May 13, 2026
Hi There, Readers!
We're back from a whirlwind trip to Austin last week where we watched our youngest son get hooded for his doctorate in geology. He's worked so hard these last six years so it was such blessed relief so watch him walk across the stage at UT and hear his name announced. He's looking forward to starting a new job in Houston in August, but first ~ his wedding in June!
My husband and I traveled through Pocahontas, Arkansas again this past weekend, and it got me thinking about the Port Chance series. Why does an obscure Arkansas town remind me of the Port Chance, Iowa setting?
There's a charming display of locks on a chain-link fence at the city park in Pocahontas which inspired Locked on Love's Landing (Book #3). Apparently it's a local tradition to mark the occasion when someone gets engaged, married, or celebrates an anniversary. Spotting the fence on our first trip through town was one of the many charms of taking the backroads when we drive cross-country.
Did you know there are TWO prequels to the Port Chance series? Meet Me in Port Chance is the novella which most of you have received as a "thank you" for signing up for this newsletter. It's the love story between Adelia Goodwin and Zane McCandless. But there's an earlier prequel story called French Toast with a Side of Love which was included in the 2020 Sweet Romance Anthology
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Right down the road from Port Chance is Green Haven, Iowa, the town where A Cafe Au Lait Kind of Love was set. That novel was one of the books in the Coffee Loft Fall Collection multi-author series that published in the latter half of 2024. The romance has grumpy/sunshine vibes, close proximity, and cute pets galore since one of the main characters is passionate about his volunteer work at a dog shelter.
To celebrate National Iced Coffee Day later this month, I'm giving away TWO audiobooks of A Cafe Au Lait Kind of Love today. Please respond to this e-mail to enter ~ just an "ENTER ME!" is fine. Two winners will be randomly selected by 10 a.m. CST tomorrow (5/14/26) and will be notified by e-mail.
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I shared this collection in the last newsletter with the wrong link - OOPS! - and one lovely subscriber pointed it out to me, so here we go again!
Over 60 romances are waiting for readers in this special grouping of spring-themed books. Choose between western, historical, sports-themed, small town and more as you look through the pretty covers. Best of all, each one is in the Kindle Unlimited program. See the collection here.
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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
This year I'm featuring a new author in each newsletter with a free novella to sample, too.
Today I'm thrilled to shine the spotlight on Linda Shenton Matchett. In case you haven't met her before, here's more about this sweet romance author from her bio on Amazon:
Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. She writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. Her books are regularly praised for their accuracy and realism. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a trustee for her local public library.
She was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland and has lived in historic places all her life. Now located in central New Hampshire, Linda’s favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
Her blog, History, Mystery, & Faith, contains posts on little known facts about WWII, information about writers from the Golden Age of mystery writers (1930s and 1940s), author interviews, and adventures in research. Visit her at www.LindaShentonMatchett.com.
An investigation in her ancestry led Linda to the hamlet of Shenton in Leicestershire. A keen anglophile, many of her books are set in England.
She's offering Love's Bloom to readers today. Visit her blog to learn more about Linda and her books, and don't forget to download her FREE novella below in the Book Recommendations area.
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Since I was traveling last week, I packed a new book, The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. I love book-centered books (surprise, right?), and it has a little magic realism in it, too, which is also a favorite of mine. Have you read it? Send along a book rec if you've recently read something you loved! I'd love to share some reader suggestions in the next newsletter, so just reply to this e-mail.
(Click on the Cover to go to the Download Page)
England: 1941: After the death of his father, Basil Quincey is stunned to learn the farm is in arrears on the mortgage and up to its haystacks in debt. But with a war on, he’s stuck with lads and old men to work the fields. Then the government shows up with an outlandish proposition: use their newly formed Women’s Land Army and sell a portion of his produce to them for the troops. He agrees, but their first day ends in disaster. Is he destined to lose the farm at the hands of a bunch of untrained girls? And why is he so drawn to the dark-eyed refugee who should be at an internment camp rather than his farm?
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Facebook Page
Goodreads
Readers Group
Port Chance Series (4 books & counting!)
New, small-town romance series! It's in Kindle Unlimited too.
That Woman on Thistledown Lane
Apple Blossom Dreams
Locked on Love's Landing
Christmas in Port Chance
Hearts and Homecomings (Spring 2026)
Hearts in Hendricks series (4 books):
Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!
Love Like Water
Love Like Fire
Love Like Air
Love Like Forever
Blueberry Point Romance series (7 books)
More small-town romance in Hendricks, MN with Darcy and Sean Stetman's romantic inn as the backdrop. Seven books plus a season-inspired, four-novella collection. Find the series here.
Love, Lies and Lavender
Love, Lies and Mistletoe
Love, Lies and Lullabies
Love, Lies and Lemon Pie
Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
Love, Lies and Valentines
Love, Lies and Literature
A Cafe Au Lait Kind of Love. Read this as a stand-alone romance or as part of the multi-author small-town Coffee Loft series featuring swoony romances set in charming coffee shop settings. They're in Kindle Unlimited, too!
Silver Leaf Falls series
Multi-author small-town romance series, all in Kindle Unlimited! Read my book as a stand alone or as part of the series. You can find A Forever Kiss in Silver Leaf Falls here as well as the rest of the Silver Leaf Falls books.
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