Cover Attraction: The Ride of Her Life by Lorna Seilstad

I have LOVED both novels that Lorna has written in the past couple of years (see here and here), so it's only fitting that a Cover Attraction post spotlight her newest book releasing just in time for summer.  Isn't that cover just so much fun?!  :o)  I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Title:  The Ride of Her Life
Author:  Lorna Seilstad
Release Date:  May 1, 2012
Publisher:  Revell

About the book:

The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is a six year old. Widowed two years ago, Lilly leaves the shelter of her intrusive in-laws' home to stand on her own and provide for her young son by working for the summer as a cook at Lake Manawa. However, her in-laws find that life utterly unsuitable for their grandson, and when a row ensues, a handsome stranger--who designs roller coasters, of all things--intercedes on her behalf. Still, Lilly is not about to get involved with any man, especially this cocky (though charismatic) gentleman. Little does she know she is about to begin the ride of her life.

Filled with delightful characters and the romance of summer, The Ride of Her Life is another supremely entertaining story from the witty Lorna Seilstad. Readers will laugh out loud and sigh contentedly as they spend the summer of 1906 in Lake Manawa.

Cover Attraction: Garden of Madness by Tracy L. Higley

I had already planned to list this book as today's Cover Attraction, and when it arrived in my mailbox today of all days...well, it was really a no-brainer by that time!  Love this cover, don't you?  :o)

***

Title:  Garden of Madness
Author:  Tracy L. Higley
Release Date:  May 1, 2012 (although it may have released early)
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

About the book:

The Untold Story of King Nebuchadnezzar's Daughter. 

For seven years the Babylonian princess Tiamat has waited for the mad king Nebuchadnezzar to return to his family and to his kingdom. Driven from his throne to live as a beast, he prowls his luxurious Hanging Gardens, secreted away from the world.

Since her treaty marriage at a young age, Tia has lived an indulgent palace life. But when her husband dies and a nobleman is found murdered in the palace, Tia must discover who is responsible for the macabre death, even if her own newfound freedom is threatened.

As the queen plans to wed Tia to yet another prince, the powerful mage Shadir plots to expose the family's secret and set his own man on the throne. Tia enlists the help of a reluctant Jewish captive, her late husband's brother Pedaiah, who challenges her notions of the gods even as he opens her heart to both truth and love.

In a time when few gave their hearts to Yahweh, one woman must decide if she is willing to risk everything-her possessions, her gods, and her very life-for the Israelite's one God. Madness, sorcery and sinister plots mingle like an alchemist's deadly potion, and Tia must dare to risk all - to save the kingdom, and to save herself.

Cover Attraction: Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

It has been faaaarrrr too long since I last did a Cover Attraction post. This feature used to be a regular deal every Friday...maybe I can get with the program again over here (a whole two years later). :o)

Title:  Harvest of Rubies
Author:  Tessa Afshar
Release Date:  May 1, 2012
Publisher:  Moody Publishers

About the book:

The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman.

In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth - the measure of her self.

Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation.

Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums - her very being proves to be a blessing to others.

Cover Attraction: Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker

Title: Always the Baker, Never the Bride
Author: Sandra D. Bricker
Release Date: 9/1/2010
Publisher: Abingdon Press

About the book:

Thirty-six-year-old Emma Rae Travis has been baking specialty cakes and melt-in-your-mouth pastries at The Backstreet Bakery in historic Roswell, just outside of Atlanta, for the last six years. But here's the rub about her job as a baker: Emma is diabetic. When she tastes her creations, it can only be in the most minute portions. Emma is considered an artisan for the stunning creme brulee wedding cake that won her the Passionate Palette Award last year, but she's never even had one full slice of it.

When Jackson Drake hears about this local baker who has won a prestigious award for her wedding cake artistry, he tells his assistant to be sure and include her in the pastry tastings scheduled at his new wedding destination hotel the following week. And for Jackson, that particular day has started out badly with two workmen trapped in a broken elevator and a delivery of several dozen 300-thread-count bed linens in the wrong size abandoned in the lobby. But when the arrogant baker he met a week prior in Roswell stumbles into the dining room with a platter of pastries and a bucketful of orders, he knows for certain: It's going to be a really rotten day.

Can these two ill-suited players master the high-wire act and make a go of their new business venture? Or will they take each other crashing downward, without a net? And will the surprise wedding at The Tanglewood be theirs?

Cover Attraction: Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall

Title: Surrender the Heart
Author: MaryLu Tyndall
Release Date: 8/1/2010
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

About the book:

On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must marry to unlock her inheritance. Without the money, her mother can't receive medical care and her sister will be destitute. But Noah Brenin needs to sail his cargo to England before the war commences in order to prove his worth to his father and make enough money so he won't have to marry at all.

Defying his father's wishes, Noah loathes the idea of marrying a woman he finds plain and pompous. Marianne wants nothing to do with the rogue who taunted her as a child, yet she must convince him otherwise or her mother will die.

But when Noah walks out on their engagement party, Marianne chases him down and ends up on his merchantman out at sea. The situation worsens when Noah's ship encounters a British man-of-war and the couple are impressed into the British navy. While a young lad's prophecy of destiny looms over them both, Marianne and Noah are forced to face their darkest fears as they desperately try to find a way to escape and fulfill their destinies-destinies that could change the course of the war and history forever.

Cover Attraction: While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

Title: While We're Far Apart
Author: Lynn Austin
Release Date: 10/01/2010
Publisher: Bethany House

About the book:

In an unassuming apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, three lives intersect as the reality of war invades each aspect of their lives. Young Esther is heartbroken when her father decides to enlist in the army shortly after the death of her mother. Penny Goodrich has been in love with Eddie Shaffer for as long as she can remember; now that Eddie's wife is dead, Penny feels she has been given a second chance and offers to care for his children in the hope that he will finally notice her and marry her after the war. And elderly Mr. Mendel, the landlord, waits for the war to end to hear what has happened to his son trapped in war-torn Hungary.

