Once Upon a Summer: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

Embrace the enchantment of summer with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.

A New Beginning — Who is she? Acacia Martin raised by an impostor mom serving a prison sentence for her sins, or Jasmine Callahan abducted at birth from a family she’s yet to meet? Luckily, she has Drake to help her untangle the mess that is her life. Will he ensnare her he art in the process?

An Ever After Summer — The employees of In a Bind are terrified of Jean-Luc Thibodeaux, so Bellamy Larson hops on a plane to France to deal with the beastly client. Yet once she arrives, she’s convinced he merely needs a friend. Then her heart begins to want ever after, not just one summer.

Gwen and the Three Dates — Life isn’t a romantic movie, but Gwen Lochs is determined to find her leading man. When she joins a cheesy dating site, Gwen agrees to just three dates. Can Ben Smith watch his best friend and soulmate find someone else? A romantic comedy about searching for that just-right love.

Unkissable — Reality diva Charlotte Lavigne’s on-camera meltdown reminds former teen-TV prince Jaime Reyes exactly why he left Hollywood ten years ago. A chance encounter leads to a bargain that transforms them both. When it’s time to face her past, will their rediscovered love be strong enough to build a future together?

Let these four sweet contemporary Christian romances take you away this summer.

my point of view:

First let me start by saying two things: 1) I love fairytales and 2) this ebook is ONLY 99 cents! That’s for 4 entire stories, how can you get a better deal than that?!?

I loved each and every story in this collection, I couldn’t get enough! I found myself staying up all night to finish a book and then I just needed to let it settle into my heart before I could start the next one!

I cannot pick a favorite because I loved them all so much! Who hasn’t ever heard these fairytales from our childhood? You will be so pleased with the take these authors have written for them!

The way these authors were able to take a beloved fairytale and write a modern, Christian story to fit in todays lifestyle and keep the fairytale fresh in our minds, but still works as a complete Christian Romance novel was amazing!

I am recommending this book to everyone who is reading this blog, honestly! 

About Andrea Boyd

Falling for the Fifties: A Time Travel Historical Romance

(The Back Inn Time Series Book 2)

What would you do if you finally found Mr. Right…in the wrong time?

Maddie Palmer is done with dating. Internet matchmaking landed her one dud after another. Tired, frustrated, and finished with love, Maddie stays the night at a quirky Victorian bed and breakfast on the eve of her grandparents’ sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. When she suddenly wakes up in 1956, she gets the unexpected chance to witness her grandparents’ fairy tale love unfold and finally learn the secret to finding “the one.” But what is she going to do when she meets her own Mr. Right—only to discover he’s Mr. Wrong Time?

Nathanial Hall is set on one mission. Pass his training exam and join the Hurricane Hunters at Keesler Air Force Base. When he mysteriously finds himself on base sixty-five years too early, there can only be one explanation. He has to save the crew destined to die in Hurricane Flossy. But when a beautiful singer snags his heart and derails his carefully planned life, he has to decide if staying in the past is worth risking his entire future.

♥ The Back Inn Time series short novels are fun, faith-filled stories of what it might be like to suddenly experience life in a different time. These clean historical romances are packed with humor and adventure. Perfect for fans of dual timeline or time slip stories and Christian historical romance, these books answer the question every historical fiction fan wonders—what would it be like if I went back to that time? If you enjoy the wholesomeness of Amish, Western, or frontier fiction and adore romantic comedies, then a visit to a seaside Victorian inn where you can “step back inn time and leave your troubles behind!” is for you.

my point of view:

Oh wow, I sincerely adored this story! I have always felt a kinship with my grandmother, and would love to be able to “slip back in time” and meet her as a young woman. I have always been a time travel fan – maybe I was bornin the wrong time, lol – but this has easily become a favorite of mine! I especially love the secondary characters like Maddie’s grandmother and Mrs. Easley.

I adore how the author is able to capture that shock, unease and adaptability the characters have when they find themselves transported to a new era. I would probably curl up in a ball and lose my mind, hahaha!

This story was absolutely wonderful from the very first page to the last, and I am so looking forward to more in this series! Take my word for it, if you enjoy a sweet Christian fiction romance and have even an inkling of being enamored with time travel, this series is for you! 

About Stephenia H McGee    

A sweet and sentimental contemporary romance with a uniquely witty voice.

There are three things you should know about Brittany Masters:

1. She’s a single mom and a nurse manager at the local cancer clinic
2. She has big plans for a quiet summer
3. She’s convinced that fudge pops are the answer to almost all of life’s most important questions

A new neighbor, Matt, making friends with her son while simultaneously pursuing her blow plans for a predictable summer right out of the water. A chance meeting at the cancer clinic where she works renews a connection with an old friend and gives her the perspective she’s been missing. From quiet nights on her front porch swing in Matt’s company to long talks in the clinic with her old/new friend, Brittany’s summer is anything but routine.

my point of view:

I have heard the phrase “all the feels” used frequently, but I rarely have the occasion to use it myself. Until now. This story will definitely give you all the the feels….at least it did for me! 

