Confessions of a Bookaholic

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

This is book 1 of Smith's Sister-to-Sister series.

3 sisters.... Allie is the oldest.. married to a great guy, baby on the way.. the American Dream.. Tori is the baby of the bunch.. supermodel gorgeous with a fantastic career and life... and then there is Joan.. plan ole Joan in the middle of these 2. Joan who lives at home with her mother and grandmother. Joan who has never left her hometown, but instead manages a rent-to-own furniture store. Joan, whose life is humdrum and boredom personified. Does she want more? Is there more for her?

In walks a handsome young doctor.. right next door! While the attraction is evident, Joan is put off by his "religious" talk. This guy doesn't just do church.. he lives it out. Does she really want to spend time with a fanatic? Or is he not so "out there" after all?

Stuck in the Middle is a fun, cute, sweet romance and it is also a look at a Faith and how our perception of God can be tainted by events in our lives, tradition for the sake of tradition and those we love who let us down. It is about surrendering your life and accepting all God has for you.

Very fun read.... wonderful characters.... the story does not end when the book is done, so no doubt the sequels will be read!

I got this as a freebie from Amazon for my Kindle. As of today, it is still free! Go here for more details: http://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Middle-Sister---Sister-ebook/dp/B001GMANO4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328623106&sr=8-2

Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake

2012-02-04T11:07:00.001-06:00

What a FUN book! The cover is too cute and definitely caught my eye.. as did the title. Great marketing! Fortunately the story lived up to my expectations. Don't you hate to pick up a book that looks good and sounds good only to find it is a dud? Kind of like when you go to a movie and find out the only funny scenes were the ones in the trailer.

Fancy Pants is full of fun and grit and so much more! Lady Sydney Hathwell is on the run from an ill-suited suitor who won't take no for an answer. When she contacts her uncle, she is surprised at his reply to his "nephew." Syd decides to embrace the mistake and travel west as a young man. Once she arrive at Forsaken Ranch, she will reveal the mistake to her uncle.

But as is often the case, the plan goes differently. Syd's uncle is away and his partner is determined to make Lord Hathwell .. a.k.a. Fancy Pants.. into a real man. Syd decides to take the challenge and keep her true identity hidden. This masquerade lends itself to awkward situations and hilarious encounters.

But when the truth is made know, what will happen then? Will Syd loose the friends and family she has come to admire and need? Will she be tossed out to fend for herself? Has she gone too far in her quest for freedom and independence?

1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber

2012-02-03T11:04:00.000-06:00

Book 11 of the Cedar Cove series which is coming to an end... sad day! But I did receive an email from Macomber recently that she is starting a new series that is a bit of a spin-off from Cedar Cove and will occasionally have appearances from CC characters. Hopefully that will take provide me with a CC fix and keep my CC Addicton in tack! :-)

1105 focuses mainly on the Peyton family. Rachel is pregnant, but has moved out and is living with a friend. Bruce cannot seem to grasp the severity of the situation... the need for family counselling... the destructive selfishness of his preteen daughter... and so they remain apart.

Elsewhere Linc Wyse is striving to build his business and take care of his family, but his father-in-law has other plans... namely to ruin Linc's name and breakup the marriage. His schemes do cause marital strife.. but not for his son-in-law and daughter.. for himself and his wife! Backfire!

And poor Charlotte's forgetfulness is increasing to the point of being dangerous. Olivia and Will have decisions to make concerning their mom... decisions that no child wants to face.

Life is moving on in Cedar Cove.. drama and all!

Katheryn's Secret by Linda Hall

2012-02-01T07:42:00.000-06:00

Linda Hall is a new-to-me author. I received this book as a freebie from Amazon for my Kindle and was intrigued by description given. Overall I enjoyed Hall's writing style and the story. It was a bit slow moving at first.. took a bit to get "into" but once I did I was hooked.

Sharon Colebrook is a mystery writer who finds herself in the midst of a real live mystery... actually more than one, but they all connect together. Sharon's beloved Aunt Katie has died and left her and her brother the family home. Mystery #1.. where is Dean (Sharon's brother)? He left home 20+ years ago and hasn't been seen or heard from. Throughout the years, Katie talked of a mystery that occurred at the family home. Mystery #2.. what was it. Then there is Little Mary... the sister who died in her teens, but is not buried in the family plot. No pictures of her are to be found. No talk was ever made of her. It is as if she disappeared off the face of the earth in a flash. So what really happened.. that is Mystery #3 (and once the digging begins there are several connected mysteries that pop up!).

Sharon seeks to find answers.. and healing.. healing for herself and for her family.

This book is billed as Christian Fiction. It is made clear that Sharon is reared in a strict overbearing legalistic church and as a result she has run as far from God as she can. I would have loved to have seen more of this struggle from the internal perspective, as well as her make a real move back to God and true faith and grace. As it was, this was (to me) dealt with lightly. Yes, Sharon has questions, but I never really saw a true return to God... more an acceptance of how things had been and a realization that others found a different type of Faith.

The one mar for me comes late in the book, and honestly, I believe was not pivotal or necessary in anyway. It is found that a character is homosexual. The problem I have is that it was readily accepted by the Christians in the books.. even those from the legalistic church. I find it difficult to believe that someone so staunch and legalistic would change overnight on this issue. And, because I know the Word and what the Lord says concerning this, I am bothered that the Christians portrayed (those not legalistic) also embrace the lifestyle with ease. I would not have wanted to see them ostracize the person or berate him etc. but I do not see this as being Biblical. It did not ruin the book, but again did not really add to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would consider reading others by Hall.

Fools Rush in by Janice Thompson

2012-01-10T19:12:00.000-06:00

This is book one of Thompson's Weddings by Bella series... and I will most definitely be looking for the others in this series!

This, like so many books I am reading these days, was offered as a freebie on Kindle recently. What a great way to find new authors and series!

Bella Rossi is an all-American-Italian girl living in Galveston, TX. Not where you expected right? Her parents have retired and given her full reign of the family Wedding business and Bella is all in.. over her head she fears! She has advertised "theme" weddings and her first one is booked.. a Boot-Scootin' Western style bash. What on earth does a girl raised on Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra know about Country Western music, much less boots and cowboy hats? In walks DJ....born and bred Texan... a cowboy in the flesh and the answer to Bella's problems... and maybe, just maybe, the man of her dreams.

It is a blast "watching" as these two get to know each other and their families collide in a cultural tsunami. You will find mob owned parrots who curse a blue streak (don't worry, no words shared in the book)... Charismatic sisters who dance to the Lord whenever the chance arises... Rosa's heavenly garlic bread and Bubba's to-die-for BBQ... a hound dog and a yorki-poo.. and so much more!

A delightful read! Great start to 2012 for this reader.

Oh well...

2012-01-01T23:03:00.000-06:00

So I only got 6 of the 22+ Christmas books read! Life has been a blur for the past 6 weeks. My 80 year old mother took a fall after a 3 week bout with pneumonia. You would think I would have lots of time to read while staying with her. Not so... when I do have "free" time, I find myself too tired to focus. So very little reading happened during the holidays and now I am just ready for Christmas to move on... so no more Christmas books for the moment. I may pull some out during the year just to make a dent in the stack! In the meantime, they are now stored nice and neat in their own little box in my under-the-bed library. (Anyone else have one of those! LOL!)

I have pulled a few books out of the library that I hope to read this month, as well as picked a couple on my Kindle. Some fiction and non-fiction.

On the Fiction front I am planning to read Debbie Macomber's 1105 Yakima Street (I am a couple of books behind in her Cedar Cove series), Cathy Marie Hake's Fancy Pants, and before I go to sleep tonight I will start something new on my Kindle (I will post what later!).

Non-Fiction ... I am reading Robert J. Morgan's 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart (Kindle edition) and I have Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel waiting in my book basket.

5 books on the to-read list for January. Doable.. if life cooperates!

Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe by Irene Brand & Anita Higman (Christmas Book 6)

2011-12-26T11:21:00.000-06:00

I have not had as much time to read this Holiday Season as I hoped.. in fact, it seems my reading time has lessened dramatically over the past year. Hopefully 2012 will be a bit less hectic. Still, I am working through my Christmas books and any that don't get read this season will be waiting for me next November... or maybe I will decide to have a Christmas in July reading fest!

As I have stated before on this blog, I love the Love Finds You books. I have yet to read one I did not enjoy, so I was thrilled to see a Christmas version in my local bookstore (I have since seen 2 or 3 other Christmas ones!). One thing I enjoyed is this book, which contains 2 stories, has one that is Historic Fiction and one that is Contemporary.

An Appalachian Christmas happens shortly after the end of WW2. I have to say this was a very different story... different in a good way. Very original. So often stories are the same plot with different settings, but not so this one. Very original and good. Julia Mayfield is reluctantly fulfilling her sisters death bed wish that her in-laws should meet their grandson. Julia finds Mistletoe, KY to be buried in the Appalachian mountains and set back in time. While she cannot imagine ever living in such a setting, Julia is drawn to the people and their simple way of life... especially to David Armstrong, a WW2 vet with a past as shadowed as Julia's.

Once Upon A Christmas centers around Holly Goodnight who was left of the doorstep of The Little Towne of Bethlehem Shoppe 20+ years ago on Christmas Eve. Holly and her adoptive father never speak of that night or who her parents might have been. Then Van Keaton shows up and all that changes. A novelist, Van has gotten wind of Holly's story and wants to use it as the basis for his next novel. Sparks fly as the two work together to flesh out the details of Holly's life. Sparks ignite a flame of jealously in Owen Quigly, Holly's life long best-friend.

Both are delightful stories set against the backdrop of the Christmas season.

I'll Be Home for Christmas & One Golden Christmas by Lenora Worth (Christmas Book 5)

2011-12-19T06:52:00.000-06:00

I should probably call this Christmas Book 5A & 5B... or maybe even 5 & 6 since these are 2 full novels once published separately, but now in 1 book. But I will stick with calling it Book #5.

Both are sweet Christmas stories. In I'll Be Home for Christmas, recently widowed Myla Howell finds herself homeless and stranded... but not alone. She has her 2 children and she has her Lord... and He sends Nick Rudolph in answer to her prayer for help. Now Nick does not consider himself an answer to prayer. Not on speaking terms with the Father right now, Nick is just doing what anyone would do in his shoes.. helping someone in need. But one act leads to another and before he knows it Myla is working for him and her children are fully entrenched in his home and heart. It just be that Myla and her children are the answer to Nick's unspoken prayer.

One Golden Christmas carries the reader to Marshall, Texas where Leandra Flanagan finds her self... back home, where she swore she would never be... jobless... and in charge of the town Christmas Pageant. In the process, she enlists the help of local carpenter, Nate Welby and finds that it is a package deal. Not only does she get Nate, but his 3 children too... and one of them has been wishing and praying for a new mother. Leandra does not fit the bill.. no way.. she is only in Marshall for the holidays, then back to Houston to jump back into the rat race and get her career on track once again. Or so she thinks.

Again, 2 really sweet Christmas stories that provide a delightful bit of entertainment and escape during the holiday rush!

The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson (Christmas Book 4)

2011-12-11T18:49:00.000-06:00

Another fun Christmas read! Betty's world us changing. Many in her neighborhood have died or moved away. New folks move in, but everyone seems to be too busy to speak much less to get to know each other. Her rear neighbor, Jack, is especially troublesome. Ever since he moved in things have gone from bad to worse. He rarely speaks and when he does it is to respond to a complaint, usually from Betty. His house is a mess ... an eyesore.. and Betty is tired of it.

Then Avery shows up.. her slightly grown, troubled granddaughter who is on the lamb from home. What is Betty to do with a mixed up kid?

Add to the mix a scruffy dog who seems to belong to no one and everyone and you have the makings of a funny and sweet story with lots of lessons to be learned.

As believers, we are to love each other .. love our neighbors.. love our enemies.. and to consider others over ourselves.. but that loving is often easier said than done. Betty is learning that first hand. And God, who works in mysterious way, uses a worn out fence and a scraggly stray to teach her.

Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson (Christmas Book 3)

2011-12-04T08:21:00.002-06:00

A Melody Carlson Christmas book is in my stack pretty much every year. I have never been disappointed by them and look forward to meeting new characters each year. Christmas at Harrington's was no less than what I expected.... a wonderful journey into a different world to see Christmas from a new perspective.

I know many readers love their Kindles and Nooks etc. and others refuse to even look at such a device. I leaned a bit toward the refusers side until I was given a Kindle for my birthday this past fall. I still prefer a book in my hand, but I have grown accustomed to the Kindle and love, love, love the fact that I can adjust the font size when my eyes are tired! I also love that so much is available free! Christmas at Harrington's was a freebie a few weeks ago and I snatched it up!

Lena Markham's life has been on hold... in purgatory if you will... and now she is off for a fresh start... alone... with no job and less than $100 to her name, which has been tainted by lies and betrayals. So when she is offered the job of playing Mrs. Santa Claus at a locally owned department store, she is shocked... but she takes the job. Over time she grows to love it and the children and the new friends she is making... maybe, just maybe this new season of life will be better... truly a fresh start from all the hurt and hardship she has known in life... a time for Lena to discover who she is and where she wants to go.

Then the past comes rushing in like a storm and knocks Lena down... hard... beating her with everything it can... and yet in the midst of that storm, Lena meets the one who is able to calm the raging sea or if he chooses to let it rage, He calms His child by holding her in His arms.

Lena's life does change... in a much different and better way that she ever imagined. And as she changes, so do others who see her.

Christmas at Harrington's is a reminder of all the second chances God gives us... of His love... of all the blessings He bestows on us and the privilege He gives as He calls us to be His hands and feet.

Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy (Christmas Book 2)

2011-12-03T08:08:00.001-06:00

I fell in love with Mary Connealy's writing earlier this year. She is one of the reigning queens of Cowboy fiction. When I saw Cowboy Christmas I knew I had to read it! Sidenote: While we all know you shouldn't judge a book buy its cover, it is difficult not to with Connealy's books. She has some of the best covers out there!

Elijah Walker's heart has been crushed... beyond repair or so he believes. So when Annette Talbot shows up in Ranger Bluff, weak and needy, he is determined not to be taken in by her charms. But there is something different about her... something that causes a need to protect to rise up inside him... and he knows if he leaves her alone his Ma would tan his hide. So to the rescue he comes... time and time again it seems.

Annie is just as stubborn as Walker.. determined to stand on her own two feet no matter how shaky they are and to bear whatever cross the Lord gives her... the more difficult to bear the better!

