More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

More Than Words Can Say ~ After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can't turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on her bakery's deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn't the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can't even control her pulse when she's around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail's troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?

Heidi here. Another winner by Karen Witemeyer in More Than Words Can Say! The premise is simple, Abigail is forced to marry someone to keep her bakery. I adored the twist where Abigail and Zach don't have "relations" until she is ready. So they basically marry and then he courts her. I loved, loved, loved how the reader had a backstage pass to the journey of them falling in love with each other. The love grew in such a tender and organic way.

This book held great tension and very nice plot twists to keep me interested until the very end. Grab your copy of More Than Words Can Say today!

Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

SECRETS AT CEDAR CABIN: Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?

Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down. 

Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava. 

Filled with Colleen Coble's custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington's coast where nothing is quite as it seems. 

Heidi here. SECRETS AT CEDAR CABIN may be my favorite Colleen Coble book yet! I liked how hurt and afraid Bailey was when we met her, yet she was a strong character. When we meet Lance, we are shown how skilled he is, yet he is deeply wounded by his missing sister that he has spent years trying to find.

There were so many secrets that the author released at just the right moments to keep me wanting to read more. I especially liked how tightly braided the plot and subplots were. Grab your copy of SECRETS AT CEDAR CABIN by Colleen Coble today!

Things I Never Told You by Beth Vogt

Things I Never Told You: It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine—as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.

But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future. As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.

Heidi here. Beth Vogt's novels just keep getting better and better. I've read and enjoyed each one. Things I Never Told You is absolutely amazing. There are times when the emotion is so raw that I hurt for the character.

Things I Never Told You is about broken sibling relationships. A frightening diagnosis throws all the sisters into "fix it" mode. During the course of the novel, the issues they have with their own lives and the wounds they have with one another come to light. No answers come easy and Beth doesn't tie every issue up with a pretty ribbon, but the story is amazingly real and tender.

Payton and Jillian and Johanna are incredibly different and three-dimensional characters. At times the conflict is pretty intense, but in the end they do come together and form a united front. Grab your copy of Things I Never Told You today!

The Rancher's Twins by Carol Ross

The Rancher's Twins:

She’s not the country nanny he advertised for

But she could be perfect for him…

Jon Blackwell needs a woman ready to tackle the duties of a cattle ranch and two lively, take-no-prisoners twin girls. But ever since Lydia Newbury showed up at his six-generation Montana spread, the frazzled single father is rethinking, well, everything. The Philadelphia dazzler is a marvel. What he doesn’t know is the secret that has Lydia on the run…


Heidi here. I just loved The Rancher's Twins by Carol Ross. I think this was the first Heartwarming book I have read, and it surpassed my expectations.

I loved how Lydia, the nanny, was way more than Jon expected, except it wasn't obvious to him at first. Slowly he realized that Lydia was exactly what his girls needed and perfect as a wife!

The plot was well thought out and very interesting to read, there were some twists that I wasn't expecting. The characters were awesome. Jon had simple expectations and since Lydia didn't fit in his "rancher nanny" box, he pretty much dismissed her at first glance. But as time went on he was willing to accept he might have been wrong. Lydia, on the other hand, had a deep backstory that bled into how she treated and taught the girls.

I really liked the characters from the start and thoroughly enjoyed The Rancher's Twins! Pick up your copy today.

Blueberry Muffin in a Mug ~ no sugar, low carb

Blueberry Muffin Mix (no sugar, low carb), serves one

Heidi here. This is an amazing recipe that I modified from Simply Keto: A Practical Approach to Health & Weight Loss, with 100+ Easy Low-Carb Recipes.

Dry ingredients:
3 Tbl blanched almond flour
1 Tbl cocnut flour
1 Tbl plus 1 tsp Swerve confectioners'-style sweetener
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Because this serves one and is a lot of work, I actually batch up the dry ingredients into baggies by putting out a bunch of bowls and measuring the ingredients into the bowls. Then, I whisk the ingredients to mix well and pour them into snack sized baggies. So, in the morning when I'm ready to make breakfast, it doesn't take too long.

Put all dry ingredients in a medium microwave-safe mug.

Add wet ingredients to mug:
1 large egg
1 Tbl unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp avocado oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

mix well.

Gently stir in 10-14 blueberries, depending on size. Use the back of a spoon to press the batter down and smooth the top.

To the right is the blueberry muffin ingredients all mixed together and ready to go into the microwave.

Place the batter-filled mug in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds, you may need to add an additional 15 seconds.

Run a butter knife around the cooked muffin to release it. Flip mug upside down over a plate and allow muffin to slide onto the plate.

To the left is the muffin, fresh out of the microwave, cut in fourths. I drizzle additional melted butter (about 1 tsp) over the meal. So yummy!

BTW, I got the unusual ingredients at Whole Foods. If you aren't close to a Whole Foods, try Jet.com.

If you enjoyed this post and have any interest in hearing more about the simple things I learned from this book that I've been able to integrate into my daily life, please sound off in the comments and I'll do some follow up posts (breakfast ideas, lunch ideas, dinner ideas, general Kato tips).

Surprise Giveaway!

Good thing you kept reading 😃  Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for the colonial recipes from Amber Schamel's Dawn of Liberty collection. Sam Adam's favorites!

Going in Circles by Jodie Bailey

Going in Circles: Sometimes you have to go where you've been to get where you're going. 

Public relations manager Samantha Dellinger spends her days making stock car drivers shine while keeping her own imperfections well hidden. If only good PR could fix what's wrong with her soul. After a scandal threatens the Dellinger racing team, Sam can't afford to take any more chances. But that's exactly what their new driver, Nate Thomas, wants her to do… take a chance on him. As the two grow closer, the idea seems ever more appealing, but Sam has a secret she can't risk exposing. Even if Nate could accept her past, Sam isn't sure she'll ever be free of it. And when that secret shows up at her door, eager to tempt her back into his arms, will she fall back into old ways, or will she finally confront the past and risk her future for the kind of love she never dreamed existed? 

Heidi here. Oh my, reading Going in Circles by Jodie Bailey was such a treat! Jodie has written a number of suspense novels with Love Inspired, but Going in Circles is all romance💓

The first book of the Dellinger Racing Series, Going in Circles gripped me from the very start. When I first met Samantha and Nate they were both so very broken, and that emotional baggage endeared me to them from page one. That brokenness and honesty from both characters kept me flipping pages wanting to know how their story ends. The author writes in first person, has an amazing sense of humor, and a marvelous storytelling voice.

The settings were amazing. I felt like I was sitting with Sam on her swing overlooking the lake. And in her basement apartment with her father living above her. And in the backseat of the car while Sam and Nate were together or when Sam and Ryan, her cousin, tooled around. The house Nate bought in the middle of the book, I want to live there! Oh, and last but not least, I want to eat at Mervin's because Shirley sounds like the funniest waitress😀

The plot involved car racing, which I am not very familiar with, but I found that world quite fascinating. Though I must say, car racing took a backseat to the romance Jodie Bailey built in this novel.

Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Going in Circles and can't wait for the second in the series, Stalled Out, to release! 

The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble

The House at Saltwater Point: Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he? 

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Heidi here. The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble had an interesting plot, it kept me up too late a couple of nights!

Colleen did a great job weaving in multiple plot lines, which made the read even more enjoyable. The book held a nice suspense, not too much, not too little. The plot held a home renovation, but those elements didn't detract from the plot, instead the reno helped things move along nicely.

Highly recommend. Grab your copy of The House at Saltwater Point today!

Cover Reveal - The Captain's Challenge

Hello, lovey readers. I’m pleased to reveal the cover of my next release right here on STT.

Some covers are more difficult than others. For example, my mail-order bride series was easy-peasy. Readers’ expectations are pretty much set in stone for romance, and especially sub-genres like mail-order brides. Not so with mixed genres like my Wolf Deceivers series. Book 3, The Captain’s Challenge starts out in Savannah, one of the most romantic places in the world, in my humble opinion. But like the other books in this series, it’s a mix of historical, romance, and suspense.

I wanted a Southern background since the story is set in Reconstruction Georgia. Most of it takes place in Macon, Georgia, where the heroine’s family townhouse is located. I used the Hay House, a lovely antebellum house in Macon, as my model. I’d toured the house twice so I had a good feel for it, including those beautifully restored rooms.

Actually there are many antebellum houses in Central and South Georgia, and those further south have those moss draped live oaks I knew would create that sinister touch my story 

needed. However, the background can’t compete with the models representing the book’s characters. After finding the models that looked similar to my hero and heroine, I wisely left the rest up to my cover designer.

 Army Intelligence Officer, Alex Blaine, is tasked to uncover the ring-leader of an anarchist gang that’s endangering the residents and thwarting the new Georgia government. Gillian Carey has lived in England for the past eight years. Returning to her home in Reconstruction Georgia, she intends to search for her brother, still missing from the war. But Gillian is shocked to find a different world from the one she left as a twelve-year-old, her father a broken and brooding man. She turns to the handsome army captain to help her find her brother, not realizing her father is one of the suspects Alex is investigating. Or that he may have been responsible for her brother's death.

What’s the first thing you notice about a book cover?

Comment on any post now through July 1st to get your name in the drawing for Wedding Barter by Alice Aranz! Winner will be announced in the July 2nd issue of the WeeklyWindup.

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

The Love Letter: Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.

When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.  

Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

Heidi here. Rachel Hauck has another winner on her hands with her latest novel, The Love Letter. She expertly flipped back and forth between modern-day Chloe Daschle and Jesse Gates and the story between Esther Longfellow and Hamilton Lightfoot from centuries ago. I tell you, I kept wondering in my mind which couple I loved best, I did make a choice in the end, but I don't want to give away the ending ;-)

The historical part of this story was beautifully written, I felt like I was in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. The current-day part was emotional, thought-provoking, and almost envy-inducing as Chloe lives in Hollywood with her director father and actress mother, which means money, influence, abundant opportunities, mansions, pools, and servants.

The Love Letter held a deep spiritual message, it also kept me flipping the pages, the word choices were unique yet not over the top, and the plot moved swiftly. Pick up your copy today!   

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

More Than Meets the Eye: Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. 

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

Heidi here. Isn't this the cutest cover ever? I just loved the premise to More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer. Three orphaned children build themselves a little family. We meet them as adults, Eva, Seth, and Zach. Except, Logan Fowler is seeking justice. But, guess who he falls for? Right, mismatched eyes Eva. I hated how no one was nice to Eva, and so did Logan! Eva is kind and sweet to Logan. They have immediate chemistry that intrigues Eva, but Logan keeps trying to push it away because she's "the enemy."

More Than Meets the Eye has great character development, a nice plot that arcs at just the right point, and a subplot that keeps the pages turning. I'd have to say one of my favorite parts is that Eva has that pet pig, and dresses her up!

I highly recommend Karen Witemeyer's latest novel, More Than Meets the Eye.

Friday Fun and Cover Reveal with Amber Schamel

Hello Everyone!

Happy Friday! I have something fun to kick off the weekend. I came across this audio skit on the Steve Laube agent blog, and my family and I got a great laugh out of it. Mostly because we could really imagine a scene like this happening. And it may or may not be us. LOL.

Hopefully ya'll enjoy it too.




Alright, now that we're all warmed up with some great words, (hopefully no one is wearing galoshes today.) I have another fun thing for ya'll.

Today I am publicly revealing the cover for my newest project! I'm super excited about this one, because it is my first non-fiction book. It will be coming out July 17th, and the material is very close to my heart, seeing as how I come from a family of 12 siblings.



Here's some information about 12 Sisters Who Changed History:

The remarkable lives of twelve sisters who changed the course of history.

Historians paint pictures of amazing men and women who influenced the world, but seldom do we hear about sister duos that forever altered the course of history. Whether fighting together—or against each other—these twelve women set armies to flight, guarded homelands from invasion, transformed countries and religious systems, and begat nations. From mythical Athena and Artemis, to the English thrones of Mary & Elizabeth Tudor, the influence these women left behind is taken for granted. Join us on an inspirational journey through time as we explore the extraordinary lives of Sisters Who Changed History.

*Athena & Artemis (Ancient Greek Mythology)

*Rachel & Leah (Ancient Palestine)                                                                    

*Tru’ng Trac & Tru’ng Nhi (Vietnam)

*Mary & Anne Boleyn (England)

*Mary & Elizabeth Tudor (England)

*Angelina & Sarah Grimke (England) 

Coming July 17th! You can keep up with all of my projects, giveaways, and special content by subscribing to my newsletter.

Tell me what you thought of the audio skit and the new cover to get your name in the drawing for Whither Shall I Go by Gina Holder!

Singing Songs All Day Long

It's FUN FRIDAY!



Whenever anyone says, “We’ll have fun.” Immediately through my head goes. “Fun! Fun! Now that Daddy took the T-Bird awa-aa-aay!” 

The declaration “I want to” brings to mind “Hold your ha—aa—aa-nd! I want to hold your hand.” Of course, from there, I just have to continue with, “And when you touch me, I feel happy…inside. It’s such a feeling that, my love, I can’t hide! I can’t hide! I can’t Hi—ii—ii—ide!”

I’ll sing the whole song if I’m by myself. My husband usually protests, and since he only has one ear AND I’m so submissive… J…I stop before it’s completion. Almost anything anyone can say will bring a song into my head. Matter of fact, there’s usually a song playing there all the time, and if asked, I can start singing it right in the middle of a stanza.

This led my daughter—when she was six or seven—to inform a little friend with her in the back seat—while I sang passionately to the radio behind the driver’s wheel, “My mama knows all the words to all the songs…even the ones she hasn’t heard.” She cracked me up, but I bit my tongue and didn’t laugh.

Yes. (think 12-Step Program)

Hello, my name’s Caryl, and I’m a singer.

I’ve always loved music and singing. Choir was my favorite high school class. I must have said a thousand times how much I’d love to get paid to sing, but I don’t have an outstanding voice. I used to wonder if I’d taken lessons…but the years flew by and grew me into a wife with three children. One shrugs and goes, “Oh, well.”

At a church we went to, the music director offered voice lessons, and my dear husband signed me up for a birthday present when we could barely buy groceries. I think I had three total, a grand time, and found out I have a five octave range—well not anymore, that was in my thirties. Brother Warren seemed impressed, so I figured it was cool.

My favorite singing is praise and worship. Oh, how I love to enter His gates with thanksgiving then go into His courts with praise. Because the curtain to the Holy of Holies was rent when Yahshuah died on the cross, I can go right into His throne room, bow there, and worship Him in song. There’ve been times at church I thought…if I peeked…I would see Him there—His presence so overwhelmed me.

And He’s been giving me new songs since the ’80s. Mostly praise and worship, but a song for each of my grandsugars—I have sixteen now—and songs to go with the children’s stories written with my husband. And not too long ago, God told me I was His “singing pray-er”. I so loved that. I’ve been singing my prayers for years at prayer group.

SO last November, my husband surprised me saying he wanted to get a nice camera to video me singing my songs. We ordered lights and the whole bit. And now I have a YouTube channel! That’s right! People around the world can hear my new songs! I have SO many more to put up, but there are five now and more coming…so click on over! Have some Friday fun! And if you enjoy the songs, subscribe so you won’t miss any new uploads!

My YouTube Channel! Scripture songs, songs He gave me to go with my books, special song for a very special Facebook group "Heart"wings" - a women's fellowship! (If you're a Christian lady, you need but ask, and I'm happy to add you!), and grandsugars' songs! Be sure to subscribe while you're there so you won't miss any of the new uploads!

And every day, “Sing…sing a song! Sing out loud! Sing out strong! Sing about happy, not sad…sing about good things, not bad!” And be blessed!   

Are you a singer, too?

Bio: Caryl McAdoo is all about loving the Lord and currently writes four series, praying each story gives God glory: the historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; 'The Generations', her Biblical fiction, and the newest 'Days of Dread Trilogy' for mid-grade and young adult readers. The Singing Pray-er loves praising with new songs her Heavenly Father gives her. She counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings and believes all good things come from above. Caryl and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron live in the woods of Red River County in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

I'd LOVE you to follow or 'like' or 'subscribe' at all of these! :)

Website   Amazon   YouTube   Facebook   BookBub   Twitter   Google+   Goodreads   LinkedIn   Pinterest   The Caryler (quarterly newsletter)