I so identified with Brittany, having been a single parent to a rambunctious little boy! I too felt the need to not ask for help…that I had to do this all in my own. Her independent nature and work ethic really struck home for me! I adore Christian Fiction and then when you add in all the extended family and the way everyone is centered on God first, well, it was simply a wonderful read for me.

There is a very serious thread in this story dealing with illness, and it is told by the author in a way that is both heart breaking and uplifting at the same time.

Get yourself some fudge pops and be prepared to love this story!.

I am very much looking forward to book 2!

About the Author:

I am not artistic. I’m not someone who can look at a space, or an item and see it’s potential. If you give me white space, I will have no idea what to fill it with. Even if I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like, there is no way I could make it look like the picture in my head. My stick figures have always been lop-sided.

What I am pretty good at is making up stories in my head. At restaurants I enjoy observing other customers and giving them stories. In the grocery store I consider what a post-apocalyptic shopping experience might look like. On my drive home I might imagine the lives of the occupants in any given house I pass.

It became a hobby when I slowly began to write these stories down. If I considered a particularly interesting character the natural progression was to wonder what their story was. What started as a hobby quickly evolved into an obsession. Often times I consider myself a citizen of the world in my head more than reality (which has it’s pros and cons). I spent a lot of time quietly working on my stories, trying to become a better writer and honing my craft.

As an avid reader from a young age, I can’t count the characters that have influenced my life and the stories that have touched my heart. My deepest hope is to use my predilection for make believe to touch someone else’s life. That maybe a young girl would be positively influenced by one of my characters.

Website/Newsletter Sign Up: lm-karen-author.mailchimpsites.com

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The author, L M Karen is offering a HUGE giveaway – a SIGNED paperback of this novel PLUS an Amazon Gift Card – to one commenter on this post. Tell us below what your favorite go to comfort food is!

It was just one night at a Victorian B&B. Until they woke up in 1857.

Collette Donaldson never should have taken her boyfriend to her cousin’s wedding. Or introduced him to her parents. After a disastrous weekend, all she wants is to get back home and sort out the mess that had once been their relationship. A heartbreaking fight, a flat tire, and an inconvenient storm force her and Seth to stay the night at a quaint bed and breakfast. But when Collette finds an antique photograph of herself, circumstances quickly shift from weird to unimaginable.

Seth Stone was ready to propose. Now he isn’t sure if he and Collette even have a relationship. People he’d never want to be his in-laws, an irritable girlfriend, and now he has to spend the night in a creepy old Victorian inn. He should have never wondered how things could possibly get worse. When they wake up stranded on a wagon train in 1857, Seth is determined to get home. But the only way to get out of the past is to face the problems stealing their future.

♥ The Back Inn Time series short novels are fun, faith-filled stories of what it might be like to suddenly experience life in a different time. These clean historical romances are packed with humor and adventure. Perfect for fans of dual timeline or time slip stories and Christian historical romance, these books answer the question every historical fiction fan wonders—what would it be like if I went back to that time? If you enjoy the wholesomeness of Amish, Western, or frontier fiction and adore romantic comedies, then a visit to a seaside Victorian inn where you can “step back inn time and leave your troubles behind!” is for you.

my point of view:

What a fun new series this is turning out to be! I am excited to have a time travel series, as this has always been a genre I thought was entertaining. I am used to the one character going back (or forward) in time to meet their soul mate, so this story was out of the “norm” for me where both the characters are thrust back in time and have to learn how to acclimate into their new life. At least they have each other to lean on and learn from…although there is a huge learning curve for both of them.

I must admit, I have always thought I was born ‘in the wrong time’ , probably why these stories appeal to me, but in all honesty, this author gives us what feels like a true account of traveling on a wagon train! Little things we don’t think twice about can have sever implications in another time…truly this book is a lot of fun, but also gives you a new perspective of life in the 1800s. It also has a sweet romance at the center of it all, giving the characters a true look at their partner and what to expect from one another when the going gets tough!

I am seriously looking forward to more in this delightful series from Stephenia McGee!

About Stephenia H McGee  

Daisy’s Decision: A Christian Romance (Dixon Brothers Book 4)

By Hallee Bridgeman

Just one little date can’t hurt anything, right?

Ever since the sixth grade, Daisy Ruiz loved Ken Dixon from afar and spent her entire youth pining for him. Ken, the youngest of identical triplet brothers, never even noticed her crush.

