A few years ago I read a book about a woman who visited Ireland and the ensuing story. Well, last month I chatted with her about her Forever Series and especially, Forever Free. Listen in and see why I am excited to check out this series (especially #4!)

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I loved Hope's author history--from the book that people thought was about someone a lot like her to the opposite, to yet another opposite, and back to familiar territory (but not like her again!)

We chatted about learning how to write first a book, then a series, then a novella, and now back to stand alones. I love that she, too, is a discovery writer. With her great ideas, I'm eager for her new book next summer, too

I meant to ask her about reading order, but forgot. I asked after we stopped recording and learned that the books are technically stand alones, but it is a good idea to read from the beginning through to the end.

Forever Free by Hope Toler Dougherty

Phoebe Sinclair combines her love of flowers and teaching to nurture a cut flower business on her grandfather's land. She has her hands full growing the farm, growing her customer base, and dealing with her growing attraction to the aloof man who volunteered to help make her farming dream come true.

Can she focus on her main job, or will a pair of yearning eyes and a hurting heart divert her worthy goals?

Heath Daniels has resigned himself to a life of singleness as he watches his siblings couple up and set wedding dates. Tracking their happiness, however, is more difficult than he expected. A real struggle, in fact.

Feeling old troubles—from the bad time when he dropped out of college to explore less-than-noble pursuits—creep back to tempt him, propelling him to volunteer for manual labor that leaves him exhausted at the end of every day—and out of trouble.

His additional hours of agri-business, however, lead to more struggles with an intriguing farmer. Does he have the strength to resist old temptations as well as a beautiful new one?

Learn more about Hope on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Nothing says "sign me up now" than a new book from Becca Wierwille. I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Road Trip Redemption, and boy was I thrilled. Listen in to see why.

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Full of wonderful lessons that appear naturally within the story rather than feeling placed there for maximum impact (read: SERMON), Road Trip Redemption ends the fabulous Road Trip Series with a bang--and an epic road trip.

I love that while these are unapologetically Christian middle-grade novels, they don't feel like a 19th-century, pin-it-on-the-nose moralistic tale. They're just kids learning the ropes of growing up, making mistakes, learning from them, and coming out better people for it. You know... that humanity thing we're all a part of.

We also chatted about what's coming next, and I, for one, am crazy excited.

Listen to previous episodes here:

Road Trip Rescue: HERE

Road Trip Return: HERE

And listen to their new PODCAST HERE.

Road Trip Redemption by Becca Wierwille

A hopeful adventure for kids ages 8-12 about sisterhood, friendship, and the power of starting over.

Three years ago, Jada Robinson betrayed her best friend.

Now, her family has moved, and thirteen-year-old Jada struggles to make friends. Realizing how it feels to be bullied, she’d give anything to undo the past.

When Jada finds a stray dog, she is sure he’s the same beloved pet her ex-best friend, Kimmy, once lost. This feels like Jada’s chance to make things right.

Jada talks her two older sisters into a trip to Pennsylvania to reunite Kimmy with her furry friend. But as new questions about their canine companion unravel Jada’s plans, she wonders how she’ll face Kimmy after all these years.

Learn more about Becca on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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If you love the children's classic, A Little Princess and story of Joseph from the Bible, imagine them set in a fantasy world filled with artists. Listen in while we talk about art academies and princes who don't want to be king!

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Author of books like The Vault between Spaces and Beast, Chawna Schroeder does it again with a wonderful world of art and honor--and the things in between.

Don't forget to check out the seven elements of the school "hidden" (not really but you get the idea) on the cover!

Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder

Glimpse the past, illuminate the future.

Yosarai Patican dreams of becoming an illuminator in a country that values art above all else. A lofty goal that finally seems within reach when she earns a position at the prestigious Academy of the Seven Arts. Although Yosarai loathes to leave behind her quiet country life, she travels to the capital, determined to live up to her mother’s fame as one of Indel’s greatest artists.

Prince Xander never planned to become king. Indeed, he never wanted to become king. But when his father dies suddenly, he is thrust into the middle of coronation preparations—and assassination attempts. With everyone around him in increasing danger, Xander decides to hide in neighboring Indel until the time for him to be crowned king arrives.

Posing as an inventor struggling with aesthetics, Xander enlists Yosarai’s aid as part of his cover, but soon he suspects she knows more than she should. But when danger threatens and secrets are exposed, entering a competition reputed as cutthroat may be the only way for them to protect everything they hold dear.

Learn more about Chawna on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Seth has three weeks to save his sister. Just hack into the government and voila. All saved. No biggie. Ahem. Listen in and see what his sister's fate is if Seth fails!

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In a world with cameras everywhere, Jeremiah Friedli takes it to new levels in this sci-fi... well, he doesn't call it a thriller, but it sure feels like it might be one to me. If you liked Amanda G. Stevens' Haven Seekers series, I think this will be right up your alley.

Core Deception by Jeremiah Friedli

In a world where the government’s CORE systems see and track everyone, seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez is determined to save his sister from being placed in a reeducation facility. Armed with a cryptic letter, Seth embarks on a search for the valuable incognito devices—cyber master keys that can set his sister free.

But with only three weeks remaining, he finds himself wedged between two powerful forces who will stop at nothing to get the devices first.

