Book picks similar to
Mamma's Bells by Teresa Ives Lilly


christian-fiction
christian-romance
contemporary-fiction

Call & Response


J.J. Salkeld - 2014
    Set in Carlisle - on the border between England and Scotland and much else besides - Call & Response introduces DS Samantha 'Pepper' Wilson and her North Division CID team. In this first episode Pepper struggles to cope with the madness and sadness of everyday policing, whist covering for an absent boss and adapting to a new Superintendent who's come straight from a supermarket's supply chain to British policing's chain of command. And matters take a serious turn when a case of 'revenge porn' is reported, involving members of a minority ethnic group, and one of Pepper's young DCs is assaulted, within spitting distance of Carlisle's shiny new Police HQ. Both cases are delicate and potentially inflammatory, and Pepper's short fuse is trimmed still more by the return to Carlisle of a dangerous career criminal with whom Pepper grew up, and whose reappearance could have dangerous implications for her, the city, and its now almost vanishingly 'thin blue line'.

The Replacement Husband


Tiffany L. Warren - 2014
    Even though Quentin gave Chloe twenty million dollars to leave quietly, she longs for love and hopes that a move to Washington DC will expand her options to a new elite crowd. When Chloe meets ex-NFL star, Dustin McArthur, she thinks she's finally met the man of her dreams. He's sinfully handsome, lives in an exclusive neighborhood in Georgetown and knows how to show Chloe a great time, all while being the perfect gentleman. Chloe is sure she's struck the jackpot with Dustin, and hesitates to tell him about her past gold digger ways. But while Dustin seems like the whole package, there are a few chinks in his knight's armor. A wild past has left him with four children by four women, his finances are in disarray, and the A-list life he leads is merely smoke and mirrors provided by his NFL friends and Chi Kappa Psi Fraternity brothers. When Chloe and Dustin's secrets are revealed, will there be enough love to cover their multitude of sins? Or will Chloe's replacement fall short of the original? This is a novella.

When Winter Is Past


Janice Cole Hopkins - 2016
    He decided he would never love like that. He and his first wife had fared well together, but she’d died in childbirth. Now he’s decided to find another woman to marry. After all, a farmer needs a wife and sons. However, with the changes come important lessons and dangers that Stanton never imagined. Beth Evans has taken care of her father, since he fell from a barn roof and can no longer walk. People, like Fiona, have always made fun of her, because she has a limp. When Stanton befriends her, she’s wary but also intrigued. Her father encourages her to give Stanton a chance, but how can she be sure this is what’s best? All profits from the author’s books go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.

Broken Little Rich Girl 2 (Broken Little Rich Girls)


Dominique Thomas - 2018
    To regain their sanity and find their joy these four women will have to face the problems in their life. Miko’s world came crashing down when she had to reveal to Zyir that Enika was not only her child but that he was the father. In doing so it changed everything in her world. Miko must learn how to gain control of her rebellious daughter and finally decide if Zyir is the man for her, while trying not to lose her mind in the process. Nelly lost control of herself and did things to Jannero that she couldn’t take back. When she finds herself alone, it's then that she realizes that her anger is really a problem. Only changing isn’t that easy and Nelly isn’t sure if its something she can do on her own. Rumer’s health continues to deteriorate as her world falls apart right before her eyes. After facing the hardest day of her life, she decides with the help of her mom to take a break from it all. Her getaway trip leads to revelations and possibly a new love. However, once Rumer returns home, she’s faced with Kritt and the stress from her life once again and finds herself questioning what's real. The new man that’s making her smile or Kritt, a man that she’s always known. Jerzey’s world was turned upside down when she realized that the man who shot her was none other than Snowden’s brother. After leaving Philly she’s determined to be a happier Jerzey. Unlike her friends, she’s ready to be happy and live her best life. A big move along with new ventures place her in new crowds. A sexy, local guy finds himself smitten with her and she can’t deny he’s attractive as well still her heart yearns for Snowden. Jerzey feels Snowden is running from the love they share, and she wants to hold out for him but what she won't do is wait too long. In the finale of the Broken Little Rich Girls series, you see more pain, anger then finally healing. To become whole these women will have to pick up their broken pieces and put themselves back together again. While it won’t be easy, it’s necessary because you can't be happy and be broken. It just doesn’t work that way.

Seven Year Itch


Lyndsey Gallagher - 2019
    The last thing she expected was to fall in love with a complete stranger at the hen weekend. Which wouldn’t be a problem apart from the teeny tiny fact that she’s already married to somebody else… Is it a case of the Seven-Year-Itch or could it be the real deal? Lucy needs to decide if she is going to leave the security of her stale marriage in order to find out if the grass is indeed greener on the other side, or whether it’s worth having one more go at watering her own garden. Could this party-loving, city girl really leave the country she loves for a farmer from the West of Ireland? Is there such a thing as fate? What about karma? Is John Kelly all that he seems?