Today, Daisy lives her life serving her loved ones and her family’s ministry, Gálatas Seis, where she acts as Executive Director. As the daughter of a youth pastor, she understands the importance of ministry and teaches a women’s Bible study. The sudden discovery that she’s pregnant—and her baby’s lying married father wants nothing more to do with her or the baby—threatens her ministry and her entire reputation.

Solemn, sober, solitary, and silent, Ken grew up in a mission-minded family and consistently seeks ways to serve society in the name of the Savior. He goes to Gálatas Seis with an offer to aid a family in need and recognizes his former youth pastor’s daughter leading the organization. While shocked at the chance meeting, the instant attraction he feels surprises him even more.

When Ken asks her out on a date, Daisy realizes her childhood dreams have literally come true after all this time. Even though she just found out she is pregnant, Daisy tells herself that just one little date won’t hurt anything.

But when they go out again and again, she soon finds herself in a full-blown relationship with hearts on the line. She can’t keep her secret much longer. Does she tell Ken about the baby? Can Ken love her baby, too? Or will he abandon her like the baby’s father did? Daisy has a decision to make.

my point of view:

Ah, first love / crush as a teenager, how well I can still remember those intense emotions! But when the object of your affection doesn’t even know you exist? Crushing indeed! I felt so badly for Daisy, having lived in her shoes at one time, and what a joy it was to see her and Ken meet again.

This story is very aptly named Daisy’s Decision, but others have decisions to make in it as well, especially Ken. I admit, even though I have read ever one of Hallee’s novels, I was beginning to panic a few times in this book, wondering where it would lead to. But as always, the ‘lose ties’ all came together by the end and, well, honestly I am a little sad to see this series come to a close.

The Dixon Brothers have been quite a challenge in their own ways and even though they are triplets, they each have their own endearing characteristics. I will miss them! Thanks for the awesome books, Hallee!

About Hallee Bridgeman   

Joel Whittaker married his high school sweetheart only to lose her in a tragic sailing accident in 1958. Now a single parent responsible for their six-year-old son, he believes he must do what is right for Billy. Babs is there when they need her most, but can she make Joel happy? God has a plan for Joel’s life as he struggles with the pieces of the puzzle. They are all there, but Joel can’t see the big picture. Then God rearranged the pieces of the plan for Joel’s life, and he found his second chance. That’s what God does. The Lonely Seagull will keep you smiling, crying, and praising God.

my point of view: 

This story is one of the finest novels I have read in a long time. The author has a way of making you feel right there as if you are sitting on the deck with Joel and meeting the lonely seagull in person. I adore the New England setting and the history of time the whole world felt pulled together. This novel will have you laughing, crying, and cheering, but more importantly it will have you feeling yet new and more powerful kinship with God.

So many characters have huge roles in the story, even if they are not in it very long…one of my favorites is Mr. McCreedy. I know you will love him too! And, let’s not forget Beasley – I want a Beasley in my life! If you only take away one thing from this story – it is that God always has a plan, and no matter how we try to distant ourselves from Him at times in our lives, He is always there waiting for our return.

If you have never read anything by this author previously, PLEASE correct that as soon as possible! This man is one brilliant story teller. I have read all of his novels, and get excited about the next one before he has even written it! 

About R. Marshall Wright  

A jewelry heist, a kidnapping, and a choice. When Fitz’s sister disappears, he’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love.

Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They have no good reason to leave the resort and hurry back to the harsh New England winter. They lost their parents, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. Besides, when Fitz meets and spends time with the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard.

But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels—and he has the video evidence to prove it. As Shelby’s guardian, Fitz has to focus on caring for his sister, whether Tabby is innocent or guilty. He refuses to help the man—until he learns the mobster has abducted his sister.

The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life.

Mystery, suspense, and a sprinkling of romance to keep it fun.

my point of view: 

I just have to say ‘WOW’ whenever it comes to a Robin Patchen mystery / romance novel! She gets me every time. I am always taken in by the complex characters, their backstories that make them who they are today, and how God has worked in their lives. I especially enjoy the setting in New Hampshire and getting to visit with some of the past characters of her stories, but each can definitely stand alone with no worries at all!

The family loyalties and love for God are so at the forefront of this novel, but the suspense will have your heart racing at times! Tabby and Fitz make a wonderful couple – if they can learn to trust eachother, and while Tabby might not be 100% sure of Fitz, she is willing to lay her life on the line to save his sister, a teenager Fitz is raising since their parents passed.

Robin brings together the most amazing mysteries and the suspense keeps you on edge the whole time. I always think, “well, how are they going to get out of this situation?” and then it happens and I am breathing a sigh of relief, lol! HIGHLY recommend!

