#SaturdaySpotlight is on Monique DeVere & Guarded by the Sheriff!

Good Morning from Santee, South Carolina!

We started our drive up on Tuesday and arrived Thursday afternoon to spend a long weekend with my Sweetheart's bonus children and grandchildren. Today we're watching his youngest granddaughter graduate high school. Although we don't visit these loved ones often, it is always a pleasure when we do.

Speaking of pleasures, it is my extreme pleasure to have Monique DeVere back on our blog, this time with her debut Love Inspired Romantic Suspense novel, Guarded by the Sheriff. Welcome back, Monique, please share with us the story behind this book and give us a sneak peek into it!

It's wonderful to be back, Pam, THANKS!

2024 and 2025 were huge years for me. I live my life by faith, so even during the hardest moments, I believed there was a reason for everything that was happening.

First, I was made redundant from my office manager job about two months before we discovered that my dad—who lived 165 miles away—was seriously ill. Because of the distance, he’d been able to hide just how sick he was during our regular phone calls. By the time we discovered the truth, he was already very unwell. It took another four months to finally convince him to come live with us. 

Looking back now, I truly believe my Heavenly Father had been preparing me for that season of my life.

Dad passed away in February 2025, and I took it very hard.

The following month, my critique partner sent me a link to the Harlequin Love Inspired Great Author Search 2025. While Dad had been living with us, every morning I’d sit in his room with my coffee and tell him the plans for the day. He always asked if I’d managed to get any writing done, and I had to admit I hadn’t. Caring for him had become my full-time focus between his needs and the constant stream of medical staff coming through the house.

So, when my critique partner mentioned the contest, I decided to enter it for Dad.

The problem was, I only had two weeks before the closing date. I’d spent years writing romantic comedy and category contemporary romance. I’d targeted several Harlequin lines over the years but never Love Inspired Suspense because everyone said it was one of the hardest lines to break into.

I came up with an idea titled Deadly Mother’s Day. I wrote the premise, first chapter, and synopsis, and submitted it just a few days before the deadline.

Honestly, I expected a rejection. After all, that had pretty much been my experience for the past thirty-odd years.

So, imagine my utter shock when Harlequin requested the full manuscript!

It honestly took me a while to process the fact that Harlequin…HARLEQUIN!...wanted to read my story. I wrote the full manuscript in two months and submitted it. One week later, my editor emailed asking when a good time for her to call me would be. It was a Friday, and she wanted to call on Monday if I was available.

If I was available? Of course I was available!

I ran around the house to find my husband and daughter to tell them that I thought I might finally be getting “The Call.” The call I’d dreamed about for years! I won’t lie; I hyperventilated.

And on that Monday, my editor offered me a contract.

Now I get to see my book in print with my name on the cover. Harlequin didn’t feel the original title suited the line, so they asked me to send more ideas. Thankfully, they liked Guarded by the Sheriff. I am so thrilled the book will be published in eBook, mass market paperback, large-print and…get this…audiobook! I’m so excited to hear these characters brought to life by a human narrator!

This has been an amazing journey, all thanks to Jesus, my Lord and Savior!

And that’s why this book will always be so special to me. No matter how many books I write for Harlequin in the future, this one will always hold a special place in my heart because I know Abba Father guided me every step of the way.

Now my dream of writing for Harlequin has finally come true—and with a line that is perfect for me. I get to share my faith through my stories while writing the kind of suspense I love. Looking back now, I can see God’s hand in every part of the journey.

Who knew life could come together so perfectly when you put your faith in Jesus?

A child in need of protection…

and a lawman keeping watch.

It’s a shock to Sheriff Ethan Callahan to see his ex-fiancée, Sienna Blake, again—especially with a child in tow…and a gunman on her heels. 

Witnessing a shooting has made Sienna a criminal’s next target. And when Ethan realizes that he’s the father of her son, he is determined to keep them both safe…no matter the cost. With trust hanging in the balance and their enemy closing in, Ethan and Sienna must stand together to survive. 

Except the hit man knows their every move…and trusting the wrong person could get them killed.

*Excerpt: “Sienna, don’t come any closer. It’s a bomb.”

She gasped, confusion knitting her expression. “A what?”

He knew she’d heard him, so he didn’t repeat himself. “Take Nathan and get as far away from the truck as you can.”

Without delay, she scooped Nathan into her arms and ran for the side of the house.

Ethan moved with them, positioning himself between them and the truck.

They had just reached the corner of the house when an explosion ripped through the truck behind them. They hit the ground hard, Ethan shielding Sienna and Nathan with his body.

Sienna screamed his name.

Nathan’s petrified sobs tore at his heart.

