New Releases by Loree Lough

In these heartwarming, faith-affirming stories, three Amish families face the joys, and challenges, of the holidays—with fruitful results . . . THE CHRISTMAS NOT-WISH New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray When the foster parents they’ve cautiously grown to love discover they’re expecting, orphaned Roy and Jemima Fisher, ages six and seven, are secretly devastated by the certainty they’ll be given up. With Christmas around the corner, their only wish is for new foster parents as nice as Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz. Meanwhile, the Kurtzes have wishes of their own—and with faith, they all may be gifted with twice the blessings . . . NEW BEGINNINGS * Rachel J. Good Still grieving the loss of her husband and unborn baby in an accident several months ago, Elizabeth Yoder is oblivious to her neighbor Luke Bontrager’s deepening affection for her. But while she bleakly faces Christmas alone, it’s Luke who reminds her it’s the season for giving. And when Elizabeth donates her handmade baby clothes to New Beginnings, a home for teen moms, she soon finds her gifts repaid beyond measure, with Luke’s love—and new beginnings of their own . . . TWINS TIMES TWO * Loree Lough What happens when two secretive, stubborn people find themselves thrown together to help four rascally youngsters—twins times two!—create a Christmas surprise for their parents? Mischief and mayhem, and just maybe . . . love!

Beth loves Christmas... and Ben, her co-worker in her furniture business in their Amish community. Their views on Christmas keep their friendship from becoming more. Will Beth''s letter and gift to Ben bring these two together at long last?

David and Anna love each other but are unable to express love openly because of secrets from their pasts. The Christmas prayers in Anna''s Blessings Jar ask for courage. Does she love him enough to risk losing him to free him from his secret?

USA Today bestselling authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, and Loree Lough celebrate the spirit of the season, the warmth of simple traditions, and of course, the joy of holiday treats, with this faith-affirming collection of three connected holiday novellas about the Christmas surprises in store for those who work and shop at a charming Amish bakery. As the most joyful holiday draws near, three couples discover the recipe for love includes faith, hope, and the sweetest blessings… A CHRISTMAS CAKE FOR REBECCA by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray When carpenter Aden returns to Lancaster after twenty years away, bakeshop owner Rebecca is dismayed to find he’s still as handsome and kind as ever. He broke her heart when he left the community back then. Will a holiday emergency provide a second chance at love, this time forever? BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER by USA Today Bestselling Author Rachel J. Good When a lonely widower with a sick daughter and a new cake decorator meet at the bakeshop, they discover they were once childhood playmates. But as each of them helps the other care for family, their neighborly kindness inspires a gift that only love could make possible… THE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKE by USA Today Bestselling Author Loree Lough A builder who never learned to read believes he must hide his fond feelings for a kind schoolteacher. But after they run into each other at the bakeshop, she offers to teach him—and as Christmas approaches, each of them learns a lesson about the great gift of love…

Family Fiction’s #1 author of Amish Fiction! Amid the New Order Amish community of Oakland, Maryland, an unexpected gift of comfort and tender caring can help spark a surprising dream of love . . . Between raising three grieving children and running a booming business, recent widower Aaron Bontrager desperately needs help—even if it means a marriage of convenience only. He couldn’t be more surprised by his new wife, ebullient Bethel Mast. With an unconventional, joyful sense of purpose, she''s starting to turn his house back into a home and bring stability and peace to his children’s lives. And somehow, her gentle understanding is reigniting impossible hope in Aaron''s guarded, lonely heart . . . Bethel never had a fair chance for a home and family of her own. She doesn''t want to replace Aaron’s first wife, but she’ll face any challenge to aid him and his children. And she soon finds Aaron’s formidable exterior hides a sensitivity and caring that she’s quietly drawn to. Can Bethel show him that their practical arrangement is blossoming into so much more—and can be the start of a wonderful future together for all of them?

In the New Order Amish community of Pleasant Valley, a helping hand is never far away, and a baby’s smile can be reason enough to start over—and risk love again . . . Since losing his family in a tragic accident, building contractor Max Lambright can''t seem to find purpose in anything but hard work . . . until he meets feisty newcomer, Willa Richards. As she struggles to make a new life for herself and her baby girl, she challenges him in just about every possible way. Dare he hope that, alongside this spirited woman, he might rekindle his lost faith, and find the path to love and the family he craves? Poor choices and a difficult past have inspired Willa to make better decisions for her precious Frannie, even if it means leaving the familiar behind and starting over . . . among strangers. As she adapts to the Amish ways, she learns about Max’s generous and steadfast nature. The loneliness he tries so hard to mask can’t be hidden . . . not from a woman with something to prove: Together, they can build their friendship into something that will forever stand as the cornerstone of a happy family . . . Visit us www.kensingtonbooks.com