Both Annie and Walker need forgiveness and healing and maybe, just maybe, they will find it as they help each other through hardship, fear and hurt.

Excellent book... as all I have read by Connealy have been. Definitely one of my absolute favorite writers these days.

Their First Noel by Annie Jones (Christmas book #1)

2011-12-02T18:00:00.000-06:00

I have read several books bu Annie Jones and enjoyed them all. Her works are fun and delightful to read. In Their First Noel, Southern baker Corrie Bennington heads north to Vermont to enter and win a gingerbread house contest... and maybe, just maybe, to find a bit of who she is. Her plan is to recreate an old inn.. not just any old inn, but the inn where her estranged parents met and fell in love many years ago.

Once she arrives in Mt. Piney, she learns that the inn is closed and in the process of being restored. Determined to press forward, Corrie enlists the help of the owner, Andy McFarland. What neither anticipates is a wish sent "prayer-ward" by Andy's little sister and her determination that Corrie is the answer.

There's a lot more in the air than sugar, spice and sawdust in the Inn... and Corrie and Andy are caught up in the magical mess of it all.

Preparing for Jesus by Walter Wangerin, Jr.

2011-12-01T21:07:00.000-06:00

Each year I pull out my copy of Preparing by Jesus to read from Dec. 1 - Jan. 7. It is a wonderful devotional book to help shift my focus to the true reason for the season... our Lord Jesus Christ... and to not only focus on His birth many years ago, but to ponder His return.

If you are wanting a devotional to read during this Advent season, I highly recommend this one!

I did a bit of a review on it here: http://bookaholicconfessions.blogspot.com/2010/01/preparing-for-jesus-is-devotional-for.html

I have started grabbing these up whenever I find them used or at bargain price. I have given the to my family and friends. Great book... great gift!

Tis the Season....

2011-12-01T17:44:00.000-06:00

For a number of years now I have had a tradition when it comes to reading during the Holiday Season.. I only read Christmas stories from Thanksgiving to New Years. I collect books throughout the year... rarely paying much for them if anything. I swap books on Paperback Swap (a wonderful site!), I snatch them up at used book sales and I get them from my mom. She subscribes to Love Inspired and passes her books onto me when she is done with them. :-)

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I pull my Christmas books from here and there and see what all I have. There are usually 8.. 10 .. maybe even 12. Well this year I found a tad bit more than expected...

22! Plus there are 10 on my Kindle (so far!). I will either be reading past New Year's or have a nice head start on next year. Now there was a time when I could knock out 32 books in 6 weeks... but life has gotten so much fuller and busier and my time for reading has dwindled. So I don't expect to have these done in 2011. But I plan to make a valiant try!

In fact, I have knocked out 3 since Turkey Day and am in the midst of #4. So be watching for Christmas Reviews to pop up on the blog soon!

Love Finds You in Carmel by-the-Sea, California by Sandra D. Bricker

2011-11-19T13:30:00.000-06:00

As I have stated before, I really love the Love Finds You Books...I recently discovered Sandra D. Bricker, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. So when I saw a Love Finds You book by her, I knew it would be great! And it was.

Annie Gray's life has changed and she is embracing it. Determined to bring some excitement into the mundane, Annie moves in with her grandmother, a retired film star, in her bungalow in Carmel and then goes to work as a Private Investigator's Assistant. With the change comes a revelation concerning an long-time guy friend and 2 new men in her life. Will Annie find her own leading man in Carmel or is she destined to be a lone starlet?

Bricker's characters are fun and full of life... her writing style flows and packs a punch of clever wit. A delight to read.

A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

2011-11-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

Book 1 - Winds of Change series

One thing I love about having a Kindle (other than the ability to increase font size!) is the availability of free books. I have gotten some great reads for free through Amazon. A Hope Undaunted is one of those. And as a result I will be looking for the others in this series to read.

Katie O'Connor is a progressive woman of the 1920s and her life plan is right on track. She is dating a great looking guy who comes from a fine, wealthy family and is headed to law school just as she is. They both share a desire to defend and further women's rights in the United States. With his family's political and social connections, Katie is sure to go far.

Things turn upside down when Katie finds herself on restriction for the summer... unable to see Jack... working as a volunteer... and worst of all stuck with Cluny Magee. Cluny was the bane of her childhood existence... a chapter she thought had closed for good... so why on earth is he back now!?

Katie has plans and she is determined that no one is going to get in her way... but she learns the truth of Proverbs 16:9 In her heart a woman plans her course, but the LORD determines her steps.

God has plans for Katie... can she accept them even if they don't line up with her life plan? Can she accept that God's plan is better no matter how it looks?

Loved this one... looking forward to the remainder of the series.

Hope Rekindled by Tracie Peterson

2011-10-30T15:56:00.001-05:00

Book 3 of the Striking a Match Trilogy

Hope Rekindled brings this wonderful trilogy to an end. Book 3 continues the storylines started in the previous books and introduces a few of its own. The plot thickens and builds... takes twists and turns.

Deborah's life seems to finally be falling into place. The beginnings of healing are occurring in Perkinsville and Deborah and Christopher are about to embark on the grand adventure of life.. marriage, but before the blessed day arrives Christopher receives a telegram requesting his immediate return home. With the wedding postponed, he travels to Kansas City only to find his life turned inside out once there. In the meantime, an old adversary slips back into play and threatens to destroy the Vandermark family and Perkinsville. Revenge is an evil thing!

It takes more than human resolve to survive... it take God and unwavering faith in His ability.

A wonderful conclusion to this terrific series!

Hearts Aglow by Tracie Peterson

2011-10-29T15:55:00.000-05:00

Book 2 of the Striking a Match Trilogy

Deborah Vandermark continues to be courted by Dr. Christopher Clayton and to be trained by him in the practice of medicine. Her life in Perkinsville, TX seems to be progressing nicely. But then tragedy of the greatest kind strikes and her lifestyle... her family... her town.. are all in danger. Just when it appears things cannot get worse, Christopher receives a letter from home that requires his attention and a interested suitor from her past comes back on the scene. What is Deborah to make of all this? Will the community survive... the family... her heart?

This is a series that MUST be read in order. Each book builds on the previous one continuing storylines through to the end. And the plot thickens with each book and each twist and turn. Prepare to be captivated!

No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan

2011-10-18T15:32:00.000-05:00

Crystal Clark in alone in the world except for her Aunt Kate, so in June 1892 Crystal leaves all she knows in Georgia and travels to Colorado to visit her Aunt and decide where life will take her from there. She never expects to fall in love with the land or the people, so different from her beloved South, but she does. Crystal finds a solace there... and a purpose for her life. She also finds love... not just romantic love, but friends and family and a deepened awareness of the love God has for her.

I love Crystal.. maybe because like her I am a feisty Southern Belle. We both enjoy being pampered, but not being ignored or treated like we don't have a brain. Crystal may look like a soft withering gardenia, but she is a steel magnolia through and through.

This is the first book I have read by Brendan. It was a free book offer at Amazon for the Kindle. I am glad I grabbed it when I could. Looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

A Daughter's Inheritance by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller

2011-10-13T16:45:00.000-05:00

Broadmoor Legacy, Book 1

Fanny Broadmoor is a young woman of means who enjoys the simpler things in life... and she may soon be forced to live that simple life forever. Orphaned at a young age and reared by her doting grandparents, Fanny's grandfather's death brings changes no one foresaw... changes that bring hostility to the Broadmoor family and threaten to destroy lives and dreams.

Amanda, Sophie and Fanny, although cousins, grew up like sisters and share a bond forged in love that cannot be broken. But will they be forced apart over money, propriety and forbidden love?

Warning.... Book 1 leaves many questions unanswered and a plot thickened with greed and desperation. No doubt books 2 and 3 carry the story along to the perfect conclusion. They are headed for my to read stack soon!

Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson

2011-10-11T09:39:00.000-05:00

Book 1 -- Striking a Match series

I knew I would like this book.. Tracie Peterson wrote it and I love Peterson's books! I am sooo looking forward to reading the other 2 books in this series: Hearts Aglow and Hope Rekindled.

Lizzie Decker is in a fix.. she is about to exchange wedding vows with a man she does not love just to spite her overbearing mother. How did she get here? and how will she get out? Her friend, Deborah, has the solution. Run! Deborah is headed back home to Texas after attending university back East and she suggests that Lizzie go with her.. right now.. before it is too late. And with her father's blessing, Lizzie does just that.

Both girls settle into life in Texas.. a whole new world for Lizzie and a familiar one seen through new eyes for Deborah. New loves... a jilted groom... an overbearing and uncaring mother... typhoid... and more emerge on the lives of the girls and those they love.. and as they press on through the various storms of life, they emerge with renewed confidence in God and new visions for their lives.

Always a Baker, Never a Bride by Sandra D. Bricker

2011-10-10T09:32:00.001-05:00

Emma Rae Travis is a confectionery wizard. Longtime pastry chef and baker at The Backstreet Bakery, her creations are loved and admired.. and then she wins the coveted Passionate Palette Award for her Creme Brulee Wedding Cake and life takes a dramatic change. Emma is offered the position of head baker at a new establishment... a one top wedding extravaganza... an old world hotel renovated into a world class setting for showers, weddings, rehearsal dinners, teas and even honeymoons. The concept is intriguing and draws Emma in... as does the owner, Mr. All-Busy Jackson Drake. Emma is determined to add a bit of fun to Jackson's life and Jackson is determined to avoid Emma. The result is explosive!

Come to the Tanglewood Inn and join the festivities!

A new way to read...

2011-10-09T09:18:00.003-05:00

E-Readers are everywhere.. Kindle, Nook, iPad... and I have never wanted them. Well, I want an iPad, but not to read books. I love the feel of a book in my hands... the act of turning the page... love it! Could not imagine I would really enjoy reading any other way.

Last month I had a birthday. Pretty much every one who knows me knows I am addicted to reading, so no surprise my gifts are often books or something related to reading. This year I received a Kindle from my daughter and her fella. I can't say I was jumping for joy. I just wasn't sure I would really use this thing. Now understand, I love technology.... love gadgets and gizmos... but I still could not see me reading on a machine instead of holding a book.

A friend had given me a site to find free Kindle books some time ago and I actually had a bunch saved on an old laptop. I had tried to read there via Kindle for PC and hated it. But for some reason I kept collecting free books. I mean really, who can resist!?

So once my new toy was set up, I was able to move my collection of freebies to it. 60+ books. I played with it a bit and finally decided to give it a try. Oh my... I will not give up real books, but oh my. Here is the thing.. you can change the font size! I am 49 and have always had poor eyesight. I was legally blind at birth... had surgery at 2... one eye was saved and is just slightly less than 20/20 these days. The other eye is just on the edge of still being legally blind. Both eyes are over 40 and strain to read tiny print especially late in the day when they are tired. So this feature... being able to change font size... is like a dream!

It still feels odd to hold a gadget instead of a book and to click a button instead of turn a page, but I have gotten rather use to it and even have a rhythm to it once I get going.

Again, it won't replace books for me.... I love them too much and am an avid supporter of my local library! Plus once I have grandchildren, we will be reading the real thing not an imagine on a screen. And I have to have real books for the bathtub. I have dipped many a page into the water. Not a tragedy to me... adds character.. shows love.. I don't think the Kindle would fair as well.

I am adding a list here on the sidebar of a few books on my Kindle. So far all free... I haven't found anything I want there badly enough that I need to purchase it. Books I want to own are going to be in paper for now. But I won't toss the Kindle out either. It definitely has its place in my life... not replacing my beloved books, but adding a new dimension to the reading experience.

Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton

2011-10-08T09:08:00.002-05:00

By now, if you read my blog, you know I love cozy mysteries and Sefton's Knitting series is one of my faves. This is book 5. Sidenote: the next book in this series, as well as another fave (Seaside Sitters) are both set at Christmastime. I only read Christmas themed books from Thanksgiving to Christmas, so perfect timing! :-)

In Dyer Consquences, the knitters from Lambspun are ready to the winter thaw and the return of Spring, especially Kelly Flynn who is about to embark of the grand adventure of building a home. Kelly is ready to move from the cottage in town and up into the mountains with her grand scenic views. She will miss being able to walk over to the shop and enjoy coffee, knitting and conversation with her friends, but she won't miss the vandalism that has been plaguing her lately. What is it with these kids? Why are they targetting her? Slashed tires.. red paint on her stucco.. cracked windshields.. it's enough to drive a girl crazy!

The "pranks" escalate as Kelly's precious Carl is endangered and Mimi's shop falls prey to the vandals and when Kelly thinks the worst has come, a young woman is found dead in Mimi's basement floating in a tub of dye. Are all the incidents related? Do they have anything to do with the canyon land Kelly has bought? Who would be so angry with her?

Kelly's sleuthing gene kicks into gear and she goes looking for answers.. and, as usual, finds trouble along the way.

the big 5-Oh! by Sandra D. Bricker

2011-10-07T09:07:00.000-05:00

This is the first book I've read by Bricker.... or so I thought... then I realized she wrote the first Love Finds You... book I read... set in Holiday, FL. (Great book.. I reviewed it a while back.)

I read this the week of my birthday... my 49th birthday. I guess I could have saved it for next year, but I didn't want to wait. When you look on the back cover, you see a picture of Bricker. A big smile, laughing eyes and red hair.. no doubt she has a big bubbly personality.. and it shows in her books.

Olivia hates birthdays... they often bring mishaps and even disaster. So as the big 5-0 rapidly approaches she decides to run away. She leaves the cold and snow of Ohio to bask in sunny Florida house and dog sitting for a friend. Seeking peace, quiet and rest, Liv finds instead a barky little dog with a lampshade collar, a flirty old man who insists on waking her with his dawn swim, a too cute and way too young neighbor and a second chance or two she never saw coming.

Full of faith and looks within, the big 5-Oh! is a funny, entertaining tale of life at its best.... warts and all!

A Bride Most Begrudging by Deanne Gist

2011-09-20T18:16:00.000-05:00

I discovered Gist earlier this year and have been charmed by her writing ever since. A Bride Most Begrudging did not disappoint.

Lady Constance Morrow sneaks on board a ship bound to America with criminals of the crown... one being her beloved Uncle. Before she is able to slip back on shore, she is discovered and kidnapped by the unscrupulous captain who is hauling a load of "tobacco brides" along with the criminals. After a rigorous voyage, Constance finds herself in America and on the block sold to a swarthy farmer ready to bed his wife and produce children. Fortunately, Drew O'Connor has seen her plight and wins her contract in a game of cards. But Drew is not looking for a wife. He's gone that route before. He needs a woman to cook and clean and care for his younger sister. He does not find that in Constance, who has no idea how to do any housework.

