Valentine’s Day is this weekend, and it’s a perfect time to read a romance book. Today I’m featuring the Christian YA (Young Adult) romance, Perfectly Imperfect, by Kara Leigh Miller.

About the Book:

Isabelle Carson is charging into her senior year equipped with a handy checklist to ensure nothing goes awry. Things she didn’t account for: a hot, new guy who almost runs her over, a messed up class schedule, and a boyfriend who dumps her for one of her best friends. All of that pales in comparison to the threat of her dirty family secrets breaking free from the perfect façade she’s diligently maintained since the death of her brother.

Grayson Alexander is on his fourth school in as many years. Lakewood Valley High is exactly like all the others, with one shiny exception: Isabelle Carson. She’s smart, funny, beautiful— the perfect package. But Isabelle is hiding something, and Grayson is determined to do whatever it takes to win her trust, except step foot in another hypocritical church.

As Isabelle’s life spirals out of control and her carefully crafted, picture-perfect image begins to shatter, Grayson does what no one else can: he makes her laugh and allows her to be imperfect. With rekindled faith, Isabelle sets out to right all the wrongs in her life. But Grayson has been damaged by his own family secrets, and Isabelle will have to decide if the boy she’s falling for more and more each day is a right or a wrong.

Excerpt:

Grayson…

I hesitate but then approach. She can’t tattle on me and expect me to feel sorry for her. “You told the principal on me. What are you, five?”

She whips around and glares at me. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Don’t be mad at me because you’re a lunatic who tries to run people over. Really, you should be thanking me.” She shoves a couple items into her backpack so fast I can’t tell what they are and then proceeds to shove all the stuff on the floor into the locker as quickly as possible.

I lean against the neighboring locker and cross my arms. “Thanking you? Oh, this is going to be good.”

“Yes, thanking me.” She smiles sweetly—all the emotion from a moment ago is gone—and that single action steals my breath. “If I hadn’t told on you, you would’ve eventually run someone over and killed them.” She slams the locker closed, and a white carnation falls to the floor. “And if you’d killed someone, you’d have gone to jail. I saved you from rotting away in prison.” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she adds, “You’re welcome.” Then she walks away in the opposite direction.

I move to go after her but notice a book lying on the floor. I scoop it up and read the title. Holy Bible. I whip my head around. Did anyone else see the title? Can they guess by looking? Do people even care about Bibles in schools in this part of the country? In my last school, a teacher was fired for giving a student a Bible and encouraging him to read it. He sued the district, but I moved before it was resolved.

I jog to catch up with Isabelle. “Hey, you dropped this.”

She eyes the Bible, as if unsure where it came from.

“You really don’t strike me as a Bible thumper,” I say. Not that I’m complaining. It’s nice to know there’s someone else here who believes in God.

“I’m not.” She snatches the book from my hand.

“No?” I raise a brow, challenging her. “Then why are you carrying around a Bible?”

“That’s really none of your business.”

“People don’t carry around Bibles unless they’re trying to spread the good word.” I smirk.

“Don’t be a jerk.”

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37.”

She takes a small step back. “You know scripture?”

“I know a lot of things,” I say, pleased with how I’ve managed to shock her.

“Except how to drive.”

I let out a surprised laugh, and she responds with a smile—a genuine one that makes my heart race in a way I’ve never felt before.

About the Author:

Kara Leigh Miller is a full-time wife; stay-at-home mom to 5 kids, 4 pit bulls, and 6 cats; writer, and the Editorial Director at Anaiah Press. She’s previously published two adult Christian romantic suspense books. Warped Remains is her first young adult book, but it won’t be her last.

Social Media Links:

Newsletter – https://eepurl.com/bn1wyD

Website: www.karaleighmillerauthor.com

Blog: www.karaleighmiller.blogspot.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kara-Leigh-Miller/e/B009L2V782

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3352132601

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraLeighMiller

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleighmiller/

Buy Link: https://www.anaiahpress.com/product/perfectly-imperfect/70

Cat Tail: The Elusive Izzy

Our cat, Izzy, has an interesting history. My son, who lives in his own home, adopted a kitten that he’d been told was a male. A couple of months later, he called because there was something wrong with the kitten. We took it to the vet, and found out it was a female in heat, not a male as we’d thought. We had her spayed and he took her home.

