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It arose not from desire or even interest, but from curiosity: what would happen . . . if she just let it?
SOMETHING BETTER
Something Better by Diane Parrish
The bubble in which Ruth and David live their tidy suburban lives is about to burst. A tragic automobile accident shatters their insular world and sends David into an emotional tailspin. An unexpected job opportunity sends Ruth to the West Coast, waylaying her desire to become a mother and making her increasingly unavailable for David’s needs.
Thrown off balance and alone, David develops a fixation on Annabeth Brady, the daughter of the friends lost that fateful night. As he and Ruth drift further apart, each must decide if they will remain true to their vows, or what it might mean to search for something better.
Told in gorgeous, descriptive prose with flashes of humor and insight, this debut novel by Diane Parrish quietly questions our notions of forgiveness and faith. Something Better heralds the introduction of a sparkling new talent.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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International Prize Winner!
SOUTH OF THE YANGTZE
South of the Yangtze by Flora Qian
“Told with wonderful precision, insight and vivid detail, South of the Yangtze brings to life a transformative time period through the eyes of a young woman doing her best to navigate the seismic changes in her society and her own coming of age.”—Emily Mitchell, Washington, DC, USA, author of The Last Summer of the World and Viral: Stories.
Purchase Links
IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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In the midst of a seemingly endless war, a scarf connects three women in the cold winter of 1917 . . .
THE LIBERTY SCARF
The Liberty Scarf by Aimie K. Runyan, J’Nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan
London: As an ambitious scarf maker, Iris Braxton spends her days surrounded by color and luxury not often seen during the dark days of war that promised to be over by Christmas. That promise has come and gone for three years with still no end in sight and her days continue in a monotony of rations and threads while she spins a dream of becoming Liberty’s first female pattern designer. She hasn’t the time or interest in rakish soldiers, but the temporarily-on-leave Captain Rex Conrad is persistent–and before long his charm wins her over. But war is cruel and all too soon Conrad leaves once more for the Front, but not before vowing to meet again in Strasbourg, France, the most magical of Christmas cities. Iris begins stitching small messages into each of the scarves she makes in hopes that one will find a way into Rex’s hands to let him know she’s thinking of him. And when she receives word that he’s wounded in Strasbourg, she rushes to his side. Along the way, she passes a woman wearing one of her scarves . . .
Maine: Geneviève Tremblay, a French-Canadian immigrant, is a telephone operator living in Lewiston, Maine. Her beau is a member of a prominent family who has helped to Americanize her in a community often unfriendly to Canadians. As part of this effort, she enlists in the US Army Signal Corps to serve as a bi-lingual operator. Along the way, she meets a French officer who makes her question whether losing her identity is too heavy a price for acceptance.
Belgium: Clara Janssens, a Flemish Nurse, and Roman Allaire, an Alsatian violinist, connect in a Brussels palace-turned-hospital far beyond their routine provincial and countryside lives—and the expectations in those towns. Their love of music creates a spark between them, but the destruction of battle and the transient nature of their relationship threatens the bond they have built. Still, the appearance of a kind stranger and the unexpected gift of a treasured scarf bind them long beyond their stolen moments and offer them a future brighter than they could have even hoped.
Purchase Links
Harper Muse | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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THE GIRL OF MANY CROWNS
The Girl of Many Crowns by D. H. Morris
The Girl of Many Crowns is the true and inspiring story of Judith, the first princess of France, who is a pawn in a complex political game of chess as her father, King Charles, tries to hold on to his kingdom. King Charles, grandson of Emperor Charlemagne, is beset on every side by Vikings, rebel lords, and greedy neighboring monarchs. He marries 12-year-old Judith to Aethelwulf, the aging King of Wessex, for political advantage. When she is widowed less than two years later, he arranges a second marriage for her. But, when Judith refuses to marry a third time at her father’s command, King Charles imprisons her in one of his palaces.
Baldwin Iron Arm is a powerful knight from Flanders who pledges loyalty to King Charles and his family. As the companion of Judith’s brother, Louis, he fulfills his oath by protecting King Charles’ family from Vikings, rebel lords, wars, and assassination plots. He is conflicted when he must choose between obeying the king and rescuing his daughter Judith from her imprisonment.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Replenish your soul as you let declarations of God’s truth wash over your weary heart.
