Welcome to the inaugural B. Throughout this hunt, we hope you discover some new books and get to know a little more about us.
A few things before you dive into my blog:
This hunt is a blog hop. Collect the “clues” (pieces to the longer phrase) at each stop. Enter the individual giveaways along the way, then click on the link to the next stop and repeat until you reach #28, where you will input the full phrase as your entry to the grand prize drawing.
The hunt begins August 30, 2023, at noon EST, and ends September 4, 2023, so you have plenty of time to visit each stop. If you need to step away and come back later, make a note of the last stop you visited, and go to this post with the list of all stops on the hunt.
If you are having trouble viewing the posts, you may need to switch browsers. Chrome and Firefox sometimes work better than Microsoft Explorer or Edge.
Now, on to my blog!
One of the things I loved about starting school (besides the coming fall weather!) was the blank slate each new school year or college semester offered. Even if I was returning to the same school as last year, the chance to learn new things and meet new people excited me. In middle and high school and in college, I also had the feeling I could be whoever I wanted to be, that if I wanted to reinvent myself, I could–especially when I started a new school.
Maybe you’ve felt that way too–that the start of a new school year meant a fresh opportunity to change something about who you were before. In my featured book, The Dark Guest, Violet Lundy has started a new life in Fairfax, Virginia, but she’s done so to hide her true identity. When she’s discovers she’s become a target of a mysterious person, she’s reluctant to share her past with the hero, Dr. Henry Silverton. But events conspire to reveal her past, and Violet and Henry find themselves working together to save themselves.
Patricia Bradley, author of The Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, said this about The Dark Guest, book one in my Cold War Legacy Series: “Once I started reading The Dark Guest, I could not put it down. The story captures the reader in the first chapter and doesn’t let go until the last. Sarah Hamaker has created wonderful characters to root for as she takes them on a dangerous, twisty journey to the truth.”
Want to learn more about The Dark Guest? When Violet Lundy isn’t cleaning rooms at Happy Hills Assisted Living Facility, she loves spending her free time with resident Rainer Kopecek. Hearing his stories of the dangerous life he led behind the Iron Curtain in East Berlin makes her own life seem more tolerable. But when Rainer is found dead and his room in disarray, Violet suspects foul play.
Dr. Henry Silverton lives among his books, teaching and writing about the Cold War. A letter about an East German traitor known only as “The Wolf” propels Henry out of academia and into Violet’s life. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to uncover the truth about Rainer’s death and the traitor’s identity.
Can Violet and Henry uncover the secrets of the past before one of them ends up as The Wolf’s next victim?
You can still get an ebook copy of The Dark Guest for only 99 cents on Amazon or other ebook retailers, including Barnes & Noble and Apple.
If you join my mailing list during the contest, you’ll be entered into a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
PS: If you’re interested in why I named this book The Dark Guest, I explain all here.
PSS: Did I forget to mention The Dark Guest won the 2023 Selah Fiction Book of the Year? Plus the 2023 Selah Award in romantic suspense?
Multi-published author Mindy Steele recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels?
Ha, that’s a good question, especially when most readers know me better for writing Amish romance. It was my agent’s doing. The blame, or credit, is hers. She asked me to write a short story for the Christmas Cookies and Mysteries Anthology inspired by the Oak Ridge Boys. They had a couple extra slots needing filled and she leaned on me for a quick story. I was instantly hooked. A Brookhaven Christmas was just a delightful small-town whodunit and I knew then I might possess a mysterious side too.
When do you find time to write?
Somewhere between edits and grandchildren! I write full time. Some days I’m lucky to get in a full six hours. Other days, it’s write until your eyes cross and your elbows hurt.
What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress?
The front porch. I have the perfect surroundings. Amish buggies traveling the road. Long fields and farms to my west. Birds darting in and out at my feeders. My garden right in view. And behind me is my mountain. Nothing like listening to the wild things out there too. There is so many views from my front porch, inspiration isn’t far.
How do you connect with your characters?
I am a stickler for connecting with characters. If my hero raises bees, then so do I. If my heroine is a hunting guide, well, I need to sit in the tree stand and see what she sees. I might have even stalked a few game wardens. Getting to know my characters has been the hardest, and easiest part of writing. I have met so many amazing, talented people through my own process. My current works has me corresponding with an Amish healer and monthly trips to an Amish doctor!
Why do you like writing romantic suspense?
