Inspy romance Flowers Can Be Fatal 9

Forget-Me-Nots in September, Flowers can be fatal #9

Clare Revel

Pelican Ventures LLC, August, 2016

Inspirational romantic novella

$3.99 Ebook

Also available on Audible

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About the Book

On his third tour of duty in Afghanistan Lt. Col. Bev King signs up for the parcel service. He likes the contact from home, appreciates the generosity and thoughtfulness of his benefactor, and is intrigued by this woman who lives in the same town as his grandmother. Jude Travis loves sending care packages to servicemen and is thrilled when "her squaddie" replies. A rapid letter exchange follows, and when he comes home on R&R they meet. But Jude is being stalked, and Bev might just get snagged in the crossfire. Will this whirlwind romance cause repercussions? Could coming home be more dangerous for Bev than staying in a combat zone?

My review

I enjoy Revell’s Flowers Can Be Fatal series. These gently linked stories that mention characters in other books and sometimes involve them are all stand-alone romances with a bit of bite. In this story, Jude Travis has a special affinity for soldiers since members of her family have also been in service. She supports Her Majesty’s troops overseas through letters and care packages. She owns her own bakery and spends her spare time keeping up with her business. She’s on the lonely side, but doesn’t have much time or interest in a social life. She also has a sneaking suspicion someone from her past is showing up at all times in all sorts of crazy places, but she can’t prove this person means her harm. When it becomes obvious she’s in danger, she does what she can to protect her new love interest, the soldier she’s been writing to on leave at home, Bev, and her heart.

The recipient of her latest personalized and warm-hearted care packages and letters, Bev King finds himself attracted to this writer like no one else When he’s fortunate enough to meet her, it’s pretty much lifelong love at first sight. Jude is an enigma, attempting to be confident and independent, yet facing a nameless fear she won’t share. When the stakes are raised and Bev is pulled into her trauma, potential repercussions abound. Protecting Jude could be more dangerous than active duty.

Told through interchanging viewpoints, Forget-me-nots is a compelling, short drama of inspirational romance and suspense. I listened to the audible version and enjoyed hearing the British nuances that don’t look the same on a printed page.

About the Author

Clare is a British author. She lives in a small town just outside Reading, England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, their three children, and unfriendly mini-panther, aka Tilly the black cat. They have recently been joined by Hedwig and Sirius the guinea pigs. Clare is half English and half Welsh, which makes watching rugby interesting at times as it doesn’t matter who wins. Writing from an early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fan fiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make.

Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American in some of them, the books contain British language and terminology and the more recent ones are written in UK English.

The first draft of every novel is hand written.
She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of four registrars. She can be found at:
http://www.revell124.plus.com/clarere...
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https://twitter.com/ClareRevell

Tam May on Updating Gnarled Bones

In 2017, I published my first book. It was a book of contemporary literary/psychological fiction short stories titled Gnarled Bones and Other Stories. Lisa Lickel was, in fact, generous enough to review the book, which you can read about here. It was an important book for me and one that allowed me to “test the waters,” as it were, as a self-published author.


But, like many authors with their first book, I wasn’t completely satisfied with it. In 2018, I started to entertain the idea of putting out a second edition. At the end of that year, my writing started to evolve from contemporary fiction to historical fiction. I began the Waxwood Series, and in 2019, I published the first two books of that series, The Specter and False Fathers. I discovered my passion for history and fiction go very deep, and I wanted to transfer that passion to readers as well.


At the end of 2019, I began looking again at the stories of Gnarled Bones. Many readers had commented they felt the stories were too short and ended too abruptly. I entirely agreed with that. So the first order of business was to expand and revise the stories.


But I realized also that, like many beginning authors, I hadn’t gone as deeply into what themes tied the stories together in the collection as I should have. Short story collections are tricky because if there isn’t really something to connect the stories, readers sometimes feel unsatisfied with the reading experience.


About that time, I started to read Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. I had read a snippet of the book in grad school, but I’d always wanted to read the entire thing. Friedan’s experiences interviewing suburban housewives in the 1950s and her quest to find the “happy housewife” connected with me because I realized she was talking about my mother’s generation. I could see how the feminine mystique and the Problem That Has No Name related to my mother’s life and the lives of her friends. I wanted to write about these women in the post-war generation who struggled with a definition of femininity that they were being pushed to accept and that was simply unsatisfying to them and their journey to self-discovery that would bring on the second-wave feminist movement a decade later.


These were the themes that guided me in revising Gnarled Bones for the second edition. In doing so, the book became almost an entirely new work. I even had to change the title of the book to Lessons From My Mother’s Life because the original short story upon which the first edition was titled could no longer be a part of the collection (I’m saving it for a novella of its own). I explain what changes I made to this second edition, and why I made them, as well as some of the background behind the collection in an Author’s Note I include in the book.


I really hope this second edition will resonate with many women who, like me, have mothers and grandmothers that lived through the post-World War II era and that it will help them to understand these women just as writing the stories helped me to understand my mother better.   

It was the 1950s. The war was over and women could go back to being happy housewives. But did they really want to?


Women should have been contented to live a Leave it to Beaver life in the mid-20^th century. They should have been fulfilled. Women’s magazines told them so. Advertisers told them so. Doctors and psychologists told them so. Some were. But some weren’t.


In the 1950s, women were sold a bill of goods about who they were and who they should be as women. Some bought it. But some didn’t.


These five stories are about the women who didn’t.


A teenage bride sees her future mirrored in Circe’s twisted face. A woman’s tragic life serves as a warning about the dangers of too much maternal devotion. And the lives of two women intersect during two birthday parties, changing both of them. These and other moving tales of strength, discovery, and hope are about our mothers and grandmothers and the lessons their lives have to teach us.


This book is the second edition of my 2017 short story collection, Gnarled Bones and Other Stories. This edition has been extensively revised, the stories changed and expanded, and the context moved from the present day to the 1950s and 1960s. This edition also includes a Preface and a bonus chapter from The Specter, the first book of my Gilded Age family drama, the Waxwood Series.


You can find out more information, including buy links here.

Tam May grew up in the United States and earned her B.A. and M.A in English. She worked as an English college instructor and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher before she became a full-time writer. She started writing when she was 14, and writing became her voice. She writes historical fiction that examines characters in the social and psychological contexts of their time.


Her first book, a collection of contemporary short stories, was nominated for a 2017 Summer Indie Book Award. A revised and expanded second edition of this book is now available under the title Lessons From My Mother’s Life. She is currently working on a Gilded Age family saga. The first book, The Specter, came out in June of 2019, and the second book, False Fathers, is also now available. Book 3 (The Claustrophobic Heart) and Book 4 (Dandelion Children) will be out in 2020. She is also working on a historical mystery series featuring a turn-of-the-century New Woman sleuth. Both series take place in Northern California.


She lives in Texas but calls San Francisco and the Bay Area “home”. When she’s not writing, she’s reading classic literature and historical fiction, watching classic films, or cooking up awesome vegetarian dishes.


For more information on Tam May and her work, feel free to check out her website at www.tammayauthor.com.

Ponder this with Lisa Lickel

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Everything About Us by Lisa Lickel

About the Book - "Whatever is true"

Danny Winston, America's newest heartthrob, thinks he can have it all—his dream business and the girl. He's sure he can convince Shelly, the woman who made it all possible, to marry him. When things keep going wrong, Danny can't ask her to be a partner in failure.

Shelly Colter isn't sure she can give up her California-style life with all the glamour for a move to quaint, rural Wisconsin. At first, she thought Danny, her leading-man protégé, was all she needed, but when things get serious, her secret might ruin everything.

When Danny and Shelly realize they have a common enemy thwarting their dreams, they can choose to fight for each other or risk losing out to fear. It's an epic he-thinks, she-thinks, with the truth somewhere in between. Will they stop worrying everything beyond their control and rely on God first, then each other?