There were a couple of problems with Izzy. 1) She never came out of hiding to socialize, and 2) She didn’t use the litterbox. She made a mess of his furniture and his bedding. It wasn’t a good situation.

At my house, we’ve had outdoor cats that have lived in our garage for several years. After talking to my son, I decided to bring Izzy over to see if she would adjust to being with our other cats. It took her a few months, but Izzy slowly started socializing with them. She still runs from us when we try to pet her, but otherwise, she seems to be healthy and content.

Izzy is good friends with our neutered tomcat, Boots. They cuddle together in the warm garage. The picture below is of the two of them. I was trying to get a picture of Izzy by herself, but Boots thought he would like to be in the photo, too.

Izzy is a beautiful cat and is part of our household. She has brought her own special beauty into our lives, but remains elusive.

I’m excited to be part of the Cover Reveal for Sara Beth William’s new release, Anchor My Heart, a Second Chance novel #3 from Anaiah Press.

About the book:

In the aftermath of tragic loss, worship leader Matt Lawson is grappling debilitating anxiety. The blessings he’d taken for granted—a dream job, a woman he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with, and his God-given musical talent—have crumbled at his feet, leaving him reeling in despair, unable to face the wreckage of the life he’d envisioned for himself.

Tara Pierce is ready to put past hurts behind her as she prepares to graduate college and take a leap of faith in her career. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.

Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. But Matt’s not ready to give himself away again. Can Tara risk her heart and their friendship and let God step in to heal where she can’t?

COVER REVEAL

Anchor My Heart will be released on March 16, 2021.

About the Author:

Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. She is all about connecting with readers! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Bookbub.

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Where to find Sara Beth Williams:

Amazon / Goodreads / Bookbub / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

 Website / MeWe

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, “HEARTS” will be the theme for our Friday Features this month.

Today’s featured book is A Heart Held Captive, a contemporary Christian romance by Katy Eeten. I enjoyed reading about Emily and her struggle to understand the concept of grace, which I could easily relate to.

About the Book:

Physical therapist Cole Pearson has had his share of shallow relationships. But a year spent focusing on God opened his eyes to what he really wants in life. When he learns that ER nurse Emily Jenkins has volunteered to pay for a foster child’s therapy, he is inexplicably drawn to her generous spirit. If only he can convince her to take things beyond their casual conversations at the clinic.

Emily is a prisoner to her past mistakes and insists on paying a price God never asked her to pay. When she finally allows herself to grow closer to Cole, her faulty theology is shattered and her wounded heart begins to mend. But when tragedy strikes, Emily is sent into a tailspin. Can Cole help her grasp the freedom of God’s grace, or will she revert back to the captivity of her old ways and shut Cole out of her life for good?

Excerpt:

What am I doing?

Emily shook her head as she gazed into the bathroom mirror on Friday morning. How had she gone from seven years of solitude and contentment to suddenly longing to see a man whom she had only met a month ago? Was this really what God wanted for her? She wasn’t sure, but the fact remained, she was enamored with Cole.

While a batch of cookies baked in the oven, she assembled sandwiches and put fruit, chips and bottled water in a small cooler for their lunch date. She arrived at PT Possibilities as Cole was giving a goodbye fist bump to a young girl in the entryway. The girl left, and Cole smiled at Emily. “Perfect timing. Do you mind if we eat outside?”

“That would be great. It’s a beautiful day.”

“Okay good. There’s a picnic table out back. One sec.” He turned to the receptionist at the front desk. “Shannon, can you add these notes into Megan’s file and make a copy of this form for me?”

The woman nodded as she took the papers from Cole. “Thanks. By the way, I’m clocking out for lunch now.” Then he turned toward Emily. “Alright, let’s head out.”

They walked to the back of the facility and out a rear door Emily didn’t realize existed. She spotted the picnic table, and though it wasn’t exactly picturesque next to a dumpster, it would do the trick. After placing her cooler on the table, she unloaded the food she’d packed. Out of nowhere, two hands gently slid around her waist from behind.

“I didn’t get a proper hello.” Cole’s voice was lighthearted as he leaned his chest against her back, squeezing her tight.

“Ah, I was not aware of the rules. My apologies.” Emily’s breath caught in her throat at the unexpected backwards hug. Her hands stilled as she leaned back to enjoy the moment. “I hope you like turkey sandwiches.”

Cole removed his arms and walked around to the opposite side of the picnic table. “Oh yeah, I’m not picky. Thanks for doing this, by the way. My coworkers noticed I was unusually excited for lunch today.”

Emily suppressed a giggle, then handed him a paper plate and gestured toward the food. They loaded their plates and sat to eat. “How’s your day going?”

“Pretty good. Though I gotta tell you, one of my favorite clients is no longer coming on Fridays. So, it will be kind of a let-down when I get to the end of my shift.”

Emily raised an eyebrow. “One of your favorite clients? Should I be worried?”

Cole laughed. “Okay, okay, you’re my favorite. Hands down. There, I said it.”

About the Book:

Katy Eeten is from southeast Wisconsin where she braves the cold with her husband and two sons, ages 10 and 12. She works full time crunching numbers and analyzing spreadsheets, but writing has always been her true passion. She has four published books, all contemporary Christian romances available on Amazon. When she’s not writing or working, she can be found reading, baking, taking walks, playing board games, and spending time with her family.

Author media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyEeten/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KatyEeten

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KatyEeten/

Website: https://katyeeten.wordpress.com/

Buy Link:

https://www.anaiahpress.com/product/a-heart-held-captive/8?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=2

Today’s feaured book is the first in the Sunflower Saga, a Christian fantasy series written with adults in mind but can be enjoyed by teenagers as well.

About the book:

Elvensty is about a young man and woman, Khomar and Aya, who find themselves unexpectedly married and fleeing into the wilderness from unknown assailants.  As they seek to uncover the mystery of the identity and purpose of their attackers, our heroes find their faith in God put to the test as their lives spiral out of control.

Elvensty is the first book in the Swordflower Saga which takes place on another planet with its own cultures and unique challenges.  We enjoyed taking a fresh look at Christianity as we stripped it down to its core elements and explored it within the context of a new world.

Excerpt:

Raising her gaze, she saw the expanse of Jyrya before her.  If she had been of a better temper, it would have been a stunningly beautiful sight.  She could see the forest they had hiked through now lying in the long shadow cast from distant mountains to the west.  She could just make out the outline of the river that ran down to the island of Elvensty and through the forest beyond.  In the distance, she could see the arid plains of Jyrya, and in her mind’s eye she imagined the capital of Jyantral on the far horizon.

A mist was rising over the land, starting to shroud it from view.  She trembled with anxiety and fatigue.  Tears began to run down her cheeks as she watched the only life she had known sink beneath the shadows.  God, where are you?

About the authors:

There are two of us who write under the pseudonym, M. B. Aznoe.  We are a husband and wife writing team, and we decided to use our combined initials instead of our names spelled out (initials sound cooler anyway).  Our names are Matthew and Bethany.  We have been married for 16 years and have 6 children whose ages range from 8-15.  As you can imagine, we have a very busy and active household which is why most of our writing is done either in the early morning or late at night when the kids are in bed.  Our passion is to share the hope found in Jesus Christ.  Whether in songs or stories, we strive to infuse our art with the truth of God’s Word, to demonstrate the hope of the Gospel in all of life’s circumstances.  It’s also why after 20+ years as a software developer, Matthew has chosen to change careers and become a lead pastor in a small town on one of the Native American reservations in Montana even as we continue to write our books.    

www.swordflowersaga.com

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