“Are you hurt?” Ethan asked.

Sierra shook her head, still wide-eyed. “We’re…” She ran a hand over Nathan, relief whooshing her breath from her lungs. “We’re okay.”

He got up, helping Sienna to her feet with Nathan clutched in her arms. “Take him inside. I’ll call this in.”

She nodded. Without hesitation, she turned and hurried with Nathan into the house.

Ethan reached for his phone, his gaze drifting back to the inferno blazing on the drive.

Something told him this was only the beginning…

Guarded by the Sheriff releases June 30th but is available for pre-order now at Amazon, Harlequin, B&N, Kobo, GooglePlay and Apple Books.

About Monique

Monique DeVere writes heart-pounding romantic suspense and funny, feel-good romances with heart, hope, and a dash of sass. Her stories are filled with faith, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters. Originally from Barbados, she lives in the UK with her real-life hero, their four children, five grandchildren, and an adorable Yorkshire Terrier. When she isn’t writing, Monique enjoys family time, shell collecting, boating, being near the sea, and learning something new.

Monique loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at monique@moniquedevere.com

Get a free suspense novella when you subscribe to her romantic suspense newsletter: https://shorturl.at/ZaUjC

Get a free story when you subscribe to her romance newsletter: https://shorturl.at/57c2Z

Monique’s Social Links: Harlequin, Website, X, Bsky, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, TikTok, Goodreads, Amazon Store.

* * * * *

Oh, My Goodness, Monique! So very sorry to hear about your dad but SO Happy this book was accepted. Maybe he had a hand in that. 😉

Either way, we wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with this - and many more - Love Inspired books!

Hope you enjoyed Monique's visit as much as I did. I've read Guarded by the Sheriff and as soon as I'm able, I will be leaving a review. Check out some of Monique's other books in her previous Spotlight appearances HERE. I hope you take her story as incentive to never give up on your dreams because with faith and perserverance they just might come true in God's time.

Until later, happy reading!

PamT

*Excerpt is copyrighted material used with permission from Harlequin.

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Virginia Vaughn & Protecting the Texas Witness!

Good Morning Friends,

Fall is in the air here in SW Louisiana with mornings in the 60's and afternoons in the low to mid 80's. Even the humidity is lower than normal which is always wonderful! Sure makes those football games a bit nicer. 😄

A lot is happening here on our blog and in our collaboration with Keuka Roots. Check out the details HERE. 

Enough small talk, let's get to our guest!

Virginia Vaughn is brand new to our blog, so let's give her a great, Big, SWLouisiana W-E-L-C-O-M-E

Thanks for joining us today, Virginia, please tell us about your latest release, Protecting the Texas Witness.

Great to be here, Pam. Thanks for inviting me!

Here's the Blurb: 

He has a witness to defend…

and their future hangs in the balance.

Deputy Drake Shaw rescues single mom Isabelle Morris from an assailant's attack, only to be mistaken for her late husband. After exposing the corruption at her health-care company, Isabelle fears danger has followed her and her daughter all the way to their remote cabin. Now Drake must keep them safe long enough for Isabelle to testify against her former boss. But when her child is taken, the stakes are raised. Can they survive to unravel the truth about the present…and the past?

And an Excerpt: 

Isabelle saw a light in the murky water, then a figure below. 

It was a man and he was intentionally pulling her under. 

He reached for her arm and yanked her lower, then grabbed her head and pushed her down, too strong for her to fight against, but that didn’t stop her from trying. She kicked and flailed at the figure. Finally, she managed to push to the surface, gasping for air the moment she broke through the waterline. 

“Help me,” she cried as the strong hands pulled her under once more. 

Then there was splashing in the water and moments later the man released her. She surfaced again and struggled to catch her breath and tread water, coughing and gasping as she did so until another pair of strong hands grabbed her and she flinched. 

“It’ okay. I’ve got you.” The voice was husky and weighted with worry, but she knew it instantly. 

Drake. 

At that moment, it didn’t matter whether or not he was her deceased husband. All that mattered was that he was there for her. 

Oh My.... Intriguing! Tell us why you wrote this story or what makes it special and the please tell us more about you and where we can find you and Protecting the Texas Witness...

I was so happy when it was time to write this story because it focuses on two tropes I love—amnesia

and back from the dead. Creating a story to explain how a man could be missing for ten years without anyone realizing it was a stretch but I think we pulled it off. I also love these characters to much. Isabelle reminded me a lot of myself—strong because, as a single mom, she had to be and also a bit of a control freak. Yet it was that strength and determination that made her fight to learn the truth about Deputy Drake Shaw. 