Seeking Naomi's Heart


Hannah Schrock - 2019
    Although he is an Englischer Naomi can’t help the way she feels about Marcus. He’s generous and kind and makes her heart skip a beat every time he smiles in her direction. But her parents have no idea about Naomi’s infatuation with the Englischer. Instead, they are worried that she will become a spinster since at the age of twenty-four she is yet to start courting. They devise a plan to match Naomi and Elmer Fischer without her knowledge. Even as Naomi wades through uncertain waters while courted by Elmer and still in love with Marcus, she doesn’t notice Levi Hauptfleisch. As her best friend’s brother, Levi has always been there but Naomi’s has never taken a second look. When certain events take place that makes Naomi realize how brittle life can be and how quickly things can change, it’s time for her to look into her heart and face what she finds. Will Marcus be able to compete with the Amish boys vying for Naomi’s heart? Can Elmer make Naomi see that he is the better man? Will Levi always remain in the shadows? Find out in this clean Amish romance and let your heart be taken on a wild ride of romance, deceit, and loss.

The Currans and The Quinns: The Currans, Book Three (The Manhattan Stories 7)


Donna Foley Mabry - 2017
     On the Manhattan, Kansas frontier of the 1870s, D’Arcy Curran, her adopted son, Dan, and her new husband, Royce Quinn, want nothing more than to raise a family and live in peace. Their plans are waylaid when the renegade Jayhawker who killed D’Arcy’s father returns from prison looking for revenge. Human treachery isn’t the only thing D’Arcy and Royce battle on their prairie home. As Dan grows from a boy to a man and more children arrive, they struggle against the forces of nature, animals that are not as tame as expected, and disease. When Dan meets Kathleen O’Malley, he’s only sixteen but is convinced she’s the girl for him. He sets out to win her heart, but he wonders, can the pampered daughter of a New York millionaire learn to love a rough-hewn cowboy?

Something Better


Jenn Faulk - 2014
    In the worst way possible. Life has taken on a very empty, depressing tone, and she needs a change. So, when the opportunity to leave the country to take pictures for the very intriguing Henry Booth presents itself, she welcomes it gladly. But her exotic vacation soon proves to be more stressful, heartbreaking, and life changing than she ever imagined it could be. When she returns home, things only get worse. As she finds herself confronting very real truths about the world around her, about her own life, and about what her future holds, she struggles to understand what it means to be poor in spirit and rich in grace as Christ changes everything into something better...

Ridgetop


Carol Ervin - 2015
    If Angela sings—even speaks—she could ruin her voice for good, but she faces another threat: falling hard for Rudy, her first love, the man she abandoned to follow her career. Over the next few days the three will meet again in Winkler, the small town where the Ridgetop festival takes place. All three will be forever changed. All three will run for their lives

That's Amore: That's Love


Marion Ueckermann - 2018
     When Rafaele and Jayne meet again two years after dancing the night away together in Tuscany, is it a matter of fate or of faith? After deciding to take a six-month sabbatical, Italian lawyer Rafaele Rossi moves from Florence to Tuscany, resigned to managing the family farm for his aging nonna after his father’s passing. Convinced a family get-together is what Nonna needs to lift her spirits, he plans an eightieth birthday party for her, making sure his siblings and cousins attend. The Keswick jewelry store where Jayne Austin has worked for seven years closes its doors. Jayne takes her generous severance pay and heads off to Italy—Tuscany to be precise. Choosing to leave her fate in God’s hands, she prays she’ll miraculously bump into the handsome best man she’d danced the night away with at a friend’s Tuscan wedding two years ago. She hasn’t been able to forget those smoldering brown eyes and that rich Italian accent. Jayne’s prayers are answered swiftly and in the most unexpected way. Before she knows what’s happening, she’s a guest not only at Isabella Rossi’s birthday party, but at Villa Rossi too. When Rafaele receives what appears to be a valuable painting from an unknown benefactor, he’s reminded that he doesn’t want to lose Jayne again. After what he’s done to drive her from the villa, though, what kind of a commitment will it take for her to stay? This nine-book Christian romance series from seven of your favorite authors releases weekly from April 2018. Look out for Book 2 in the series, Luna Rosa!

Snow Country


Kristin Neva - 2016
     JILTED THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER WEDDING, Beth Dawson escapes sunny California for the snowy Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where a young State Trooper challenges her to let go of her rules for Christian courtship. Her domineering mother chides her to stay single and wants her to talk her ailing grandmother into moving to Los Angeles. COPPER ISLAND averages over 200 inches of snow annually. The fictional towns of Douglass and Quincy mirror the actual towns of Houghton and Hancock, and although the names of businesses and persons are imaginary, the history, landmarks, and spirit of the region described in the novel are real. Reader praise for Snow Country: “Her novels—and the characters that live in them—are endearing and wholesome. But they’re also so real, full of healthy grit, humor, flaws and appetites. She creates an authentic Yooper world that I think other readers, including those who don’t know anything about life in da UP, will find as fascinating as I do.” (Cyndi P.) "Kristin Neva’s fiction invites the reader to consider the weightier questions of life and offers wise insights to ponder. It’s not just entertainment – it’s worth your time. Snow Country offers a fascinating look into the local culture of an isolated part of the United States. With surprising, yet believable characters and storyline twists, it is at once captivating, suspenseful, funny, and reflective. The light-hearted scenes balance some very intense – but real-life – drama. (It may be more believable to those of us who have lived in the unique cultural landscape. Outsiders beware: truth IS stranger than fiction!) More than a romance novel, it is a story of life in its many complexities: family loyalties and secrets, faith, vocation, AND love.” (Alexandra L.) “Fun book, and with a message or two! The characters and conflicts feel real.” (Dan R.) About the Author: KRISTIN NEVA grew up in an old farmhouse on Copper Island in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula where the hard-working, rugged residents persevere through harsh winter weather, sustained by friendship and family, surrounded by natural beauty. As an adult, she lived in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas for seventeen years before returning to her hometown with her husband and two children. Kristin’s first book, Heavy, co-authored with her husband, Todd, journeys through the first year after Todd’s ALS diagnosis as the Nevas struggle to find meaning, hold on to faith, and discover joy in the midst of pain. It is this life experience that brings authenticity to Kristin’s fictional works as she explores themes of love, loss, and faith on Copper Island. Learn more about Kristin and explore Copper Island at KristinNeva.com.

Pearl in the Sand, Sampler


Tessa Afshar - 2013
    Pearl in the Sand tells Rahab's untold story. Rahab lives in a wall; her house is built into the defensive walls of the City of Jericho. Other walls surround her as well-walls of fear, rejection, and unworthiness. A woman with a wrecked past; a man of success, of faith...of pride. A marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another's worth and find healing in God.

The Gambler's Amish Baby


Samantha Price - 2015
    Libby wished for nothing more than her brother's return from rumspringa. Brock Harding won half a farm in a poker game. What will he do when he visits the farm to be faced with an angry Amish woman? Libby wants nothing more than for the man who cheated her brother to get off her farm. However, with the farm failing, could a bad mannered, rough looking cowboy be Libby's answer to prayer? 'The Gambler's Amish Baby' is book 1 in the 'Amish Baby Collection.' Book 2 'The Promise' Book 3 'Abandoned' New Release 'Amish Baby Surprise' Book 4 OUT NOW. The Author is a consistent Amazon All-Star award winner for being one of the most popular authors on Kindle. All Samantha Price Amish Romance books are clean romances.

Home Sweet Home


Kristen Brown - 2011
    Anxious to start a new life, Samantha decides to open up a business of her own, and throws herself into making the dream a reality. But along the way, there are plenty of obstacles popping up to make life a little more challenging than she expected - nosy neighbors and cranky in-laws, attractive men and pretentious sisters, a gossipy mother, mysterious hate mail, and ghosts from the past that threaten to destroy everything she's worked to achieve. And just when Sam thinks things couldn't possibly get worse, there's a murder on her property that the local detective seems mighty determined to pin on the newest resident of Peabody. Suddenly Sam is overwhelmed with troubles she never imagined, and she knows the only way to get through any of it is by keeping her sense of humor and trusting that God really does know exactly what He is doing.

The Christiansen Family Collection: Take a Chance on Me / It Had to Be You / When I Fall in Love / Always on My Mind / The Wonder of You / You're the One That I Want


Susan May Warren - 2016
    New assistant county attorney Ivy Madison simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the Deep Haven charity auction. Nor does she know that a plea bargain she crafted three years ago kept the man responsible for Felicity’s death out of jail. Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy.It Had to Be You:Eden Christiansen never imagined cheering on her younger brother Owen—a reckless NHL rookie—would keep her on the sidelines of her own life, with little time to focus on her own career. Owen could use a mentor . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran Jace Jacobsen. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, Jace's bad-boy reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he's getting from Eden Christiansen isn't making things any easier. But when Owen's carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury, Eden and Jace begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.When I Fall in Love (2015 Christy Award finalist!):Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she'd vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is thrown headfirst into an adventure. Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he takes a three-week culinary vacation each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires.Always on My Mind:After a failed dig, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his feelings for Raina Beaumont. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives quite a shock: Raina is pregnant. Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby's father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to help his older brother prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. But one of Casper's new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can't seem to forget.The Wonder of You:Mortified after her year abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn't brave enough for the adventures she's dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness. Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and family expectations. He'll do anything for a second chance with Amelia. But Roark's continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Could finding her new place mean leaving home behind?You’re the One That I Want:An injury ended Owen Christiansen’s NHL career, but a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start, maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain's daughter. Scotty, however, doesn't believe in happily ever after—especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, only to be detained in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.