What a week it's been for author Jan Elder--a brand new book plus her birthday to celebrate! Congratulations, Jan!

As part of her celebrations, I'm honored to introduce her yummy story, A Semi-Sweet Summer. If you like chocolate and romance (not necessarily in that order), you'll love this Pure Amore novel.

Cassidy Cooper never wanted to set foot in Crystal Falls again. Ten years earlier, she’d given her heart to a boy who’d, in turn, humiliated her deeply. Now, back in town as the sole beneficiary of her sister's estate, she’s determined to make her sister's dream of an upscale chocolate truffle shop, come true.

 Hunter Gray is very intrigued by his new neighbor. His escape artist cow, Marigold, engineers an introduction…but it's not quite the first impression he was hoping for. Baffled by the nagging suspicion he’s seen this woman before, he plots to win Cassidy’s heart at every opportunity.

 With the object of her unrequited love living within shouting distance, Cassidy prays for strength to forgive and forget. And Hunter? He just wants to get back to his own dream to grow his farm and get to know the pretty girl next door. If she'll let him.

Do you have regrets? How do you handle them? Cassidy carries a load of regret ever since she and her step-sister, Savannah, split apart. And now it's too late to reconcile. Leukemia stole her sister and her chance to make things right, but she can fulfill her sister's dream of opening a truffle shop. 

When she realizes who owns the trespassing bovine who seems to prefer her lawn, Cassidy has to deal with another aspect of her past. Journeying with her to acceptance, forgiveness and love turned out to be an enjoyable (and somewhat fattening!) trip. One word of warning about A Semi-Sweet Summer: it's filled with so many scrumptious treats, you may find yourself snacking more than usual!

Author Jan Elder's sense of humor brightens this story with sparkles and bites of fun. And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate! Want a thought-provoking and entertaining read? A Semi-Sweet Summer fits the bill deliciously.

Want a nibble? Here's a little tidbit:
​Hunter draped an arm over Cassidy’s shoulder and drew her close. He whispered in her ear. “You are most certainly invited back anytime.”
 
For the brief time he’d clasped her fingers in the restaurant, she’d loved the feel of her hand in his. And now this? She longed to lean into him and snuggle closer, but he’d hurt her deeply ten years ago, whether he realized it or not. It hung there between them. If she opened up to him, the embarrassment would be more than she could bear. Such a big deal back then. Now, she was a different person, and so was he.
 
Cassidy glanced up into Hunter’s dark, soulful eyes. He was staring at her with a full-blown smile on his face. His gaze fell to her mouth. She pulled back, leaned on the fence, and dipped her head. Her chest rose and fell as she inhaled farm life in all its glory. She was falling for this man all over again. And it hurt to fall. Her heart still beat black and blue.

​JAN ELDER is an inspirational romance writer with a passion for telling stories other women can relate to on a deep level. She strives to write the kind of book that will strengthen the reader’s faith, introducing the reader to a loving and forgiving Lord who walks beside us in our daily lives, while also providing an entertaining and engrossing love story.
Happily married for fourteen years to loving (and supportive) husband, Steve, the two live in central Maryland along with Jamie (a chubby black and white tuxedo cat), and Shu-Shu (a willowy tortoiseshell cat). On the weekends, Jan and Steve comb the nearby countryside in search of the perfect ice cream flavor.  


Thanks, Jan, for visiting us today. It's been fun!

Connect with Jan Elder:

Website: http://janelderauthor.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/janice.elder.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanElderAuthor
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13261561.Jan_Elder
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Elder/e/B00VXW5F2C/
Contact Information: www.janelderauthor.com/contact

TITLE:  The Two of Us
AUTHOR:  Victoria Bylin
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS:  ****

After two broken engagements, nurse practitioner Mia Robinson is done with dating. From now on, she only trusts herself and God, and she's focused on her eighteen-year-old sister, Lucy, and caring for patients. Just as she applies to work for an international aid organization, a phone call from Lucy, who's pregnant and running off to marry her twenty-one-year-old boyfriend, throws a wrench into all of Mia's plans. 

Jake Tanner may have recovered from the physical injuries he sustained on the job as a police officer, but his heart has yet to heal from losing his former partner in the tragedy. He's poured himself into starting a camp for the sons of fallen officers and mentoring Sam, the adult son of his deceased partner, who's asked him to be his best man at his wedding. 

Mia is expecting a mess when she arrives to sort out the situation with Lucy, but she wasn't expecting Jake. And Jake, who can't help envying Sam and Lucy, doubts he'll ever experience their happiness for himself. But maybe Jake's courage and Mia's caring spirit are just what they need to bring them a lifetime of healing and a forever kind of love. 

Jake and Mia intrigue one another from the get-go, but neither wants to admit it. Sounds like a typical romance, right? But it isn’t. Mia’s goals are self-sacrificing, a commitment to use her talents to serve God in third-world countries. Jake’s plans are also worthy, but his small town may split over the unexpected controversy. When “fate” steps in to bring these two together on a semi-permanent basis, sparks fly—and they’re not all romantic.

Lots of drama in this story kept me reading, and the characters are wonderfully complex. The one negative for me was Mia regretting her purity vow and seeming to be the only one to consider it important. However, the faith message came through clearly in spite of the casual attitude regarding sex before marriage. I enjoyed The Two of Us, and award it four stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  Chasing Secrets (Elite Guardians #4)
AUTHOR:  Lynette Eason
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS:  *****

Elite Guardians bodyguard Haley Callaghan may be in South Carolina, but when a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open a twenty-five-year-old cold case, her life is suddenly in danger. Haley knows how to take care of herself; after all, she's made a career out of taking care of others. But after an uncomfortably close call, Detective Steven Rothwell takes it upon himself to stay with her--and the young client she has taken under her wing. A protector at heart, he's not about to let Haley fight this battle alone.

In a sweeping plot that takes them into long-buried memories--and the depths of the heart--Haley and Steven will have to solve the mystery of Haley's past while dodging bullets, bombs, and bad guys who just won't quit.

With a suspense as tangled as my ear buds cord, Chasing Secrets kept me guessing and flipping pages until the very end. I wasn’t even close to guessing the mastermind behind the danger. Well done!

Haley’s past—what she can remember of it—compels her to protect those who cannot protect themselves, like young Zeke and his family. But the past she cannot remember intrudes into her world, bringing with it even more danger.

Steven is trying to forget the past, but when he moves back to his hometown to care for his ailing father and overwhelmed mother, he is forced to face his pain. When Steven and Haley meet at an emergency call, attraction is immediate and undeniable, no matter how hard they try to suppress it.

Forgiveness is an integral part of this story, and Steven’s journey toward it is understandably difficult. Without preaching, Ms. Eason shows the need for forgiveness and the faith-steps to achieve it.
​
Catching Secrets is a fast-paced, thrilling read, and it earns five stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.