Pelican Ventures LLC

March, 2020

Inspirational romantic novella

121 pp

$3.99 eBoook

Buy on

Amazon

Pelican

BN

Review from Amy Laundrie

For Fans of Light Romance

Dream Big, Love Well, Live Large, Have Faith. These words, which movie publicist Shelly read on a ceramic mug, sum up her philosophy of life. The novella’s other point of view character, a farmer by the name of Danny, falls in love with Shelly. Danny is a farmer turned heartthrob actor who stars in a movie by the same name as the novel's title, Everything About You. He knows Shelly is beautiful and ambitious, but he doesn’t know about her criminal former boyfriend. Will their love and faith be enough to keep them safe and together?

Reviewer: Retired fourth grade teacher Amy Laundrie began writing because of a desire to share stories and connect with others. Laundrie has published seven children's books and LAUGH, CRY, REFLECT: STORIES FROM A JOYFUL HEART, testimonials to a woman's life. She enjoys sports and raising pet ducks. Visit her at www.laundrie.com.

About the Author

Lisa Lickel is an author, editor, and mentor who lives with her husband in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction both short and full-length, including mysteries, romance and family drama, feature articles, and radio theater. She belongs to the Wisconsin Writers Association, the Chicago Writers Association and is a writing coach at Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Retreat. Lisa loves to encourage new authors through mentoring, speaking, and leading workshops. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer and blogger, and a freelance editor. Find more at www.LisaLickel.com.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

A Perfect Fit with Christine Schimpf

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

About the book "Whatever is lovely..."

Hannah Lockhart has every intention of saying yes to the marriage proposal she's expecting...but the proposal never comes. Now she has only one option: pick up the pieces of her broken heart and start a brand new life.

Matt Winters has never considered himself the marrying kind. He enjoys his freedom and easy lifestyle...until the day he meets Hannah Lockhart. Now, everything he thought about himself has begun to change.

Sometimes the hardest lessons in life bring the best of blessings like a perfect fit.

Inspirational romantic novella

Pelican Book Group, March 2020

110 pp

$3.99

Buy on

Amazon

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Pelican book store

My review

Worth the wait when we let God drive the bus...

Single professionals, despite plenty of chances at love and parental nudges, meet and decide to see how it goes when they take a break from actively pursuing a perfect mate. It’s not hard for English teacher Hannah, who’s decided to stay away from men for a while after her longtime on-and-off-again boyfriend Tim keeps deciding they need a break. She jumps at the chance to make a change when her friend Julie convinces her to come and teach at a smaller private school.

History teacher Matt likes spending his time how he sees fit, dating tall, thin blonds. Then petite dark-haired Hannah falls into his arms on the first day of classes. She’s nothing like Annie, his current date. After a series of encounters with Hannah, and a chat with his brother, Matt decides it’s time to accept God’s hint that he stop playing around and take couplehood seriously. Hannah seems like the perfect fit—they share a strong faith, a sense of humor, and a willingness to meet and complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. When their past rises to meet them, their new relationship is tested.

A Perfect Fit is a sweet inspirational novella, a nice little bite-sized romance for a rainy afternoon. Told from both Hannah and Matt’s perspectives, the reader is drawn into their lives. Those who enjoy clean contemporary romance will enjoy this story.

About the Author

Born and raised in a small town in southeastern Wisconsin, Christine graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Magna cum Laude. She is an award winning essayist which led her to copy editing and writing. After self-publishing two books, she now writes inspirational romance for Prism/Pelican Book Group and is a member of the Romance Writers of America. She lives on five acres in the country with her husband and golden retriever. A love for the outdoors has her enjoying golf, tennis, kayaking and simply sitting in a lawn chair listening to nature.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

About the book "Whatever is praiseworthy..."

Celestina Morgan's dreams of happily-ever-after hit a major glitch when she suffers a small stroke. There's no permanent damage from the stroke, but her heart is broken when her boyfriend deserts her with a text message that says he hopes she gets well. He's terrified of illness and hospitals.

Cele's got a plan to win Jason back, and it's working until an adorable puppy shows up on her doorstep. Jason hates pets of any kind. It doesn't help that the handsome chaplain from the hospital keeps coming by to help out. He doesn't approve of Jason, and Cele struggles to ignore the truth.

Either way, to give Jason a chance to prove the chaplain wrong, the dog has to go! But the sweet little puppy has other ideas.

Inspirational romantic novella

Pelican Book Group

March 2020

110 pages

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Amazon

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My review:

Celestina, a budding pro tennis player from the hinterlands with a passion for sculpting in clay and a backup plan as an accountant, moves to Chicago and immediately sees stars. In more ways than one. The rich, handsome but empty Jason thinks she’s the perfect eye candy as long as she’s obedient and has no more health issues. Cele’s perfectly willing to overlook his complete lack of empathy until she realizes it’s an unflattering mirror of herself.

She meets Sam, a chaplain who volunteers at the local food pantry, when he helps her after an accident. Later, after she turns away from a visit to the food pantry where he volunteers, accused by a coworker of slumming, Cele takes a good long look at what she’s becoming. But Jason’s lifestyle is a dream come true and she dithers when he agrees to help the food pantry.

Cele has some major growing up to do. Learning to be empathetic and developing a worthy heart might start best at home, with the help of an adorable little doggie creature who worms his way into her life and teaches her the value of being needed. Told from Celestina’s eyes, This Worthy Heart is a fun inspirational romance with a few sweet twists to make the reader wonder which path Celestina may choose.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

Linda WIdrick and Complications

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

To Complicate Matters by Linda Windrick

About the book "Whatever is just..."

Angelica Dunn, baker extraordinaire, is weary of living from one pie season to another. When she slips on the floor under a bucket of custard crème, a handsome stranger comes to her rescue. Instantly, she's smitten.

CIA officer, Thaddeus Wright, is drawn to the dimple-cheeked beauty. He adores Angelica's spunk and the fact that she isn't pushy like other women. But, how can he tell her he's not the computer repairman that she assumes he is?

To complicate matters, Angelica mistakenly leaves a message on Thadd's home phone. To what lengths will she go to intercept the embarrassing evidence that's certain to squelch all hope of a future with Mr. Wright?

A comedy of errors and ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time, catapults Angelica into a battle between right and wrong. Will Angelica choose to do what's right, even when things get complicated?

Inspirational historic romantic novella

Pelican Book Group

March 2020

153 pages

$3.99

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Amazon

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My review:

A sweet inspirational romance between a strong-willed, impulsive Florida chef with big dreams and a DC man with a mystery job fall for each other at first sight. Ang’s roommate’s brother is a hunky dreamboat with a huge faith-filled personality, and Ang, known for not checking her messages or the number she’s calling, inserts foot in mouth…or old-fashioned answering machine in Thadd’s case.

Ang is also known for either jumping in where angels fear to tread or sitting and dithering, wondering what’s right. When lots of prayer and advice from her friends, helpful though pointed and character-building, points her in the right direction, how can she trust not only herself but Thadd to forgive her missteps and miscues? Thadd is dedicated to his work, but longing for a companion who’s not chasing him, trying to manage his life. Klutzy, adorable Angelica seems perfect.

Told in alternating viewpoints from Angelica and Thadd’s points of views, this sweet couple have only to fear Angelica’s tendency to jump to conclusions and hope they can un-complicate matters afterward.

About the Author:

Linda Widrick is a freelance writer and graduate of Long Ridge Writer's Group. Her desire is to be a beacon of light in a dark world, sharing God's love and grace through her writing. A dreamer at heart, she loves to pull her inspiration for stories from snippets of everyday life. She enjoys kayaking, traveling, treasure hunting, and spending time with family and friends over a good cup of coffee.

Sharing a passion for missions, Linda and her husband serve on the board of Gospel Outreach, Inc., a not for profit organization that seeks to help those impoverished in third world countries. Linda is a member of Word Weavers International and American Christian Fiction Writers.

Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

New from Rachel A James

Ponder this... series of inspirational romantic novellas

New from Pelican Book Group

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

About the book - "Whatever is Noble"

When the patron of the Foundling School takes pity upon young orphan, Georgiana (Ana) Weston, Lady Dunston raises her as one of her own. However, years pass and Lady Dunston's health begins to fail. With the Longworth estate entailed away, Ana is faced with an uncertain future.

Mr. Luke Renshaw still mourns the loss of his parents, and would rather travel the world than live in a place that reminds him of so much pain and loss. But responsibilities await, and when his only aunt becomes sick, he returns to Longworth. After all, it is where he will receive his inheritance.

Luke and Ana used to play together as children, though many years have passed and much has changed. The prospect of marriage without love holds little hope for their romantic ideals, and yet it seems the most sensible solution for both parties.

Pelican Ventures LLC

March, 2020

Inspirational romantic novella

65 pp

$2.99 eBoook

Buy on

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble

Pelican book store

A brief interview with Rachel

What do you love about your story?

I love the setting in this story. I’ve based it on a historical house that I live near, and I just love visiting it and imagining what went on all those years ago. 

How does your story relate to the theme verse? Tell us a little about how you worked your story to meet the theme.

I was given the “Whatever is noble” part of the theme verse, and the first thing that sprang to mind was the Wife of Noble Character from Proverbs 31. I’ve always seen this character as an ideal to aspire to, and wondered what this type of woman would have been like. So this is what I set out to do, create a lead character that modeled the Proverbs 31 woman. In the end, I think the hero of the story also displayed the theme - becoming noble was part of his character arc.

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’ve finished reading?

I hope that readers will be inspired and encouraged by the book, and that they tell others it was a sweet historical romance! 

What are you reading?

I have several books on the go at the moment. Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green, The Tea Chest by Heidi Chivaroli, and several of the books from the Ponder This series! As you may have gathered, I love Christian historical romance books!

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a new Medieval book series, and I hope to have the first book out by the summer. I would also like to write another Victorian novella at some point later this year. I’m thinking… possibly a Christmas novella…?

My Review

Sweet historical British romance ala upstairs downstairs

Ana Weston is a product of the meeting of upstairs and downstairs in mid-nineteenth century England. Things are changing, and Ana is as comfortable cooking in the kitchen and cleaning fireplace ashes of the Longworth estate as she is wearing silks as Lady Dunston’s ward. Eschewing the formal flower gardens, she prefers the wild meadows and picking forget-me-nots to adorn the manor rooms.

When the foundling’s patroness passes away, Ana’s anchor line may be cut, casting her adrift. Lady Dunston has one last wish she shares with her heir, her nephew Luke. Luke has enjoyed his work schedule as a travel writer, using it as an excuse to avoid returning to his mother’s twin sister and his own home not far away. Lady Dunston reels him in with the hint of a possible happy home life once again if he seriously considers marriage to the suitable Ana. Luke doesn’t need much coaxing and the two enter into a very quick and sensible relationship which allows Luke to work as needed and Ana to step into the role of mistress at Longworth.

As Luke gradually eases into the life of a responsible wealthy landowner, his eyes are opened to the needs around him and his new wife’s depth of character. The two of them have gotten pretty good at keeping each other at arms’ length, but how long they can keep it up as the walls of decorum begin to crumble is not hard to guess. Ana and Luke’s journey toward true nobility is a delightful, sweet short read. Told from both their perspectives, the reader is drawn into Victorian age England and its advances toward the modern era.

About Rachel

Rachel is an inspirational author. She has an MA in Creative Writing and loves to write fiction that uplifts, inspires, and encourages others. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three adorable girls and when not writing she enjoys idling time away in a vintage teashop or visiting a historic landmark in pursuit of a new story! For more information visit www.rachelajames.com

Connect with Rachel

www.rachelajames.com/newsletter

facebook.com/authorrachelajames

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pinterest.com/rachelajames

goodreads.com/rachelajames

instagram.com/authorrachelajames

twitter.com/rachelajames7

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Check out all eight books in the series.

Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27

Buy in the Pelican book store

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel