~ Breaking News ~ Happy 2012! Here we are, with a month of the new year already gone. How did that happen? It’s been a very busy time at the Collins’ household as we ready our California home to go on the market. As soon as it sells we’ll move to our Idaho home full-time. This has been our plan for years. But this moving stuff is no fun! We built our home 27 years ago, when brass was all the rage. Now everything has to be silver-colored. Which means changing every cabinet pull, door knob, light fixture and door hinge. In a 5-bedroom house, that’s a lot of hardware. Then there’s the painting, fixing the floors, new carpet and drapes. And the moving sale and the house staging. Somewhere amid all this, I need to start my next novel … Now for book news—Gone to Ground is already available on the Kindle! The paperback and other ebook versions release March 1. The three main characters in Gone to Ground, each telling her own story in first person, represent two races and three generations. Cherrie Mae is an African American in her 60s who runs her own housecleaning business and loves to spout quotes from classic literature. She’s barely over five feet yet with a powerful personality. Deena is white, age 32—a say-what-she-thinks hair dresser whose philandering ex-husband unfortunately is on the town’s police force. Tully is also white, age 19, married to an abusive husband and about ready to give birth to her first child. To get the dialect right for my characters I visited the county in Mississippi where my fictional town is set and interviewed women. The real Cherrie Mae played the part for the character named after her. Cherrie Mae’s voice is absolutely perfect. If you haven’t heard it—you must! View the trailer here. “In Gone to Ground each woman contributes to the unique southern charm and highly contagious dialect of the novel. With Cherrie Mae Collins captures the heart and soul of southern African American women. She’s a sassy, comical, no-nonsense, you-better-listen-to-me-I’m-your-elder kind of lady. Often I pictured her to be a few different women from my own church. I loved it!” – A Southern Reader “Moves along briskly. The popular novelist’s talent continues to flower.” – Publishers Weekly “Collins does it again with her trademark suspense that will keep readers up late into the night.” – RT BookReviews On Saturday, March 17 I’ll be in Mississippi for book signings: 10 a.m. to noon – City Hall, Bay Springs, MS 2-4 p.m.  – Lifeway Bookstore, Jackson, MS (Signing with me—Terri Blackstock, featuring her hot-off-the-press novel Downfall, book #3 in the Intervention series) More signings are being planned. Check this page on my web site for added events. Download desktop wallpaper for Gone to Ground and Over the Edge. I want to hear from you! Email me with responses to this newsletter—and what’s going on in your life.

~ Facts on Fiction ~

Historical

Song of my Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Bethany House)

When Sadie Wagner's stepfather is injured and can't work she takes a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas, where she also has the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job. Sheriff Thad McKane is attracted to the beautiful singer, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he wonders if she's less innocent than she appears. If she's part of the crime-ring plaguing Goldtree, how will their blossoming love survive?

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot (Revell)

Westward Winds trilogy #1. Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont with her sweetheart, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister, and so she heads west to Fort Laramie. The endless prairie seems monotonous, but when her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of Lieutenant Ethan Bowles save the day. When circumstances--and perhaps a bit of matchmaking--put Abigail and Ethan together, there's attraction. But Abigail is planning to marry another man, and Ethan loves his life in the Army. Is there a chance for them to find happiness together?

Romance—Contemporary

An Amish Family Reunion by Mary Ellis (Harvest House)

Miller Family series #4. Julia Miller misses her children. She plans to gather her chicks for a celebration to remember. Next door, Phoebe meets Eli Riehl, a man who charms with his exceptional storytelling on a trip to Niagara Falls. After Phoebe sketches scenes to illustrate his tales, they embark on an unlikely venture—writing a children's book. Eli's appeal extends beyond his knack for words to reach inside her heart. When tragedy strikes, Eli must give up his writing. Though willing to abandon his dreams, he won't give up Phoebe.

The Attaché by David Bond (Desert Breeze Publishing)

All Things Are Possible series #1. Jessie Weaver narrowly escaped the North Tower on 9/11, were it not for the handsome Joel Brenner leaving behind a tattered attaché. Zach Brenner, Joel's younger brother, went to Iraq as a private contractor, but loses his eyesight after a mortar attack. Hoping to find Joel, Jessie begins working at the Brenner's family business, shortly before Zach returns home blinded and facing an uncertain future. Will Zach find his footing in a darkened world? What if Jessie never sees Joel again? Divine providence alters Zach and Jessie's plans in a way neither could have imagined. Are all things truly possible?

His Holiday Family by Margaret Daley (Love Inspired)

A Town Called Hope series #1. When Hurricane Naomi tears through a small Mississippi town, a daring rescue unites two heroes. Nurse Kathleen Hart is a single mom racked by guilt over her husband's death. Firefighter Gideon O'Brien—orphaned as a young boy—has lost too many people he cared for. To rise above the storm's devastation, Gideon helps Kathleen and her sons rebuild their home. As Christmas approaches, they discover that even the strongest of storms can't destroy a romance built on the foundation of faith.

To Love and to Cherish by Kelly Irvin (Harvest House)

Bliss Creek Amish #1. It's been four years since Carl left the safety of the small Amish community for the Englisch world. And in four years, Emma's heart has only begun to heal. Now with the unexpected death of her parents, Emma is plunged back into a world of despair and confusion, only compounded by Carl's return. She's supposed to be in love with him, so why can't she keep her mind off Thomas, the strong, quiet widower who always seems to be underfoot? In a world that is changing, one woman must see beyond her pain, find strength in God, and open her heart to trust once again.

