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One lucky book club will win up to ten copies of both these summer-y titles!
SOME LIKE IT SCOT
and
THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME
About Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham
She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together? Some Like It Scot is “a charming, comedic romance ideal for armchair travelers” (Publishers Weekly) set in Scotland, perfect for fans of Sarah Adams and Emma St. Clair.
Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people’s stories. She’s built a career as “Miss Adventure,” known for saying yes to anything new–country, food, or experience–and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.
Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.
Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn’t venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme’s comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister’s death, he’s even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.
As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what’s familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life’s story when “home” is in two very different places? But maybe home–and the future–isn’t quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.
Grab your wellies and step into Some Like It Scot–a heartfelt, hilarious, and clean grumpy/sunshine rom-com with a soft Scottish brogue, a mischievous macaw, Edwardian antics, and more than a few misadventures courtesy of one larger-than-life travel writer and one very guarded Highlander. This isn’t just another “hot Scot” romance–though yes, Graeme MacKerrow does play the brooding hero perfectly–it’s also a slow-building journey of healing, faith, and found family.
Purchase Links
Thomas Nelson Fiction | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
About The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter
Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again—until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she’d lost.
Five years after her husband’s death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.
Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie’s heart, and Josh’s unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.
But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan’s twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.
The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man’s true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn’t sure she wants those answers after all.
Purchase Links
Thomas Nelson Fiction | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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“Each ‘episode’ of this horror novel is a thrill to read.”
Kristiana Sfirlea, Readers’ Favorite Gold Medalist Author of The Stormwatch Diaries series
FORLORN HARBOR
Forlorn Harbor by Jim Doran
Squeaky-clean Martina Ramirez is about to commit her first crime with a group of six schoolmates-breaking and entering into an abandoned movie theater.
But the trespassers soon find themselves trapped inside, and while desperately trying to discover a way out, a projector starts playing a film introduction to a vintage episode of a horror series named Forlorn Harbor. When the introduction ends, one of the group becomes imprisoned within the film.
The only method of escape is to survive the episode, but Forlorn Harbor doesn’t play fair. As the terrifying night wears on, the projector displays more episodes, ensnaring the others one by one.
And as Martina’s turn arrives, she must face her own ominous trial…alone.
Fans of “The October Society” series by Christopher Robertson, “My Heart is a Chainsaw” by Stephen Graham Jones, or “The Hazel Wood” by Melissa Albert will enjoy “Forlorn Harbor” by Jim Doran.
Purchase Links
Rowan Prose Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Author, speaker, and addiction recovery expert Caroline Beidler offers friends and family members the gift of being able to understand the recovery lifestyle–a way of life that goes beyond anonymous meetings in church basements and fosters a sense of well-being, healthy coping strategies, discovering new passions, and nurturing a deep personal faith.
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE IN RECOVERY
When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction by Caroline Beidler MSW
Many of us know someone who is in addiction recovery, but few of us really understand what that means. What does this healing journey actually look like? How can we best support someone going through it? We find ourselves worrying that we’ll say or do the wrong thing, and we may feel hopeless or confused when our loved one continues to struggle with substance use.
As someone who has personal experience living in sustained recovery, and now professionally helps those starting the journey, Caroline Beidler offers a compassionate guide for understanding addiction and the recovery lifestyle. As she shares personal and honest stories as well as professional insights from her work as an addiction recovery expert, she will walk you through the four pillars of recovery–hope, wellness, community, and service–and answer questions such as
- What does it mean to be in recovery?
- How can I support my loved one on this journey–body, mind, and soul?
- How do I set healthy boundaries and show compassion?
- What stereotypes or misconceptions do I need to let go of?
When You Love Someone in Recovery is a call to both action and compassion and includes reflection exercises, real-life stories from people thriving in recovery, and powerful evidence-based research on the body and brain. You will come away with renewed hope and energy for walking alongside your loved ones in recovery, ready to watch God bring lasting healing to the most broken places.
Purchase Links
Faith Gateway | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Jesus longs for you to come close. Not just for answers or blessings, but to experience His peace—because He is the only one who can calm us, strengthen us, and give us the perspective we need. Join New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst as she shares powerful prayers, devotional teachings, and practical ways to draw near to the Lord.
COME CLOSE TO JESUS
Come Close to Jesus: What to Pray When You Need the Lord to Still Your Thoughts, Calm Your Heart, and Guide Your Way by Lysa TerKeurst
Come Close to Jesus is filled with prewritten prayers to help still your thoughts, calm your heart, and find guidance in times of need—but most important, to help you spend time with the Savior who loves you more than you can imagine. Whether you struggle with getting distracted during your quiet time, finding the “right” words to say, or bringing your honest thoughts to the Lord, this book was created specifically to help you connect with Him on a deeper level.
