Adoption can be tough on anyone, but being a teenager adopted and moved to a new country? Whoa... Rume Emma-Okerhe's Rains of Mercy tackles a lot of tough topics. Listen in and see why I think it's such an important book.

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I love books that tackle tough topics, and this one tackles loss, adoption, culture shocks, teen pregnancy, and the love of a woman who didn't give birth to you or see you grow up from a small child. How amazing is that?

Rains of Mercy by Rume Emma-Okerhe

A Millennial's Story of Self-discovery and Faith

Tehillah loses everything in a bomb explosion.

She gets adopted by strangers.

She relocates a thousand seas away from the country of her birth and heart.

And… then ends up with a malicious adoptive sister.

She struggles with culture shocks, low self-esteem, ends up in a dodgy relationship and becomes a single mum.

Will Tehillah find a way to rebuild her life, rediscover her worth, and experience the mercies of a God who loves her more than she can imagine?

Will she ever accept Mrs Ezegwu as her mother? And will she stop seeing Jordan as the shorter, younger boy she could never like?

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

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When someone says, "Is there a new Tracie Peterson out?" the answer is almost always either "YES!" or "SOON!" I had a blast chatting about Faithful of Heart with her. Listen in and see what's happening in this new series!

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I loved that God in His gracious wisdom decided to set the release of Fairest of Heart set in Minneapolis at a time when His people would need encouragement and a reminder of what a lovely city it is with a rich history. He is so good to us!

Can't wait to learn all the cool things.

Faithful of Heart by Tracie Peterson

Can forgiveness and love overcome a tattered legacy?

When dedicated philanthropist Judith Stanford receives a summons from her estranged grandfather ordering her to come to Minneapolis to prove herself worthy of his inheritance, she is hesitant but can't ignore the potential of her grandfather's fortune to benefit her causes. And the only man to interest her since her husband's death lives in Minneapolis, leaving her hoping their paths will cross.

Roman Turner, a local physician with a heart for the poor, harbors a grudge against Judith's grandfather. Years ago, his unethical actions ruined Roman's family forever. When Roman meets Judith again, he is shocked to learn the woman he's thought about all these years is related to the one man he can't forgive.

As Judith tries to overcome the complicated history between the two families and disentangle her grandfather's tainted legacy, she begins to form a plan for reparation. But when it becomes clear someone else has nefarious intentions for the money, Judith's dreams of a new legacy are at risk.

Don't forget that you can get this and her other books at 30-40% off with FREE US shipping from Bakerbookhouse.com

Learn more about Tracie Peterson on her WEBSITE. Follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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Sometimes, I see a book and think, "Did the author just decide to write that especially for me???" Okay, I know Heather Tabers didn't write Books & Battlefields just for me, but listen in and learn why she did--and a lot more!

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Loved chatting with Heather about this book, particularly since it's WWI set in the US! That doesn't happen often. Also, I loved that she wrote the sort of "love triangle" that actually makes sense.

I also loved seeing how the Victory Book Campaigns could've been sparked by those that happened in WWI!

Books & Battlefields by Heather Tabers

A spirited librarian with a guarded heart. A haunted surgeon battling the past. A quiet deputy who never stopped hoping.

Isabella Pearson isn't looking for love—only a way to serve. In 1917, she leaves her privileged Denver life behind to volunteer as a librarian at Camp Sheridan, Alabama. With a suitcase full of books and a heart determined to remain independent, she never expects to find herself being pursued by two men: Nathaniel, her brother's steadfast best friend, and Byron, the brooding Chief Medical Officer who makes her pulse race for all the wrong reasons.

Major Byron McDaniel has buried his heart with his late wife and plans to keep it that way. Yet Isabella's courage and compassion rattle the walls he's so carefully built. Meanwhile, Nathaniel Steele has followed Isabella to Alabama with hopes of finally winning the heart he's long treasured in silence. But as tensions rise at Camp Sheridan—with a suspicious fire, a string of accidents, and whispers of sabotage—Isabella must navigate more than just her feelings. When loyalty, love, and liberty hang in the balance, will she trust her heart—or her instincts?

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

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Oh, my. When I learned about the awkward heroine in Even After This, I knew that I needed to chat more with Deborah Clack and get the scoop on what's coming in this book. Listen in to learn why she had me cracking up through the interview.

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Don't miss out on this second chance (in life) romance as well as Deborah's Love Inspired marriage of convenience romance as well!

Even After This by Deborah Clack

When you're ready to live again, love often has a way of finding you.

Four years after tragedy, Meredith Harper is tired of hiding in her corner of Texas and living life like a game of dodgeball. She packs up her grief, awkward social graces, and sizable life insurance in search of a vacation and investment property in Colorado Springs. A botched dinner reservation throws her into the path of a bona fide movie star, and Meredith pushes through her comical celebrity neurosis to discover he is charming but a terrible dancer.

A viral video of a daring rescue makes Harlan Holcombe's celebrity star stronger, with millions of his fans deeming him a real-life Hercules. But a minute of heroism doesn't absolve his past mistakes.

As Harlan and Meredith spend more time together, he helps her believe there might be more for her not just in life but in love. And she might be part of the solution to restore the legacy he fears is tarnished. But what happens when the path to redeem his mistakes collides with the path to redeem her loss?

