Pre-order your copy HERE.

Add it to Goodreads HERE.

I still have a few slots open for the launch team. You can apply HERE.

Are you excited? I know I am. 

 

How as the start of your year been?

Find it on: Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback | Audiobook

Age Appropriate For: 18 and up. This story is about two different people dealing with the aftermath of a pregnancy out of wedlock and raising those children.

Best for Ages: 18 and up

Description:  Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom's advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to "supervise." And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door-turned-baseball star who's back on the island after a career-ending injury. As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother's death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.

I have to start out by saying that the narrator for this book, Hannah Cabell, added so much to the enjoyment of this story.  Her narration was so good, I would give her five stars almost on her own. I would love to listen to more read by her.

Courtney Walsh is a solid author. I don’t always love her books, but I have yet to read one that I hated. She has skill, writes realistic stories, and her faith shines through. This book has been my favorite by her so far. As both a reader and an author, I was amazed at how she mixed three different threads of the story (Emily’s, her mother’s, and the letters from her mother two her) so well. It wasn’t simply switching back and forth, it was pieced together like a patchwork quilt, a very well done, beautiful quilt. This book shows some serious skills.

Now, the story was full of flawed people struggling, trying to do what is right and failing sometimes. Hollis has a daughter from a one-night stand and Emily’s own mother hadn’t been married. We get to discover more about her mother’s story as the book progresses. Honestly, I felt Walsh did a fantastic job covering a very sticky issue. She didn’t sugarcoat it. People made big mistakes and life is messy.

The faith element in this one I felt was handled well. It felt very natural and I like how it influenced the characters in the end. There were a couple of points I wish it had been a little more a part of the conversation, but again, it fit the characters so well it was hard to complain.

Speaking of the characters, I just adored all of them. They felt real, lifelike, and I loved each of them. Emily was my favorite.

I could go on about this story, but I think I will leave it at that and say that I highly recommend this book for adults who like realistic situations, unique storytelling, and lovable characters.

I'm looking for some book lovers to join the launch team for my new novella coming out next month, Fanny's Hope Chest. It's the story of a 30-year-old girl struggling to find hope in her singleness.

As part of the launch team, you will get:

~ free review copy

~ some goodies in the mail

~ A chance to earn a free physical copy of the novella 

~ Exclusive giveaways

What is expected of you?

~ Share about the book on whatever online platforms you are on

~ Write a review for your blog and/or Goodreads

~ Have fun with a group of nice ladies

Interested? The launch team group will be on Slack, a business workspace application. No need to be on social media to take part! 

Find the book on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51812538-fanny-s-hope-chest

Apply for the launch team here: https://forms.gle/44rrj9kBcXvCWcb7A

Find it on: Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback

Age Appropriate For: 10 and up for thematic elements

Best for Ages: 15 - 30

Description:  An incredible job. An exasperating android. An all-too-human secret.

Fresh out of art school, Abigail Huntley gets the chance of a lifetime working for Sphinx Architecture. Her remarkable talent has also landed her a remarkable work partner: a cutting-edge android named Rory, who appears so completely human that Abigail struggles to remember he’s just a machine. If only his stiff interactions and coldly logical approach to everything didn’t stifle her creativity.

As time goes by, however, Rory shows subtle changes in behavior, making Abigail wonder if he has achieved self-awareness. Despite her reservations, she finds herself warming to him, even attracted to him. Then an accident crashes Rory’s programming—and leaves him bleeding, with human memories of a medical experiment inflicted by the mysterious organization, PRISM.

Abigail races to recover Rory’s identity and find justice. But without his neurological programming, Rory suffers from a dangerous health condition that slows them down and threatens them both. Only a jaded doctor and his enigmatic assistant stand between Rory and the organization that stole his humanity—the organization that will do anything to keep him silent.

Wow! This novel kept me up late and I didn’t want to do anything else the next day until I finished it. It’s fast-paced, took some major turns, and left me feeling giddy with pleasure that only a stratifying story can. The writing? Steller! Some of the best I’ve read.

Before I get to deep into this review, I want to let many of those who read my reviews know that this is not an overtly Christian book. While clean, and a couple of mentions of someone praying, it’s more geared for the general market than strictly Christian. Also, some of my readers will want to know that the use of the words gosh and crap are sprinkled throughout and one mildly bad name for someone was used twice. Because this is not under a strictly Christian umbrella, It didn’t affect my rating. I will say that morality was very good.