Forced to marry to preserve moral statutes in the settlement, Constance and Drew find themselves in an awkward situation. Over time, Constance learns to cook and clean and other wifely duties.. and over time she and Drew learn to open their hearts and let love in.

A Killer Stitch by Maggie Sefton

2011-09-20T18:08:00.000-05:00

Book 4 in the Knitting Mysteries series. Guess what? I loved this book. LOL! I have loved every book in this series. Fun characters... good storylines... charming setting... my kind of cozy mystery.

In A Killer Stitch, a local fella is found dead... one who apparently wooed many a lady in Ft. Connor including The House of Lambspun's newest instructor, Lucy Adair. Lucy quickly becomes the prime suspect, but Kelly can't see it... not mild mannered Lucy. So she decides to do a bit of digging to clear her friend's name and find the truth.

Read these books in order... there are storylines that carry from book to book like Kelly's relationship with Steve.

Canary Island Song by Robin Jones Gunn

2011-08-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with Gunn's writing when I read my first Sisterchick novel. They are chick lit at it's best! Canary Island Song reads a great deal like a Sisterchick novel and I loved it. Gunn loves to travel and she takes the reader along with her through her vivid detailed descriptions of place and people... foods.... sounds and even smells. I have never been to the Canary Islands, but I feel as if I have. I guess this is a bit of vicarious living!

Canary Island Song appears to center around Carolyn and her life. As is with most of us, things did not go the way she planned. She has regrets, hurts, doubts and fears. So she runs away... to the Canary Islands to see her mother. And while there is a great deal of focus on Carolyn and her journeys (she has more than one and all are not physical), this book also focuses on her mother and her daughter... three generations... some of the same struggles... some different... all looking for something and holding to each other. A beautiful generational picture of womanhood.

erasing hell by francis chan & preston sprinkle

2011-08-26T09:34:00.000-05:00

To say this is a good book doesn't sound right. The subject matter is heavy and difficult at times.. not the writing about it.. the reality of it. And yet, it was good to read this book. Chan and Sprinkle take on this most avoided subject head on diving into the Bible to show what God says about hell. It is an academic walk... a fact finding tour... and yet it is far from dry and boring textbook reading. I would love to tell you all the questions are answered.. they are not. Instead we are show the basic truths and given the task to trust God with the rest.. and isn't that essentially the basis of the Christian life?

While the book does take quotes from Rob Bell's Love Wins, which presents a universalist view of hell, this is not a book slamming Bell or his work. Not at all! I would imagine Bell's book played a roll in this project coming about, but it is not the central catalyst. I stated earlier this is a look at the Truth... the Word.. what God has to say about hell.

I have read it through once... reread parts... and have no doubt I will read it again. I suggest keeping a Bible close at hand as you read.

Ultimately... before all is said and done, this is a book on the Sovereignty of God. And that, for me, is the best news of all!

A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Sefton

2011-08-26T09:26:00.000-05:00

Another book in the Knitting Mysteries by Sefton. Love this series. Love the characters and setting. Once again Kelly is drawn into a mystery... local up and coming fiber artist AllisonDubois has committed suicide.. or has she. Kelly has her doubts and is determined to find the truth.

Along the way she has to deal with a friendship that is becoming more and make decisions concerning her career and whether she will stay in Colorado or return to the East Coast. Fortuntely she has friends to help her deal with all the questions in her life.

Wonderful read as always! Already have the next book in the series checked out from the library and in my to read basket!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2011-08-24T16:22:00.000-05:00

I have been looking forward to reading this book and am looking forward to seeing the movie. This book opens in August 1962 in Jackson, MS. I was born in September 1962 in Natchez, MS (2 hours SW of Jackson). I do not remember these days... for obvious reasons... but I do remember the times from the late 1960s forward. While in no way trying to defend my state (which I love warts and all), I will say that the white families here were not in the majority. These are affluent exclusive whites... the Country Club scene. That said.. prejudice was everywhere and while there were different levels of action connected to it (we never had a separate bathroom for our maid nor did she use different plates etc. And she did sit at the table and eat with us like family), the inequalities were evident and consistant and wrong.

The Help does not sugar coat the reality. For that, I am thankful. Stockett shows not only the way these families treated their "help" but also their children... leaving them to be seen but not heard until Mother was ready to show them off.. and then they had better be perfect. I knew children who grew up like this... still do.. it is beyond sad.

I love that Stockett shows the relationship between the "help" and the children. While we only had a maid a few years of my young life and my mother, who worked outside the home, didn't neglect or ignore me, I loved Josephine. She was, to me, family. I pray she felt that way about us. I would hate to think she felt we saw her as the women in this book see the maids who work for them.

I have heard a few folks criticize this book and the movie. But, for the most part, I hear praise for it. It is a delightfully sweet and accurate portrait of a far from sweet time in our history.

A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer

2011-08-02T19:56:00.000-05:00

I found this book quite by accident. We have a shop near my home called Burke's outlet. They purchase over stocks and such from other retailers and then sell them at a discounted price. I like to pop in on Fridays (I get a 15% discount that day) and see what's new. I have bought clothing, candles, journals, linens and all sorts of other goodies there. A couple of Fridays ago I noticed a shelf of books. Many were by Beverly Lewis (wonderful Amish based fiction). This book was there also. The cover caught my eye but I was not familiar with the author. Still, I read the back notes and was intrigued.

Imagine my surprise when I saw someone mention Witemeyer's books on a Facebook page -- Lovers of Old West Fiction. They received rave reviews from many in that group, so I knew I have made a great choice in bringing it home with me.

I loved the characters and stories and look forward to reading more books by Witemeyer in the future. Hannah Richards dreams of owning her own dressmaker's shop one day, so when a wealthy patron opens the door for that dream Hannah runs through it with great expectation. She arrives in Coventry, TX ready to take the world by storm... and a storm she finds.. in J. T. "Jericho" Tucker. JT finds fancy dresses and such a tool to encourage women to vanity and discontentment and he wants nothing to do with... nor does he care to have it show up in his town. No matter how much he tries to avoid Hannah and her shop, he finds himself coming to her rescue time and time again.

As he watches the effect Hannah has on the town... on the people... her compassion and love... he begins to second guess his opinions concerning beauty and dressmaking.... and his opinion of a certain lovely dressmaker.

Very sweet story... a feisty female and a gruff fella... wonderful combination!

Shoots to Kill by Kate Collins

2011-08-02T19:32:00.000-05:00

Another book in the Flower Shop Mystery series.... another great cozy mystery series... love it! Elizabeth Blume shows up in New Chapel sporting the name Libby and looking a great deal like Abby, who was her babysitter at one time. Over the course of a few days, Libby builds a life that looks remarkably like Abby's... from her gift shop to her yellow corvette... she even sets her sites on Marco, Abby's man-friend (they are still working out the details of their relationship.) Libby's mother, former supermodel Delphia is found dead and a young woman in a yellow corvette is seen leaving the scene. Is it Libby? Abby? or someone else trying to frame one of them? Marco, a PI, investigates, but Abby is not sure he is being objective with Libby hanging on his arm. She decides to go out on her own and find the killer... hopefully before he or she finds her.

Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton

2011-07-26T18:22:00.000-05:00

Book 2 of Sefton's Knitting Mysteries series.

You do not have to be a knitter to enjoy these books... I know, I love reading this series and have never knitted a stitch in my life (haven't purled either! LOL!) I do think you will relate a bit more to the characters if you are a crafter. There is something about a community of people who share a love of fibers or fabrics or embellishments or beads etc. But as with knitting, I don't think it is necessary to be a crafter to enjoy these books.

Kelly Flynn is settling into her "temporary" life in Fort Connor, Colorado... telecommuting from her office in DC, taking breaks for caffeine and knitting with friend at the House of Lambspun, attempting a casual relationship with a handsome fella and trying to keep her dog in the yard and away from stray golf balls. If only she could figure out a way to make this permanent.

But it seems homicide is a part of this new life also. Volunteering to drive a group of touring knitters to a local alpaca farm seems harmless enough, until Kelly finds the owner dead on her latest creation. The police jump right in, but Kelly feels the need to aid them, whether they really want her help or not.

Needled to Death is a fun cozy mystery.. just like book 1 (Knit One, Kill Two) was and just like I expect all the others to be! Book 3 is winging its way here via USPS even as I type!

If you like mysteries... especially the cozy kind, check out Sefton's Knitting Series. You won't be disappointed.

Authentic Relationships by Wayne Jacobsen & Clay Jacobsen

2011-07-23T11:05:00.000-05:00

A friend mentioned this book on FaceBook and the subtitle caught my eye.. "discover the lost are of 'one anothering'" After reading a quote or two my friend posted and asking him about the book, I decided to order it. Wow! Good decision on my part! This is truly a wonderful book... one I think every Christ-follower should read.

The Jacobsen brothers point out that their are verses (commands) throughout the Bible that tell us how to treat our fellow Christians. And if we would only heed God's word, we would find true authentic lasting vital relationships within the body that in turn make us more effected as we reach out to those outside the body.

While the book does not focus on ever single "one another" verse, it does cover many and, honestly, most of the ones they cover encompass virtues that are found in the ones not discussed. We look at loving one another, honoring one another, encouraging one another, praying for and with one another, submitting to one another, forgiving one another, being kind to one another and more.

This book can be used for a small group study and has discussion questions for each chapter. If you choose to read it alone, as I did, these questions can be used for deeper meditation and digging into the Word.

I tend to underline and highlight in my non-fiction books. This one is full of pen marks and asterisks. I have already gone back and looked at things again and again and have no doubt I will continue to do so. I also know that I will be ordering more of this book and giving it to friends and family. NOT because I think they are doing a poor job in their relationships, but because this is just a great focused tool that points us to Scripture and how God wants us to live. It teaches us, again through Scripture, how to be the church not just go to church.

"One Anothering"... definitely a lost art and one I, personally, hope to revive in my life.

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist

2011-07-23T10:55:00.000-05:00

I have read one other book by Gist... Maid to Match... and loved it! You will find my review here: Maid to Match Review So I was excited to start another book by this author and anticipated it being just as fun to read. I was not disappointed!

A Bride in the Bargain is a hoot! It is a sweet story with fun characters, but over all (to me) it was a book that made be laugh and smile the whole time I read it. Joe Denton has his land... he has worked to prove it and has a thriving lumber business. What he doesn't have is a wife and if he doesn't get one soon, or prove he had one at the time he started this endeavor, then he will loose it all. Asa Mercer is promising brides... orphans and widows of the Civil War who have no one. Desperate, Joe purchases one of Mercer's brides and then waits for her to arrive.

Anna Ivey needs to escape... the pain of all she lost to the war and the clutches of an unscrupulous boss who wants more than a cook. She signs on with Mercer to move west and cook for a lumber business in Seattle. What he fails to tell her and many of the other women is there is more to the bargain!

When Joe Denton escorts Anna to the preacher she is appalled! She came to be a hired cook not a wife and she wants nothing to do with marriage! With only a few months left before he loses all he has, can Joe convince Anna that marriage would serve them both well?

There are so many twists and turns and hilarious happenings in this book.. not only with Joe and Anna, but with some of the other characters like Mrs. Wrenne and her lack of teeth or the Judge and his nameless children called One, Two, Three and Four!

Delightful book! Put it on your "to read" list. You will not be disappointed!

From a Distance by Tamara Alexander

2011-07-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

This is book 1 is the Timber Ridge Reflections series. It took a bit for me to get into this book, but I think that was more to do with me than the book. I had just finished a series that I adored and was still caught up in the characters there. However, once I got connected with the characters of this book I was enthralled. This would be classified as a historic romance but what I love is the romance is light... not overbearing... it is very real feeling... not fairy tale. There are other issues and circumstances happening and the romance is just a part of it all, not the main thrust. I am hopeful the other books in this series will be the same.

The setting is the late 1800s, after the Civil War. Elizabeth Westbrook has travelled from her refined upbringing in Washington, DC to the rugged wild west of the Colorado Territory. Her goal? to capture the grandeur of the landscape with her camera lens and send them back to the Washington Chronicle in hopes of becoming their next photojournalist.. and the first female on staff.

Former Confederate Sharpshooter, Daniel Ranslett is running from a past riddled with hurt and death and guilt. He will do whatever it takes to protect his secrets, his land and his solitude.

When Elizabeth and Daniel's paths cross it is not an easy passing. The two start off on the wrong foot and appears they will never find common ground. Then Elizabeth stumbles across a murder and finds herself in the danger. Her protection falls to Daniel as he is called on to repay a debt to an old friend. Forced to journey together through the Colorado mountains, these two come face to face with their pasts, their futures and each other.

Excellent book! Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Praying in the Messiness of Life by Linda Douty

2011-07-23T10:31:00.001-05:00

When I saw this book advertised in a catalog, I thought "Must Read!" I ordered it and read it... and have mixed feelings about it. I will say that I would not recommend it to someone unless I knew they were mature in their walk with the Lord and were in the Word seeking Him and His truth. Do I think this book is heresy or blasphemy? Not at all! But it is a bit freer in its thinking and, I believe, could be used to send someone off on the wrong track.

For example, in the chapter on Praying with the Surroundings there is a section called "The Teaching of Trees." Here the author suggest that you find a large tree that you can stand under. "Be aware of your feet solidly planted on the ground and then slowly look up through the leaves and branches. Be silent for several minutes, open to what the tree has to teach you." Being open to what the tree has to teach you is what bothers me a bit. I know that I learn from being in nature.. from observing... and pondering the things I see in light of my knowledge of God. However, I fear this practice of being open to what the tree has to teach you could easily be misconstrued as being one with nature and seeing the tree as a living being that teaches. Sound far-fetched? Maybe, but there are people who worship nature and this kind of exercise fits right in with their practices.

On the other hand, there are points in here about praying scripture, being still and listening to God, and other prayer practices that line up with the Word of God.

So the book is not a total wash... it is just one that needs to be read in light of Scripture (as all books should be) and.. well, prayerfully. If you choose to read this book, ask the Spirit to show you what is valuable and what needs to be avoided. And honestly, if you are looking for a book on prayer and ways to pray, there are many others out there that are "safer" choices such as A Fresh Vision of Jesus by Cheri Fuller, The Hour that Changes Everything by Dick Eastman, and Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion by Debbie Williams (to name a few).

Lassoed in Texas Series by Mary Connealy

2011-07-06T15:39:00.001-05:00

These very well may be my favorite fiction books of 2011. They are certainly my faves so far this year! I devoured them. Housework... cooking... sewing... talking... even the computer took a back seat to these. I just loved them!

