• Best Christian Romance Books,  Christmas Cheer

    The Mechanics of Mistletoe by Liz Isaacson

    The Mechanics of Mistletoe book cover

    He can be a teddy or a grizzly. She’s a genius with a wrench. Can the pretty mechanic tame this cowboy’s wild side, or will they both be left broken-hearted this Christmas?

    Bear Glover always thought he’d be just fine working his generational family ranch and going back to the homestead alone. But he’s had a crush on Samantha Benton for a while now, and he’s decided it’s time to do something about it. But his first date with Sammy is a spectacular disaster. But when three tornadoes hit Three Rivers, his first thought is of the beautiful woman he’d really like a second chance with.

    Sammy feels like she has to be the strong one in her family. Ever since her sister and her husband died, Sammy’s taken care of Lincoln, her sister’s son, and her aging parents. And three tornadoes? They’ve only added the weight of the world to Sammy’s shoulders. School’s been canceled, and she has nowhere for her eight-year-old to go.

    Bear knows exactly what to do with an eight-year-old boy on a ranch, and he offers to take Lincoln up to Shiloh Ridge Ranch with him every day. Bear has an answer for everything—which only makes Sammy feel weak. And she hates nothing more than feeling weak. Can Sammy realize that the Lord may have given her Bear so she doesn’t have to be strong all the time? Or will she sabotage their relationship this holiday season?

    A five star review of the book:

    “They’re both so strong and more than a bit stubborn. She especially thinks that accepting help shows weakness; she can’t quite bring herself to understand that supporting one another is not a weakness but is a strength that buoys both… The hero, Bear, is an especially complex character, having to be so strong for his family for so long and being so tough on the outside, but he has a tender heart and a way with the heroine’s adopted son that was so heartwarming… Such strong characters who deserve love and the person that matches their good hearts. You just wanted them to each get it together on a personal level and then just get together as a couple. A wonderful romantic read, whether you read it at Christmas or any other time.”

    Jamie Jack on Goodreads

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Historical Romance Books

    Marrying Miss Marshal: Wild Wyoming Hearts by Lacy Williams

    She’s no lady… And he’s on a quest for revenge.

    Danna Carpenter is town marshal. And a darn good one. Even if she has to handle saloon brawls and rustlers alone. Who needs deputies anyway? All right, she’d welcome the help if any of the men in town would offer it. When a bank robbery goes bad, she has no choice but to accept the help of a city slicker…

    Chas O’Grady came West in search of cattle rustlers and found himself on the trail of a killer–one who took everything from him. Crossing paths with the pretty marshal was happenstance, but he can’t leave her deputy-less when she’s facing such grave danger.

    Everything changes when Chas and Danna are stranded together in a snowstorm. The town council forces a marriage. And attraction turns to something more… Will Chas give up his quest for revenge? Or will he lose the woman he loves forever?

    The author on the struggles of women in her novel:

    “Marrying Miss Marshall is about a woman town marshal in the Wild West. It is loosely based on to real life stories of women in law enforcement in the 1920s. One was a town marshal and one was a County Sheriff. As you can imagine these women faced a lot of obstacles in their careers. They had a really tough time doing the things that they needed to do because they were women, and that was
    something that I wanted readers to be able to experience in my story. My heroine faces a lot of challenges, including prejudice from the people that she’s trying to protect, and really the only person who will help her and come alongside her is the hero who is a tenderfoot from the big city.”

    Lacy Williams

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The King’s Commander by Cecelia Mecca

    He cared only for duty—until he met the one woman who could claim his heart.

    My mission is clear. I’m to go to Murwood End, the land of the Voyagers, to retrieve the king’s secret son. With the heir dead, it’s our only hope for saving our kingdom from those who would destroy us. But complications arise from the start. No one knows when the king’s son will return from his latest mission, or at least no one will say. And his closest friend—a woman, a Garra—seems to loathe me on sight. A further complication: I’m completely captivated by her. In Meria, Garra practice their healing arts in secret, but there’s nothing covert about this bold, beautiful woman.

    In the beginning, I tell myself I’m only pursuing Aedre Lorenson for her connection to the king’s son, but I know it for a lie. She has awakened something in me, and I’m torn between doing my duty as the king’s commander and following my heart.

    What the author enjoys about writing the historical romance genre:

    “With historicals, I love melding history and fantasy together since the books are, admittedly, a fantasized version of medieval England and Scotland.”

    Cecelia Mecca

  • Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Ranger’s Rescue by Caitlyn Lynch

    Get. Her. Back.

    Kidnapped by a ruthless drug lord to use as leverage against her father, a powerful South American politician, Ariana Monterro needs a miracle. Discovering the kidnapping was an inside job, her desperate father turns to the one man he knows he can trust to put his life on the line for Ariana: Army Ranger Captain Jack McAuley.

    Six years ago, Jack walked away from Ariana after making the biggest mistake of his life. Now, he’s heading into the South American jungle armed to the teeth with only one thing on his mind.

    A five-star review of the novel:

    “This is a wonderful romantic military suspense story that draws you in from almost the first page. Yes it is a second chance romance but this isn’t a strong theme in the story.”

    Debbie Caswell

  • Best Christian Romance Books

    For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson

    Is he married or isn’t he?

    Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife—or former wife?—she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down. 

    Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret. When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her. 

    What the author has learned through writing this novel:

    “My heroine Joy has a lot of mommy-guilt, the feeling where you feel you’re trying so hard to be a good mom, but are still failing your child. I realized I’ve had and still have a lot of that guilt even though my kids are in their mid-twenties. I know I could have done better at some things, but through writing this novel, I learned (am learning) that I have to give that to God, forgive myself, and just try to do the best I can with the days I’m given now.”

    Janet W. Ferguson