Hi from Australia! I’m delighted to have the opportunity to host our Sunday Edition posts in February. Today is my debut Sunday post and, when I first looked at the calendar dates, I had to think for a moment about why February 4 was a significant date. No, it’s not a family birthday I’d forgotten (my nephew’s birthday was a few days ago, and I did remember to call and wish him a happy birthday).
On the fourth of February in 2014 my debut book, Falling for the Farmer, was released. Yes, there’s lots of f-word alliteration in that sentence for all the right reasons!
I suspect most authors could tell you the date their debut book released. It’s a fun milestone to remember, and authors like celebrating their ‘book birthdays.’
We launched our Inspy Romance blog four years ago in February 2014. Next Sunday I’ll have more information to share on our fabulous giveaways for our annual Inspy Romance Birthday Bash starting on Valentine’s Day – February 14.
Our first big announcement for this week… Inspy Romance now has its own Facebook Group linked to our Facebook Page – Christian Romance Reader Gathering.
Christian Romance Reader Gathering is our new place on Facebook for avid contemporary Christian romance (CCR) readers to visit and chat about the CCR books we all enjoy reading.
Please check out our new reader group, and remember to answer the three questions when you submit your request to join.
Here’s the link to join the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/345374929204526/
Our second announcement… Inspy Romance is now on Instagram! You can follow us on Instagram @InspyRomance
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at
prizes at inspyromance dot com
Autumn Macarthur’s winner is Nancy Luebke!
Heather Gray’s winner is Janet Estridge!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Alexa Verde asked us to share with her our favorite vacation!
On Tuesday, Janet W. Ferguson invited Jennifer Rodewald to visit with us and share her novella excerpt!… and giveaway (closed)
On Wednesday, Cecelia Dowdy explained why Jesus and Chocolate are a perfect combination!
On Thursday, Julie Arduini talked about her love for her Techie Valentine!
On Friday, Kimberly Rose Johnson talked about spring fever in winter!
On Saturday, Staci Stallings shared a book excerpt!
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Jolene Navarro
Tuesday: Valerie Comer: He Loves Her… He Loves Her Not #giveaway
Wednesday: Melanie Snitker: Faith is a Choice
Thursday: Jackie Castle: A New Story to Fall in Love With
Friday: Lindi Peterson
Saturday: Narelle Atkins: Favorite Valentine’s Romance Reads from 2015
New Releases
January 2018
Finding Grace (Love’s Compass 6) by Melanie D Sniker
Marrying Mandy (Brides of Clearwater 1) by Melanie D. Snitker
A Heart Restored (Peacock Hill Romance 1) by Elizabeth Maddrey
The Inadvertent Princess (Crowns & Courtships 3) by Carol Moncado
A Recipe for Romance (Homegrown Love 2) (Arcadia Valley Romance 13) by Annalisa Daughety
Some Say Love (The Hope Series 3) by Staci Stallings
One Choice (Belikarian Weddings 1) by Ginger Solomon (re-release)
February 2018
Wishes on Wildflowers (Urban Farm Fresh Romance 4) by Valerie Comer
The Heart Collector (Madison Creek Town 3) by Jackie Castle
His Father’s Son (Sweetapple Falls) by Autumn Macarthur (previously released in the Cherish boxed set)
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks and our permanently free e-books, as well as new releases, on our NEWS tab.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Narelle, Happy February and hosting Sundays:) and happy debut novel birthday:) We are having lovely weather here in Victoria, our garden is going crazy- loads of peaches and nectarines, cucumbers and the tomatoes are really starting to come in. School is back and we are settling into routine after a great holiday.
Blessings:)
Hi Wemble, We’re having a run of nice weather, too, before we return to mid-30’sC later in the week. Your garden sounds lovely – enjoy the fresh produce! Our herb garden has had a bumper year and the basil, especially, has loved the hot weather. My teens are back to school this week, finally. I’m looking forward to getting myself back into routine, lol. Blessings to you. :)
Hi Narelle! Thanks for hosting February Sunday editions. Happy debut novel Birthday. Joined the Christian Romance Reader Gathering. Looking forward to Inspy Romance Birthday Bash. Trying to stay warm ans so looking forward to spring. Best wishes.
Happy Book Birthday!! Have a restful & blessed Sunday!
I’m excited about the new Facebook group and the upcoming Birthday Bash! Happy Birthday to the Inspy Romance blog and to your first book release! :)
Happy Book Birthday to your debut novel, Narelle!
Thanks so much for everything you do on the Inspy Romance admin team, Narelle! You are much appreciated!
I’m not real big on Facebook book discussions, but I’m going to give the new FB page a try :-)
Welcome to the family, and congratulations on your book birthday anniversary (is that a thing?)! I’m so glad we have a party to look forward to!