About Robin Patchen   

Christiana Jones dreamed her whole life of living in Huntsville, Alabama, so she can’t figure out why it doesn’t feel like home. Her relationships—on social media and in real life—seem shallow and empty. When she unearths a stack of her grandparents’ letters, it spurs an idea. Could she find something deeper with a penpal?

Jordan White is taken aback when his cousin Tina suggests he become penpals with her childhood best friend. What could a Louisiana boy have in common with a girl two states away? After all, he’s happily settled on his family’s property and working the job he always wanted. But every letter they exchange has him wishing for more.

As they grow closer through their written words, the miles between them seem to grow wider. Can love cross the distance and bring them home?

my point of view:

Who hasn’t been frustrated with social media at times? I mean not another cat playing the piano gif, really? And do not even get me started with the political memes we have had to deal with forever now! I can totally see Christiana’s point of view!

Call me old fashioned, but I have always enjoyed letters and cards. I have tons of cards from my hubs that I treasure, and many from friends and family….but who would think of starting a penpal relationship with a total stranger? Ingenious idea!  This story really touched me, I so enjoyed the letters they exchanged, and it made me want to send a letter to someone asap, lol! This was such a lovely story, and it is so nice to be able to see two people get to know one another without all the tension that can come from dating, what should wear, is my makeup okay, where do I take her for dinner, is this movie too weird, etc, etc. I think everyone should have a time of connecting like this in a relationship! Oh, and there’s a bonus recipe in the story too! You know how much I like to learn new recipes!!

I highly recommend this captivating novel for everyone!

About Amy R Anguish

Amy Anguish is offering one of readers a free paperback of Writing Home! Just comment below and tell us what your favorite part of receiving or writing a personal letter / card is! Contest will be open for two weeks and winner will be notified via email!

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.

my point of view:

I get so excited when I see a new story from Janet Ferguson, and you will too, once you have read one! This Coastal Hearts series holds a truly special place in my heart. So many of us have had our lives touched by addiction of a close friend or family member. I am certainly no exception. These books have reached deep into my heart and will not be forgotten. I am also a sucker for kids and military hero’s, so needless to say, this one story wraps it all in one for me.

Davis and Joy are two characters that actually had me laughing out loud and crying along with them. Baby Hankie just steals your heart with his incredible antics and over all behavior! Reminded me all too well of my own son when he was that age, hahaha! But beyond all the excitement and playfulness, at the heart of the story is Davis trying to do the right thing, and Joy, God Bless her, trying to find her way in the world.

This was definitely one story that had me reading as fast as possible to get to the end…..but then, sad to have it end, lol. Only a true reader will understand my conundrum! I can hardly wait for the next book in the series so I can catch up with all these wonderful people and see what is next in store for this lovely Coastal community! Thank you, Janet!

About Janet W. Ferguson    

Show Me a Single Dad Cowboy

A small-town single-dad cowboy and a matchmaker out to prove herself in the big city… Can they have a chance at love?

After Maggie Harris is fired from her job at a prestigious matchmaking agency in New York, she returns to her hometown, Cowboy Crossing, Missouri, to regroup. Falling for a local cowboy, Georgio Moore, isn’t part of the plan, despite the attraction sparking between them. But abandoned by her mother as a child, Maggie instantly connects with Georgio’s daughter and offers to find him a wife who’ll be a good mother for his child.

Since his ex-wife left him and their daughter to chase the city lights, Georgio hasn’t been in the market for romance. However, he’d do anything for his daughter, even agree to Maggie’s ridiculous idea. If only she’d see that the only woman he wants to be matched with is her.

Once Maggie has the opportunity to rebuild her career in New York, will she let love lead her—or her bruised ego?

A prequel to the Cowboy Crossing Romance series.

my point of view:

Honestly, you can never go wrong with a book by Alexa Verde – and this one is absolutely free to everyone from Amazon! It cannot get much better than that right?

Maggie and Georgio are fantastic characters, I could relate to each of them in different ways. What woman doesn’t want to prove to herself and others that she is fully capable, right? Being let go from a career you love must have been heartbreaking, but seeing a little girl desperate for a mother, how can that not tug at your heart? Maggie has personal experience in being without a mother, so she is sure her professional expertise can solve both her career and Bianca’s situations at the same time.

Georgio, however, has other idea’s….while he loves his daughter with all his heart, does he really need to marry someone just to give her a mother? They were just fine on their own, father and daughter….weren’t they?

Well, I am sure you can figure out why I adored this story so much! Just click on the cover above to get your free copy, oh and don’t forget to read to the bottom to see how you can win a $5.00 Amazon gift card!

About Alexa Verde   

You are already a winner by getting this free book, but how about a chance to win a $5.00 Amazon giftcard? One commenter will be notified via email! Tell us what is the one thing you are looking forward to most in 2021? Contest ends at 6pm EST Monday, January 18th