charm. I tried to put much of what I love about Europe into this fictional country that I wish existed. From what readers have told me, they wish it was real, too!
Book two, Love in the Castle Library, is also set in the castle in Lethersby, but I decided to make my hero and heroine take a jaunt to Oxford, England—my favorite real country outside of the USA.
I spent a summer in college studying abroad in England, and Oxford was the city that captured my heart. The “city of dreaming spires” is ancient, beautiful, and academic—a heady mix for a nineteen-year-old girl who traveled there for the first time. I even gave a nod to one of Oxford’s most well-known professors through the hero’s name, Jack.*
I had the gift of getting to go back to Oxford with my family over a decade ago, and while I’m aching to go again, including some of my favorite places in Love in the Castle Library helped me to enjoy the city vicariously through my characters. Look for some of my favorite places to eat—including Ben’s Cookiesand the King’s Arms—when the characters visit. And if you ever have the opportunity to make it to Oxford, make the effort to buy one of those cookies (they’re sold by weight!) and enjoy some ice cream at G&D’s…the hero recommends chocolate of any kind (and so do I!).
I hope you love this story as much as I do, and that these tastes of beautiful places, both real and imagined, point your heart to the beauty of Christ that is at the heart of every story I write.
*Jack was C.S. Lewis’s nickname, and he taught at Magdalen College in Oxford from 1925-1954.
My Review:
I loved this story. I loved the sweet romance and I loved the mystery that they were trying to solve. I love how Jack was there for Delphine through everything and showed her what love was. I also loved seeing them both grow stronger in their faith. I also loved how the author revealed some clues about Queen Alma and how everything came together. I also loved that she left it open for another story. I loved the setting and the characters. I thought the story was very sweet and heart warming. I would highly recommend this book and the whole series.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…
A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.
When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.
Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.
Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, amnesia, a secret baby, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.
Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books sold. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.
More from Misty
Hello Reader Friends!
I’m BEYOND excited to share a brand new series with you! This idea has been percolating in my mind for a couple years now—a mash-up of two of my favorite historical romance genres: Regency England and the rugged American West.
In the Lords of the Rockies series, you’ll meet the five sons of an English duke who were sent to the wilds of the Montana Territory for their protection when they were boys. They’ve grown up there, become ranchers and mountain men in their own right.
It’s Regency meets the Rockies as these aristocratic brothers navigate the challenges of ranch life.
I’m especially excited to introduce you to the first book in the series, Mail-Order Duchess!
Enoch Balfour is one of my all-time favorite heroes…so incredibly swoony. He’s the second son, which means he never thought he would have to return to England and take over his father’s role as the Duke of Clarence. But now his eldest brother has passed in an unexpected riding accident. And Enoch has become the heir intended.
Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Suddenly having to leave the only life you’ve ever known to take up the duties of a title an ocean away?
And then there’s Mandie Beaumont, a young widow hoping for a fresh start in Montana. But when she arrives, an accident steals her recent memories, leaving her with no idea why she left her comfortable life in Savannah to travel across the country and marry a rancher she’s never met. Or maybe her previous life wasn’t so comfortable…
Can you imagine waking up one day to find yourself in a strange place with no recollection of how you got there or what you were running from?
I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say Mail-Order Duchess has all the ingredients for a story you won’t be able to put down—a marriage of convenience, hidden secrets, and an unlikely romance blossoming in the face of incredible odds. I’m so excited to share this story with you!
I’ve had such fun crafting the unique premise of an English aristocratic family making their way in the American West. Get ready for more heartfelt Western adventures tinged with Regency flair as the Lords of the Rockies series continues!
I pray you love Mail-Order Duchess!
Blessings!
Misty
My Review:
I enjoyed this book. I liked seeing Enoch and Mandie fall in love even when they weren’t sure if they could open their hearts up to it. I liked how Enoch grew and learned that it is better to love even when there is the possibility of loss then to never have loved or been loved. I also loved how supportive he was of Mandie. I also loved how brave Mandie was and how she would do anything to protect her child. I look forward to the other books in this series.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Book: Vengeance in Vienna (Troubled Waters Book 3)
Author: Sara L. Jameson
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: July 16, 2024
A moonlight sail. A sniper on the shore. A terrorist financier determined to kill Jacob and all he holds dear.
Interpol Special Agent Jacob Coulter and his fiancée Riley Williams set out on a moonlight sail, but a sniper turns their idyllic Austrin vacation into a deadly nightmare.
On temporary assignment to the Vienna Interpol office, Jacob must apprehend a notorious terrorist financier and uncover his operations in Austria. But the financier is determined to destroy all Jacob holds dear. And that includes his kid sister and his fiancée, Riley Williams.
Opera singer Riley Williams is tired of dodging terrorist attempts on her life. When she insists on helping Jacob catch the financier and his henchmen, she gets into more trouble than she bargained for.
But the financier’s tentacles of evil reach far deeper into the Austrian economy than Jacob and Riley suspected. What they uncover appalls them. The clock is ticking. Can Jacob find them before it’s too late?
Sara L. Jameson won Scrivenings Press’s grand prize publishing contract in January 2021. They released her debut romantic suspense novel, Cruise to Death, in June 2021. Death in High Places, (Book 2 in the Troubled Waters series), released February 2023, followed by Vengeance in Vienna, July 2024. She is currently working on books 4 and 5 of the Troubled Waters series for Scrivenings Press.
In real life, Sara is a multi-published former university professor who has also written non-fiction under her real name and edits book manuscripts for other authors. She also pens WWII historical novels. When not at her computer, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, and dog-sitting.
More from Sara
Ever since childhood, I’ve loved to travel. Memories of family cross-country car trips still make me smile. Breakfast and lunch prepped from goodies chilled in the ice chest. Kellogg’s single-serve cereals or cake doughnuts with milk and juice. (Rare treats in our household.) A sandwich prepared at a roadside picnic table for lunch. As an adult, their lack of nutrition makes me shudder.
These days, my tastes have grown more sophisticated. Scrumptious buffet breakfasts in European or Asian hotels make my mouth water. Local dishes creep into my books. And no trip to Antwerp, Belgium is complete without a serious stop at a delectable chocolate shop. Naturally, for the reader’s sake, Sampling these treats for authenticity in the novel is a must, right?
While tempting the palate with sumptuous Viennese pastries at Heiner’s, my favorite Konditorei (pastry shop), Vengeance in Vienna whisks readers through the stunning Austrian countryside with assassins at Jacob and Riley’s backs, and a terrorist financier determined to destroy them. Dehmel’s is another Konditorei readers might want to visit. Both Konditoreien are steeped in history, atmosphere, and Old-World charm. Are you salivating yet?
Better yet, grab a copy of Vengeance in Vienna and curl up for a nail-biting armchair trip to beautiful Austria filled with heart-pounding romantic suspense.
My Review:
I have enjoyed this series. I like the characters and I like the suspense in each of the books. I like how the characters grow in their relationship as they face challenging situations. I also like how they make a great team. I enjoyed the twist and turns in the story and loved how the story ended. I loved that we got another story with these great characters.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Book: A Daughter’s Choice (The Heart of the Amish Book Ten)
Author: Kelly Irvin
Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction
Release Date: November, 2025
Henrietta Is Set Against Love
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish Country.
Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat’s milk and goat’s soaps. Against her the wishes of her father–who’s also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen’s beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less.
Award-winning author Kelly Irvin has published more than 30 novels and a dozen novellas. The bestselling novelist worked as a newspaper reporter before spending 22 years in public relations. She now writes fiction full time. She and her husband live in Texas. They are the parents of two kids, four grandkids, and an ornery senior cat.
More from Kelly
Research for A Daughter’s Choice leads to goats nips and cow cuddles
By Kelly Irvin
Each time I come up with a new story concept, I’m super excited about it. When a publisher lets me know the “pub” committee has approved a contract for the story, I get even more excited. Then I sit down at my computer, open a document, and zoom, my fingers take off on the keyboard . . . . nope . . . not exactly.
What really happens is that I suddenly realize this fabulous story idea will require a ton of research. In the case of A Daughter’s Choice, featuring goat lover Henrietta “Hen” Miller, I needed to be an “expert” on raising goats and tending to a horse with colic and making candy from goat’s milk, and delivering a foal that isn’t positioned correctly (and treating a crotchety cat!). The story also required a deep dive into several other kinds of livestock, veterinarians’ clinics and vet assistants, and facets of the Amish faith that I wanted to make sure I addressed properly.
Much of this information is easily available on the Internet and in the many reference books about the Amish I’ve acquired over the years. But on-line research doesn’t allow me to get up close and personal with key characters in my story—the animals. I especially wanted to hang out with some goats. To my surprise, I had trouble finding a place in the San Antonio area where I could interact with these frolicking creatures.
Then my daughter-in-law came to the rescue. She found Cavalry Farm, a nonprofit organization that takes in and cares for all sort of livestock animals in little Adkins, Texas, just south of San Antonio. They have frequent open houses where—for a nominal fee—the public can visit, pet, feed, and yes, cuddle some of the animals. My response? ROAD TRIP!
The farm is home to a small herd of pygmy goats as well as larger dairy goats. I have never been close to a goat, so I didn’t know what to expect. They were as curious about me as I was about them. They crowded around me, climbed up my rollator, chewed on my purse strap, nibbled at the zipper on my shorts’ pocket, and prodded my hands with their noses. I had a fabulous time!
The volunteer who stayed with us in the goat pen shared all sorts of tidbits about the care of goats. My grandson, who’s two and a half, chatted with them. I took lots of photos for marketing purposes. Most importantly, I gained an understanding of why Hen is so enamored of goats. They’re lively, friendly, and determined to learn all about their visitors.
Of course, Hen isn’t simply a “goat whisperer.” She also loves horses, which leads to her first encounter with vet assistant Nicholas Byler, a newcomer to Smicksburg, PA, and many other animals, including cats and dogs. At Cavalry Farm, I also was able to visit with
Research/Kelly Irvin/2
horses, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, chickens, turkeys, and cows. I’m from Kansas so I’ve had my share of livestock sightings. However, I’ve never been offered an opportunity to snuggle a cow. Who knew that is a thing? My farmer family members will find it humorous, I’m sure.
The cows lounge on the grass just waiting for a visitor to come along, sit beside them, and snuggle up. It’s so stinking cute!
No cow snuggling occurs in A Daughter’s Choice. However, I can assure readers there is plenty of fun with a runaway puppy up for adoption, goats on the loose tearing through a wedding prep tent, and more. The story also moves beyond the humorous as Hen overcomes past losses and grief , allowing her to make important choices about her future. Nicholas too has to make hard choices about his occupation and his life as a faithful Amish believer. What they decide will determine if they find their happily-ever-after!
If you’d like to know more about Cavalry Farm and their mission, check out the website at http://www.cavalryfarms.org.
My Review:
I enjoyed this story. I liked how Hen is so different then the other Amish women and is trying to find where she fits in. I liked seeing her grow and help soften some people’s hearts towards her differences. I also liked how Hen and Nicholas start off not getting alone even though they have a lot in common but eventually come to accept each other and eventually fall in love. I loved seeing the characters grow through out the story and embrace who God made them to be.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Regency Romance
Release Date: November, 2025
She forgot she loved him. He would die to make her remember.
Meg Foxcroft has never minded the tattling village gossip or her uncle’s ill-tempered rebukes. After all, she has Tom McGwen—and one day, they will build their own cottage, paint it red, and live a wonderful life.
But then the unthinkable happens. Meg is attacked, her uncle’s apothecary shop goes up in flames, and when she wakes up in the arms of an eloquent lord, she remembers nothing. Not even her own name.
In a frantic race against time, Tom plunges into dangerous water, bent on sheltering Meg from harm and discovering who wants her dead. Even if she despises him. Even if it’s now the handsome lord she casts her smile upon.
As danger swells and truth comes crashing around them, Meg must confront the past and decide who she trusts—and loves—before the enemy makes the final strike.
Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels filled with passion, secrets, and danger. She is a four-time Selah Award winner, a 2023 Carol Award semi-finalist, a 2023 Angel Book Award third place winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Also, Hannah is an international and multi-award-winning graphic designer who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a self-portrait photographer of historical fashion. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, ukulele, and banjolele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, square dancing, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.
More from Hannah
We’re made for someone. I think I’ve always believed this—that it was never about proximity, or happenchance, or who you know, or where you are.
But that God, in His infinite wisdom, created a second half for each of us.
Someone who fits in the curve of your neck when you hug.
Who laughs at the things you laugh at.
Who speaks to you in a language your soul understands.
I think that’s why I love The Red Cottage so much. Circumstances would have never mattered with Tom and Meg. They loved each other. They were linked. And even if everything had been different, if they had been born hundreds of years before, they would have found their way back to each other.
If the age was ancient Egypt, and he had been a Pharaoh, and she a slave, they would have discovered each other.
If the year was 1920, and he a factory worker, and she the daughter of an oil tycoon, they would have defied the rules of society.
In any other place, in any other time, in any other way, Tom would have loved Meg. And Meg would have loved Tom. That is the beauty and the mind-blowing magic of real love.
So, when you fall into the pages of The Red Cottage, I hope you aren’t so foolish as to imagine this was an accident. That Tom said the right things, or that Meg felt vulnerable in just the right places, and that their bond—both the first and second time—was a mere hapless stroke of luck.
They would have loved each other anyway.
We’re all made for someone.
My Review:
I have really enjoyed books by this author and this book was also well written. The story pulls you in from the first page and you want to know what happens to the characters next. I love that there is mystery and romance woven through out the story. I love the unexpected twist and turns that you didn’t see coming. I also loved Tom as a character and that he never gave up on finding Meg and how no matter if she remembers him, he will still love her. I loved how these characters grew and became better versions of themselves by the end of the story.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
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