Must-read romances: 'For Your Love,' 'Silent Praise,' 'Follow Your Heart'

Join me every week as I share a few shout-outs on romance author goings-on, related events and recommended reads.

For Your Love by Beverly Jenkins

We are back in Henry Adams, Kansas, where this historic town continues to thrive, breathe and evolve like a living organism. Beverly Jenkins' latest Blessings novel, For Your Love, picks up the thread of continuity. In the opening scene, there is an intriguing mysterious moment during the reading of a will. Once the ball starts rolling, the curtain parts and we can settle back to enjoy this great book.

Once again, Beverly Jenkins does her literary magic to celebrate the benefits of community and the bonds of family. As we learn more about the citizens of Henry Adams, we fall ever deeper in love with this town and its citizens. Everyone fits together like a colorful quilt adding their own flavor to the landscape.

For Your Love is rich with its life lessons. Through the eyes of the mayor and his family, our hearts are touched with the bitter and the sweet intertwining around these lives. It's this special place that offers a refuge to be renewed in faith and love. A story that is heartwarming and belongs on the keeper shelf.

About For Your Love (courtesy of William Morrow Paperbacks):

Mayor Trent July and his wife Lily are enjoying life as newlyweds and embracing the challenges and joys that come with being foster parents to two wonderful boys. But being a foster father has inevitably forced him to think about his own birth mother. Raised by his grandmother Tamar—and in many ways the good people of Henry Adams—Trent was blessed with a childhood full of love.

But now he can't help wondering what happened to the scared teenage girl who handed him over to Tamar. And questions that he's never voiced are now begging to be answered: Who was she? Is she still alive? Why didn't she want him?

Trent has always believed no good comes from dwelling on the past, especially when you have a loving family, a strong community, and folks who depend on him. But when the past comes to Henry Adams and Trent has no choice but to face it—and the woman who left him behind. The truth will shake his very being and everything he thought he knew about life, love, and the bonds that hold families together…yet can also tear them apart.

Silent Praise by Michelle Lindo-Rice

Michelle Lindo-Rice's Silent Praise, Able to Love book three, has at its core a Christian inspirational message, by way of a very enjoyable romance. The relationship between Chase and Melanie grows from a place that could be barren and hostile, if their past histories overwhelmed their lives. The horror and disappointment are realistically written with great visual and sensory scenes that immediately pulled me in and held me in place to the end in one sitting.

The discussion questions that are provided are a perfect starting point to stay engaged with this small circle of family and friends. If life is full of choices, this story offers the road less traveled, sometimes for the greater good, with models of the life of the faithful.

About Silent Praise (courtesy of author):

A banker. A cop. One complicated case. Nothing just happens. When Officer Chase Dawson pulls over Melanie Benson, he did not expect to feel an instant connection with this beautiful deaf woman. Chase asks Melanie out on a date but she turns him down flat. Lucky for Chase, their paths cross again when he is assigned the case of a missing deaf child. Chase knows this is God's doing. But, he wonders is this a fleeting attraction or real love?

Melanie Benson cannot believe how strongly she feels for a man she has just met. Because of past hurt, Melanie is leery to open her heart. For personal reasons, she especially would never date a cop. But when Melanie has to work with Chase on his case, they share a kiss that sets her heart ablaze. Will Melanie overcome her past pain and choose love?

Follow Your Heart by Ruth Kaufman

Follow Your Heart, Wars of the Roses Brides book two, by Ruth Kaufman opens with the injustice of a witch burning. From there, the story's momentum doesn't slow down, as we are dropped into the unhappy circumstances of the handsome and conflicted Adrian Bedford. His secret combined with its torturous burden make Bedford that more appealing and lovable.

And Joanna is no wallflower, which gives her high marks in my book. She has her own problems, but she isn't emotionally stunted. I could see why Adrian would fall hard for her. Kaufman can certainly write an entertaining suspenseful romance and brings us a happy sigh-worthy story in Follow Your Heart.

About Follow Your Heart (courtesy of author):

Unforeseen passion draws them together. Will his secrets tear them apart?

England 1460: Joanna Peyntor has two uses for a man: to pose for a stained glass window design or to commission her skills. But when her brother conspires to ruin her reputation, she concedes to a third: a husband to help save her glass-painting workshop.

On a quest to redeem his family name and lands, Sir Adrian Bedford must marry without delay. But what woman he'd accept would wed an impoverished former nobleman who insists on an unusual stricture in their marriage contract? Joanna, a woman striving to succeed in a man's world.

When irresistible attraction makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his dangerous secrets keep them from following their hearts?

When Clouds Touch by Ey Wade

Ey Wades' When Clouds Touch goes outside the box from choosing to write about the aesthetically perfect heroine. As such, the story is richer and more meaningful for the effort. The lessons about finding strength and beauty from within are delivered with delicacy and courage through characters who love and live with purpose and joy.

Wade stays true to her fresh approach from beginning and certainly to the end. Expect the heartstrings to be pulled and the emotions to be stirred for the powerful connection between Paisley and Malachi. A romance with an emotional twist.

About When Clouds Touch (courtesy of InknBeans Press):

Destined to meet since before birth, their story wraps us somewhere between loving and caring, wanting the best for someone, while wanting to see them happy, even when it is risky and they must obey the demands of family.

Paisley, a woman of Japanese descent, living with Albinism and heart disease, is meek, yet makes no apologies for seeking what she yearns to have. Hiding behind the protective fold of her wagasa, she longs for freedom from her overprotective parents and the love of a man she's known only in her dreams, even at the cost of her health.

Malachi, a man who has visions of meeting an elusive shadow, uses his sense of humor and sensitive side to build their relationship. He's determined to win her love, even against the wishes of her parents.

OUTLANDER ON HEA

HEA's popular Outlander recap is back. Join Mandi Schreiner and me to catch up and join in with your thoughts about the popular historical drama airing on Starz.

Michelle Monkou loves writing her sexy, complex heroes. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.