Review_FICTION
58 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ JANUARY 27, 2020
Review_FICTION
series is off to a strong start. (Mar.)Secrets of My Heart
Tracie Peterson. Bethany House, $15.99 trade
paper (320p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3225-1
Childhood friends reconnect during sad
circumstances in the consuming launch
of Peterson’s Willamette Brides series
(following her Brookstone Brides series).
In 1879 Portland, Ore., newly widowed
Nancy Pritchard mourns the death of her
husband, Albert, though her loveless
marriage made her husband a stranger to
her. Rumors begin to spread that Albert
was murdered, and evidence is found sug-
gesting Albert was involved in illegally
selling guns and liquor; Nancy can’t help
wondering what other kinds of business
her husband was involved in. When lawyer
Seth Carpenter, Nancy’s childhood friend,
comes to town to investigate Albert’s illegal
dealings, he gets reacquainted with Nancy
and develops feelings for her. As Seth
continues to investigate, he discovers
more secrets about Albert, and after
Nancy’s life is threatened, Seth desperately
tries to keep her safe. Meanwhile, Nancy’s
angry at God for her baby brother’s death
15 years ago—but letting go of her bit-
terness could finally allow Nancy to feel
the love she had been missing. This is a
beautiful story of redemption. (Mar.)Starfish Pier: A Hope Harbor Novel
Irene Hannon. Revell, $15.99 trade paper
(352p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3614-9
Hannon (the Code of Honor series)
revisits Hope Harbor, Ore., in this affecting
inspirational, the sixth in the Hope Harbor
series. Charley is still serving his wonderful
fish tacos with a side of advice, but the
crux of the story centers on new residents.
Holly Miller, who suffers from spina bifida,
has come to Hope Harbor to exert her
independence from her overprotective
parents. Steven Roark has relocated to the
tiny town to shore up a relationship with
his brother, trading his military career for
that of a charter boat captain. While sparks
fly between Holly and Steven, the two
quickly find themselves with opposing
views of what the town should do with a
19th-century cannon that recently washed
ashore, clashing over how to remember
one’s past while acknowledging the horrors
of war. Holly also becomes concerned for a
neighbor when she discovers he has movedwanting a fresh start after the death of
Jenna’s father. Jenna longs to make friends,
but because she suffered a traumatic brain
injury as a child,
her mother for-
bids any act of
independence.
Twenty-year-old
Jenna meets
Buddy at church
and learns that
he has Down’s
syndrome. The
two quickly
form a friend-
ship and connect over their shared chal-
lenges. When their relationship takes a
romantic turn, their families try to keep
them apart, but their courage in pursuing
love and independence changes what their
families think they are capable of. Lillard
does an excellent job of depicting with
accuracy and compassion the difficulties
faced by those with mental disabilities.
This affecting tale will surely inspire.
(Mar.)Out of the Embers
Amanda Cabot. Revell, $15.99 trade paper
(336p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3535-7
Cabot (A Tender Hope) transports readers
to 1850s Texas in the enjoyable first install-
ment to her Mesquite Springs series. Evelyn
Radcliffe has felt the eerie sensation of
someone watching her ever since her par-
ents were murdered 10 years ago. When the
orphanage 22-year-old Evelyn has called
home is destroyed by arson, she takes the
only other survivor, a six-year old girl
named Polly, and they end up in Mesquite
Springs. Rancher Wyatt Clark finds Evelyn
and Polly hiding from a storm and wel-
comes them to stay with him, his mother,
and sister. Evelyn soon becomes a vital part
of the town; she opens a restaurant and
develops a reputation for her excellent
cooking. She also catches the eye of several
of the town’s bachelors. Wyatt plans to host
a horse sale to raise money in order to be
able to leave the town behind for life in the
big city, but his feelings for Evelyn may
force him to stay. Little does he know that
inviting other ranchers and horse racers to
his ranch will put Evelyn and Polly in great
danger. Evelyn trusts in God’s promise to
bring good out of the embers of the orphan-
age fire and keep her and Polly safe. Theleading to a passionate encounter. But
someone is jealous of Jess and launches a
series of physical attacks against her, adding
suspenseful complications to her budding
relationship with Reece. Throughout this
charged, fast-paced love story, Kelly
expertly balances sensuality and intrigue.
This will be a hit with readers looking for
a spicy contemporary romance. Agent:
Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Mar.)Inspirational
In the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
Donna VanLiere. Harvest House, $15.99 trade
paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-7369-7875-0
VanLiere (The Christmas Secret) provides
a moving, fast-paced account of the end
times. Physical therapist Emma Grady is
just arriving for a long day of work when
a client disappears right in front of her.
Meanwhile, Elliott Hirsch is at a funeral
when graves are opened and people—
both living and dead—disappear; and
Dr. Zerah Adler witnesses others in his
office disappear. Across the globe people
are disappearing, ushering in chaos and
confusion. As cities collapse and govern-
ments scramble to explain and rebuild,
Elliott and Zerah both feel called to
spread the Gospel, and Emma connects
with friends and others who now believe
the disappearances are part of God’s
prophecy to prepare for hard days ahead—
and the budding of new faith. At the end
of this well-crafted dystopian saga,
VanLiere includes an epilogue as a blue-
print of where these prophecies can be
found in the Bible and a deeper study of
what the verses mean. Filled with heavy
warning but hope, this speculative tale
of the realization of prophecy will please
readers who enjoy James Rubart. (Mar.)★ Loving Jenna
Amy Lillard. Kensington, $7.99 mass market
(304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4956-2
The lovely ninth installment of Lillard’s
Wells Landing series (after Marrying Jonah)
set in the Amish community of Wells
Landing, Okla., centers on the budding
romance between two unlikely heroes.
Jenna and Buddy are both seen as “less
than” by their community due to their
cognitive slowness. Jenna’s mother and
grandmother have just arrived in town