REVIVE
Revive: Declarations of God’s Truth to Renew Your Spirit by Cleere Cherry Reaves
Do you feel tired? Discouraged? Does life sometimes seem out of control? Amid these moments, it can be difficult to embrace the fullness of life God promises in Him. In Revive, popular author, speaker, and podcast host Cleere Cherry Reaves helps you reclaim God’s unchanging truth–for you and for your life.
In 52 weeks of devotions, Cleere takes you on a journey to reclaim a spirit of truth all year long through Scripture, biblical declarations, and prayers to reconnect you to the joy and hope God longs for you to know. Join Cleere as you immerse yourself in God’s truth and recover the fullness of life that only Jesus offers.
Each week you’ll find:
- A Bible verse for meditation
- A short devotional reading to breathe life into your soul
- Five declarations of truth to bolster your faith and remind you of God’s promises
As you take this yearlong journey, Cleere calls you to:
- Replenish your soul through rest and prayer, knowing that God always provides
- Renew the way you see the world as you adopt a heavenly perspective
- Refresh your vision to see others with the compassionate eyes of Jesus
- Rejoice in the assurance that God is working all things together for good
This eye-catching devotional is an excellent gift for friends and loved ones going into the new year, for Mother’s Day, for birthdays, and more.
Revive will help you connect once again with who God designed you to be as you receive and speak His words of life and joy over your life every day of the year.
Purchase Links
Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not.
MISTLETOE SEASON
Mistletoe Season: Three Christmas Stories by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts
Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild’s kryptonite. Every time she’s kissed someone under the mistletoe it’s led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams), kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn’t a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she’s never forgotten, and now she’s about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller
Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O’Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister’s close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he’ll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham
Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month “punishment” in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn’t recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.
- Three stand-alone romantic holiday novellas
- Book length: 84,000 words
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Purchase Links
Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Perfect for fans of bubbly wine and Kristin Harmel, this historical fiction novel follows Mme. Clicquot as she builds her legacy, and the modern divorcée who looks to her letters for inspiration.
THE CHAMPAGNE LETTERS
The Champagne Letters by Kate MacIntosh
Reims, France, 1805: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot has just lost her beloved husband but is determined to pursue their dream of creating the premier champagne house in France, now named for her new identity as a widow: Veuve Clicquot. With the Russians poised to invade, competitors fighting for her customers, and the Napoleonic court politics complicating matters she must set herself apart quickly and permanently if she, and her business, are to survive.
In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris. In a book stall by the Seine, Natalie finds a collection of the Widow Clicquot’s published letters and uses them as inspiration to step out of her comfort zone and create a new, empowered life for herself. But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking and unexpected turn, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she’s only dreamed about? What would the widow do?
Purchase Links
Simon & Schuster | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Step into a place of rest to restore your weary soul and your anxious mind.
THE WEEKLY REST PROJECT
The Weekly Rest Project: A Challenge to Journal, Reflect, and Restore (The Weekly Project Series)
When was the last time you truly felt rested in your body and in your soul? Do you long to step away from your worries and overwhelm and let God restore your soul? Rest is one of God’s greatest gifts. The Weekly Rest Project is a guided journal that offers mindful reflections and inviting questions to guide you back into a rhythm of life-giving rest with God. With beautifully illustrated journaling pages, you can make space for rest and find God’s restorative peace all year long.
Each week includes:
- A biblical theme to focus on—including rhythms of rest, Sabbath, prayer, sleep, and joyful play
- A powerful Bible verse to help you reflect and meditate
- Journaling prompts and space to respond—to help you honestly take stock of the role rest plays in your life and allow you space to work through hurry, overwhelm, and chaos to find rest
This 12-month journal:
- Showcases beautiful photography and calming colors to help you enter a place of rest and reflection
- Has a ribbon marker so you never lose your place
- Is perfect for a self-purchase, quiet time, or Bible study groups
- Makes a wonderful gift for birthdays, holidays, or when you can sense a friend or family member is weary and in need of encouragement and rest.
Check out these other guided journals in The Weekly Project Series to encourage you through every phase and season of life:
- The Weekly Prayer Project
- The Weekly Faith Project
- The Weekly Gratitude Project
- The Weekly Self-Care Project
- The Weekly Purpose Project
- The Weekly Habits Project
Purchase Links
Faith Gateway | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Please fill out our super short registration form (click the “Enter Now” button above) by November 30th for a chance to win a set of up to ten copies of one of these great books for your book club! We will randomly choose a winner at the end of the month. This giveaway is open to clubs in the US only (our apologies to friends in other countries).