Jean C. Gordon here with two new must buys from our Love Inspired Contemporary authors. Just click on the cover or retailer links to purchase it. And to learn more about Vannetta and Deb, click on their names.

Amish Christmas Memories
by Vannetta Chapman 
 
All she wants for Christmas is her memories
An Indiana Amish Brides book
When a young Amish woman collapses in the snow shortly before Christmas, Caleb Wittmer rushes to her aid. Only, “Rachel” remembers nothing of who she is. Now his family has taken in the pretty stranger, disrupting Caleb’s ordered world. He’s determined to find out where she belongs…even if Rachel’s departure means saying goodbye to his old-fashioned heart forever.

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

A Christmas Baby for the Cowboy
by Deb Kastner 

’Tis the season for a new start
But can he be a daddy in Cowboy Country?
With a baby on the way and Christmas around the corner, disgraced rodeo rider Cash Coble returns to Serendipity hoping to fix his reputation. Cash never imagined that pretty Alyssa Emerson would inspire him to cowboy up—let alone open his heart. But will she agree to be part of his new family once she learns his dark secret?

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

Craftie Ladies ~ Love Inspired Suspense December 2016 Release

Jean C. Gordon here with what's new from our talented Craftie Ladies Love Inspired Suspense writers. To buy any of these wonderful books, just click the book cover. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

Rookie K-9 Unit Christmas

by Lenora Worth
K-9 HOLIDAY RESCUE
Holiday High Alert
After a cryptic note appears in the playground at Josie Callahan's daycare center, rookie K-9 officer Dalton West vows to protect Josie and the kids she loves—especially his daughter, Maisy. And with a stalker closing in, the widower and his four-legged partner are all that stand between Josie and a deadly Christmas.

Surviving Christmas by Valerie Hansen
When single dad Sean Murray returns from a war zone and discovers someone is following him, he turns to his old friend K-9 officer Zoe Trent for help. But as the threat escalates, can Zoe and her police dog find whoever is menacing Sean and his son…and make sure this Christmas isn't their last?

Happy Maryland Day by Merrillee Whren

When my turn comes to post something on the blog, I always wonder what I can say. So I often look for special days that coincide with my blog date. When I looked up March 25, I discovered that it is Maryland Day. Even though I don't live in Maryland, one of my daughters does. So the history of Maryland peaked my interest.

I haven't written historical fiction up to this point in my career, but I have always been fascinated with history. I love to stop at roadside historic markers and visit historic places. The history of our country is very young compared to history in other parts of the world. One of the older events in our country's history is the landing of the first European settlers in Maryland on March 25, 1634. So every year on March 25, Maryland celebrates the anniversary of the settlers disembarking from two small ships, the Dove and the Ark on to St. Clement's Island in what is now known as St. Mary's County, Maryland.

Below is an image of the Maryland flag. The black and gold are the colors of the Calvert family. The Lords Baltimore of the Calvert family founded Maryland. The red and white crosses are for the Crossland family, from which the mother of George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, came.

I could definitely find some interesting things to include in a contemporary book set in Maryland. What do you think? Maryland is noted for its crabs.

Does your state or country have a special day to celebrate its founding? Have you ever read a novel that incorporates a special historical event into the story?

 A Mom’s Redemption

Annie Payton’s lost everything she once held dear. The Village of Hope is her last chance to rebuild the life she’s frittered away so needlessly. But as she works to regain custody of her children, she never imagines an unlikely advocate in her corner—ex-husband Ian Montgomery. 

Ian’s always willing to help those down on their luck, but his ex-wife’s a different story. Her past betrayal is still a painful memory. As the Village’s lawyer, he’ll represent her—but that’s as far as he’ll allow his feelings to go. Can Annie show Ian that she’s changed in every way but one—the love she still has for him?

VILLAGE OF HOPE: A community built on love

Pumpkin Pie Time!

Missy Tippens, here. Before we know it, it will be time for Thanksgiving! And I thought I'd share one of my holiday recipes with you.

Okay, I know by sharing my pumpkin pie recipe I'll be setting myself up for teasing by you who probably create your own recipes and may even grow your own pumpkins. :)  I'm admitting to you now, I use the recipe on the can of pumpkin and buy a refrigerated crust! :)

But why mess with something that never fails to please my family?

So, here we go...

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Put your pie crust in the pie pan. I use the Pillsbury roll up crusts. They're the store-bought brand I've found that's closest to homemade.

Look! I made those ridges with my own fingers! So it's practically homemade!

Next, follow the directions on the can of Libby's pumpkin! This is from the Libby's site. :)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell 
• Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving. 

Notes from Missy...

Don't over-bake. The pie may not look quite done but it will set up once you take it out.

Also, don't go too heavy on the cloves! I actually use about 1-1/2 or 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice in place of the 3 spices.

Don't mess up and use sweetened condensed milk by accident (yeah, experience talking).

Now I'm craving pie! Not much longer...

This post originally appeared at the Yankee-Belle Cafe blog.

Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com

Christmas Preparations!

Missy Tippens, here. Getting ready for a big Christmas with all my family here at our house. I'm writing this on Saturday after spending two and a half hours at the grocery buying all the food we'll need. I've been batting around menu ideas for weeks. Finally just bit the bullet and jotted down a list in the grocery store parking lot. :) I hope my family enjoys what I have planned!

As you can see, I finally got all the decorations put up, including stockings for the dogs and cats! :) Yes, we like to put treats in them to occupy the dogs so they don't interrupt gift opening. So the pets are all settled, yet I still have shopping to do. What about you? Have you been rushing around getting ready? What do you have left to do?

Speaking of dogs…I love this ornament!

Missy

www.missytippens.com

Of May and Mothers

Jean C. Gordon here. For me, May has been all about mothers. To start, I was invited to write a Mother's Day piece for the Harlequin Reader Service Simply Books Extra Home page.It's a tribute to my mother. I love the picture. Mom and Dad had it taken for their 50th wedding anniversary. http://simplybooksextra.readerservice.com/simplybooksextra/2013/05/jean-c-gordont-talks-about-puting-on-your-rose-colored-glasses-for-mothers-day/.

Next was Mother's Day itself. We had special music at church — my husband is in the choir — including "Be Still My Heart" and as our closing song, "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High," one of my favorites. All mothers received a handkerchief, pen, and quote. My quote was "Children are a great comfort in your old age — and they help you reach it faster too." by Lionel Kauffman. (Does he know our son?)

Back at home, my daughter and her family gave me just what I wanted and needed, a courier bag to carry all my stuff back and forth to work. And it's my favorite color. My husband made me mac and cheese and asparagus for dinner.

After the holiday, it was back to work on my current manuscript, which is full of mothers and babies. The heroine is a midwife and the hero an obstetrician. I have my own resident expert for the book, my daughter who's a certified nurse midwife. My deadline to get the book to my editor is June 1.

Finally, I'm looking forward to the July release of my next Love Inspired, the third in my Paradox Lake series, appropriately titled Small-Town Mom.

So, what do you have going on this May?