Through these pages, Lysa shares her personal journey in growing her prayer life both through seeking the Lord diligently and walking through hard seasons with Him. In Come Close to Jesus, you’ll receive:
- Lysa’s reflections and devotional teachings on prayer
- Her own guided prayers for you to follow
- Scriptural prayers for specific relationships and situations
- Bible verses to teach and encourage you
- “Prayer in Action” steps to help you pray and incorporate this wisdom into your daily life
Come Close to Jesus makes a beautiful gift for:
- Friends and family who want to deepen their prayer lives
- People experiencing times of struggle or anxiety
- Fans and followers of Proverbs 31 Ministries and Lysa TerKeurst
God is not disappointed in you because your prayers haven’t been more consistent or elaborate. He simply wants you to place more and more of your life into His very capable hands.
Purchase Links
Faith Gateway | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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A swirling story of cross-generational secrets and complex family bonds. Stiles effectively weaves a grand conspiracy that the protagonist must unravel to prove her innocence and learn the truth. This twisty novel will be a good option for those looking for an unconventional and thematically potent mystery.” – Kirkus Review
HUSH LITTLE FIRE
Hush Little Fire by Judith Stiles
Secrets implode and generations of lies boil over into deadly consequences when a suspicious fire breaks out Christmas Night on Cape Cod.
When Mary Newcombe dutifully returns to Cape Cod with her twelve-year-old son to celebrate Christmas with her adoptive mother, Birdie, the only part of the trip she looks forward to is digging beach clay for pottery to stoke her beloved kiln. But while she’s home, a suspicious fire destroys the town health clinic, and Mary becomes a leading suspect.
Mary can’t remember the night of the fire (too much eggnog) and, as always, her mother isn’t talking. Birdie has kept secrets from Mary her entire life, beginning with the truth about Mary’s birth mother. When Mary discovers her adoptive father socked away a small fortune performing pre-Roe v. Wade illegal abortions in the clinic that burned to the ground, she’s done with being kept in the dark. As the days tick by and pressures mount to find the arsonist, Mary digs deeper into Wellfleet’s history, and more secrets start to unfurl.
Meanwhile, Mary’s cousin Jimmy is acting strangely and suddenly, so is her son. As the FBI zeroes in on Mary, and another fire burns in the harbor, it’s time for Mary and Birdie to face a long brewing reckoning.
A cross-generational mystery told through the perspectives of four women living on the underbelly of Cape Cod, Hush Little Fire is the perfect read for fans of Bonnie Garmus, Dennis Lehane, and Adrienne Brodeur.
Purchase Links
Alcove Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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God Won’t Leave You There: Joseph’s Story, an incredible testimony of jaw-dropping faith and patient perseverance in the face of devastating trials, will leave you in awe at what God can do in and through one person. It’s a powerful reminder that wherever you find yourself, God is at work putting the pieces of your life together to bring about His sovereign plan.
GOD WON’T LEAVE YOU THERE
God Won’t Leave You There: Joseph’s Story by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright
Through the lens of Joseph’s remarkable journey, Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright reveal how one man’s life was turned upside down and set on a path he would have never chosen himself but one that would lead to God’s ultimate purpose for his life.
With Scripture, personal stories of hardship, and the unshakable hope found in God’s promises, this book offers encouragement for anyone facing life’s deepest struggles or just needing reassurance that God is in the details. Through Joseph’s story, we are reminded of these profound truths about God:
- He is with you.
- He is guiding you.
- He will bring you through.
Whether you’re navigating betrayal, seeking purpose, or longing for reconciliation, Joseph’s story offers hope and wisdom for today. Discover how God can use even the most broken circumstances to bring about His perfect plan. No matter how desperate you feel, you can rest in the God who is trustworthy, knowing He won’t leave you there!
Purchase Links
Faith Gateway | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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One lucky book club will win up to ten Spotify redemption codes for
MOM BRAIN
Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
“Hackett’s skillful plotting and character work will keep readers hooked…”- Publishers Weekly
Can a luxury resort transform her life by giving her back control? Georgia Evans thinks it sounds too good to be true. Turns out her motherly intuition isn’t wrong . . . In the vein of Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers, Mom Brain turns a discerning eye toward society’s view on modern motherhood and reframes “mom brain” as a superpower.
Welcome to The Program, an immersive week-long experience set to the backdrop of the breathtaking island of O’ahu, where mothers in all stages of crisis can come to take control of their lives. It’s not exactly the type of thing Georgia Evans–a busy working mother of two–would usually consider. However, still spiraling from a debacle that crowned her “internet’s worst mom,” she is desperate enough to try anything.
Once on the island, Georgia is quickly won over by the elegant (and somewhat enigmatic) founder of The Program, Cecilia Clements. Cecilia shows The Program’s attendees how the biology of motherhood has imprisoned them. More importantly, she promises them freedom from that prison. Captivated by this possibility and the compelling science behind it, Georgia grows deeply involved with Cecilia’s mission, ignoring any doubt that starts to creep in. That’s the whole point of The Program, after all: you can’t really trust a mom brain.
A map and discussion questions can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.
Purchase Links
Harper Muse | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Please fill out our super short registration form (click the “Enter Now” button above) by May 31st 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).