First they are set in the old west... a setting I love... the heroines are strong (even when they don't think they are) and quirky ... love that!... and there are cowboys involved... I love that too! LOL! The titles are great too... as is the cover art. I try my best not to judge a book by its cover, but these covers grabbed my eye! I couldn't resist them!

Book 1: Petticoat Ranch

Sophie Edwards and her girls are doing just fine. Never mind they see no one and live in a hovel in a thicket far from civilization. Still Sophie knows her time is short and she needs help. She cries out to the Lord and he answers in grander ways than she could have imagined.

Clay McClellan is searching for his long lost brother. Imagine his surprise when he finds Cliff is dead and has left a widow and four angelic girls. Christian duty rises up in Clay and he insists that Sophie marry him, after all she and the girls need protection. Or do they?

In the midst of adventure and intrigue as Cliff's killer returns for "what is his", the reader finds much laughter and love. Sophie is not ordinary female and she is not planning on changing her ways.

Can these mismatched newlyweds find common ground and build a family in the face of danger and hardship on the Texas Frontier?

Book 2: Calico Canyon

We meet Grace in Book 1. She is a prim and proper school teacher new to the wild west of Texas. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up in the home of Daniel Reeves with Daniel and his four wild boys who have terrorized her schoolroom every day she has been there. To protect her reputation, Grace is forced to marry Daniel and the real adventure begins.

Daniel and Grace detest each other and their situation. Grace knows nothing of housework and cooking... and Daniel knows nothing of a soft feminine woman. Add to the mix a figure from Grace's past determined to hunt her down and extract his revenge and you have a wild ride!

Will these 2 as different as night and day make a life together in Calico Canyon or will their differences lead to destruction?

Book 3: Gingham Mountain

Hannah has scrimped and saved and finally has a way to head west in search of her sister, Grace. But plans change when 2 young orphans travelling on the same train are placed into the care of a single man, Grant. Hannah knows the life of an orphan in the home of man who works his children to the bone and she is determined to protect these children.

In need of a job, Hannah is hired as the schoolmarm in Sour Springs and determines to keep a close eye on Grant and his brood.

As she comes to know Grant and all his children, Hannah finds her first impression may have been wrong. But what of Prudence? Does Grant return her affections? Would she be a suitable mother to a house full of orphans?

Hannah's heart is leery and yet she is drawn to Grant and his family. Hopefully it isn't too late for them.

Read the books in order.. the connect and flow better that way. So good! If you are a romance lover and especially historic romance, you need to read this series!

Anna Meets Her Match by Arlene James

2011-07-06T15:18:00.000-05:00

Cute book! This is a Love Inspired Romance. Reeves Leland has trouble... bees to be exact. They have invaded his home and so he and his young daughter have to leave. They move into Chatam House temporarily. Chatam House is the grand home of his 3 aunts who have decided to use this opportunity to try their hands at matchmaking. But why on earth would they choose Anna Miranda as a match for Reeves! All through their childhood she tormented him... such a brat! No way could he ever fall for her!

What Reeves didn't expect was the connection Anna would make with his daughter. Having been a girl without a mom gives Anna insight into Gilli and her antics... an insight Reeves lacks and needs.

Maybe the aunts are as far off base as Reeves thought?

Quick fun read!

Love Finds Your in Lonesome Prairie Montana by Tracy Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss

2011-06-21T19:39:00.000-05:00

I so enjoy the Love Finds You books... and this one is set in the west and during the pioneer days... my favorite setting for a Historic Romance!

Julia Cavanaugh loves her life taking care of the orphan girls in New York. So when her dear headmistress announces that the orphanage is closing, Julia is stunned and worried. She learns that the girls are going to homes out west via the Orphan Train and Julia is going to accompany them. What an adventure! Julia looks forward to seeing the west and then returning home to New York to work. What she doesn't expect is a surprise... in the form of a gentleman who has purchased her as a mail order bride.

Stuck with no money in Lonesome Prairie, Julia is rescued by a local family and given a place to stay until the next train comes through.... whenever that may be. Julia spends her time getting to know the west, the families there and avoiding her "husband." As her heart tenders toward this harsh land and the people there, Julia begins to wonder if God has a plan for her in Lonesome Prairie and a husband too.

Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber

2011-06-21T19:29:00.000-05:00

Like most who have read a Debbie Macomber book, she is a favorite author of mine. While I do prefer Christian Fiction, her works are clean and decent and so much fun to read! Hannah's List is such a unique idea and not as far fetched as one might think. I actually have a friend who did something similar when she was dying.

Hannah has been gone for 1 year.... loosing her battle with cancer. Her husband, Michael, has created a life for himself with out Hannah. One he feels is fine as it is. Others, of course, know better... and so did Hannah. On the one year anniversary of her death, Michael receives a letter.. written by Hannah. She knew how he would spend that first year... how he would feel... and she shares all that with him and then tells him what every one else has been trying to say... he has to get on with his life. And she wants him to marry again.... to love again... to have children... so much so that she has picked 3 candidates. She does not require him to marry one of the women, but to at least meet each one and go out on a date.

Michael is shocked... angry... overwhelmed... but over time he honors Hannah's wish and then wonders what she was thinking! These 3 women are as different as night and day. But Michael learns that Hannah really did know him best.

This is a story about love... different kinds of love... that young fresh first love... friendship love.... the memory of love... and a new tender surprising love found after a loss.

As always, the characters are rich and real and people I would love to meet in person.

Hannah's List is a must read for any Macomber fan and a great intro to her writing if you've never experienced it before.

NOTE: I have included Blossom Street in my tags. Blossom Street is a series by Macomber and while this is not part of the series, it is a companion book. Several of the Blossom Street characters are here.

Nosy in Nebraska by Mary Connealy

2011-06-13T18:34:00.000-05:00

Nosy in Nebraska is part of a series called America loves a Mystery. In each of these, the reader finds 3 novels set in the same state... often the same town and with overlapping characters and plot lines. These are cozy mysteries with a bit of romance stirred in for good behavior.

The three novels in Nosy are Of Mice and Murder, Pride and Pestilence, and The Mice Man Cometh. Now I have to tell you I was skeptical. These stories all center around a town in Nebraska whose mascot is a field mouse! Yuck! I do not like mice at all! I am one of those women who squeal and jump on the nearest piece of furniture at the slightest sight of a mouse.

Truthfully, it was a issue as I read the first book. Of Mice and Murder is good and definitely necessary to set up the other 2 books, but the mice focus was just a bit much for me. However, I am thrilled I pressed on and faced my fear. LOL! All three stories were fun and quirky (to say the least!)

This is a great summer read... or really whenever you want to be entertained without having to strain your brain!

Christmas Mail-Order Brides by Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, Therese Stenzel, Carrie Turansky

2011-05-28T11:45:00.000-05:00

This is part of a series called Romancing America. I discovered these books a few months ago at a local Christian Book store and picked up several. This was not one of those.. I actually saw it among the "New" books at my local library recently.

Each Romancing America book is comprised of several novellas often centering around a specific area or theme. In this case, the stories all happen around the Christmas Season and involve a mail-order bride. I confess that I am intrigued by the thought of mail-order brides. I have read a number of books that center around that practice during the days when the American West was being settled. I often wonder if the true stories are as fascinating as the fictional ones.

This collection has 4 stories each by a different author, but all connected by Mrs. Mayberry's Matrimonial Society for Christians of Moral Character.

We meet Annika, a Swedish immigrant who travels to Wyoming to discover her intended missing; Jolie is robbed while en route to her groom-to-be while on a stage coach; Elizabeth is ready to put her past behind her and make a new start; and Mrs. Mayberry is in search of closure, not love. Each woman faces trials and ridicule courageously as she steps forward to take a chance on love and life.

Sweet stories... quick and entertaining to read.

Love Finds You in Last Chance California by Miralee Ferrell

2011-05-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

As I have stated before, I have enjoyed every one of the "Love Finds You In..." books and look forward to reading many more.

Last Chance is a historical romance set in 1877. Alexia Travers has lost her father, but she is determined not to loose her ranch or herself. Wearing men's trousers and working along side her ranch hands, Alex ignores the looks and comments from the town folk and does what needs to be done to support herself and keep her ranch viable. Despite her best efforts, stock keeps disappearing and she looses an important government contract. Wrangler Justin Phillips arrives looking for work around the time the trouble escalates. Is he the culprit or really as good as he seems?

A wonderful plot with vibrant characters and just enough twists and turns and secrets to keep you guessing.

A Drunkard's Path by Clare O'Donohue

2011-05-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Book 2 of the Someday Quilts Mysteries. Another cozy mystery! I read a couple of series that center around knitters and love them, even though I don't knit. This one revolves around a quilters. I am a quilter, so I truly relate to these ladies! If I ever wandered to their fictional town, I would head straight to Someday Quilts and join in with the latest group project!

Nell Fitzgerald is settling into life in the quiet little town of Archer's Rest and looking forward to her first date with Police Chef, Jesse Dewalt and then he stands her up. Nell, rebounding from a broken engagement, thinks romance is not for her. Once she learns that Jesse has a valid reason (he was working a homicide), Nell decides to forgive him and offers to help with the investigation. Jesse is not keen on the idea and encourages her to let the authorities handle the murder while she handles the quilt shop.

Nell does her best to comply, but then a second body shows up... in her yard... and she can no longer sit back and wonder. She begins her own sleuthing enlisting the help of her quilting circle and before long they have wound their way through all the evidence and suspects to find who the killer is.

Love Finds You in Deadwood, South Dakota by Tracey Cross

2011-05-16T21:56:00.000-05:00

I have only read 4 other books in the Love Finds You series (all are stand alone books and can be read in any order) and I have loved them all.. including this one. The books are not all written by the same authors.... some are contemporary, some historic... all deal with Romance and are Christian Fiction. And again, all have been great reads.

I was excited to read Deadwood. I like historic romances set in the West. There is just something about Cowboys and the dust and dirt of the trail. I was also excited to read a new-to-me author, Tracy Cross, until I read that she has also published books under the name, Tracy Bateman. I have read Tracy Bateman and enjoy her writing.

Jane Albright is a recently widowed young woman with one child and another on the way. She is thankful for her land and home and sets in to make a life for her children when she learns that her husband mortgage the house and land and has fallen behind in payments. At risk to loose everything, Jane sets out to do what needs to be done to protect her home and family.

Deadwood is definitely a Christian Romance, but it is also a book about perseverance and strength of character.

Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum

2011-05-16T21:29:00.000-05:00

I told you I love this series! This is book 3 and the momentum holds. I adore the characters and this sweet sea side village. Much like other fictional towns, I want to go here... to sit on Nell and Ben's deck enjoying delicious fare and the warmth of friendship amongst cool salty breezes.

The Seaside Knitters and friends are reluctantly setting aside their Friday night ritual on Nell and Ben's deck to attend a local yacht club dinner. Decked out in their finest, dancing and mingling and dining on gourmet treats, the night is magical. Only just minutes away a group of night time divers watch in shock as a red Ferrari plunges into the depths of the sea. The car is local and one known by all. Sea Harbor awakens after a night of enchantment to learn that one of their own has perished and then as the grief settles in they learn it was murder.

Once again the Seaside Knitters cannot sit back and watch as the authorities dive into the details of the case and the lives of those connected. Gossip and rumors run amuck and it becomes evident that this is not a random event as many hoped. Will the Sea Side Knitters unravel the mystery once again and stop a killer in his or her tracks?

Patterns in the Sand by Sally Goldenbaum

2011-05-16T21:17:00.000-05:00

Book 2 of the Seaside Knitters Mystery. This has quickly become one of my favorite "cozy murder" series. I confess I am not a big fan of real-to-life tense mysteries. I use to read mysteries that were very realistic and chilling. Then one day I read one about a young college couple who were murdered. It hit so close to home as a friend's son and girlfriend had been murdered while in college. The murder in the book was very similar and it just totally bothered me. That was the last of realistic mysteries for me. I later found out that the writer took her plot lines from actual cases and this book was based on the friend's son's murder. No wonder it seemed so real to me!

So I now stick with safe mysteries that grab the readers attention and provide mental exercise in whodunit, but don't bring on nightmares or deep fright. Goldenbaum's Seaside Knitters series fits the bill! Book 2 brings the introduction of a new character.... Willow Adams... and she is a character! A wispy little elf of a girl, Willow is found in the front window of Izzy Chambers Seaside Knitting Studio asleep! Curled up among skeins of soft wool, silk and mohair yarns along with Izzy's cat, Purl. Despite her strange introduction to Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, Willow is immediately accepted and loved.

As Art at Night, a summer event held in Sea Harbor's Canary Cove art colony, burst into full festive array, a local gallery owner and artist is found dead. The Seaside Knitters are sure someone close at hand is to blame and discuss at great length who had motive and opportunity. When the will is produced and the name of Peabody's sole heir revealed, the plot thickens (as they say!) and the Seaside Knitters are thrown for a complete loop as one of their own becomes the prime suspect.

Quick as a flash they start detecting and deducing and snooping to learn the truth and set all right again in their bit of paradise.

when sparrows fall by Meg Moseley

2011-04-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

Before you fuss at my subject and the use of all lowercase letters, this is the way the author has the title printed on her book. I am just trying to be "authentic" to her work.

I got this book from Multnomah Books Blogging for Books program. I had never heard of this author, but was intrigued by the bit of synopsis provided. I am so glad I chose this book! I devoured it! First book that has grabbed me like this in a long time.

Miranda is a young widow with 6 children who lives a quiet life on land that has been in her husband's family for years. When her pastor announces that the entire church is selling their homes and moving to another state, Miranda sees it as a way out... a way for a fresh start. But then an accident occurs and her estranged brother-in-law comes to care for her and the children. Jack brings the outside world to Miranda's sheltered exsistence and threatens to unearth secrets she wants left buried.

The tension rises as Jack tries to revive what he sees as a dead existance for Miranda and her children... as Pastor Mason looms in the background like a dark cloud threatening to storm down his wrath and the law... as Miranda struggles with feelings she never thought she would have again and doesn't want to admit.

when sparrows fall is a wonderful tale of freedom... safety... and love.

Under the Big Sky by Kelly Eileen Hake

2011-04-13T15:05:00.000-05:00

I was recently at a local Christian bookstore and happen to see a large table with sales items on it. There were a number of books from a series called Romancing America. From what I could tell, the books each contained 3 novellas set in a specific state. Some of the writers were new to me, so I decided to snatch up a few and check them out.

