  I started editing in 2022 on books to release in 2023. Four years in, and I still love it. Being able to help other people find things to improve and polish in their stories is so rewarding. And I love being able to read all the stories before anyone else. ;) Here is a post about all the books releasing this year that I was blessed to do content edits on (that's looking for big picture things as well as a few nitpicky things like ages and eye colors and whether a character is standing who just sat down, etc.). Every one of these books is definitely worth a read, and I'm not just saying that because I had a tiny piece of helping them come to life. (I must be doing something right. My publishing company voted me Editor of the Year for 2024. That's two years in a row. I could hardly believe it.)  No Leaves in Autumn is Terri Wangard's second book in her Unsung Stories of World War II book. Each of her stories includes a pilot and a girl stationed somewhere you wouldn't normally read about in a WWII novel. This one is set in Iceland. I have loved editing this series (the last one releases early next year so make sure you read the first two to be ready). Her ready wit and sense of fun lightens the heaviness of the time period. Her descriptions make you feel like you're visiting these interesting locations. And her characters are easy to root for. If you're looking for a WWII novel that's a little different than all the others, definitely check Terri's books out.  Sarah Anne Crouch's A Homecoming in Shady Springs is the second in her series. In her first book, which republished earlier this year, she introduces us to Madeleine and A.J. We find out Madeleine's parents are separated. In this second book, Sarah goes back and tells us the story of Madeleine's parents. She uses a split time style that goes back to how they met and how things fell apart, but then brings us back into the present where the parents are now trying to help Madeleine with her own relationship. This story is a beautifully woven tale of misunderstandings, overcoming the past, and beginning again. I think this one might be my favorite in her series so far, but I enjoyed all of them.  Lori DeJong wraps up her Love's True Calling series with Love's True Measure. We met her heroine in the first book, but now it's her turn for a romance. The hero is completely new to this series, but he fits in perfectly. It was fun to revisit so many characters from the previous two books, cheering at where they are now from where they started in their own stories. By the end of the series, you honestly feel like you've joined a great big family. That's how well Lori describes it all. The hero in this story doesn't start out as a Christian. The way she helps him discover the love of Christ is beautiful. Every book in this series is amazing. I highly recommend checking it out.  Regina Rudd Merrick adds another (final?) story to her Renovations Inc. series. This has been such a fun bunch of stories, all revolving around the Reno family. With a little suspense and a whole lot of love, you won't want to miss visiting these tales set in Kentucky. In Reframing Trust, Regina brings back her FBI agent from a previous book. Looks like the same bad guys have struck again, terrorizing the people whose homes live on top of the old tunnels used by gangsters and liquor runners. So, back into the tunnels, they go. This time with a Reno who has no desire to be involved. Until he discovers the truth about the FBI agent. And the friend whose heart he thought she broke. This was just the right amount of suspense for me, who doesn't prefer any. LOL. Great finale to this series.  Teresa Wells is a brand-new author and I was privileged to be her content editor. Her book What Brings us Joy is set in 1800s Texas, back when crazy quilts were all the rage. My favorite part of this book is where she included little pieces from newspapers and magazines talking about crazy quilts and the craze of making them. Those tidbits of history enhanced the story and gave it validity. Her characters are both struggling, but can't help falling in love along the way. Everything seems to be going well. Until it isn't. I think you're going to love getting a sneak peek back in time when the biggest worry was where to find a patch of silk big enough for one more piece on a quilt. This is the first in a series so be sure to watch for the next book, Seeds of Hope, in 2026.  Tonya Ashley's Lost and Found series is such a delight! I know this says it's Book 2, but be sure to check out the novella in A Gift for All Time, which starts the series off. And that novella collection is set at Christmas, which makes it perfect for this time of year. Each story is set in a boarding house in Van Buren, AR, but with each new tale, we see changes in the family. In Fireflies in Sacred Shadows, several of the children have left and Rebecca is trying to hold the ones left together. But she can't be everything to everyone. And then Ben comes back--the doctor who broke her heart. Only his heart now needs some mending too. Both characters have lots to learn and struggles to overcome. It would be easier if there wasn't a man trying to take over half the town, not to mention marry Rebecca. The way Tonya weaves everything together with gorgeous moments of quiet time with God (and His fireflies), it makes you want to sit down with the characters and do the same. I can't wait for the next book in 2026.  Sarah Anne Crouch had another book release this year too! A Christmas in Shady Springs is the third book in her series. Not to give too many spoilers, but this is about A.J. and Madeleine planning a wedding. Only a few problems. They've only given themselves three months, want it to be at Christmastime, and--by the way--she wants it to be absolutely perfect. The shenanigans that occur in this story will keep you on your toes, wondering if there will be a wedding at the end or not. I won't ruin any more details, but you definitely want to read it if only for the fun little interviews she added between chapters. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and lots of happy sighs. Perfect for a cozy winter read. The last book in the series will release next year.  When I was first asked to edit a biblical fiction story, I was majorly intimidated. After all, not only was I looking for mistakes in the story, but also anything that might be biblically incorrect. That being said, what a delight it has been to be the editor for the first two books in this series. Linda Dindzans has a way of weaving a story, full of details, realistic characters, and plenty of biblical truths, so that you feel like you were also walking the road with Jesus. In A Certain Mercy, we follow a retelling of the story of the woman who was almost stoned for adultery. Included is the man who was almost murdered and then rescued by the Good Samaritan. And the woman who anointed Jesus's feet before he dies. We also meet Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and a whole host of disciples and other followers, including the mother of Jesus. This story will help you look at the stories we've read hundreds of times in a new light, with a new perspective, and hopefully with a renewed sense of what Jesus has done for us. Her third book in this series will release early 2027. There were definitely a few moments this year where I wondered why I had agreed to so many. But I can't think of a one I regret. Which one sounds best to you? Have you read any of them already?
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