Among the New-new Order Amish of Oakland, Maryland, children bring precious hope, joy—and sometimes an unexpected second chance at love . . . For Amish widower Phillip Baker, providing for his family in the wake of his wife''s death means back-breaking work and renewed dedication to his faith. Still, his strength can’t help him relate to his little son’s struggles. It seems a godsend when new doctor Emily White is able to treat Gabe’s shyness and fear even as she helps heal him. But no matter how strongly Phillip is drawn to the caring Englisher from the city, their differences may be too great to overcome . . . Reeling from her own tragic loss, Emily keeps loneliness at bay through her clinic work. Somehow, though, Gabe and his gentle, sad-eyed father are making her want to risk opening her heart again. But can she find acceptance in their Plain world—and a way to turn their separate lives into a family forever? . . .

Elice Glasser is a widow with three young children to raise. Cabot Murray is an ex-cop who returns home to Freeland, Maryland, to deal with the pain of his own tragic loss: the death of his wife and daughter in a fiery explosion intended for him. Grieving, their sorrow brings them together, and a friendship develops that leads them to explore the possibility of finding love again. But vengeful enemies and jealous rivals are determined to destroy the peace and happiness that Elice and Cabot have found in each other''s arms. Why are their rivals so intent on keeping Elice and Cabot apart? Loree Lough''s latest suspenseful romance is a page-turner!

She’s ready for that second chance… But will he believe she’s changed? When she fled Baltimore after a near-fatal accident that left her dependent on painkillers, Lillie Rourke had lost everything. Now, emotionally healed, she’s ready to make amends and start over. But Jase Yeager has moved on, and who can blame him? Yet Lillie isn’t giving up—on her or them. Earning back Jase’s trust won’t be easy, but Lillie’s no stranger to challenges…

These one-hundred devotions remind readers how fully God''s grace covers every slip and stumble. Our best can never be good enough, but grace is greater than our largest shortcoming. Writing with humor and heart, four of America''s best-loved inspirational writers share their own lives, inviting readers to find the blessings in the challenges. Whether you are facing deadlines, double-scheduled meetings, growing loads of laundry, or all that and more, if you begin your day with a reminder of God''s love, your whole day will be all the sweeter.

Don''t they both deserve a second chance? Fourteen years ago, one reckless act cost Ian Sylvestry everything, including the girl he planned to marry. Since then, he has fought hard to turn his life around. Returning to his Baltimore town after serving a prison term was the first step. Winning back Maleah Turner''s trust is a far more daunting challenge. From their first sparks-flying reunion, it''s obvious they still have powerful feelings for each other. In fact, they might be even stronger together now. But if their second chance is going to work, Maleah has to believe that Ian is a changed man. She really wants to believe…but she simply isn''t convinced.

Harlequin Heartwarming brings you a collection of four new wholesome reads, available now! This Harlequin Heartwarming box set includes: THE RUNAWAY BRIDE by Patricia Johns Bernadette Morgan has just run out on her fancy society wedding and all the way to Runt River, Ohio. When she pulls her broken-down car into Liam Wilson’s garage, all she wants is for him to fix it. What she finds instead are family secrets, political intrigue—and a man she can’t leave behind. SUMMER AT THE SHORE by Carol Ross Can Cupid help Coast Guard officer Jay Johnston and veterinarian Mia Frasier find time for a date? The pair are stretched to their limits, but they can’t deny the burning spark between them! THE MAN SHE KNEW By Way of the Lighthouse by Loree Lough Maleah Turner never forgot Ian Sylvestry. But after his recklessness tore them apart a lifetime ago, she won’t trust him with her heart again. No matter how many happy memories are brought up by an unexpected reunion… GIRL IN THE SPOTLIGHT by Virginia McCullough Eighteen years ago, Lark McGee and Miles Jenkins gave up their baby girl and went their separate ways. Now, since learning who their celebrity daughter has become, will they rediscover each other and finally find their happily-ever-after?