One of these was Under the Big Sky by Kelly Eileen Hake. I do not recall reading anything by this author before. The 3 stories in this book are set in Montana in the same community following the same families over several generations from 1865 to 1916... from the founding families to the arrival of the railroad and beyond. Each story is a delight... light and dreamy... romantic and set in an idealistic time gone by (which is probably more idealistic in our minds than reality.)

In A Time to Plant, Delana shows up as a surprise to join her fiance' as he works to prove up their land and make ready their future home. Will her early arrival cause a delay and added burden and ultimately crush their dream of marriage?

Rosalind longs to travel... to see more than her hometown of Saddleback, Montana.. she longs for adventure. In A Time to Keep she gets her opportunity and along with it a chance at love.

And in A Time to Laugh, Nessa turns down the proposal of her long time friend after waiting for it for years. Everyone is surprised at her no and more surprised when another young man shows up and draws her attention.

If you like historic Christian romance, you will have time of enjoyment with this book.

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

2011-03-28T17:01:00.000-05:00

My husband is an architect and has always been fascinated with Biltmore, the "castle" built by the Vanderbilt family in North Carolina in the late 1800s. We hope to travel there one day and tour the massive home and grounds which are open to the public and contain the original furnishings from the period.

So when I saw this book at the library and read the back cover and learned that it was set at Biltmore, I knew I had to read it! And I am so glad I did. The story is delightful, the characters are rich and full and the details create a crystal clear photograph in the reader's mind.

Tillie Reese has been reared as a servant along side her parents and siblings. It is her mother's dream and hers that she one day become a Lady's maid to the mistress of the house and now it appears her time has come. Mrs. Vanderbilt's maid is leaving and she is auditioning for a replacement. Tillie is in the running with one other young woman. Her confidence soars as she gains the attention and admiration of the Housekeeper and Mrs. Vanderbilt.

But the he appears.. Mack Danvers. Desperate for money to rescue his younger sister from the local orphanage, Mack leaves his beloved mountains and the freedom he has there to work as a Useful man at Biltmore. He determines that it will be a temporary position, just until he has enough money to save Ora Lee from the orphanage and its abusive director.

What Mack and Tillie neither expect is to find love at this time in their lives or at this place. To be a Lady's maid, one must be single and remain single. No relationship with a man at all is allowed. If Tillie follows her heart, she will forfeit her dream. And Mack is faced with enjoying the freedom of his mountain home or providing shelter for orphans.

Both must learn to seek the Lord in all things as they look for the true desires of their hearts.

Radical by David Platt

2011-03-19T10:15:00.000-05:00

The title pretty much sums up the book... Radical. Platt calls Believers in Christ... those who profess Him, who call themselves Christian, to lead a Radical life. NOT a life Platt has designed, but the life God has laid out for us in His Word.

Platt contends that we have created a Jesus in our own image.. nice, safe, comfortable... and in doing so, we have turned away from the Call placed on us in the Scriptures to be different. We have sold out our Faith for the American Dream and have rationalized it as God's Blessings on us and our nation.

Platt's challenge is to dig into the Scriptures and see if that really lines up with God's Word. You will quickly learn that it doesn't.

Platt does not provide a step-by-step plan of what you do to be the Christian God calls you to do. He does not advocate every believer sell their home and move to another country. What he does advocate is spending time in the Word and prayer and seeking God and His plan for you and your family (if you have one).

This book is chocked full of Scripture... very Biblically based... and very sound. It will make you rethink basically every aspect of your life and hopefully lead you to truly search out the path God has for you.

Play It Again, SAHM by Meredith Efken

2011-03-19T10:04:00.000-05:00

I read the first book in this trilogy last year and was a bit skeptical when I started it. Would I really like a book that was comprised of all emails? Yep! I would and did! So I was ready to jump right into book 2 (and yes, I have book 3 waiting in the wings).

I have been on various email loops over the years and am part of a close knit one now.. have been for a number of years. So it truly is easy for me to relate to the closeness and the relationships formed in the virtual world. Efken has obviously been a part of that world too, because she nails it in her books!

Things continue to move along in the SAHM world. Ros is back after a short sabbatical and much therapy. New ladies have joined the group with their unique personalities changing the dynamics of the group a bit. And ladies who have been there are challenged by new circumstances and a bit of introspection.

But the big news is the retreat! Yep, the SAHM group is getting together to meet! What starts out as a simple get together quickly turns into a big production and looms out of control. But God reins it all in and provides just what is needed for these moms.

Truly a delight to read! Be sure to read Book 1 first. This is definitely one of those series where order matters!

Barb

A Rose from the Dead by Kate Collins

2011-03-19T09:54:00.000-05:00

I discovered Collins' Flower Shop mysteries a year or so ago in my local library when I was perusing the shelves to see what was there. I devoured every one they had in stock and loved them all! So I was thrilled when I stumbled across some more books in the series at a local used bookstore.

Again, this is a secular series.. one of the few I read. Cozy mysteries with fun characters. This series has some of the most delightful clever writing I have enjoyed in a while. I enjoy books that entertain and even are a bit light hearted, but not dumbed down. I appreciate clever and witting and even subtle humor in books. This series has all of that.

Abby Knight is the owner and operator of a flower shop, Bloomers, and she will do just about anything to make it succeed.. including attending a convention for funeral directors to drum up some business. She laughs at the various characters there.. the pranks.. the jokes.. the events (casket decorating!).. but she isn't laughing when the director of the conference is found dead in a casket and her friend, Delilah is the prime suspect.

Abby sets out to prove Delilah is innocent and find the real killer no matter what.... and that what could be serious business for Abby!

There are 10 books in this series (don't know if more are coming). I have now read the first 6 and have #7 & #8 in my "to read" pile.. and no doubt I will be snatching up #9 & #10 soon!

Barb

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

2011-03-19T09:43:00.000-05:00

This is book one in Sefton's Knitting Mysteries series.... a new to me series, but one that has been out a while. It is also a secular book. I am careful these days about what secular books I read as so many are vulgar and distasteful. This one was not.... very good read and very clean read.

I am not a knitter, but that in no way hinders the reading experience. Being a person who loves to create (I am a quilter), I understand the way knitters feel about yarns and fibers (I feel the same about fabrics)... and the sense of accomplishment when a project is completed or the frustration when it isn't going the way you planned. I also understand how the creative process fuels thought and peace. All that said.. knitting is woven with in the book since a good bit revolves around a Knitting Store, but even if you are a non-creative person, you can enjoy this book. Knitting is not the focal point, just a useful catalyst.

Kelly Flynn is an up and coming CPA in Washington, DC. She has come home to handle her Aunt Helen's estate. It is still difficult for her to believe Helen is gone and more difficult to understand how the accident happened. In fact, the more Kelly thinks about it, the more certain she becomes that it wasn't an accident. And so what starts out as a desire to make sense of it all, turns into an investigation to uncover the truth.

Along the way, Kelly finds family secrets, new friends, doubts about her own path and maybe even a twinge of love.

Wonderful cozy mystery! Looking forward to the others in the series. (There are 9 so far!)

Barb

Cozy in Kansas by Nancy Mehl

2011-03-02T08:05:00.000-06:00

This book is part of Heartsongs America Loves a Mystery series. Each book centers around one state and contains 3 romance mysteries. I have enjoy each one I have read so far. Light-hearted cozy mysteries... love it!

This one may be may be my favorite so far. I love the setting, the characters (and there are some characters here!)... all of it.

Winter Break, Kansas is a small town with some of the most fun eccentric characters seen... and they are all so real to me! Not so strange they couldn't really exist. Ivy Towers grew up in and out of Winter Break as she came to visit her Aunt Bitty. Now Ivy is back not to visit Bitty, but to bury her after an accident in her bookstore. But was it an accident and if not, who would want to kill Bitty? Ivy is determine to get to the bottom of things and along the way she finds that small towns where folks know everything about everyone also have secrets.

Each mystery builds a bit on the previous ones as the reader not only comes along to find out "Who Done It", but also enjoys life in Winter Break as its citizens go about day to day.

I am a sucker for small town America... Romance.. and Mystery... and then add that the main character owns a book store... perfect!

There is a 4th Ivy Towers Book. I plan to purchase it soon and dive right in to see what she, Amos, Ruby, Bert and the gang are up to these days!

Everything's Coming Up Josey by Susan May Warren

2011-02-16T12:42:00.000-06:00

This book has been in my to read basket for a while. I am so glad I finally picked it up and read it. I am not a huge fan of the first person voice you find in Chick Lit. It is not always done well, but it is in Josey.

Josey lives in the same small town where she grew up... living a rather plain and boring life in her opinion. Her sister gets married and the boy Josey has loved for ever (at least she thinks she might love him) shows up with a woman who could easily be a model. Could life get any worse!? What is the purpose.. why is she here? Josey needs answers.

And she finds one in the form of a missionary. As he speaks at her church, Josey feels certain God is calling her to Russia to teach English. (He is calling isn't He? Or maybe she just needs to run away and the timing of this offer is perfect.) So off to Russia she goes!

The reader is given a birds-eye-view (or maybe it would be better to say a Josey-eye-view) of her adventure as she balances learning a new culture, roommate, and love interests (yes, I said Interests.. plural) along with seeking to figure out her relationship with God.

Lots of laughter and fun in this book, as well as a few tears and a lot of soul-searching as Josey seeks to follow God's will and not her own.

And fun note.. there is a sequel, Chill Out Josey. Looking forward to continuing on this adventure with Josey.

The Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue

2011-02-05T09:01:00.000-06:00

I am a quilter, so I am drawn to books that involve quilts or quilting. I love Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series and Emilie Richards' Shenandoah Album series. I have been seeing Care O'Donohue's The Lover's Knot for a while now in a quilting catalog I receive, so when I placed an order and needed a few more things to bring me up to the "free shipping" amount, I toss it in my cart. I am sooo glad I did!

The Lover's Knot is book 1 in O'Donohue's Someday Quilts Mysteries. There are 2 more and I plan to snatch them up soon!

This book combines so much of what I love... mystery, romance, and quilts! Nell is months away from her wedding to Ryan. Plans are moving along as they should and life is good. To top it off, she receives her wedding quilt from her Grandmother... a gorgeous Lover's Knot pattern done in elegant neutrals as she requested. Her excitement is doused when her finance' announces that they need to postpone the wedding a while.

Shocked and confused, Nell takes off to Archer's Rest... a small town in upstate New York .. to spend some time with her grandmother. As she reconnects with her grandmother's friends and plays a bit around Someday Quilts, her grandmother's shop, Nell starts to relax a bit. She even enjoys the attention of the local handyman. But then he turns up dead... the same day Ryan comes to talk with Nell.

Nell sets out to prove Ryan's innocence and discovers more than she bargained for along the way

Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Baumbich

2011-01-31T16:25:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to determine how to write this review. I cannot say I hated this book nor can I say I loved it. It was... okay. I did like the characters and even enjoyed the main storyline. I can relate a bit with Josie, who is in her late 40s and dealing with hot flashes and sleepless nights. She is a driven determined woman who is at the top of her game and yet, she comes to realize something is missing. I do love that the "missing" isn't a man or marriage (both great things!). It is more about looking at your life and determining if you are who you want to be.. and if you like who you are and what you do. It is about loosening up and letting life unfold naturally and enjoying the ride.

Lyle learns the same lesson, but for him it is not a new thought.. but the return to where he started.. to what he wanted. He was living the life and got swept up into a corporate world of profits and bottom lines where people are just numbers. He is thrust out of that world and give the opportunity to return to his true love.

There were 2 elements of this book that I did not care for and found to be very distracting to me. One was a novel within the novel. I have no problem with that concept, but this novel was written by a character who had a lot of anger to vent and did so in a very unique manner. At first it was a bit cute, but over time it got to be too much for me and really seemed to serve no purpose.

I also did not care for the Snowglobe. There is an odd mystical effect it has on Josie at times that seemed a bit too odd for me and again, did not really serve a purpose. The author did tie in the globe nicely in the book, but I believe the story would have worked as well, if not better, without it.

In no way would I say this is a book not worth reading, it just wasn't a page turner for me.

A free copy of this book was presented to me by Waterbrook Press for review.

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

2011-01-31T16:10:00.000-06:00

I was wandering through a local used book store a month or so ago and saw this cover...

I just could not resist. I knew that this book would be one right up my alley and it was! Such a great read! Spring 1871 .... a group of war widows head west to claim a homestead and create a life of their on after the one they planned took a turn. Along the way friendships are forged... secrets are shared... hurts healed... and lives reborn.

Plum Grove, Nebraska has no idea what is about to hit when these 16 women step off the train. 16 women who provide an array of ages, background, skills, personalities, temperaments. and varying levels of Faith. It seems a daunting task to tell the stories of all these women in one book, but Whitson does just that and does it very well. In no way does the reader feel slighted in not knowing enough about one lady or the other. The only negative I can find is the desire to know what happens next! But then that is not unusual for me when the characters are full and the story rings true.

And the Winner Is....

2011-01-05T16:34:00.001-06:00

Annie Payne!

Thanks for all the comments. I look forward to future Give-A-Ways.

Annie, I will contact you via email for your mailing address.

Barb

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

2010-12-31T13:14:00.000-06:00

I confess I had never heard of this book or this writer until I signed up with Blogging for Books. The cover caught my eye and since I was headed into my Christmas readathon it seemed to be the perfect book to review. How right I was!

Co-workers Cora Crowder and Simon Derrick barely know the other exists, but then a chance encounter at a strange vintage book store changes all that. Warner, Werner and Wizbotterdad's is far from a normal bookstore and books are not all that they deal in. Each year the booksellers host an enchanting Christmas ball in hopes of creating life long matches between couples they have brought together. Cora and Simon have NO idea what is in store for them... and neither do the booksellers, as they find Cora and Simon to be a challenge to say the least!

So will the 2 opposites find that they do indeed attract? Will they be able to set aside their differences and focus on their shared faith and the chemistry they have bubbling? Or will this match made on Sage Street be the booksellers first flop?

A totally delightful read! I gobbled it up in 2 sittings.... it is definitely one of those books you don't want to put down.

And now I am giving it away! This is my first book giveaway... a grand way to start 2011.

Here is what you need to do to enter....

Leave a comment for this blog entry. Include your name and email address (write your email like this to prevent spammers: name (at) whatever (dot) com

AND share 1 Christmas book that you have read and love. I am always looking for Christmas books for my annual Christmas readathon!

I will taken entries until midnight (CST) Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Then on Wednesday, I will "pull" a name from the bunch and see who wins this wonderful book!

The Promise by Robert J. Morgan

2010-12-31T12:57:00.000-06:00

I have quickly become a fan of Mr. Morgan's writing. In The Promise, he focuses on a very familiar verse... Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (NIV) What a powerful promise!

In the first half of the book, Morgan takes this verse apart bit by bit. That might sound silly to some, after all the verse makes total sense. But there is so much more here than meets the eye. I was wowed from the start when he was able to get a chapters worth of wonderful insight from 2 simple words.. "We know"....

The second half of the book looks at other scripture that echoes the promise of Romans 8:28. I love seeing God repeat the same thing in more than one part of the Bible. Especially when the same promise is found in the Old and New Testament. It drives home how important this is to the Father.

So why learn about Romans 8:28... isn't knowing the verse enough? Well, maybe it is. But Morgan challenges the reader to do more than know it. He wants us to LIVE it.. to pray and act and love and serve and everything else according to the truth found in this verse. And in The Promise, he not only teaches us many of the treasures hidden in this Word, but he also shares ways to walk it out.

Excellent book! Mine is marked up and will be referred back to often, I am sure.

Homespun Christmas by Renee DeMarco, Birdie L. Etchinson, Colleen L. Reece & Janelle Burnham Schneider

2010-12-31T12:47:00.000-06:00

Four Novellas that center around the same small town.

Hope, Washington was founded a century ago by pastor Fergus McKay who came to the small logging village full of hope. Over the years that hope has died and so has the logging industry as environmental group seek more protected lands for endangered species. As the town seeks new direction, a small boy reminds them of their heritage and sparks a fire to fight to keep Hope alive.

Hope for the Holidays by Colleen L. Reece -- Sarah McKay, Hope's pharmacist, is determined to revive the town and keep it going so her son, Mike, can grow up there. Ben Macklin, the sheriff, loves Hope too and wants to see it thriving again. Can their drive and desire be the catalyst to get others involved? And will their time together spark a romance that has been lying dormant since High school?

More Than Tinsel by Janelle Burnham Schneider -- Susanna grew up in Hope and ran from their as soon as she was able. She wanted more out of life than a small town with their judgemental ways and tongues. Now she is back caring for a dear friend and finding that her perception of Hope might have been off. Will she find happiness and romance where she least expected it... in Hope?

The Last Christmas by Birdie L. Etchinson -- Walt and Dee have been married a lifetime... well, 25 years... and they are tired. Tired of the routine and each other. They have grown apart and apart is where Dee plans to stay. Walt decides they need to get away... one last chance to rekindle what they once have. And when he sees an ad for Hope's Homespun Christmas, he knows that is just the place! An old fashioned Christmas removed from the hustle and bustle. Dee is not keen on the idea, but agrees to go.. mainly to prove that their marriage cannot be revived. What she doesn't realize is love and God are waiting in Hope.

Winter Sabbatical by Renee DeMarco -- Brinn Colston is coming into her own as a reporter ... just waiting for that big break... and she knows it is coming. To her surprise, she is not sent to Chicago to cover the big story, but to some small town in Washington state to write about their Homespun Christmas. Determined to do her job and get back to civilization soon, Brinn heads off. Once in Hope she finds there is more to her assignment than she was told ... it will not be short termed. Over time she grows to love the citizens of Hope and determines to help them fight for their town. But can she keep her heart in check in the process?

A Season of Forgiveness by Brenda Coulter

2010-12-31T12:32:00.000-06:00

Victoria and Sam are as different as can be. Victoria likes order and calm.. Sam's goes looking for risks and adventure. In normal circumstances they would probably not even look in each others direction. Circumstances, however, are not normal. Victoria is in danger and Sam, a stranger, swoops in to save her. Try as they might to avoid each other, they can't. They know something is there, but can Sam curb his dangerous lifestyle and can Tori learn to relax and trust God?

A wonderful Christmas read from Love Inspired!

Simply Christmas by Pamela Dowd, Wanda Luttrell, & Christine Lynxwiler

2010-12-31T11:33:00.000-06:00

I am not a huge fan of Novellas or compilations, but I had some Christmas themed ones and thought they would be good for the holidays. I was right. I enjoyed them both.

Simply Christmas is compiled of 4 stories centered around slowing down during the holidays and savoring the joy and truth of Christmas.

All Done with the Dashing by Pricilla Dowd -- Maggie does it all.. she cooks, cleans, shops.. she is in charge of making everyone's holiday bright. Well, no more! It is her turn to breathe and enjoy Christmas. She is determined to worship this season instead of work. Can it be done? Will her family help and will it really make a difference? This is a challenge to all of us "superwomen" who feel the need to do it all!

No Holly, No Ivy by Wanda Luttrell -- Loraine is spending her first Christmas alone and she is determined to enjoy it. After all she will have no frenzied cooking and cleaning and wrapping.. it will be easy and relaxing. She soon finds that easy and relaxing translates to boring for her.... but not for long. her neighbor (a feisty Jewish widow), the owner of a local shop she frequents (who happens to be Muslim) and an intriguing new minister in the area stir the pot and give Loraine a Christmas she will never forget. This story is respectful of the other cultures and beliefs shared without compromising the author's (and this reader's) faith. No Holly stresses the need to reach out to others and show them the love of Jesus, even when it appears they don't want it.

O Little Town of Progress by Wanda Luttrell -- Octogenarian Mary Martha is happy to live out her life in her late husband's dark old house caught up in past hurts and Charlie Justice (Mommy-to-be) is stressing about her current circumstance... specifically the expectancy of her first child. She and her husband have a plan and a baby is part of it.. but not now! A chance encounter (is there really such a thing?) brings them together and teaches both to look beyond themselves.

My True Love Gave to Me by Christine Lynxwiler -- Penny is Mrs. Christmas.. she is completely organized.. has everything mapped out to a tee! But then her husband decides they are taking Christmas on the road this year... literally! He has borrowed a friend's RV and is taking Penny and the kids on a cross country trip full of surprises. He is beyond excited, but Penny and the kids are less than thrilled. In fact, they are wondering what has happened to a normally rational man. On their journey they all learn that traditions, while wonderful, are not the key to a joyous Christmas. They will learn about true love and sacrifice and the true gift of the season.

A Dropped Stitches Christmas by Janet Tronstad

2010-12-31T11:12:00.000-06:00

This is book 2 in the Dropped Stitches series. I strongly recommend reading book 1 first. These are definitely books that build on each other. I have been saving this one for my annual Christmas readathon. As expected, I enjoyed it very much. I am not a huge fan of the first person style you find with Chick Lit, but somehow it works with this series. Even though the majority of the story is told from one person's view point, there are moments when someone else interjects via a journal that all members of the Dropped Stitch Sisters share. (Again, you need to read the 1st book to totally understand the significance of the group and the journal.)

In book 2, we focus on Carly Winston, the former Rose Queen and cancer survivor. Carly, like most of us, has secrets... one big one she has kept from her "Sisters" and it is weighing her down. Will they understand when she tells them or will it cause a mistrust among them? And what about Randy and their evolving relationship? Will he understand?

Carly has a lot to learn about being comfortable in your own skin... being open and transparent with those you love... and letting God heal you of your past hurts.

Christmas Reading Adventure

2010-11-28T21:55:00.000-06:00

Several years ago I started a tradition of reading Christmas themed books from Thanksgiving to New Years. I collect them throughout the year. Not all are new... I find them at book sales, online book swaps, in local book stores.. wherever I see them throughout the year.

Here are the books I have for this year's adventure... as noted I have already read (and reviewed) 3 of them.

Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska by Loree Lough (Read & Reviewed)

@HOME for the Holidays by Meredith Efken (Read & Reviewed)

The Perfect Gift by Lenora Worth (Read & Reviewed)

A Dropped Stitched Christmas by Janet Tronstad

Operation Married by Christmas by Debra Clopton

Holiday Illusion by Lynette Eason

A Season of Forgiveness by Brenda Coulter

The Christmas Journey by Winnie Griggs

and 4 Christmas Novella Collections:

Patchwork Holiday - Brunstettler, DeMarco, Mills & Reece

Homespun Christmas - Demarco, Etchison, Reece & Schneider

A Currier & Ives Christmas - Coleman, Grote, Mills & Raney

Simply Christmas - Dowd, Lutrell, & Lynxwiler

That should keep me busy between now and the end of the year! Be watching for reviews!

The Perfect Gift by Lenora Worth

2010-11-28T21:46:00.000-06:00

A lovely weekend read for a semi-lazy weekend... Goldie Rios has travelled to the small town of Viola, Louisiana to care for her grandmother following surgery. After a few weeks, she is able to leave her grandmother in order to take a small outing to meet a friend and do some shopping. She does not plan on ending up passed out on a stranger's couch only to be discovered by the man of the house and his 2 sons... a bit like Goldilocks and the three bears.

Rory Branagan is living life one day at a time since his wife's senseless death... just working to keep his family together and on track. The last thing he is looking for is a woman, but it seems that is what he has found... in his home... unexpectedly.

What is God doing here? Throwing two wayward souls together in the most unlikely way. Add in 2 young boys, a matchmaking grandmother, a skeptical mother, and a lost pup and you have a heart-wrenching and funny adventure to usher in the holidays.

@ HOME for the Holidays by Meredith Efken

2010-11-28T21:34:00.000-06:00

Book 2 of the SAHM series and also book 2 in my 2010 Christmas book reading adventure. I just love these books. I reviewed the first book, SAHM I Am, earlier today. The story line centers around members of an online e-group and consists of their emails on the list and off... nothing else. I love the characters.... I know them... I am parts of them. As the title indicates, this is a Christmas tale, although there is a lot more going on than the holidays. Once again, the reader is privy to the various members lives and all that they are dealing with. Another fun read from Efken.

Love Finds You in North Pole Alaska by Loree Lough

2010-11-28T18:40:00.000-06:00

Let the Christmas reading begin! Each year I read Christmas fiction from Thanksgiving to New Year's. I will post a bit more on that and include a list of the books I have for this year in a bit.

I began with one of the Love Finds You books. I have only read 2 others in this series of stand alone books, but so far I love them! I am a sucker for romance... well written and not raunchy... and these books fill the bill!

Sam Sinclair has decided it is time to leave the nest and her older protective big brothers and head off to find her own life. After studying culinary arts, she is ready to find her niche as a chef. So she buys an RV and heads off from her Maryland home to a job in North Pole, Alaska! After traveling across country, Sam arrives to find her job has been given to someone else.

She begins seeking employment.. anything.. only to find that her timing is perfect. Bryce has inherited his family's Christmas shop and he is not happy. His Aunt Olive, who runs the show, is retiring and Bryce has no intention of working indoors with all that Christmas nonsense! He gives Olive the task of finding a manager and in walks Sam. Bryce is floored to find that Sam is Samantha.. not at all what he planned! And to top it off, Olive has given her the other half of the upstairs duplex to share with him. Could it get worse?

Well, yes, it could... because Bryce's life is about to be turned upside down and inside out in a way his hard marine heart can not imagine!

SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken

2010-11-28T18:29:00.001-06:00

SAHM (Stay-at-Home-Mom) I am is a fictional email group much like many groups found at Yahoogroups and Google and other list servers. When I first opened this book I had my doubts. It is made up entirely of emails from this group, as well as personal emails between group members. I wasn't sure I would enjoy a book full of emails. But wow... once I started reading I was hooked! I have been on email lists and still have one of my own for wives and moms, as well as belonging to a small close knit quilting group, so though the names were different, these women seemed like old friends.

Throughout the book, the reader gets a look into the lives and minds of women from various walks of life, various seasons and backgrounds. We have women with many children... women with few... women dealing with infertility and those with unexpected pregnancies... financial struggles.. parenting difficulties... emotional, physical, and spiritual difficulties and so much more. And you can relate to them... if you are a wife and/or a mom you will definitely relate! You have either been through some of the very things they are dealing with or know someone who has.

This is a very real look at real life via the cyber world. Truly a delight to read!

Mainely Mysteries by Susan Page Davis & Megan Elaine Davis

2010-11-28T18:20:00.000-06:00

This is another in the America Loves Mysteries series. Mainely Mysteries is a compilation of three books -- Homicide at Blue Heron Lake, Treasure at Blue Heron Lake and Impostors at Blue Heron Lake. Each book is based in the same small town in Maine with a main set of characters running through each storyline and there is an overall storyline for the 2 central characters which runs throughout the books building in each one.

We start out with Emily, an investigative reporter, returning to her home and reuniting with her old flame, Nate, over a dead body. Not the most romantic way to go about it! In book 2, Emily and Nate are once again drawn into a mystery as a friend calls on them for help concerning puzzling happenings at his hunting lodge and the death of one of his guides and in book 3 two heirs with the same name show up to collect an inheritance. Emily is determined to find the truth and the rightful heir.

These books fit my definition of a "cozy mystery" nicely. Just enough suspense and intrigue to keep your mind guessing, but light enough to be enjoyable and not scare the wits out of you!

1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber

2010-11-18T15:59:00.000-06:00

I love love love Debbie Macomber's books. The first I ever read was 16 Lighthouse Road.. the first book in the Cedar Cove series. At the time, Macomber had written books 1 - 7. I devoured them all in a row and then had to wait! She writes 1 book a year for this series. It is delightful and torturous! I am soo excited when I see the next book out, but I hesitate to read it once I have it. I know that all to quickly I will be done and have to leave Cedar Cove for another year. Like so many other fictional towns (Lumby, Mitford, Mayberry.....) I feel as if I live in Cedar Cove. I know the residents so well and truly care about their comings and goings.

1022 Evergreen Place is a cute little house that has been converted to a duplex. Mack McAfee lives in one half, while Mary Jo Wyse and her infant daughter, Noelle, live in the other half. There is no doubt of the attraction between the two, but each has been through so much in the past year.. together and individually. Both are a bit hesitant to take their relationship to another level for fear they might spoil a good thing.

Enter a romance from long ago. Mary Jo has discovered some letters hidden in her side of the duplex.... love letters from World War II. She and Mack decide to discover all they can about the writer and receiver. Through their digging they discover that life is too short and love to precious to worry about the "what ifs."

The Red Sea Rules by Robert J. Morgan

2010-10-26T14:54:00.000-05:00

Morgan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. A dear friend told me about this book and I kept thinking "Hmmm.. that name is familiar." Well it should be! One of my absolute favorite devotional types books is He Shall Be Called (based on the names of Jesus) and the author is Robert J. Morgan. I also have a devotional that my husband and I gave his mother years ago entitled Then Sings My Soul which Morgan also wrote. Each devotional thought looks at a classic hymn.

