A Holiday Tradition: Advent Candles

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by Sandra Merville Hart

When my husband was a child, his mother would light an Advent candle every evening as the family gathered for supper. She did this for four weeks, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Only one candle burned the first week. On the second week, another candle was lit every evening. There were three burning in the third week and four in the fourth week. The candles were arranged in a wreath prominently displayed. He recalled that, by the end, the first candle was nearly gone.

As a child, my family didn’t celebrate this holiday tradition. How did this tradition begin?

Adventus is the Latin word for “coming”. Advent was a time when early Christians prepared their hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In the 4th century, St. Athanasius wrote of Christians preparing for a period of time leading up to Christmas.

By the time of Pope St. Gregory the Great in the 6th century, Advent started on November 12th, which was the day after the feast of St. Martin, and lasted until January 6th, the Day of Epiphany. St. Gregory shortened the Advent season to four—some historical sources suggest it was five—Sundays preceding Christmas.

Today, Advent traditionally begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. For each of the four weeks, a new candle is lit to focus on a different theme. Saying a prayer, sharing a devotion, or reciting scripture may accompany the candle-lighting.

The candles are arranged in a wreath fashioned from evergreens to symbolize everlasting life. The wreath’s circular shape symbolizes God’s unending love for us.

Candle colors are often three purple and one that is rose or pink. An optional fifth white candle in the middle of the wreath, known as “Christ’s Candle,” is lit on Christmas Day.

Each week, the focus is on a different theme that can vary. Below are some common themes.

Week 1, First Sunday, Purple candle, also called the “Prophet’s Candle”: Hope

Even youths grow tired and weary

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.   

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

Week 2, Second Sunday, Purple candle, also called “Bethlehem’s Candle”: Peace

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,

And the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Week 3, Third Sunday, Pink or rose candle, also called the “Shepherd’s Candle”: Joy

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)

Week 4, Fourth Sunday, Purple candle, also called the “Angel’s Candle”: Love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

The Advent season celebrates Jesus’s birth, which was His first coming, and also hearkens to His Second Coming when He will return for His followers.

Lighting the Advent candles brings much symbolism as well as centuries of tradition to help Christians prepare their hearts for Christmas.

Sources

“Advent.” Bible Project, 2025/11/29    https://bibleproject.com/guides/advent/.

Britannica Editors. “Advent Calendar.” Encylopaedia Britannica, 2025/11/29 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Advent-calendar.

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff. “Advent: The Beautiful Meaning, Purpose, and Traditions Explained.” Crosswalk, 2025/11/29 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/the-beautiful-meaning-and-purpose-of-advent.html.

“Did St. Gregory the Great invent the season of Advent?” Aleteia, 2025/12/03 https://aleteia.org/2022/11/29/did-st-gregory-the-great-invent-the-season-of-advent/.

Richie, Laura. “Understanding the Meaning and Symbolism of the Advent Wreath & Candles,” Crosswalk, 2025/11/29 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/advent-wreath-candles-understanding-the-meaning-history-tradition.html.  

“St. Martin’s Day,” Wikipedia, 2025/12/03 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin%27s_Day.

Walker, Kristi. “What is the Meaning of an Advent Calendar?” Christianity.com, 2025/11/29 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-an-advent-calendar.html.

Dog Groomer’s Christmas Second Chance by Cindy Ervin Huff

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Dog Groomer’s Love Stories Series

All Clare Gaylord wants is a dog from the rescue center for her fifteen-year-old grandson Braden. She didn’t plan on meeting her first husband, a man she regrets divorcing thirty years before. Had she tried to help Lloyd through his PTSD, she wouldn’t have endured a disastrous second marriage. Yet there had been reasons she feared Lloyd’s episodes.

Lloyd Harmon can’t believe it when Clare comes into the business where he supports himself as a dog groomer. Many difficult years have passed. He’s now in counseling, yet still struggles with nightmares sometimes. Should he try to befriend her? Or just allow the past to remain in the past? 