Hi, Narelle!! Happy book birthday!! We’ve got snow and sleet here. Makes for a great afternoon of cuddling up in the blankets and reading!!
Hi Renate, Stay warm! We had a heatwave in January that lasted 2 weeks, and I was dreaming about feeling cold! Only a few weeks for you to wait for Spring (and in my case, Autumn – my favourite season). I’m glad you’ve joined CRRG, and the Birthday Bash will be lots of fun! Blessings to you :)
Hi Becky, I did enjoy a restful Sunday, and it’s now Monday morning here in Australia! Back to school this week for my teens after the long summer holidays. Blessings to you :)
Hi Ellie, We’re all very excited about the Birthday Bash and our new Facebook Group! We love talking about CCR books and the group provides another opportunity to chat about the books we love to read and write. Blessings to you :)
Thanks, Melanie :) It’s interesting to look back at what was happening 4 years ago and ponder all the changes in the publishing world. I will finally get my traditionally published books back in print this year. Blessings to you :)
Hi Valerie, you’re very welcome and it’s a pleasure to help out on the admin team. :)
Hi Margaret, Good on you for giving the Facebook Group a go! The new Facebook group isn’t designed to replace the lovely conversations we have with you all here on the blog. If you’re more comfortable chatting here, that’s absolutely fine with us. :) The benefit of Facebook is that it facilitates real time conversations that aren’t as easy to do on a blogging platform. Elizabeth has some fabulous ideas for the Facebook Group that the Admin team is currently brainstorming and planning to implement soon. Stay tuned. Blessings to you :)
Hi Narelle and happy 4th book birthday! I joined Christian Romance Reader Gathering. It looks like a lot of fun.
Hi Teri, Thank you :) Our Birthday Bash is so much fun and the prizes… wow! Ginger has done an amazing job in co-ordinating it all behind the scenes, and the big launch is only 10 days away. Blessings to you :)
Hope you had a happy book birthday, Narelle! Mine is August 31, 2014. :)
Hi Sally, stay warm! I miss the cold weather and snuggling in blankets and reading – enjoy! Blessings to you :)
Happy book birthday and welcome to your Sunday slot on Inspy.
Looking forward to the celebration of the anniversary of the blog. I will check out the new Facebook group.
Hi Sherri, I’m glad you’ve joined CRRG, and the group will be lots of fun! Blessings to you :)
Hi Autumn, I remember when your debut released, and it doesn’t seem that long ago! Time flies by too fast, and it will be August before we know it, lol. Blessings to you :)
Hi Paula, thank you :) Our blog anniversary is always fun, and I hope you’ll enjoy our new Facebook Group. Blessings to you :)
Happy Superbowl SONday :-) I’m not particularly rooting for either team, just as long as they play a great game! Oh and the commercials are somehing I look forward to all year long!
Hi Narelle…I’m waving to you from the Oregon coast! Glad to see you will be hosting in February, welcome. I’ve also joined Christian Romance Reader Gathering on Facebook this past week, looking forward to connecting with everyone there.
Looks like a great week coming up! :-)
Hi Trixi, I hope you enjoyed the Superbowl! I confess I’m clueless about who played or won (I’m a bit distracted by back to school stuff this week). I’m glad you’ve joined Christian Romance Reader Gathering, and we do have a great week coming up on the blog. Blessings to you :)
I’m finding that my biggest complaint about Facebook groups like this one is that FB sends me EVERY comment ANYONE makes! They don’t send me comments from friends that I want, but they send me EACH and EVERY comment from a group post! GRRRR :-)
Hi Margaret, I can understand why this is frustrating. Are you visiting Christian Romance Reader Gathering (CRRG) using a Facebook app (on a phone, tablet) or using your computer? I’m an Admin in CRRG so I can’t check the specific member settings there, but for other groups I’m in I can request ‘friends-only’ notifications when using the Facebook App, and I can turn off all the push-notifications. I’ll raise your concerns with our Inspy Romance Admin team, and we will try to find a solution for you. :)
Narelle, what a pretty name! I never heard it before. I’m glad to read your first post and get to know you a little. I’m new to this site myself. I’m searching for a blog site to share with others, but I’m not sure whether to categorize my books as romance. They certainly all have romance in them, but I didn’t see that as the main priority when I wrote them. I’ll look forward to next Sundays’s post.
Hi Evelyn, Welcome to Inspy Romance, and we’re glad you found us :) Your books may fit the category of romantic elements? The easiest way to define romantic elements is that you can pull all the romance out of the story, and the story itself still stands and doesn’t fall apart. Blessings to you. :)