The Red Sea Rules has 2 subtitles... 10 God Given Strategies for Difficult Times and The Same God Who Led You in Will Lead You Out.

Morgan looks at Exodus chapter 14 and gleans from it truths that most of us miss when reading. We see a story... we look at the action... but rarely do we look at the events and wonder what can I learn from this. Morgan shows us just that. Moses and the children of Israel were caught between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea... trapped.. overwhelmed... we have all been there! But God delivered them and He will deliver us too.

The Red Sea Rules shows the reader how to see God in the midst of turmoil. How to trust Him and let Him guide you. Morgan has ten strategies based on the Israelites' situation that will teach you to move from fear to faith.

An excellent read whether you are in the midst of a Red Sea moment or on the other side. A reminder that God is in control and that "the God who led you in will lead you out."

(I stated at the beginning that Morgan was quickly becoming a favorite author. I am currently reading his book The Promise based on Romans 8:28. A review will be coming soon.)

Colorado Crimes by Lisa Harris

2010-10-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

A while back I discovered a series called "America Loves a Mystery." Each book consists of 3 romance mysteries set in a specific state. I have read one other in the series before this one.... Alibis in Arkansas In Arkansas each story was written by a different author. In Colorado Crimes, Lisa Harris pens all 3 mysteries.

Pricilla Crumb, a widow and professional chef, has come to her son's hunting lodge to help out... permanently, she hopes! What she doesn't plan for is a guest dying after sampling one of her salmon-filled tartlets. Pricilla determines to save her reputation and find out the truth behind Charles Woodruff's death. Along the way romance is sparked for her son and for Pricilla. Maybe God has more for the rest of her life than just growing old after all!

Just as Pricilla is trying to learn to balance a long distance relationship while running the kitchen of a lodge, her favorite baker is found dead. Once again Pricilla plays amateur sleuth in a search for the truth. Can Max handle being in a relationship with such a risk taker? Or will they come to realize that it is too late to teach old dogs new tricks.

And in the final mystery, Pricilla is the emcee for a prestigious cooking contest. She and Max use this time to get away and explore the possibilities of their future. But when one of her former students is arrested for murdering one of the contest judges, Pricilla feels obligated to help out in the investigation.

The 3 mysteries in Colorado Crimes are "cozy" mysteries.. a bit like watching Murder, She Wrote (which I love!). They are well written and very entertaining and fairly clever plot lines that will keep you guessing.

I will soon be reading and reviewing another of these "cozy" mysteries -- Mainly Mysteries by Susan Page Davis and Megan Elaine Davis.

The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini

2010-10-05T21:34:00.002-05:00

One of the Elms Creek Quilts' books, Chiaverini does a wonderful job of blending the old with the new. Sylvia Compson and the reader are transformed back in time as she ponders and reads about Joanna, a runaway slave who made her way to Elms Creek Farm prior to the Civil War. Wondering what happened to Joanna, who was captured by slave catchers and returned to her master, separated from her new born son, Sylvia delves into a bundle of letters she finds stuck in an old desk. The tale woven through the pages of The Lost Quilter is one of sadness and hardship and also of perseverance and hope. Learn of Joanna's life through slavery and the heritage she left behind.

Forgotten God by Francis Chan

2010-10-05T21:29:00.000-05:00

Forgotten God is a powerful book about the Holy Spirit... the often forgotten part of the Holy Trinity. It seems believers know all the right things to say about the Holy Spirit, but don't really understand who He is nor do they walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, which is available to them. Chan shares how God puts the Holy Spirit in us to empower, guide, comfort, reveal and more. We are not alone... we are not powerless.. so why do we act as if we are?

Love Finds You in Miracle Kentucky by Andrew Boeshaar

2010-09-27T19:57:00.000-05:00

Boeshaar is a well-known often read Christian Fiction author, so I was not surprised to find her among the Love Finds You In series. The premise to Miracle is a unique one and very intriguing to me. The main character, Meg, has been reared by her single mother all over the U.S. traveling from city to city, guy to guy. The book opens with Meg living with someone in Chicago. But life has taken its toll and Meg is ready for some rest and a new start. She moves to Miracle, Kentucky to live with her grandmother... a grandmother whom she loves but really doesn't know. She will also be near her father and his second family.. the one that works. Can Meg make peace with her dad... her mom... herself... and more importantly with God.

My one negative with this book and it happens in other Christian Fiction is the lack of pointing the reader to Jesus. Meg starts going to church and cleans up her life, but there really is no mention of Jesus or of her working through her life and hurts with Him. It is like she is just all fine after she starts hanging out with church folk.

Love Finds You In Lahaina Hawaii by Bodie Thoene

2010-09-27T19:48:00.000-05:00

The Love Finds You series is a wonderful collection of love stories set all over the U.S. and written by different Christian Fiction authors. Bodie Thoene is well known and loved and this is the first book written by her that I have ever read. It very likely will not be the last. I know so very little about the History of Hawaii and Thoene is so thorough in her research.

Lahaina provides a story within a story. It is 1973 and Sandi Smith is trying to live a life in limbo while her husband is MIA in Vietnam. She becomes involved with a project to write a history of each state and is sent to Hawaii to do research and find her story. Sandi meets Aunt Hannah, a dear friend of the last princess of Hawaii who has written out the entire tale in great detail. Sandi is drawn back in time as Princess Kaiulani, Hannah and others watch the Hawaii they know and love be swallowed up by the United States and the monarchy placed on a shelf along with much of their heritage. As Sandi delves into Kaiulani and Hannah's stories, she finds herself also drawn into her own story. She comes face to face with the truth and need to let go and move forward.

Previous books in this series (I have only read 2 prior to this one) were fun and light-hearted, not so Lahaina. There is a depth here that spoke to my heart and made me feel as if I were there watching everything unfold. A truly wonderful book!

Touching Stars by Emilie Richards

2010-09-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

Touching Stars is book 4 in Richards Shenandoah Album series. (A delightful series!) Gayle Fortman is a single mom teenage boys. Her ex is a hot shot journalist seen all over the world reporting the latest crisis or scandal or other big news item. They bought an inn together when the boys were you, but Eric quickly realized he was not meant to stay in one place... and so he left. He has been in and out of his boys lives over the years, never really taking time to get to know them. Now he is recovering from a near-death experience in Afghanistan and he needs a place to rest. Gayle opens her home, the Daughters of the Stars Bed-n-Breakfast to Eric hoping that while he is there he and the boys will make peace and connect. What she doesn't expect are all the emotions that will resurface with Eric there. The anger.. hurt.. love.. from days gone by. Gayle finally realizes what everyone else has known, that she needs to step back in time and deal with her divorce and the feelings that have been pushed down all these years. Then and only then can she move forward with her life and love.

Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum

2010-08-25T13:05:00.001-05:00

I am hooked! I have fallen in love with Sea Harbor and the characters who live there... and I cannot wait to read the other 2 books out in this series and hope there are more to come!

Death by Cashmere is book 1 in Goldenbaum's Seaside Knitters Series.

Izzy Chambers has left the corporate world to return to the quieter pace of life in Sea Harbor where she opens a knitting shop and forms a small group called the Seaside Knitters. No doubt they thought they would spend their time together knitting and talking certainly not trying to solve a murder! Izzy rents the apartment above her shop to Angelina Archer, the town bad girl, who shows up dead. The authorities feel it is a random act by a stranger passing through, but the Seaside Knitters know better and are determined to find the truth.

If you like cozy mysteries and rich eccentric true to life characters, this book is for you!

Family of the Heart by Dorothy Clark

2010-08-25T12:59:00.000-05:00

What a sweet story.... Sarah Randolph has left her family home in the lap of luxury to travel to Cincinnati, OH to serve as a nanny for an orphaned little girl. Her family is in no way pleased, but Sarah is determined to make a life for herself after the death of her finace'. Clayton Bainbridge is not what she expected to meet. One minute soft the next harsh.... refusing to call his daughter by name or have her in the same room. What is Sarah to do? She sit by and watch Nora grow up without her Father's love and yet she could be dismissed and sent away if she interferes. Circumstances arise that throw the three together and slowly God is able to heal hurts and brokenness and bring renewal.

Very sweet heart-tugging story from Love Inspired Historicals.

The Manning Sisters by Debbie Macomber

2010-08-25T12:53:00.000-05:00

This is a 2 for one read... 2 of Macomber's older books republished together in one.

The Cowboy's Lady is a super fun read! I have a friend who reminds me so much of the leading lady in this story and she is married to a cowboy! Taylor Manning is running away to find herself... to reinvent her life after a relationship disaster. Her plan... to hold up in a Montana town and teach for 1 year.. isolated from the rest of the world. What this city girl didn't expect was a man like Russ Palmer. From the first time they meet there is friction and chemistry. These 2 can't decide if they love or hate each other and neither knows how on earth they will survive when Taylor moves back to Seattle.

The Sheriff Takes a Wife is the 2nd book in The Manning Sisters and is set in the same Montana town as The Cowboy's Lady. Christy Manning has come to visit her sister, Taylor, and while there she meets newly elected sheriff, Cody Franklin. Sparks fly and Christy is thrown into a turmoil of confusion. Recently engaged to a long time boyfriend, Christy has to decide where her heart belongs and who determines its fate.

Really fun stories! Macomber never lets me down.

The Law and Miss Mary by Dorothy Clark

2010-08-09T17:11:00.000-05:00

The Law and Miss Mary is part of a relatively new line of books -- Love Inspired Historical. I have purchased Love Inspireds over the years and will continue to do so, but also like that our local library has started stocking them.

The Law and Miss Mary is set in St. Louis in 1840. While I am not from that area, I did grow up on the Mississippi River and love tales that revolve around it and steamboats and such. It was quite easy for me to picture the setting for this story... the boats and the scoundrels that frequent the docks. But the foe Miss Mary, new to St. Louis, finds herself fighting is not on the docks... he's in the mayor's office. It seems the "fine" people of St. Louis don't like seeing the orphan children on the streets... much like "fine" people today who complain about the homeless. They want them to go away, but are unwilling to do anything to help their plight.

Mary steps in to rescue a young lad named Ben and before she knows it she has a house full of children, but there are still many more who need help. The Captain of the police feels for the children and Mary, but he has plans... to advance politically and socially... and being a do-gooder will not help his efforts... in fact, it may hinder them. When the mayor passes a law that any child under the age of 12 found on the streets without an adult shall be arrested, the Captain realizes he has to reevaluate his dreams and goals.

The Law and Miss Mary is a nice read, especially for those of us who enjoy Historic settings. This was my first encounter with the author, Dorothy Clark. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future

Downpour by James MacDonald

2010-08-06T17:06:00.001-05:00

It has taken me a while to read through this book. You could certainly fly through it, but I decided to take my time and chew on what MacDonald had to say and to apply the various exercises he gives at the end of each chapter.

Downpour is a book about revival... renewal... refreshment... reinvigoration... and it is a book that holds no punches.

There are five pictures MacDonald paints..

God on the Throne: A Picture of Holiness
Sin in the Mirror: A Picture of Brokenness
Self in the Dirt: A Picture of Repentance
Christ on the Cross: A Picture of Grace
Spirit in Control: A Picture of Power

This is not a 5 easy steps to a better relationship with God book... in fact, I would say it is more like 5 difficult steps. But it is worth it! Downpour will lead you to look at yourself and your relationship with God in a new light. To really see God as holy... to see your sin as God sees it, not just as some little "bad" stuff you do every once in a while... to understand that repentance takes more than words.... to grasp what Jesus truly did on the cross and how that Grace still flows down today... and to realize your need for a continual infilling of the Holy Spirit to live as Christ would have you to live.

It is a wonderful book that will challenge and encourage you to seek more in your walk with the Lord.

Love Finds You In Humble Texas by Anita Higman

2010-08-06T16:58:00.002-05:00

This is the second "Love Finds You" book I have read and they were both good reads.... totally different, but both fun!

Trudie is just Trudie... no frills.. what you see is what you get.. and she is fine being that way. But then her 30th birthday rolls around and her sister, a life coach, gives her two gifts. First, sessions with her to create the new and improved Trudie and second, a date with Mason Wimberly. Trudie is less than amused, but trapped and endures the date only to find she is attracted to Mason and he appears to be attracted back!

And then it happens... a bump in the road... Trudie's sister, Lane, who went out with Mason a few times in the past decides she should have stuck with him. Trudie decides to hide her feels and step aside for Lane, but Mason is not interested in that.

It is an odd love triangle.... sort of a wonky one... that only God can work out.

Greater Love by Robert Whitlow

2010-08-06T16:48:00.001-05:00

Book 3 of Whitlow's Tides of Truth series was as wonderful as the first two (both reviewed on this blog in the last few months). White Whitlow does a great job of tying up some loose ends, he leaves enough hanging so that each reader can "suppose" what happens to various characters. I, for one, like that. I can place them where I want them and with whom I want them to be. :-)

Greater Love Has a powerful message of faith and of growing into who you are in Christ. He also did a wonderful job of showing how we, as individuals, influence and affect others lives in ways we are unaware.

Tami Taylor is on the threshold of her life. She is finishing up law school and will move from the security of her North GA home and family to Savannah. Will she work at an established firm where she has clerked the past summer or will she strike out with two other young female lawyers to start a firm of their own? Not only does she have two job possibilities, she has two men vying for her affection. Who will she choose or will they make that decision for her?

Add into the midst the elderly woman she stays with in Savannah who suffers from severe dementia, a young runaway with a deep dark secret, a prophetess with a message and a businessman determined to keep everyone quiet.

Greater Love is full of intrigue, romance, and faith. A lovely end to a wonderful series!

Love Finds You in Holiday Florida by Sandra D. Bricker

2010-07-15T17:46:00.000-05:00

I have been hearing about the Love Finds You books for a while and have been wanting to read them, so imagine my surprise when my daughter brings in a stack of books to take to the library for a book sale and there is this book... Love Finds You in Holiday Florida. I snatched it up quick! Now my daughter doesn't read much fiction and when she does she sticks with the classics... or a good mystery... but no historic romances or chick lit or the likes for her! A friend gave her this book to read, but she never did. So mom got it... and loved it!

Bostonian Cassie Constantine is trying to tie up loose ends and find her new normal in life after the death of her beloved husband, Zan. One of those loose ends is there vacation house in Holiday, FL... a kitschy hamlet full of retired folks and pink flamingo studded yards. Cassie's daughter has Christmas plans, so she decides to spend Christmas there getting the house ready to go on the market. What she doesn't expect to find are friends... and adventure.... and new side of herself... and love.