Learn more about Jeremiah on his WEBSITE and follow him on GoodReads.

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Christian chapter books for early readers are hard to find. Listen in and learn why Allie Slocum added subtle lessons about parts of speech in hers!

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Where were these books when I was homeschooling young elementary kids? The stories look like heaps of fun, and a lesson or two along that way? Yes, please!

Joseph O'Tooley and the Escape of Herb the Verb by Allie Slocum

Every kid struggles with humility from time to time. Joseph (Joey) O'Tooley is no different. He is Peter's (Peter O'Tooley, Bugged and Bullied, Vol. 4 in the Character Club Series) younger brother. Mrs. Dish's new puppet, a firefighter called Herb the Verb, has been locked away! See if you can solve the escape room clues before Joey and his classmates.

You might just learn about verbs and something about humility along the way. Great read-aloud for teachers. Built-in glossary, discussion questions and teaching materials included. More at www.characterclubonline.com

Learn more about Allie and the Character Club on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

You can view Allie's YouTube HERE.

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I love American homefront stories from WWII. Make them epistolary novels and, well, that makes them just about perfect. Listen in to learn more about Caitlin Miller's Our Yellow Tape Letters.

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When Caitlin Miller said she was inspired by Amy Lynn Green's Things We Didn't Say AND that Green endorsed the novel, well... I knew this book would be excellent!

I've already started reading it, and so far it doesn't disappoint.

Our Yellow Tape Letters by Caitlin Miller

Just days away from Germany's surrender, Lucy Skyes never expects to receive the same telegram that thousands of families across the world have since the start of World War Two: a notice of her brother's death in the service of his country. While reeling from the shock of losing her best friend, Lucy receives a letter from someone who knew her brother and can tell her two things she desperately wants to know: What her brother's life was like in the army and who is responsible for his death.

Jeremiah Sparrow wakes up in an army hospital, unable to remember what put him there, why he can't hear anything, or who he lost. When memories resurface of a plane crash, a parachute, and a friend, Jeremiah harbors deep guilt and secrets. Jeremiah sends a letter of his own to Lucy—and his words open a door that may cost him more than he realizes.

Everyone has secrets to unearth and stories to tell. War, loss, and letters—they are a lot like yellow tape: Once you cross that line, there is no going back. And sometimes, what you find on the other side looks nothing like you imagined it to.

Learn more about Caitlin on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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I'm so excited about the On Victory's Wings series by Jennifer Mistmorgan. We had a blast chatting and you won't want to miss out on the a mini brainstorming session we had.

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World War II had no end of amazing stories of heroism--in battle and on the home front. Sometimes it's a noble heart doing what might have been done at any time and in any situation but is made even more impressive by the difficult circumstances. This series touches them all and more. I think the These Long Shadows may be my favorite, but... I have to read them all to be sure!

These Long Shadows by Jennifer Mistmorgan

How do they rebuild a marriage that wasn’t real in the first place? If you love epic wartime romance with a dash of intrigue, you’ll love this second-chance, marriage-of-convenience love story.

London, 1945: Two years ago, Jonty Ables married Katie Baines to save her and her unborn baby from shame. But now the war is all but over, the baby is gone and they must work out where their shaky marriage fits into lives irrevocably changed by war.

Clinging to the memory of a time before all happiness evaporated, Katie works hard during the day as a seamstress. At night she comes home to a tiny terrace on a bomb-scarred street, crammed with her extended family and their problems. Years of estrangement sit between her and her recently demobilised husband. She’s not even sure she loves him. So why is she so crushed that he calls out another woman’s name in his sleep?

Jonty is determined to honor the vows he made no matter how many ghosts plague him. But with such separate lives, his wife is more of a stranger than ever. When Katie’s friend goes missing, Jonty seizes the opportunity to help her find him just so they have reason to talk. But the war casts long shadows over their efforts, and fighting for their future might just be the hardest battle of them all.

Book 3 of the On Victory's Wings series, These Long Shadows, is easily read as a standalone novel.

Learn more about Jennifer on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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When I read that Kelli Galyean's novel explores an unwanted abortion and the fallout that follows, I knew I had to read it. Listen in to discover the twist that cemented that decision.

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Abortion is such a difficult topic to begin with, but when it's forced on you by parents looking out for their political ambitions... things get a whole new level of painful and complicated.

Add to that the grief, the need for Jesus, and the need for forgiveness from many sides, and Kelli has a book I don't think readers will want to miss.

How Can It Be? by Kelli Galyean

As a college student, Mia Browning shared a carefree weekend with drummer Ryan Blackstone. Soon after, Mia learned she was pregnant, a fact her politically-ambitious parents would not allow to stay true. A forced abortion left her broken and alone.

Ten years later, Mia has found healing and embraced a new life in Christ. Mia arrives at church one Sunday, to find that the new worship minister is none other than the blue-eyed drummer of her past.

Seeing Ryan again after all these years is complicated. Serving at the youth camp means they are often thrown together, creating an unexpected friendship. Growing closer seems inevitable, but will they both have the courage to let go of the past and move forward into something deeper?

For those days when life feels complicated, here is a book that invites readers to remember the truest thing about all of us: that we are loved by God and saved by His grace. This book is a warm hug, a lighthearted laugh, and an invitation into joy!

Learn more about Kelli on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads.

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