Romance—Historical

Winter Promise by Martha Rogers (Realms)

Seasons of the Heart series #3. A tragic incident from his past haunts Elliot Jensen to the point he shies away from a relationship with Abigail Monroe. In the meantime, Abigail has caught the eye of the young deputy sheriff. If Elliot doesn't deal with his past, he will most certainly miss out on a future with the girl he has come to love.

Romantic Suspense

The Christmas Witness by Susan Leeman (Love Inspired)

When a criminal threatened to kill Megan Cash if she testified against him, she didn't back down. Years later, he's out of jail and ready for revenge against Megan and her daughter. The only one who can protect them is the former FBI agent who broke Megan's heart. But Reid Morgan isn't the same man—he's now a widowed father with a harrowing past … and a heart more guarded than ever. Still, he's the only one who believes Megan's in danger. Because someone wants to make this a Christmas she won't live long enough to forget.

Hush, Little Baby by Deborah M. Piccurelli (Sword of the Spirit Publishing)

Investigative journalist Amber Blake is a little person bent on payback for the death of her average-sized twin sister. Enlisted by her former partner and estranged husband, Evan, she poses as a counselor in an abortion clinic to expose the doctor responsible for fetal harvesting. As a Christian, she struggles with concealing her beliefs to maintain her cover, while the doctor's romantic overtures tumble her stomach. Amber Agrees to date him for the sake of the story . . . but nothing prepares her for what's behind a mysterious door in his office.

Injustice for All by Robin Carroll (B&H Publishing)

A Justice Seekers novel. A federal judge lies bleeding on his office floor. Remington Wyatt witnesses her godfather's murder and recognizes the killers--it's only a matter of time before they silence her. She does the only thing possible to stay alive . . . run. FBI agent Rafe Baxter is working to solve a cold case involving a federal judge's death that puts him in line for the promotion he so desires. But the case leads him to the small town of Hopewell, Louisiana, where some secrets seem inextricably hidden deep within the bayou. Injustice for All explores what happens when everything a person believes in is utterly destroyed. Whom can you trust?

Mistletoe Mayhem (Season of Danger collection novella) by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Steeple Hill)

Jilted and hurting, Kelly Granger buries her broken heart in her work as a veterinarian battling to save pets from a mysterious illness, while state health inspector Matt Bennett investigates Kelly's sister's restaurant for the cause of a fatal poisoning. Kelly faces a vicious dog and even more vicious people to help clear her sister. Matt has his hands full proving himself worthy of her trust—and hopefully, her love. But if his investigation sends Kelly's sister to jail, he'll never win her heart. Will uncovering the truth cost them more than their romance? Will it cost them their lives?

The Other Side of Darkness by Linda Wood Rondeau (Harbourlights Books)

Manhattan prosecutor Samantha Knowlton is stranded in a quirky Adirondack town but must return to NYC to repair the unraveling case against a convicted child killer. Haven teacher Zack Bordeaux feels doomed to a life of mediocrity, but Samantha Knowles might be a good reason to stay. Haven's famous landscape artist, Jonathan Gladstone, bound to an estate he both loathes and loves, is haunted by the deaths of his wife and son. These three, betrayed and betraying, must find their way from the darkness of broken hope to the light found only in Christ, their surest haven.

Mystery/Suspense

Deception by Lillian Duncan (Harbourlight Books)

Twins are supposed to have an unbreakable bond, but Patti and Jamie have serious "relationship issues." When a niece she knows nothing about calls, Patti must unravel the yarn of Jamie's life and her disappearance. Patti is determined to find her sister. Each step brings her closer to the truth, but pulls her further into a web of danger and deception.

False Report by Veronica Heley (Severn House)

An Abbot Agency Mystery #6. While Bea Abbo worries that she's lost control of her domestic agency, she's asked to find some domestic help for an eccentric little musician falsely accused of murder. She doesn't realize how dangerous this might be until Jeremy - fleeing from attempts on his life - lands up on her doorstep.  Researching the gang who'd used an attractive girl to entrap Jeremy, Bea finds traces of them throughout high society and realizes that some victims of the Badger game may be uncomfortably close to home.

Firethorn by Ronie Kendig (Barbour Publishing)

Discarded Heroes series #4. Don your tactical gear and enter the world of black ops and espionage within Ronie Kendig's thriller Firethorn. Former Marine Griffin "Legend" Riddell, a fugitive from injustice, finds it difficult to trust anyone. Covert operative Kazi Faron, the woman sent to free him, has a dangerous secret that may jeopardize her life, mission, and the only man she respects. As Griffin and Kazi race around the globe to save Nightshade, the danger mounts. Will they find the culprit sabotaging their black ops team? Can their newfound feelings and trust survive when Griffin and Kazi face truth and terror?

Young Adult

Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson (Zonderkidz)

Abby Goyer is forced to move to rural Alaska when her father takes a job in a laboratory called Jason Farms. Suspicious of her father's decisions, she investigates and finds more than what she was looking for when a strange boy shows up at her door. Martyr, one of fifty-five identical clones, escaped from Jason Farms with one wish: to see the sky before he fulfills his purpose and "expires" on his eighteenth birthday. Abby tries to help Martyr see that God has a purpose for his life, different from the one the scientists originally planned for him.

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BRANDILYN
Seatbelt Suspense®
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