The characters in this book were gold. Abigail is a sweet and spunky artist. Unlike most artists I’ve read about lately, she isn’t broody or using her art to escape from her painful past. She’s a person who was mostly happy and full of life who loves art. I loved that about her. Rory is…well the opposite. He’s exactly like one would expect from an android – emotionless, not much personality, and analytical. In many ways, he reminded me of Data from Star Trek: Next Generation (which made me happy) yet he came into his own and ended up being very, very different.

The setting, in the not too distant future I feel, was well done. It felt like there were enough futuristic advances to make the plot work, yet not so far in the future that I didn’t have a feel for the world. It was fun, inventive, yet also familiar.

The story kept me on the edge of my seat from page one. At first, it was because the characters so captured my heart, but then the excitement and intrigue swept me away. I wanted to read it in one sitting, but I had to sleep (sadly) but I finished it the next day. It was a great ride.

There is a romance in the book and I have to say it was really sweet. I loved every moment of it. It was sweet, clean, and realistic. There is one kiss in the story and I thought it was done well.

I highly recommend this book to those that like stories set in the future, great writing that makes you want to keep reading, and books that also make you think.

A new year hopefully will mean a lot of new stories. Here's a peek at what's coming up:

 

I'm very excited about the Kate's Case Files this year. I have the next two books drafted and waiting for editing. My hope is to get four books published this year. This means... the series will almost be complete. 

One of the things I realized while writing books 6 and 7 is that the characters have grown and changed in ways I hadn't expected. So, the plan currently is to have 10 books in the series. 

*not final cover*

A Very Bookish 4th of July is in the works. I'm very excited about using characters from my A Very Bookish Thanksgiving story in this collection. My story is going to be based on Around the World in 80 Days. 

Lastly, is a huge dream of mine that I'm hoping to make a reality this year. A revamping of The Destiny Trilogy. I'm already taking with a cover designer and plan to begin beginning edits soon. This was my first published series and I made some big mistakes with it. But I've learned and want to make it even better. 

It's late, and I really should be asleep. However, instead, my mind is racing with thoughts, hopes, dreams, and, yes, a few fears.

As I write this, it is the first day of the new year. The day started too early for someone who had been up at midnight. It had a short workday, a lunch with my dear sister Rose and then an afternoon with friends, chores, and celebrating the New Year. At the end of the day, my dear friend Jessica asked me about my word for the year.

I wasn't sure I would even have a word for this year. I don't have one most years. As Jessica told me about her word, and I thought about some of the things on my heart, I remembered a scene from a story, a scene where hope, courage, and a mountain of fear all mixed together for one of the most dramatic and powerful speeches in the Old Testament.

Three men, who refused to follow the crowd, stand before an angry king who is angry and has the power to take their lives (or so he thinks). The king gives them another chance to save their lives. They respond like this:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Let's break this down a little:

Fear: Anger of a king and a horrible death

Hope: They serve a God able to save

Courage: "Even if he does not..." whether God saves them or not, they are willing to take that stand.

Of course, we know that God saves these men from the furnace. We don't really feel the fear because we know the ending. Like all those stories where we want the guy and girl to tell each other they love each other and get it over with, or watching a game that we already know the final score. Sometimes, knowing a story takes the fear out of the story.

When it was going on, those three men didn't know that God would save them, they only knew he could.

In real life, someone might confess their feelings and not have them returned, unlike most romance novels.

Before the game was played, it could have gone to either team.

Uncertainty and fear go hand in hand. Courage is that stepping out anyway and saying things like:

"God can save, but even if not, I will serve him."

"I'm going to share my heart, knowing it could cause either great pain or great happiness."

"I'm going to play my best, knowing the outcome is uncertain."

Those three men were about to have courage because their hope was built on a solid foundation. That is my goal for this year, to have courage. And to know that I can be courageous because my hope is built on the unshakable foundation which has already been laid. That is Christ. 

I don't know what that courage is going to look like, but I guess that's the point, isn't it?

Do you have a word for the year? Thoughts on this story from Daniel? Need a prayer for courage? Comment below. I would love to hear from you.