A poignant and humorous contemporary romance of second chances with swoon but no spice, grief and healing, celebrity meets reluctant widow, love after loss, and new beginnings. This clean and wholesome love story will delight fans of Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, Annabel Monaghan, and Cara Bastone.

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

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Oh, my! When I heard about Amber Gabriel writing about a supervillain going through "rehab" to become a hero, I knew I had to know more. Listen in and learn all about her "Rubber Bandit," and the world in which she wrote him.

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I had so much fun learning about the world in which Amber Gabriel wrote this book, and boy am I going to have to read both of Amber's books in this world as well as those by H. L. Burke

Bouncing Back by Amber Gabriel

Being a supervillain is easy. Being a hero has costs.

When Elam Bentley, formerly known as the infamous supervillain Rubber Bandit, agreed to enter the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project to train to be a hero, he didn't realize the sacrifices he'd have to make. Faced with teammates who don't trust him, former villains who see him as a traitor, and the prospect of making restitution for his past misdeeds, Elam doubts he has the ability to stick to the hero path. Knowing that his team leader, stressed-out single mom Rightcross, has put everything on the line to back his rehabilitation, raises the stakes even higher. He can't let her down.

An investigation of slot machine manipulation leads to a tangled conspiracy ... and to someone targeting Rightcross and her team. Elam might be new to the hero world, but he knows how to think like a villain. He might just be the key to unraveling the mystery and keeping herself and her daughter safe—if only he can keep himself from falling for her in the process.

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

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I had the best time chatting with Tim Bishop about his book, The Road Unveiled. If you want to learn about the phobia that I never knew I had, listen in. I mean, there's a great story you won't want to miss learning about as well.

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I loved Tim's heart for people, cycling, and the Lord as we chatted about his books, his later-in-life marriage, and their own long cycling trips!

And I'm really glad my husband likes to cycle alone! Far away from tunnels.

The Road Unveiled by Tim Bishop

Two wounded hearts. Long, winding roads. And second chances neither saw coming.
Lauren Baumgartner pedals toward Yellowstone National Park, anticipating a grand celebration when she reaches the Atlantic Ocean. But when her wedding plans collapse, old wounds resurface—and a haunting secret still holds her heart hostage.
Traveling alone with bear spray and a one-woman tent, she shares the highway with motorcyclists bound for a massive rally, including gang members who eye her as theirs for the taking.
Doug Zimmer, another lone cyclist, is grappling with loss and wondering if anyone will be alongside him when he figures out what's next. He isn't the only one drawn to Lauren's vitality and spirit.
But Lauren may already be in too deep. What she faces on the Golden Prairie Indian Reservation tests her courage—and her faith—more than anything she encountered as a missionary in Uganda.
A woman with a secret and a man healing from loss pedal the rugged roads of the American West on a quest for love and purpose that leads to unexpected horizons.

Visit Tim's online store HERE and put in code: FRIEND for 25% off your order!

Learn more about Tim on his WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Of course, no one writes Biblical Fiction like Tessa Afshar, and her new book in the Queen Esther's Court series has such a cool premise. Listen in as we talk about her fun research and a bit of Persian culture and history!

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I think one of the coolest parts of our conversation had to do with Tessa taking pottery classes with her husband and how it gave her context for her character as well for Scripture!

The Royal Artisan by Tessa Afshar

Sazana of Persia creates exquisite pottery that graces Susa's finest tables, but her master, Lord Haman, does not know her secret: Sazana is one of the Jews he has vowed to eradicate. When Haman discovers her true identity, he forces her into indentured servitude. But at Haman's sudden downfall, Queen Esther becomes the new master of the pottery workshop, restoring Sazana to her rightful place.

Yet her troubles are not over as Haman's sons are enraged by his death, and the queen assigns one of her men to root out any threats. Sazana is shocked to discover the identity of the queen's agent is none other than Jadon, the man who left her heart in ruins years ago. But despite his presence, danger still lurks, and when Sazana and Jadon become entangled in the hunt for an ancient artifact, so much more than their own hearts and lives depends on the success of their mission.

Experience the thrill and intrigue of secrets and romance within Queen Esther's royal domain in this biblical fiction tale that will appeal to fans of ancient history, The Chosen, House of David, Francine Rivers, and Angela Hunt.

Don't miss the first interview about this series HERE.

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

Don't miss the book at 30% off with FREE shipping from BakerBookHouse.com.

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Too often we forget that part of England was under German occupation during WWII, but Sarah Sundin and I chatted about her newest release that takes place on Jersey.

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We chatted about the way the different Channel Islands spent the war. Sarah had so many cool things she'd learned during research to share. And, I loved learning about her characters and how she came up with her story. Excellent!

Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin

Behind enemy lines, adversary and ally become impossible to distinguish.

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot's peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father's medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy's quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers--even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide--or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

Renowned WWII fiction author Sarah Sundin crafts a compelling historical romance featuring enemies-to-lovers, wartime resistance, and medical intrigue--a tale of loyalty, resilience, and courage when love and duty collide.

Get Mists over the Channel Islands at 40% off and with free shipping from BakerBookHouse.com.

Learn more about Sarah (and request your preorder goodies!) by visiting Sarah's WEBSITE. Also follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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