I like the whole process. As a storyteller, weaving together a community, characters, doesn’t strain me at all. I love to tell a story, but my favorite part is letting the story lead me. In my first romantic suspense, Bones on the Mountain, I had no idea who the killer was, until I did. I’m no plotter, so that was such an amazing experience as a writer, to simply start writing and let the story suck you in.
What’s the weirdest way someone has died or been killed in your novels? Hot chocolate!!!
How do you research ways to kill someone for your books? Very carefully. I am almost certain my computer has been flagged at this point. I mean who researches flesh eating beetles, nightshade concoctions, and serial killer victims in one week! I find it best to use our local library now.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels?
My surroundings. I never travel far to choose a setting, as Kentucky will always be my favorite location to write about. I do however change town and road names often out of respect for those around me. I mean, we don’t need anyone knocking on a neighbor’s door wanting to know if they really had bodies buried outback or anything. That would be weird.
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers?
In-person. My first book was published at the beginning of the pandemic. Thankfully social media allowed me to virtually meet readers. But I love face-to-face. I try each year to travel to various places to meet them. There is nothing like hugging your reader and thanking them for supporting you.
What do readers ask you when they meet you?
When’s the next book? How do you come up with your stories? When will you be traveling in my direction? I’m sure every writer has the same answer here.
Who’s your favorite romantic suspense writer and why?
Oh, that’s hard. There are so many greats. Off the top of my thoughts, I would say Jamie Jo Wright, especially during rainy days or when I have been submersed in to too many sweet romances lately. I’ve recently been reading Susan May Warren and love her!
About Mindy Raised in Kentucky timber country, Mindy is a best-selling and award-winning author who writes in favor of her rural surroundings. Her books are peppered with humor, and sprinkled with grace, charming all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A storyteller at heart, she enjoys coffee indulgences, weekend road trips, and researching her next book.
Deadly Sanctuary
Years ago, journalist Emery Bishop survived the unthinkable. Now the single mother is heading home to her grandparent’s bed and breakfast in Kentucky to seek sanctuary. With a dark past looming all around her, Hickory Cove is the one place Emery has always felt safe. Only this time, Emery finds herself the center of attention she doesn’t know how to protect herself from.
Corbin Peachy is the local game warden. Protecting nature is his calling and leaves a man little time for romance. But he is instantly drawn to the guarded journalist. Corbin’s protective nature wants to help her, but can his patience tear down the walls Emery has built all around her or will a string of recent murders send her running again?
Emery has to decide if she is willing to trust the local game warden with more than just her heart.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Kristen Hogrefen Parnell, who writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for women and young adults. Her own suspense story involved waiting on God into her thirties to meet her husband, and she desires to keep embracing God’s plan for her life when it’s not what she expects. Kristen’s books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. An educator at heart, she also teaches English online and enjoys being a podcast guest. Kristen lives in Florida with her husband and baby boy.
“Sometimes, for minor characters, [the name I pick] will just be a place holder and I’ll say I’ll come back and change it, and they just tend up being that person,” Kirsten says. “For the major characters, I have to make sure they’re not named after someone I know or somebody who thinks I named them after them. So I have to be very intentional about those names.”
The Heart’s Bidding by Kelly S. Irvin — Together, schoolteacher Rachelle Lapp and auctioneer Toby Miller must face their hardest battle yet: trusting God’s plan for their uncertain future. As their families matchmake, Toby and Rachelle realize their jobs may not be all that’s holding them back from a future together. They both must learn not only to trust each other, but also trust God’s plans for them. But do those plans involve a lifetime together or them going their separate ways? (Amish Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
Children’s:
Bold and Brave by K.A. Cummins — Sometimes courage is loud like an elephant, and sometimes it’s quiet like a llama. Lily, a young autistic girl with a vivid imagination, wants to sing the solo in the school’s choir show, but the thought of standing at center stage turns her heart a gloomy grey. School is overwhelming enough. Now all eyes will be on her, and she can’t wear the red polka dots she needs to be bold and brave. (Children’s/Picture Book from Eleonora Press)
Contemporary Romance:
Window of the Heart by Amy R. Anguish — Lennox Malone may not believe in love, but she’s determined to do the best job she can as her friend Sara Beth’s maid of honor. Problem is, the man in charge of fixing up the chapel doesn’t match her determination. Fighting against preconceived notions, a past that catches up to her, and an attraction she wants nothing to do with, this wedding is turning into more than she can handle. Ty Dunne might be laid back and easy-going, but he’s determined to make sure the chapel is ready for his cousin’s wedding. Not only is it his duty as best man, but he wants to preserve the family’s history in the building. If only he could live up to his family’s other expectations—or those of Lennox Malone, the fiery redhead he can’t stop thinking about. Before he can go any further with her, though, he has to convince her that love is real and worth the risk. Lennox has built her walls high and sturdy, but Ty is determined to find a way in—even if it’s a window. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivening’s Press) Her Cowboy Blind Date by Narelle Atkins — He’s a small-town guy, a cowboy at heart. She’s a city girl from the other side of the world. Will a blind date lead to a love that lasts a lifetime? Since Becky is only in Gilead until June, a blind date with a suitable plus-one before the wedding seems like the perfect solution for Sam. No strings and no commitment. But the blind date turns into a not-so-fake relationship when Sam and Becky must work together on the passion play. Can they overcome past emotional wounds and geographical distance to create a future together? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy by Valerie Comer — Everything hit all at once. Tate Sullivan became the guardian of his young nephew after his brother’s death, and now Grandfather has bought a failing guest ranch in Montana. Tate’s used to handling Fortune 1000 companies, but moving halfway across the country and learning an entirely new, rural business is a challenge, especially with a toddler in tow. Nice girls finish last… or that’s what it seems like to Stephanie Simpson when her ex-boyfriend, a pastor, proposes to a former bad girl. It’s not that Stephanie wants her ex to rethink his life choices, but would it be so wrong to move on as quickly as he has? A quick wedding to that cute but faltering cowboy with the adorable toddler might get her what she wants. After all, it’s clear Tate needs a helping hand. He’s a Christian, just like she is. What could possibly go wrong? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) To Protect His Brother’s Baby by Linda Goodnight A stranger in his house…Could be the family he never knew he needed? After he spent six months on the road, the last thing cowboy Wilder Littlefield expects to come home to is a pregnant woman living on his ranch. Taylor Matheson not only believes the house is hers, but she’s carrying his estranged late brother’s child. Tied together by blood, Wilder lets Taylor stay as his housekeeper. But as they learn how to be a family, could obligation turn to love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin) His Heart Renewed by Cynthia Herron — Three choices. Two dreams. One path. A girl from his past. The woman who holds his future. Will a wrong detour lead to the right destination? As the couple navigates blunders and heartaches, a new season emerges—one that taps into Erin’s and Mike’s deepest longings and desires—the spring that holds their future. At last, it seems their happily-ever-after is within reach… But in the bat of an eyelash, a memory from Mike’s past emerges in an unexpected way. Will this change in circumstance hinder what he has with Erin or will truth prevail by way of a divine appointment? (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink) Muskoka Spotlight by Carolyn Miller — Jackie O’Halloran never expected her actions at a friend’s wedding in Muskoka to go viral. Even less did she expect to gain the notice of a famous actor, Lincoln Cash, and all the temptation his handsome presence provides. But she’s a good Christian girl, so a man like him has to be out of the picture. Or so she thinks. Linc’s visit to see his ailing grandfather was supposed to be a quick visit to Muskoka. He hadn’t counted on meeting a forthright young lady whose courage made headlines around the world. But as he gets to know her he’s tempted to stay, which just might prove dangerous for his agent’s peace of mind, and for Linc’s own heart. Can these two opposites push past mere attraction to find real love? And what does faith have to do with it at all? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) The Friendly Disaster by Dineen Miller — He waited too long to admit how he feels and now she’s found a perfect match. Will this triangle of passion end in calamity or kisses? As Calen’s plan to attract visitors to Emma’s show pales in comparison to her new boyfriend’s connections, the besotted man fears he’ll never be enough. But when Emma’s eyes are opened to her platonic pal’s extreme efforts, she wonders if it’s wrong to keep him in the friend zone. Can a bashful barista prove to a struggling artist that he’s soulmate material? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) The Cowboy Bargain by Tina Radcliffe — A little competition…Brings a change of heart. Sam Morgan never thought he’d see his ex-fiancée again after she skipped town days before their wedding. He certainly didn’t expect to find her opening a restaurant on his property—in the building he’d intended to sell his crafts from. This time Olivia’s sticking around, forcing Sam to strike a deal: work together and see whose products sell best. Could their business venture lead to a surprising reunion? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin) The Love Script by Toni Shiloh — Hollywood hair stylist Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood heartthrob Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic. Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years. With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems? (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House) An Unexpected Gift by Melissa Wardwell — Cruising around the island on a Moped in a business suit may seem incongruous, but wedding planner Kiana knows how to blend practicality and professionalism, a strong work ethic and relaxation. With no time for mistakes or changes in plans, she’s also decided to forgo romance (for herself). There just isn’t enough time in the day. That is until the early arrival of one of the groomsmen of Something Suamalie’s first booking throws everything off balance, including her thoughts on long distance dating.