This is a cute fun read... very much for those who love a good fairy tale... and the nice thing is the prince and princess in this one are mature! I like that! LOL! Nice to read about someone my age who is the heroine and not her mom!

I have already started my 2nd Love Finds You Book... and I plan to read more! I am a sucker for Cinderella and Prince Charming!

Higher Hope by Robert Whitlow

2010-07-15T17:38:00.002-05:00

Book 2 of the Voices of Truth series and I was not disappointed at all! I loved the first book! Deeper Water Review I feared the second book wouldn't be as good. I had no need to fear! And now I feel confident book 3, which I received from the library today, will be great too!

I have to confess that I love pretty much anything to do with law and legal stuff like trials etc. I am a certified paralegal... minored in Criminal Justice... toyed around with being a lawyer... am a nut for murder mysteries and legal thrillers in book, movie or television show form!

Higher Hope continues the story of summer law intern Tami Taylor. Tami comes from a very conservative rural Georgia background and has been tossed into mainstream Savannah head first. Her convictions cause a bit of warring within. I love that she does falter and struggle (as we all do) and there are times when she is able to stand firm (as we all should). Whitlow, while providing a wonderful legal tale leaving out no necessary detail, paints a very realistic picture of the struggle between the Spirit and the Natural Man.

In Higher Hope, Tami is drawn into a case that hits a bit close to home... too close. An outspoken charismatic preacher has been accused of slander and libel and the firm has been hired to prosecute her. Tami prayerfully searches for the truth and finds more than she bargained for.

Again, a wonderful book! Looking forward to book 3 in this series... Greater Love.

Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris

2010-06-25T14:11:00.001-05:00

I don't read much secular fiction these days. Years ago I did, but over time the amount of coarse language and sex became a bit much for me and I discovered Christian Fiction. However, there are a few secular series I read with relish (anything by Debbie Macomber... the Elms Creek Quilters series by Chiaverini... the Shenandoah Album series by Emilie Richards to name a few).

I have shared on the blog that we have a new amazing library in my little corner of the world... so close that I could walk... if the temp and humidity ever become bearable!

As I have been perusing the shelves and just marveling at this treasure, I have picked up some books by authors that are new to me.... stretching myself a bit. Some forays have been delightful.. others not good at all (See previous post on Delta Belles). Shakespeare's Landlord falls somewhere between the 2 leaning a bit more toward the delightful side.

This is book introduces amateur sleuth Lily Bard of Shakespeare, Arkansas. I have to admit the Shakespearean link is what caught my eye. I am a huge fan of the Bard... having read most of his works and wrote my Senior Thesis in college on the use of Light and Dark in his plays. The town's name and Lily's last name are pretty much the only links to ole Will... at least in this book.

The characters are fun.. quirky and eccentric at times... the storyline is fun and well done. I am one of those folks who usually figure out a mystery early on, but I was very near the end before "whodunit" became clear to me.

Lily is a loner... with a secret... so she is not thrilled when she stumbles upon a dead body. She does her best to distance herself from the crime, even making an anonymous 911 call... but to no avail. Her link to the body and her secret soon come rolling out and her life is turned upside down. Her best bet is to get this crime solved so people can move on and forget it and go back to ignoring her.

I would caution that there is some coarse language in this book... only 3 or 4 times, but still.. and while there are no grand detailed scenes, unmarried characters sleep together. To some these things are trivial. To others they are deal breakers. I use to be of the first school... I am finding myself moving more and more towards the latter. Neither added anything to the story and while I know they are real-world occurrences, I just don't know that I want to read the real world... I spend a lot of time there and when I read, I like real people and settings but cleaned up a bit as the world should be.

Still, all in all it was a nice read.

No Distance Too Far by Lauraine Snelling

2010-06-25T13:57:00.001-05:00

This is book 2 of the Home to Blessing series. Snelling has several series that center around the fictional town on Blessing North Dakota: Red River of the North (6 books), Return to Red River (3 books), Daughters of Blessing (4 books) and Home to Blessing (2 books so far...with a 3rd releasing soon). I absolutely love all of these! They are easily some of my favorite books! I enjoy the setting, which is very "foreign" to this Southern girl, and I adore the characters who have become old friends. Each time a new Blessing book comes out I get excited to catch up on the families and meet their new neighbors and friends. It is like going back home for a visit.

So there was no doubt I would love No Distance Too Far... and I did. The focus of this series, so far, is on Astrid. A young woman who has completed medical school and is now struggling with where she should go to serve the Lord in her calling. Will she head into the jungles of Africa to work as a Medical Missionary or to an Indian Reservation near her home of Blessing where the need for medical care is great or will she go home to Blessing and serve the people there along side her sister-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth Bjorklund? Only God knows and He is not making it as clear to Astrid as she would like.

Following some advice of her mother's, Astrid decides to take a step of faith and heads to Athens, GA to attend Missionary School. There are those who believe a single woman, no matter how educated, has no business heading off into the dark heart of Africa. They advise she find a husband and try again. But Astrid pushes on... determined to complete the training there even though she has no certainty that Africa is God's plan for her.

All the while Joshua is settling in Blessing, building a home that he hopes Astrid will share with him, and wondering how to get her to settle back in ND instead of going to Africa. He is also learning that God has a plan for his life and things for him to do. Family and friends in Blessing struggle with Astrid's choice as they anticipate a new hospital and wonder how Elizabeth can manage as the area's only doctor.

It is intriguing to see all this play out on the pages of this book.. to read the thoughts and prayers of those involved... to see God's hand at work. A wonderful read. I look forward to the next book in the series!

A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

2010-06-09T16:31:00.000-05:00

I forget where I heard about or read about this book, but I am so glad I did! It is a wonderful book to breathe some fresh air into your prayer life. In the last section, Miller covers some practical points like using prayer cards and journals and such, but through out the first 2/3s he just shares prayer stories and what God has taught him as he has developed his praying life.

His thoughts will encourage and challenge... they will make you stop and think about how you pray and why... and whether or not you pray just because it is something Christians do or if you really expect an answer. He prays about everything with unabashed boldness... after all, God wants to be a part of our lives.. ALL of it.

This is not a 5 steps to a better prayer life book.. nor is it a theological tome on prayer... it is an open and honest look at prayer and how it looks in one man's life and how it could look in yours.

Delta Belles by Penelope Stokes

2010-06-09T16:23:00.002-05:00

Years ago I read a book or two by Stokes... The Blue Bottle Club... The Amethyst Heart... are 2 I remember. I also remember at the time that I felt certain she and I would not see eye to eye on some doctrinal issues, but I was never offended or bothered by those differences.

As I was wandering through our local library recently I saw she had a number of works out I had not read... I also noticed she had a sticker on her books that indicated she was a Mississippi writer (I live in Mississippi). I read the summary of Delta Belles and immediately knew I would like the story. 4 friend who all went to Mississippi College for Women (know as the W in Mississippi) who are now all grown and coming back together for a reunion. And I did enjoy the stories... the characters reminded me of people I knew.. much of the topics of conversation were familiar to me as they centered around places and events I know or at least know of.

But I never finished the book. I rarely.. RARELY.. don't finish a book. I will push through the worst written drivel due to some self-possessed obsession with finishing any book I start. That said.. I often never start a book if I feel I won't enjoy it... if I don't start it, I don't have to finish it. So was Delta Belles that poorly written? No.. in fact the writing is wonderful.. the characters full and real.. the story lines completely believable and uncontrived.. but there came an issue.. at first I felt I could over look it.. but as the book progressed it went from being a side line to a strong point. That issue is homosexuality.

I will not toss aside a book just because there is a homosexual character or characters... most of us know people who are gay... consider them friends... care about them. But not all of us consider the choices they make to be sin. I do. I believe with every ounce of my being that the Bible is clear on this and so, for me, reading a book that goes beyond just condoning it, but actually spends a great its time promoting it, was not a good use of my time nor something I felt best to place in my mind.

I debated not writing a review at all. I don't think I have ever written a negative review. But then I thought maybe someone would like to know ahead of time about this book. I guess is could actually draw someone to it. But it may also prevent someone from starting a good story only to feel the need to walk away from it as I did.

the happy room by Catherine Palmer

2010-05-27T08:27:00.000-05:00

I am struggling with how to review this book. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. Not so much due to writing style or such, but I think the subject matter is what caused this less than positive feeling. It is, to me, a rather depressing book from the get-go and while there are some good things that happen along the way and it is written with some upbeat happenings at the end, it still ends on a sad note to me.

the happy room (the author has the title in all lower case) is a book that focuses in on three siblings... sibling who grew up in the Mission field in Africa. They are all grown now and each have lives that were greatly effected by that time and their personal perception of it. One sister is married and living the perfect life letting no one see any unrest or sadness or struggle in her life or her family... one sister is battling for her life with anorexia... and the brother is angry with the world and God and himself for allowing his wife to leave with his son. Truthfully, they are all a mess!

Debbie's illness brings them together and forces them to face the truth of their upbringing and of their current life. They find there were some good memories and a lot of hurt that came from not fulling understanding why their life was as it was.

It i interesting to see how 3 siblings live essentially the same life and yet interpret it so differently.

I have no doubt there are those who will love this book. Maybe the timing was just wrong for me. If you are looking for a fun uplifting read, this is not it. If you want something that challenges or digs deep, this is not it. But if you want a glimpse into the lives of a dysfunctional Christian family and how God can work even in the midst of the mess, then this book is for you.

Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow

2010-05-19T15:11:00.000-05:00

I have a new author to add to my "favorites" list.. Robert Whitlow. I loved this book! I am a bit of a legal nut... contemplated law school.. have a criminal justice minor and am a certified paralegal.. I love just about anything to do with the law!

Deeper Water (Book 1 of the Tides of Truth series) was one of the books I stumbled upon as I wandered through our new local library. Terri Blackstock (one of my favorite authors) praised it... the back cover write up sounded good... and on one of his books he was compared to John Grisham, who I enjoy, so I decided to give Whitlow a try. I am sooo glad I did! I look forward to reading the other books in this series as well as his other works. Fortunately our library system has all his books! Only a few are at my local branch, but I can request the others to be sent here as I get ready for them. No doubt a large portion of my summer reading will be his books!

Deeper Water is set in Georgia.. Savannah, GA. Tammy Lynn Taylor has left her home in rural north Georgia to spend the summer clerking at a prestigious law firm in Savannah. Tami (as she now spells her name) has lead a shelter life growing up in a conservative fundamentalist church and being homeschooled. I have to say Whitlow treated both those aspects of her upbringing with great respect and dignity. While our family is conservative, we are no where near as fundamentalist as Tami's (Blue jeans are regular attire for everyone here and, obviously, we have the Internet.. among other things!)... but we are conservative and we homeschooled (I have one child entering college this year and one that just graduated college.) There are times when homeschoolers are depicted as social misfits with extremist views. No doubt some are... but most homeschoolers are normal folks who want what is best for their kids like most parents. So, again, I appreciated Whitlow's portrayal of not only Tami, but her parents and siblings as normal folks.

Back to the story... Tami is in Savannah working for a law firm about to try her first case, a misdemeanor trespassing charge.. but her client's ramblings reveal something more sinister ... possibly the solution to a cold case.. the death of a young girl many years ago. Tami decides to dig a bit and soon discovers a link to the firm and its founders. Does the conspiracy continue on to the current day partners? Is Tami safe working there? Can she prove who murdered little Lisa Prescott all those years ago finally bringing justice to this forgot tragedy?

Excellent book... and no doubt the others in the series will be just as thrilling to read!

Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck

2010-05-15T17:25:00.000-05:00

Recently, my local library has close and a new amazing one has been opened! We have gone from an old 6000 square ft. building (where books were ruined due to mildew) to a phenomenal 25,000 square feet oasis! Stone.. natural elements... in a wooded setting with a large pond... glass walls that provide amazing views.. it truly is a wonder! And best of all the new library is within walking distance of my home!

My husband and I were there for the Dedication and Grand Opening, but there wasn't time to wander the stacks and browse through the books. So I went back last week to do just that. I brought home 3 novels to read... one of them was Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck. I had never see or heard of it. The cover caught my eye ... it just looked like a fun book.. and it was! This was one of the "funnest" reads I've enjoyed in a long time.

Macy Moore has it all... a great guy... a great career... great clothes and stuff... life is .. well, great! And then it all starts to fall apart... a demotion... a break-up... and to top it off a class reunion looming. What's a girl to do!?

This is Chick Lit at its best... faith mixed with a lot of laughter. .... a perfect book anytime, but with summer coming I have to say this would be a great beach / poolside read.

The Hand-Me-Down Family by Winnie Griggs

2010-05-15T17:07:00.000-05:00

This is the first book I have read by Griggs. It will not be the last! In fact, I ordered her A Christmas Journey through the Paperback Swap today. The Hand-Me-Down family is a Love Inspired Historical novel. It is the tale of a mail-order bride, but with twist... she arrives to find she is a widow. Callie Gray never expected to marry, so when the opportunity to become a mail-order bride came along she took it... going so far as to marry via proxy before travelling west. Looking forward to life on a ranch with her husband and young daughter, Callie arrives to find that he has perished in a fire along with his sister and her husband and now there are 3 children who need parents. Callie is ready to take on the role, but her husband's younger brother, who knows nothing about Callie's coming, has arrived in town ready to take over the family ranch and his nephew and nieces. Who will win the battle of the wills... or is there a compromise they both can live with.

The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini

2010-05-15T16:59:00.000-05:00

The Elm Creek Quilts series is one of my favorite series. I want to find a real Elm Creek Quilts and go visit Sylvia, Sarah, Gwen, Summer and all the rest! Most of the books in the series I have loved... a few I have liked... The Quilter's Kitchen falls into the latter category. It is easily my least favorite Elm Creek book.

Essentially it is a series of recipes that have been wrapped in a short story of memories. Anna is the new chef at Elm Creek. She and Sylvia are cleaning out the kitchen in preparation of a major redo. Along the way, they unearth family heirlooms and treasures from Sylvia's childhood. She tells Anna stories connected with their finds.

The stories are entertaining, but truly add nothing to the richness or depth of the Elm Creek books. If you read the series and skipped this one, I don't think you would skip a beat. I may find myself wrong when I read the next book, but I truly see nothing it adds to the overall stories.

That said... there are some yummy sounding recipes in The Quilter's Kitchen, so if you like to collect recipes or cookbooks then you probably will enjoy this book.