But during the long, endless wait for victory overseas, life on the home front will go from bad to worse. Yet these characters will find themselves growing and changing in ways they never expected--and ultimately discovering truths about God's love... even when He is silent.

Cover Attraction: Dancing on Glass by Pamela Binnings Ewen

Title: Dancing on Glass
Author: Pamela Binnings Ewen
Release Date: 6/30/2010
Publisher: B&H Publishing

About the book:

In the steamy city of New Orleans in 1974, Amalise Catoir sees Phillip Sharp as a charming, magnetic artist, unlike any man she has known. A young lawyer herself, raised in a small-town Christian home and on the brink of a career with a large firm, she is strong and successful, yet sometimes too trusting and whimsical. Ama’s rash decision to marry Phillip proves to be a mistake as he becomes overly possessive, drawing his wife away from family, friends, and her faith. His insidious, dangerous behavior becomes her dark, inescapable secret.

In this lawyer’s unraveling world, can grace survive Ama’s fatal choice? What would you do when prayers seem to go unanswered, faith has slipped away, evil stalks, and you feel yourself forever dancing on shattered glass?

Cover Attraction: Secrets of Harmony Grove by Mindy Starns Clark

Title: Secrets of Harmony Grove

Author: Mindy Starns Clark

Release Date: 10/01/2010

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

About the book:

From the bestselling author of Shadows of Lancaster County comes an exciting new romantic mystery set in Amish country.

When New York marketing executive Samantha Collins finds herself unemployed, she moves out of her pricey Manhattan apartment to sleepy Harmony Grove, Pennsylvania. She plans on running the bed-and-breakfast she had bought as an investment in Lancaster County. However, when the manager she lets go is later found murdered on the property, Samantha’s troubles take a serious turn.

A handsome local wishes to befriend her, but can she trust him? And when her ex-boyfriend shows up, wanting to reconcile, can she cope with him in the middle of this crisis? Samantha must learn to depend on the Savior she has recently taken into her heart. And she’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove threaten her livelihood, her safety, and ultimately her life.

Cover Attraction: Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson

Title: Embers of Love
Author: Tracie Peterson
Release Date: 10/01/2010
Publisher: Bethany House

About the book:

The logging industry in eastern Texas is booming, and Deborah Vandermark plans to assist her family's business now that she's completed college. Unexpectedly, her best friend, Lizzie Decker, accompanies her back home--fleeing a wedding and groom she has no interest in. Deborah, the determined matchmaker, puts her sights on uniting her brother and dear friend in a true love match. Deborah soon meets Dr. Christopher Clayton, a much-needed addition to the town. As their lives intersect, Deborah realizes that she has a much greater interest in medicine and science than the bookkeeping she was trained in. But when typhoid begins to spread and Lizzie's jilted fiance returns, Deborah wonders if true love can overcome such obstacles...for those dearest to her, and for herself.

Cover Attraction: A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

Title: A Hope Undaunted
Author: Julie Lessman
Release Date: 9/10/2010
Publisher: Revell Books

About the book:

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jake fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jake? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

A Hope Undaunted is the engrossing first book in the Winds of Change series from popular author Julie Lessman. Readers will thrill at the highly charged romance in this passionate story.

**There are just not enough words to describe how much I cannot WAIT until this book comes out!!!! I feel like a little kid screaming, "Gimme, gimme, gimme!!" Besides the new Francine Rivers book that will be out next month, this book is the one I've been looking forward to reading more than anything else this year. And is not the cover just beautiful?!?!! The girl on the cover looks exactly like what I imagined Katie looking like....a saucy, no-nonsense type of gal. :o)

Oh, how I don't want to wish my life away, but I so wish it was September right now!

Cover Attraction: Love Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon by Melody Carlson

Title: Love Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon
Author: Melody Carlson
Release Date: 3/1/2010
Publisher: Summerside Press

About the book:

Pendleton is ready to rock and rodeo! Sunshine Westcott is one-quarter Cayuse but has never stepped foot on the reservation where her ancestors’ story seems to be buried beneath generations of heartache and discrimination. Now that Sunshine is about to turn forty, her friend Leanne insists on taking her to the hundredth annual Pendleton Round-Up. The pair arrives just as the fun begins. Does the town hold the answers to Sunshine’s troubling family secrets? And how will Leanne’s cowboy-to-the-core family react when her brother Max falls head-over-heels for this Native American princess?

Cover Attraction: She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Title: She Walks in Beauty
Author: Siri Mitchell
Release Date: 4/10/2010
Publisher: Bethany House

About the book:

For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work--there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her marriage at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

Cover Attraction: Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon

Title: Touching the Clouds
Author: Bonnie Leon
Release Date: 7/1/10
Publisher: Revell

About the book:

Kate Evans is an adventurous and independent young woman with a pioneering spirit. She pilots a mail-delivery plane in the forbidding Alaskan wilderness, the lone woman in a male profession. But even that seems easy compared to finding true love. She likes a fellow pilot and would even consider marrying him--if it weren't for Paul, a mysterious man on her mail route with a gentle spirit and a past to hide. Can Kate break through the walls Paul has put up around his heart? And will her quest for adventure be her demise? Book 1 in the Alaskan Skies series, Touching the Clouds will draw readers in with raw emotion and suspense, all against the stunning backdrop of the Alaskan wilds.

Cover Attraction: A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Title: A Tailor-Made Bride
Author: Karen Witemeyer
Release Date: 6/1/10
Publisher: Bethany House

About the book:

Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind -- shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected.

Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?

When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau -- leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town -- will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?