Aztec, NM —  Marianne Evans’s novel, “Then and Now,” is a nominee in the romance category for the Christian Small Publisher’s Book of the Year award. “Then and Now” is part of the Pure Amore imprint, a division of Pelican Book Group, the first publisher to dedicate an entire adult romance imprint to promoting sexual purity. Editor in Chief for Pelican, Nicola Martinez, says the content of the Pure Amore books appeal to both Christians and non-Christians, but they are intended to extol the value of abstinence.

  “I wanted to produce something that would help young people to see how precious the gift of their virginity is to their future spouse,” says Martinez. “The truth is that each individual is worth waiting for and lovemaking is intended to create a bond with only one special person. To believe and act on this one truth will, across the board, increase self-worth and peer respect, strengthen marriages, cut the rate of unwanted pregnancy, and so many other things. As a Christian publisher that publishes romance—promotes lasting love between a man and a woman—I felt we could definitely do something to promote chastity.”

Evans previously won the Christian Small Publishers Association award for her title, “Hearts Communion.”  It is her third nomination for the award which is designed to both promote small publishers and independently published authors in the Christian marketplace as well as to bring recognition to outstanding books. To accomplish both of these goals, Christian Small Publishers Association has Christian retailers and readers vote on the books of their choice to determine the winners of the award. Awards are granted in 14 categories, including an ebook category.

Another Pelican book entitled “Finding Mia” by Dianne J. Wilson is on the “fiction debut” category long list in the 2016 INSPY Awards. Recognizing the need for a new kind of book award, the INSPYs were created by bloggers to discover and highlight the very best in literature that grapples with expressions of the Christian faith.  The INSPY’s invite nominations from both the Christian booksellers’ domain and the general marketplace, and is organized and judged by book bloggers who have considerable experience and knowledge of books published for both the CBA markets and the general market. For more information visit,  http://inspys.com.

Since its inception, Pelican Book Group has garnered numerous awards including the SELAH Award for Best First Book (“The Other Side” of Darkness by Linda Wood Rondeau) and Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award for “Wisdom Tree” by Mary Manners.

For more information on Christian Small Publishers Association, visit

http://www.bookoftheyear.net.

For more information on Pelican Book Group, visit

http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com.

About Pelican Book Group:

Pelican Book Group is the first publisher to dedicate an entire new-adult romance imprint to promoting sexual purity. Headquartered in the Four Corners area of the United States, Pelican Book Group serves a global audience under its White Rose Publishing, Harbourlight, Watershed, and Pure Amore imprints. Founded in 2009, Pelican Book Group publishes numerous critically-acclaimed titles by award-winning authors from around the globe. Pelican Book Group was among the first to provide subscription-based e-books to the Christian marketplace.

About Pelican Book Group’s spring titles:

Call or email for review copies. Phone 615-776-1590 or
email: Gina@AdamsPRGroup.com

“From Scratch” by C.E. Hilbert (Romantic Suspense)

Synopsis: Maggie McKitrick loves everything about her new life in Gibson’s Run, Ohio—her charming bakery, her quirky customers, her distance from the past. Yes, she loves everything…except her new landlord. Police Chief Sean Taylor is like a piece of sand in an oyster—irritating, but with the promise of something beautiful. Despite Maggie’s self-imposed man-fast, she wonders what kind of treasure she and the lawman could create together. Sean Taylor likes to keep the peace, but his new tenant is making it nearly impossible to keep anything on an even keel—including his heart. Despite her sassy attitude, Sean is drawn to the beautiful pastry chef and has an overwhelming need to serve and protect her. As Maggie and Sean draw closer together, her long buried dreams about her life are reawakened into a hopeful prayer…until a threat from her past promises to destroy their future. Will Maggie be forced to run—again—starting fresh? Or will God answer her prayer and give her the happily-ever-after she’s started from scratch?

“Northern Light” by Annette O’Hare (Historical Romance)

Synopsis: Civil War has robbed Margaret Logan of all she holds dear, including her beloved New Orleans home and her fiancé. When her family moves to the desolate Bolivar Peninsula to manage a lighthouse that is no longer there, all her hopes for a normal future are dashed. Her world is rocked once again when a wounded Yankee soldier washes ashore needing her help. Despite her contempt for the North, Margaret falls in love with Thomas Murphy. As their love blooms, Margaret’s sister is overcome with neurosis, and her mind slowly slips away. Bitterness, psychosis and depression yield a decision fueled by contempt. Will one fatal choice cause Margaret to lose the man she loves and condemn Thomas to death?

 “Not so Far Away” by Deborah Pierson Dill (Contemporary Romance)

Synopsis: Laurel Kerr lives each day fearing it could be her last. Years of pleading with God for deliverance from her husband’s deadly temper have convinced her that she’s beneath the Lord’s notice. Still, she perseveres, hoping that a redeemed husband and a Christ-centered marriage might one day be possible. Dr. Boyd Wendall has a soft spot for Laurel. Although she’s not his to take care of, she stirs his protective instincts. Time and again he finds himself in the midst of her trouble, and he can’t help but believe there’s a reason for it.

“Daffodils in March” by Clare Revell (Romantic Suspense)

Synopsis: Given a week’s notice in her current job, Eden Jameson is desperately looking for something new. Being a nanny for her widowed best friend, Hanna, is the ideal solution to both their problems. David Painter has other ideas. Having a stranger in the house—even if she is his sister’s best friend—could ruin everything he’s worked so long to achieve. He needs to get rid of this nanny and fast. When Hanna dies unexpectedly, the reading of the will is a shock. Eden and David have been left joint custody of the baby and joint ownership of the house. Can they overcome their differences or is it too late?

“Sweet Peas in April” by Clare Revell (Romantic Suspense)

Synopsis: Adam West, a high powered lawyer gets the shock of his life when he arrives to meet a new client. She’s the wife he hasn’t seen since they separated ten years ago. Sam Reece doesn’t need the added complication of working with the husband who abandoned her a decade ago. She’s tried hard to put her failed marriage behind her, going back to her maiden name even though they never got divorced. The situation is bad enough as it is, but it seems Adam is the only person who can help. Can they ever move past the tragedy of the past or will its long shadow prevent them ever working together?

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