I had read other books in this series and was happy to see what happened with them after their stories ended.

Believable, lovable characters, each working through their own difficult pasts, had me turning pages. Surprising twists and turns—some revealed from the past—escalated my interest. I couldn’t put the story down.

This novel of lost love and forgiveness will also appeal to animal lovers and dog lovers.

I recommend this contemporary romance novel, and dog lovers will especially enjoy it.

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required.

Pumpkin Pie, A Holiday Tradition

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by Sandra Merville Hart

My mother made the best pumpkin pie when I was a little girl. Thankfully, she shared her recipe—and her secrets—with me.

I make the pie every year, usually for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, baking the pie again brought back many childhood memories of cooking the festive meal with my mother, grandmother, and sisters. It’s just as delicious now as it was back then!

Ingredients

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 ½ cups canned pumpkin

¾ cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 2/3 cup (13 oz.) Evaporated Milk

1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

Mix eggs, pumpkin, and spices in the order given. I’m never stingy with the cinnamon in this recipe, making it a heaping teaspoon or almost doubling the amount required, just as my mother did.

Another secret she had was adding a teaspoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice. This is a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Though this is completely optional, it rounds out the flavor of the pie.

Stir together and mix the pumpkin with all the spices before adding the last ingredient, a can of evaporated milk. Stir this together until blended and pour into an unbaked pie shell.

Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the pie comes out clean. Let it cool before slicing.

May garnish with whipped cream. Most guests prefer a dollop whipped cream with their pie. My husband covers the pie with the sweet topping. 😊

Doubling this recipe makes three 9-inch pies.

My daughter now makes “Grandma’s” pumpkin pie recipe. The torch has been passed!

Hope your family enjoys this pie as much as mine does.

Hearts in Harmony by Traci Summeril

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Darcy’s mother wants to arrange for her daughter to marry a widower near her home, but Darcy has no intention of giving up her teaching position to move back home. Her demanding mother had controlled her during childhood. She won’t put herself in that position again.

Reuben, the pastor at Darcy’s church, is determined to remain a bachelor, yet he can’t deny his attraction to her. The couple is thrown together when a tornado threatens their community.


Characters I cared about drew me into the story. They had believable hurdles to overcome. I couldn’t put the book down. However, I didn’t understand why Darcy, as a protective sister, seemingly left her adopted younger sister alone with their controlling mother. The answer might be in an upcoming book.

Another quick edit would have helped minor errors. All in all, I enjoyed the story.

I will look for more books by this author.

Amazon  

Hot Apple Cider Recipe

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by Sandra Merville Hart

I hosted a party this fall where I served hot apple cider. I searched for my old recipe in vain. I hadn’t made one in several years, so I created a new one.

Simmering the cider on low heat in a crock pot allows the spicy aroma to seep into the home. The aroma welcomes guests and creates an inviting atmosphere.

Ingredients

64 ounces apple cider

¼ cup maple syrup

5 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon whole cloves

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 orange, sliced

Combine the cider and syrup in a crockpot. Add in the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir.

To add a splash of citrus flavor, arrange 6 orange slices over the top. Simmer on low for 2 – 3 hours.

Just before serving, remove the oranges and cinnamon sticks. Strain out the cloves.

The syrup gives a hint of maple while adding a bit of smoothness to the drink.

This comforting, delicious drink brings a warm welcome to family and friends on cold afternoons and evenings.

If you like a little extra cinnamon flavor—as I do!—add another cinnamon stick from the beginning.

I will make this again for gatherings. Enjoy!

William Lewis, a Blacksmith Who Earned his Freedom

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by Sandra Merville Hart

William Lewis was born on a plantation in Winchester, Tennessee. Sources disagree on the year of his birth, but it seems to have been either 1810 or 1815. Colonel James Lewis, a Revolutionary Soldier, was his father, yet his son remained enslaved.

Bill learned blacksmithing skills at an early age, becoming so skilled that he earned money for both the colonel and himself. Bill saved his own money toward his freedom.