Beau was perfectly content with his job and the growing attraction to a girl back home; however, he hadn’t figured in the sassy and sometimes unprofessional wedding planner. Seeing her world begin to unravel while she and her partners fumble with their first weddings tugs at his heart strings and leaves him second guessing his choices in the romance department. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)
General Contemporary:
Where the Wings Rise by Ashlyn McKayla Ohm — After years of disastrous choices, Addisyn Miles has a second chance with the person she once betrayed—her older sister, Avery. Moving from Whistler, Canada, to Avery’s home in the Colorado Rockies seems like the perfect opportunity to not only rebuild her fragile relationship with her sister but also distance herself from the past she can’t forget. But adjusting to Avery’s life is harder than she expected, especially with her heart drawing her back to the chance at love that she left behind in Canada. When she begins helping her sister care for an injured hawk, Addisyn is forced to confront the fears that have left her just as wounded—or to allow her darkest enemy to sabotage her future. The second book in the Climbing Higher series, Where the Wings Rise is a story of the scars that keep us earthbound, the choices that lead to healing, and most importantly, the faith that allows us to always fly free. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
General Historical:
The Girl From the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright — Beatrice Carraway has dreams. Although she’s aged out of the childhood pageant circuit, she’s intent on carrying her talents all the way to the big screen―if only she can escape the poverty of West Dallas first. But as the Great Depression drags the working class further and further under, Beatrice struggles just to keep herself, her mother, and her younger sister afloat. And then in walks Jack Turner. Though Beatrice is determined to pull herself up by her bootstraps, Jack has decided on a different path out of the gutters. It isn’t long before Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime beside the man she loves. Keeping one step ahead of the law, she sees her dreams of fame come true when her name and picture are plastered in newspapers across the country. Yet as their infamy grows, the distance between them widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts and publicity, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul. But when the danger of Jack’s schemes ratchets up, Beatrice fears her dreams―and her future―will end up going down in a hail of bullets (General Historical from Tyndale House)
Historical Romance:
Beryl’s Bounty Hunter by Linda Shenton Matchett — Orphaned as a child, Beryl Atherton has lived on the streets of London for as long as she can remember. Reduced to stealing for survival, she is arrested. During her incarceration, one of her cellmates shows her a newspaper ad for an American mail-order bride agency. But all is not as it seems, and moments after landing in Boston, she must run for her life. Will things be no different for her in the New World? Working as a bounty hunter since The War Between the States, Lucas Wolf just needs a few more cases before he can hang up his gun, purchase a ranch out West, and apply for a mail-order bride from the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency. While staking out the docks in Boston, he sees a woman fleeing from the man he’s been tailing. Saving her risks his job. Not saving her risks his heart. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Romantic Suspense:
Hunting the Witness by Kate Angelo — Attacked in the mountains with no memory of why…She’s the only witness to see the face of a killer, but a deadly attack leaves Belinda Lewis unable to remember even her own name. She’ll have to rely on her rescuer, FBI special agent Jonah Phillips, to survive repeated attempts on her life—but she doesn’t know he’s in hiding because his description matches the killer’s. Can they unmask the true criminal to clear Jonah’s name and save both of their lives? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin) Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner —
A wildfire threat…becomes a missing person search. A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive… (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired/Harlequin)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month: The Gunslinger Next Door by Susan Page Davis, Is he really just a harmless old fellow? (Romance/Mystery) The Mailboat by Susan Page Davis, When Robyn and Mike meet again, things begin to happen. (Contemporary Romance) The Spinsters Next Door by Susan Page Davis, Can the schoolmaster persuade Rachel to defy her aunts and open a locked box–or will she remain alone with a tangle of unanswered questions? (Historical Mystery) The Yuletide Angel by Sandra Ardoin , Who is the mysterious Yuletide Angel? (Historical Romance)
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for August 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now.
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
. Throughout this hunt, we hope you discover some new books and get to know a little more about us.
Want to learn more about The Dark Guest? When Violet Lundy isn’t cleaning rooms at Happy Hills Assisted Living Facility, she loves spending her free time with resident Rainer Kopecek. Hearing his stories of the dangerous life he led behind the Iron Curtain in East Berlin makes her own life seem more tolerable. But when Rainer is found dead and his room in disarray, Violet suspects foul play.
Connect w/Kristen