Ruby McCoy is haunted by her father''s sins.... When Ruby McCoy arrives in Fairplay, her ornate carriage is followed by an entourage who heft steamer trunks, hatboxes, and traveling bags into the hotel...where she has booked the entire second floor. Upon her notorious gangster father''s death, the now-wealthy Ruby, hiding under her mother''s maiden name, set out to right her father''s wrongs. Ruby is determined to spend every penny of her inherited "blood money" on those who paid the price for her father''s crimes. Sheriff Rex Truett doesn''t trust Ruby and doesn''t care who knows it. The keeper of Fairplay''s law and order makes it his business to find out why a stranger—especially a beautiful, spoiled, rich, female stranger—would set up businesses, donate to schools, hire workmen to rebuild houses, and provide access to the best medical care. But when a typhoid epidemic sweeps through the city, he is forced to reconsider. Will Rex blame Ruby for her father''s sins? Or will he accept the possibility that she is trying to create—and feel—the peace her father stole?

He''s a man who wants it all…if only he could have it Dreams of stardom took musician and firefighter Sam Marshall far from his Colorado roots. Starting fresh in Nashville hasn''t been easy, especially after an injury on the job, but he''s working his way to the Grand Ole Opry one open mike at a time, teaching at the fire station to make ends meet. Yet Sam''s intentions are shaken when he meets the lovely owner of a local café. Suddenly, Sam''s dreams are filled with her. Too bad that as the daughter of country-music wannabes, Finn Leary''s been there, done that. She''ll never choose a musician. So how can Sam possibly get the girl and keep the guitar?

Harlequin Heartwarming brings you four new wholesome reads for one great price, available now! This Harlequin Heartwarming box set includes: THROUGH THE STORM From Kenya, with Love by Rula Sinara Bush pilot Mac Walker and his sister-in-law, Tessa, had a deal: she''d raise their orphaned nephew with her husband while Mac helped out financially. He couldn''t run Serengeti helicopter tours and volunteer for wildlife agencies with a teen underfoot. Then Tessa comes to him for help, revealing her husband''s ties to elephant poaching, and Mac agrees to take them in. But can he trust Tessa…or his sudden feelings for her? HOME FOR KEEPS by Lynn Patrick Grace Huber wants to save the environment by building "green." She thinks she''s met the perfect man in conservationist Caleb Blackthorne. But with his complicated family, and troubling issues affecting Grace''s new community, sustaining a lasting love might be their toughest challenge. THE FIREFIGHTER''S REFRAIN Those Marshall Boys by Loree Lough For firefighter and aspiring country singer Sam Marshall, Nashville is the place to be. But for Finn Leary, Music City is just a place to be. She can''t stand the rock-star lifestyle that led to her parents self-destructing, but she can''t leave her vulnerable sister or the successful café she runs, either. Luckily, she''s too busy to give sweet and handsome Sam a second thought. Besides, she''d never date a musician…TO CATCH A WIFE The Finnegan Sisters by Lee McKenzie Homicide detective Jack Evans returns to his small hometown and discovers Emily Finnegan is going to have his baby. Convincing Emily that she can trust him becomes Jack''s top priority, but he''s willing to do whatever it takes to get her to come around, because this big-city cop is ready to be a family man. Look for four new tender stories every month from Harlequin Heartwarming!

He can say no to everything but her… Nate Marshall used to be a yes-man…until being so agreeable cost him dearly. But Eden Quinn has a way of getting him to reconsider his "just say no" policy. Which is how a bunch of troubled teens end up at his ranch for the weekend. The boys in Eden''s care are a handful, and Nate can''t help but be attracted to the feisty, independent woman who keeps them in line. This cowboy knows Eden''s no damsel in distress, yet it''s clear hers isn''t a one-woman job. If she''s determined to do everything on her own, how can he help her…let alone get her to fall for him?

Harlequin Heartwarming brings you four new wholesome reads for one great price, available now! This Harlequin Heartwarming box set includes: OUT OF THE ASHES The Georgia Monroes • by Cynthia Reese Kari Hendrix needs a good man like Rob Monroe in her corner, but the arson investigator is torn when he discovers she’s keeping dangerous secrets about her past…and his. OWEN’S BEST INTENTIONS Smoky Mountains, Tennessee • by Anna Adams Now that Owen’s found Lilah Bantry again—and the son he never knew he’d fathered—he’s not going to let her go without a fight. But he’s got a lot to make up for, and he’s got to prove he’s not the man he once was. #109 HARPER’S WISH A Findlay Roads Story • by Cerella Sechrist Harper Worth’s scathing review destroyed Connor Callahan’s first restaurant. Now she’s desperate for a job, and he’s her last hope. But can he trust the woman who nearly ruined him? SWEET MOUNTAIN RANCHER Those Marshall Boys • by Loree Lough After an accident ends his baseball career, Nate Marshall returns home to Colorado and throws himself into ranch chores. But when headstrong psychologist Eden Quinn visits the ranch with a gaggle of at-risk boys, Nate sees that life might prove more challenging—and joyful—than he ever imagined. Look for four new tender stories every month from Harlequin Heartwarming!

Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather’s barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother—even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn. Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe—and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he’d inherited. Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family’s mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He’ll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?

Does she even need a hero? Summer Lane is no damsel in distress. For the past two years, she''s been battling her way back from her worst nightmare all by herself. So she doesn''t need the fabulous former Marine Zach Marshall swooping in to save her. But she needn''t worry. Zach has hung up his shining armor. His instinct to rescue has only brought him heartache, and he''s not about to risk it all again—even though everything about Summer makes him yearn to help. But she just might accept his challenge to step up and conquer her fears on her own. Even her deepest fears, like trust…and love.

Shaina Sterling hates the lie she’s living but feels she has no choice. Soon after the shocking death of her husband, the young widow learns how deeply entrenched in debt his lavish lifestyle has left her. To protect the legacy of his name, as well as her own reputation and her stately home at Sterling Hall, Shaina secretly sells off valuable possessions, piece by piece, and hopes that her wealthy Denver friends never discover the truth. Successful rancher Sloan Remington knows far more about Shaina than she realizes, but because of a promise he made to her husband as he lay dying, he guards her secrets as carefully as he looks after her safety. But soon, a series of additional misfortunes make Shaina beholden to him—and threaten to expose a truth about himself that he’s long worked hard to keep hidden. Will trials and tragedies bring these two together? Or will secrets—and the cost of exposing them—drive them apart forever?

He couldn''t save his wife…but he will save Alyssa When Noah Preston entered witness protection, his only concern was for his daughter. He couldn''t save her mother, but he would save Alyssa—no matter what. Now, three years later, he''s done his best to make their new lives work. But he can''t let go of the fear—and the guilt—that haunts him. And he can''t let Alyssa out of his sight. Noah''s convinced that loneliness is part of his penance. So when Billie Landon stumbles into his bike shop, he''s determined to keep his distance. He can''t risk giving in to his attraction to her. Even though she could be exactly what he and his child really need.

This bundle contains From Ashes to Honor, Honor Redeemed, A Man of Honor. From Ashes to Honor Minutes before two jumbo jets changed U.S. history, New York police officer Austin Finley ignored the call from his brother, who’d been bugging him for days. Trying to live with his one regret causes hatred and bitterness to consume Austin, and when counselor Mercy Samara recommends desk duty, Austin resigns. Haunted by her own memories of 9/11, Mercy takes a job as a school counselor in Baltimore. When Austin, now an EMT, responds to an emergency at Mercy’s school, both are stunned and wary. Finally their common (and painful) memories turn suspicion into friendship, then romance. But hard questions linger: Can they truly move beyond their past harsh judgments and harsh words? Will their past finally bring them closer or farther apart? Honor Redeemed Highly skilled Search and Rescue (SAR) team leader, Honor Mackenzie, works almost as hard at guarding the dark secrets of her past as she does when training SAR dogs. As for widowed Sun reporter Matt Phillips, not even his former SAR work is as important as protecting his ten-year-old twin boys. When a jumbo jet crashes outside Baltimore one cold night, their respective jobs put them face-to-face at the grisly scene--and force Matt to come to terms with his feelings for Honor, he gets word that she hasn’t reported in since starting the search for a missing child. Reverting to his SAR training, Matt leads the search team as a vicious winter storm bears down on the area. Will he find her in time? A Man of Honor On a steamy spring morning, Dusty Parker--part-time pastor, part-time search-and-rescue team member, and full-time administrator of a school for troubled boys--joins the search for a missing teenage girl. He partners with volunteer and inner-city school teacher Grace Sinclair, and what they find bonds them in ways neither could have expected. As they begin to build their lives together, a visitor from the past causes Dusty and Grace to further open their hearts and home. But a threat is looming on their seemingly perfect lives and in one terrifying night, everything changes.

THEY WERE WORLDS APART, CONNECTED BY A BOY… Why would a former football star like Logan Murray pay attention to her? Bianca Wright was a far cry from the beautiful women she''d seen him with in the tabloids. He was just being kind. Or even worse—felt sorry for her. He knew she was a widow with an autistic son. That had to be too much baggage for any man, and Bianca wouldn''t accept anything but the best for her child. But if Logan could use his connections to match her son Drew with a therapy dog, she''d swallow her pride and accept his help. And yet, after fifteen minutes with Drew, Logan seemed to "get it" better than Drew''s own father ever did. Had Bianca misjudged him? Maybe he had hidden depths. She would''ve liked to find out, but that was a risk she just wouldn''t take…not when her precious boy was involved.

LIKE IT OR NOT, THEY''RE FAMILY NOW When Brooke O''Toole''s sister and brother-in-law die in a tragic accident, her only priority is the emotional well-being of her one-year-old nephew, Connor. Unfortunately, that means making nice with the man she holds responsible for her mother''s murder: Hunter Stone. Allowing Hunter into her life is the opposite of easy. Brooke''s never understood why her sister forgave him—and worse, became his neighbor and friend. But even she can''t deny the bond between the man and child, or how much she''s come to rely on both of them. Despite her instinct to fight this ex-cop who''s challenging her right to custody, Brooke suspects the best thing for Connor is a life with both of them in it.

Every Quilt Has a Story Featuring tales of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings, the latest Quilts of Love books will delight fiction fans, crafters and quilters, and anyone who loves a good story. Enjoy FREE chapters from eleven titles from popular and bestselling authors Vannetta Chapman, Sandie Bricker, Carla Olsen Gade, Bonnie S. Calhoun, S. Dionne Moore, Angela Breidenbach, Christa Allan, Loree Lough, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, and Jennifer AlLee. Like what you read? The full copy of each of these books is just a click away. This sampler features chapters from... The Christmas Quilt Raw Edges Pattern for Romance Pieces of the Heart A Heartbeat Away A Healing Heart Threads of Hope For Love of Eli Path of Freedom A Wild Goose Chase Christmas Beyond the Storm

As a boy, Adam Thorne participated in a prank that went horribly wrong. Having no adult in his life to teach him that, with a changed heart, no sin is unforgivable, he turned his guilt into a shield... ...until Kasey Delaney bounded into his world, bubbling with life and overflowing with enthusiasm for God''s love.

When Drewry Sheffield’s uncle promises her hand in marriage as payment of a gambling debt, God seems strangely silent. Orphaned, and with no kin to help her, Drewry feels she must take matters into her own hands—and quickly! Through an unexpected turn of events, she arrives in Richmond, Virginia, ready to assume a new identity as nanny to the two young children of wealthy plantation owner Chase Auburn. Chase, a Christian who prizes honesty above all other virtues, is delighted with Drewry, yet he seems sadly preoccupied. The Lord has taken his beloved wife, and he is determined never to love again. Caught up in the chaos of the post-Civil War South and the turmoil of her own heart, Drewry must find a way to gamble on the truth…before Chase decides to call her bluff.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”―2 Corinthians 12:9 Home from the Civil War a hopeless cripple and the master of a ruined plantation, James Sheffield must learn to live again. But a dark secret eats away at his conscience, giving him little hope for a bright future. Alcohol is his only escape. When an intriguing woman enters his life, James somehow resolves to make a new start. But, considering his history of misfortune, Joy McGuire, a pastor’s daughter, can never be his. She is promised to another—the handsome, young assistant pastor, a man who is far better than James and quick to judge his ugly habits. Will James ever conquer the tyranny of his past? And will Joy listen to the truth of her heart instead of the rumors that threaten to sever their relationship?

The said their vows before God, but not to each other.In Baltimore, Maryland, in 1868, Priscilla and Caleb’s marriage of convenience seems the only solution. She’ll do anything to provide for her beloved grandparents; he needs her help to rescue his failing farm. Despite her resolve to the contrary, Priscilla finds herself drawn to her new husband, a man she knows is still in love with his late wife, Laura, who has been gone for eight years. Meanwhile, Caleb struggles to control the growing love he feels for Priscilla, as well as his consuming guilt. In desperation, Caleb prays that God will give him strength to solve his dilemma: keep the precious vow made on the day he buried Laura or keep his newly spoken marriage vows with Priscilla.

Released from prison in 1840 for a crime he didn’t commit, Kent McCoy finds himself without friends, family, or a single reason to believe in a merciful God. Like a lone wolf, he leaves Dodge City, Kansas, and heads east in search of a place where his past won’t darken his future. His wandering path collides with that of Abby Nelson, who, through a series of tragic events, has come to believe that love and happiness are beyond her reach. Life is a matter of existing from day to day on her last thread of strength—her faith in God’s power. Despite their tendencies to live on the fringes of life, Abby and Kent are strangely drawn to one another. But will suspicion, self-righteousness, and lack of faith cost them this chance at happiness in one another’s arms? Or will they surrender to the love born from forgiveness?