Emboldened by his success, Bill asked the Colonel’s permission to move to Ross’s Landing—later known as Chattanooga—to start a blacksmith shop, which was granted. He had to pay $350 annually because he was still enslaved. He worked hard and paid installments toward his freedom.

He married Jane in the early 1840s. A son, Eldridge, was born. Both of them were enslaved. Since all of Jane’s children would be enslaved, Bill’s priority was to buy her freedom before they had any other children. Sources disagree whether Bill purchased his own freedom or his wife’s first. He paid $1,000 in installments for himself, which was paid in full soon after he moved to Chattanooga. He also paid $1,000 for Jane’s freedom, ensuring their future children were born free.

Bill’s hard work earned him respect in the community. His focus was on saving enough to free the rest of his family. Eldridge was six when Bill paid the $400 for his freedom. His mother and aunt were freed for $150 each. He purchased both of his brothers’ freedom for $1,000 each and, later, his sister’s for $400.

The townspeople respected Bill as an honest, intelligent man. They began to call him “Uncle Bill”.

After Bill’s family was safely with him in Chattanooga, he bought a large house. His business expanded. He rightly foresaw the fall of the Confederacy. He bought tobacco and sold it for a profit to provide for his family.

By the time of the Civil War, he had hired a crew for the heavy work he was no longer able to do and supervised them.

The war brought hard times. Hugh, Bill’s son, fought bravely with a U.S. Colored Troops regiment beginning in 1864. Unfortunately, in 1865, he died of a fever in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The South suffered many economic losses during the war, which also affected Bill. Union soldiers seized his blacksmith shop when they took over Chattanooga. His holdings that had been worth $7,000 in the 1860 census had dropped to $300 during the next decade.

Bill and Jane accomplished all this without being able to read or write. They encouraged their children’s education—several of their children were sent to northern schools.

Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit was a legacy to his children. His daughter Marion graduated from Oberlin College and later taught there.

Two of Bill’s sons were blacksmiths. One worked as a mail carrier. Another daughter was a teacher. A third daughter worked as a milliner.

Bill’s spirit and hard work through many difficulties are an inspiration to this day.  

Sources

Hubbard, Rita Lorraine. Hammering For Freedom, Lee & Low Books Inc., 2018.

Lorraine, Rita. “The Entrepreneur Who Bought…Himself, Part I,”  The Black History Channel, 2025/10/26 https://theblackhistorychannel.com/2021/the-entrepreneur-who-boughthimself-part-i/.  

Lorraine, Rita. “The Entrepreneur Who Bought…Himself, Part II,”  The Black History Channel, 2025/10/26 https://theblackhistorychannel.com/2021/the-entrepreneur-who-boughthimself-part-ii/.  

Lorraine, Rita. “The Entrepreneur Who Bought…Himself, Part III,”  The Black History Channel, 2025/10/26   https://theblackhistorychannel.com/2021/the-entrepreneur-who-boughthimself-part-iii/.

Lorraine, Rita. “The Entrepreneur Who Bought…Himself, Part IV,”  The Black History Channel, 2025/10/26   https://theblackhistorychannel.com/2021/the-entrepreneur-who-boughthimself-part-iv/.

“William T. ‘Bill’ Lewis: Chattanooga’s Blacksmith,” National Park Service, 2025/10/26 https://www.nps.gov/chch/learn/news/lewisprogram2021.htm.

Wilson, John. “William Lewis, Blacksmith Who Bought His Family Out Of Slavery, Lived on the West Side,” Chattanoogan.com, May 25, 2022, 2025/10/26 https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/5/25/441637/William-Lewis-Blacksmith-Who-Bought.aspx.

Legends of Gold by Mary Connealy

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Golden State Treasure, Book 2

Tilda Muirhead came to the Two Harts Ranch in the first book in this series, when she followed the MacKenzie brothers. The teenagers had been in pursuit of their grandfather’s buried treasure and still had found only a portion of it. Tilda’s love of history lands her a job at the California ranch’s orphanage. She’s spent most of her childhood as an orphan, and her deepest desire is to help them. She has never dreamed of marriage—Josh Hart might change her mind.

Josh is part-owner of the large ranch. He took the reins to run it while his brother, Zane, was away. Now that Zane is back, Josh’s struggles to find his way are thwarted by his feelings for Tilda.

When someone claiming to be her family member comes to the ranch, Tilda is fearful. Can she trust Josh to protect her?

Unexpected danger escalates in this historical romance. The story is told through multiple viewpoints, including through characters in the first book with unresolved issues. The author leaves us with reasons to anticipate the next book.

Readers see characters they’ve learned to love in an earlier series.

The author does a good job summarizing what the reader needs to know from earlier stories. Even so, the story builds as a saga. I believe that readers of the earlier series will receive a deeper impact from the stories.

This was a page-turner for me! I will look for more books by this author.

Amazon

Irish Beef Stew Recipe

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I’m happy to welcome fellow author and friend, Susan G. Mathis, back to Historical Nibbles! Today, she is sharing about her newest release and a stew recipe just in time for the fall/winter season. Welcome back, Susan!

by Susan G Mathis

For thousands of Irish immigrants, and for many children of those families, tragedy came early, from disease, accidents, or poverty, leaving the children alone in cities like New York that could be both cruel and full of compassion. Out of this struggle grew the orphanages, institutions that housed destitute and abandoned children—many of them Irish. The Irish community built its own faith-based orphan asylums, places where children could grow up within their faith and culture. Girls were trained in sewing, cooking, and housekeeping—skills that would prepare them for domestic service in upper-class homes.

For many Irish girls, this was their only path to survival and respectability. They entered the Gilded Age world as maids, governesses, or kitchen staff—serving the very families whose wealth defined the era. Yet within that service, they carried the quiet pride and resilience of their heritage.

In the third book of my upcoming series, Fiona King never meant to step into her mother’s shoes—let alone fill them. She arrives at the grand Westminster Park Hotel on Wells Island carrying nothing but her late mother’s tarnished legacy and a box of handwritten Irish recipes, including her Gran’s Irish Beef Stew (below).

She’s given command of the kitchen—a position for the seasoned chef, not an insecure orphan. Overwhelmed by expectations and haunted by whispers of inadequacy, Fiona is desperate to prove herself worthy. But self-doubt is a ruthless enemy, and the pressures of perfection threaten to consume her. Then a surprise ally enters her world.

Irish Beef Stew

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds well-marbled chuck beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks

4 cups of beef stock  

2 cups water

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

6 minced garlic cloves

1 cup Guinness

1 cup hearty red wine

2 tablespoons tomato ketsup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon dried thyme

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon of black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 6 cups)

1 large onion, chopped

3 to 4 carrots cut into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups)

  1. Brown the beef: Sprinkle about a teaspoon of salt over the beef pieces. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Pat dry the beef with paper towels, add the beef and brown well on both sides
  3. Add garlic, beef stock, water, Guinness, red wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
  4. Bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to the lowest setting, then cover and cook at a bare simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  5. Sauté the onions and carrots in melted the butter
  6. Add the vegetables to the beef stew and simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes.
  7. Discard the bay leaves. Remove fat if needed.
  8. Serve hot.

About Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas:

Get ready to fall in love with seven girls and their unforgettable stories! This heartwarming prequel sets the stage for the upcoming Irish Rose Orphans: A Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series, where seven spirited young women serve the islands’ elite!—author Donna Schlachter

Brooklyn, 1876
At the Irish Rose Orphan Asylum for Girls, seven young women are about to experience a Christmas that will change everything—their last one together before stepping into lives of service among strangers in the Gilded Age. United by trials and an unbreakable bond, they’ve pledged to remain “forever sisters.” But as the season of parting approaches, buried wounds rise to the surface.

Twin sisters Annie and Taryn remain divided by a silent rift. Fiona grapples with the ache of abandonment. Vivian hides her fear of being left behind beneath a cheerful façade. Cassie, ever the want-to-be teacher, tries to steady the group as Isabel and Gloria struggle with the agony of separation.

When Sister Rose invites the girls to prepare their hearts during Advent for a deeper calling, each young woman must face the truth of her past and the hope of her future. A final gift—tin lockets adorned with the Irish Rose—become tokens of hope, courage, and an everlasting sisterhood. This Christmas, seven orphans will discover that no matter where life leads them, love and faith will go with them.

Buy link: Amazon  

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has sixteen in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, Julia’s Joy, Emma’s Engagement, Madison’s Mission, and Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas. She is also a winner of more than two dozen book awards, and she’s a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, a dozen stories in compilation books, and hundreds of published articles. Find out more at www.SusanGMathis.com.

ACFW New Releases November 2025

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November 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Amish Romance:
A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly S. Irvin — Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat’s milk and goat’s soaps. Against her the wishes of her father–who’s also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen’s beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less. (Amish Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Biblical:
Loss and Loyalty – Moabites by Christine Dillon — What makes someone family—blood, love, or something more? Arielle believed she was an Israelite—until her brother confessed the truth: she was found as an infant on their doorstep in Moab. After tragedy strikes and the men of her household are snatched away, Arielle must leave the only land she’s ever known and any hope of finding her birth family to follow her adopted family to Bethlehem. (Biblical Fiction, Independently Published)

Contemporary Romance:
Clean Sweep by Julie Arduini — Sometimes the messiest moments lead to the most miraculous grace. A tender story of grace, second chances, and the kind of love that only grows when hearts surrender. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)


Royal Runaway’s Holiday by Mandy Boerma — Can the princess and the reporter overcome the ancient laws and royal protocol standing between them, or is heartbreak the only outcome? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)


A Christmas in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch — Set in the heart of small-town Arkansas, A Christmas in Shady Springs is a sweet Christian romance about love that holds fast, plans that fall apart, and grace that shines even brighter when everything else goes wrong. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)


Clearing the Cowboy’s Name by Elle E. Kay — Accused of stealing her first edition Austen. Guilty of stealing her heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)


Logan’s Legacy by Susan Anne Mason — He ran from commitment for years – until he met the one woman who made him want to stay. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)


A Home for the Ranger by Audrey Wick — Texas park ranger Shane Hutton must choose his future: the opportunity he’s always wanted or the family he’s always needed. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])


Under the Mistletoe by Penny Zeller — A small-town adventure, unexpected romance, and Christmas cheer. He’s a nerdy tourist needing a vacation. She’s a bed and breakfast employee with a broken heart. Love is the last thing they expect to find this Christmas. (Contemporary Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Crime Mystery:
Eight Days Anxious by Luana Ehrlich — When ex-con Jason Brennan takes a senator hostage, Mylas Grey has eight days to find Brennan’s missing wife and daughter. If Mylas fails, the senator will lose his life. But things are much more complicated than that. As the clock ticks down, Mylas must navigate his way through a maze of political ambition, moral corruption, and judicial misconduct, challenging his investigative skills and newfound faith, but ultimately drawing him closer to Whitney. (Crime/Mystery, Independently Published)

General Contemporary:
Nearly Beloved by Kendra Broekhuis — Dylan Turner’s quiet life unravels on the day of her dad’s funeral—when she finds out he’s not her biological father. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a cross-country journey, confronting family secrets and her own identity. (General Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Penguin Random House])


Every Captive Freed by B.D. Lawrence, Shannon McNear, and Angela D. Shelton — Three Novellas about human trafficking. This collection is one of three dealing with “brave” topics Christians often face in the world today. (General Contemporary [Novella Collection], Independently Published)

General Historical:
Even If I Perish by Terrie Todd — Music teacher Mary Cornish volunteers to escort a group of 15 girls from England to Canada as part of Britain’s World War II child evacuation program. All is well aboard the SS City of Benares until September 17, 1940. With a storm brewing in the North Atlantic, a German U-boat releases its torpedo and breaches the ship’s hull. Do the Nazis know ninety children are on board? Based on a miraculous true story of courage in the face of impossible odds. (Historical from Mountain Brook Ink)

Historical Romance:
No Plan At All by Denise M. Colby — Two strangers. One journey. A love neither expected. Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned. A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)


To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — When love feels reckless, faith can lead the way. A story of second chances, steadfast love, and the courage to follow where God leads. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:
On the Edge of Trust by Patricia Bradley — Sometimes the closer you get to justice, the deadlier it becomes. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)


Midnight Masquerade by Elle E. Kay — Two federal agents with trust issues must infiltrate a charity masquerade ball to stop a human trafficking operation that funds terrorism. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


Mac by Melanie D. Snitker — Fame has its price—and someone’s ready to collect. As danger closes in and secrets come to light, Mac must rely on every skill, instinct, and ounce of resolve he has to protect the woman he’s realizing he can’t live without. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)


Trail of Mountain Secrets by Darlene L. Turner — Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K-9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human-remains-detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
First Glow of Illumination by Demi Griffin — Every ending leads to a beginning. All hope seems lost when darkness pushes against the light and the Realms are in danger of being swallowed up by the Shadow Realm. Will the Realm Warriors and Realm Binders wake up from their cultural stupor to defend what has been given them? What will it take for them to recognize their King, trust in his plan, and crown him victorious in the end? (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

Young Adult:
The One You See by Melissa Knight — Seventeen-year-old Miranda’s world involves wealth and Paris vacations while Zac comes with a past she will never understand, yet in a single lapse of judgement their worlds collide, leading Miranda to faith in the God who truly sees her. (Young Adult, Independently Published)

 

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Christmas Rodeo Killer by Sami A. Abrams — To catch a murderer…he’ll make himself a target. (Romantic Suspense)

Wasted by Jerusha Agen — She always follows the rules. But what are the rules for murder? (Romantic Suspense)

A Riddle in the Lonesome October (A Rae Riley Mystery) by JPC Allen — How do you survive a season of fear? (Cozy Mystery)

Curveball on the Dance Floor by Karin Beery — Chris can handle a curveball at the diamond. Can she handle one on the dance floor? (Contemporary Romance)

The Accident by Kenneth Bliss — A psi EMT responds to an accident which he discovers an “impossible” psi child and the dark agent sent to recover him. (Speculative Fiction)

To Have and to Hold by Deb L. Brown — When life doesn’t go according to plan, perfectionist Amelia must trade control for faith—and find joy in the beautiful mess of becoming a mother. (General Contemporary)

Riches Beyond Measure by Mary Connealy — When they leave the ranch in search of stolen treasure, will the spark between them survive the perils ahead? (Western Romance)

My Heart’s for You by Jan Rae Johnson — Kaitlyn Monroe is driven by two desires—find a job and find a soul mate. (Contemporary Romance)

That Was Me by Rick Tester — When you look back on your life, realize it was God… then suddenly discover why. (Mystery)

Pretzels & Pirouettes: The Baby is the Gift by Lynn U. Watson — Meet Clara’s great-great-great-granddaughter, motorcycle-riding, ballet-dancing Lyydi Jager. She’ll pirouette straight into your heart, and you’ll ride right into this Christmas pageant at Our Savior Church. (Contemporary Romance)

CelebrateLit’s Thankful for Our Readers Giveaway!

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I’m excited to announce a chance to win all these novels through Celebrate Lit’s Thankful for Our Readers Giveaway!

My book in the giveaway is A Not So Convenient Marriage, Second Chances, Book 1—and there are over 25 other books you could win!

We all wanted to take a minute to let you know how thankful we are for each one of you. To celebrate, I have partnered with Celebrate Lit for a giveaway just for you to build up your TBR pile.

Here is your chance to win over 25 ebooks and a $50 Amazon card to buy a ton of books for yourself in Celebrate Lit’s giveaway.

Going on now through November 16.

Click on the link to enter. Good luck!

https://promosimple.com/ps/3cdf3/2025-thankful-for-our-readers