In the end, I hope the reader asks the question, not is he or isn’t he her husband, but will she or won’t she become his wife? 

You can find Protecting the Texas Witness at Amazon and on Kindle, B&N, directly through Harelequin or wherever Love Inspired titles can be purchased. 

As for me, I am a Publishers Weekly Bestselling author of over thirty inspirational romantic suspense novels. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, my fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by my family and friends around the large dinner table. I've been a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. One day I decided to start writing them LOL! A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, I utilize my criminal justice background with my love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger. If you love fast-paced, exciting romantic suspense stories, subscribe to my monthly newsletter at https://bit.ly/3NYqzTl to keep up to date on current and upcoming releases, promos and my perfectly "normal" obsession with all things books.😊

You can find and connect with me through my Website, on Facebook, Amazon and Instagram.

Thank You, SO Much, Virgina for sharing with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on your new release, your life and writing.

💖Pam 😊

Hope you enjoyed Virginia's visit as much as I did Friends, and that you'll check back weekly for another edition of Saturday Spotlight. Be sure to check out our Featured Author/Artist, Keuka Roots' Autum Reads and the featured books in our sidebar.

Until next time, take care, God Bless and Happy Reading!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight Welcomes Virginia Vaughan with her book, Dangerous Christmas Investigation!

 

Good Morning & Welcome Virginia!

Tell us a little about the story behind Dangerous Christmas Investigation...

Some of my favorite books growing up were gothic romance novels where often the heroine shows up and is the spitting image of someone who has died. It was those kinds of stories that sparked my love of reading. So when it was time to start a new book, I knew I wanted to utilize the “twin swap” or switched identify where one twin pretends to be the other. I had a blast writing my hero, Detective Jake Harris, stepping into the undercover identity of his identical twin when his brother dies accidentally. It opened up all sorts of fun scenarios including when Jake’s undercover identity is blown and he has to prove he’s a twin just to stay alive.

If you love edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense, I hope you’ll give Dangerous ChristmasInvestigation a read. 

Sounds like an amazing read! Give us more...

An undercover mission…
turns into a fight for survival.

Agreeing to take his late twin brother’s place in an undercover DEA operation reunites detective Jake Harris with a familiar face—and throws him into the line of fire. After he and his ex-girlfriend, Deputy Sabrina Reagan, survive a drive-by shooting, they’ll have to work together to capture a merciless drug trafficker. But when a price is placed on her head, Jake discovers Sabrina has a secret—his four-year-old son. With armed criminals out for blood, can Jake dismantle this drug operation to protect the family he didn’t know he had?

EXCERPT: Jake didn’t breathe until he turned on her street. As he neared her house, he scoured the street for something or someone out of place. He found it. A car several houses down with four men inside. They were watching the house on the corner. The house’s Christmas lights were lit up and the tree in the window shone. Sabrina was standing in the driveway next to her car getting Robby out of his car seat.

Jake pulled to the curb behind another parked vehicle and cut the engine. He saw activity in the car and knew they were getting ready to strike. If he had to burn his cover, he would do so, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He slipped a baseball cap over his head then got out and darted across the neighbor’s lawn in the dark of night toward her house. As he reached her driveway, he heard the car down the street rev its engine.

They were coming.

Sabrina spotted him as she pulled Robby from the car and into her arms. “Jake, what on earth?”

“Get inside the house now.” He pressed them and she ran without question toward the front door. She quickly unlocked it and hurried inside. He shut the door.

“What’s happening?”

“Men with guns.” He reached for his own weapon, then peeked out the front window and saw the car speed up to the front of the house then squeal to a stop. Two men with guns leaned out and started firing.

“Get down!” he shouted as the clatter of gunfire hit the house and burst through the walls and windows. 

OH Wow! Excellent excerpt. Where can we find Dangerous Christmas Investigation?

Amazon; B&N; ChristianBooks(dot)com; Harlequin; Apple Books; KOBO; GoogleBooks

Wonderful! Now how about giving us your bio and where you can be found...

Virginia Vaughan is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling author of inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger.

If you love fast-paced, exciting romantic suspense stories, subscribe to Virginia’s monthly newsletter at https://bit.ly/3NYqzTl to keep up to date on current and upcoming releases, promos and her perfectly normal obsession with all things books.

 

Connect with Virginia:

Email Newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3NYqzTl 

Website:  www.virginiavaughanonline.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/gin_vaughan 

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/virginiavaughan 

Bookbub: Virginia Vaughan Books - BookBub

Instagram: www.instagram.com/virginiavaughanauthor

THANK YOU SO much Virginia for sharing Dangerous Christmas Investigation with us today! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with all of your books!

Hope you enjoyed Virginia's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT