Courting the Doctor's Daughter by Janet Dean

This is from the Love Inspired Historical series. I don't recall reading anything by Dean before, so she is a new author to me.

Courting the Doctor's Daughter was a nice read. Nothing hugely deep or life changing, but a wonderful bit of entertainment and escape from the craziness of life. Mary Grave is a widow with three sons and a very skeptical and untrusting spirit. When a peddler comes to town hawking his miracle elixir, Mary goes on the attack... determined to run this charlatan out of town. But Dr. Luke Jacobs isn't so easily bullied. He is on a mission to find his son and nothing or no one is going to interfere with that.

What Luke didn't expect to find was his son and a new life. This is not what he planned and he wants no part of it.... or does he. Mary has plans of her own and she is certain Luke will complicate things and get her off course.

What are two stubborn, lonely, obviously in love people to do?

When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall

This is book 1 of Woodsmall's Sisters of the Quilt series. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start another Amish series. I have read everything by Beverly Lewis and most of Wanda Brunstetter's books, but a couple of friends loved this series and recommended it so I decided to give it a try. While some parts of it seem to be typical of books based on the Amish (i.e. the struggle to decide between the Plain world and the English world), When the Heart Cries definitely has twists that are not expected. One thing I liked is the depth of the characters and the insight into their emotions and thoughts. It is difficult to give examples without giving away too much of the story, but one character is involved in a tragic accident and irrationally blames another. His reasoning is so flawed and yet so human and much as any one of us might create. This made the Amish seem more real and more like the rest of us.. not as different as they often seem. It is definitely a story of secrets and poor decisions and misunderstandings that lead to heart break. But it is also a story of hope and while the end leaves you hanging, there is a sense that thigns will come together one day.

The main characters are Hannah Lapp, a 17 year old Amish girl, and Paul Waddell, a college age Mennonite boy. No surprise the 2 are in love and struggle with how to be together and keep peace in their families. Secrets lead to untruths... people jump to conclusions... and tragedy leads to greater loss. While early on their are some fun parts, it is not a light-hearted story. It is a bit heavy and, again, leaves so much hanging. I have already picked up book 2 from the library and will start it soon (Once I finish the Macomber book I am reading!).

92 Pacific Boulevard by Debbie Macomber

I am a big Macomber fan, as I am sure I have stated here before. Her Cedar Cove novels were the first of her works I read and are still favorites. 92 Pacific Boulevard is book 9 in the series (which really needs to be read in order). It was so much fun to go back to Cedar Cove and visit with old friends, get to know some of them a bit better and meet a few new ones. Sheriff Troy Davis is still struggling with his love for Faith Beckwith, but is it too late to make up for his foolish actions? In the meantime, Faith has become the target for some malicious vandalism and is considering leaving Cedar Cove. Maybe it was a mistake to move here in the first place. Olivia Griffin is fighting cancer with grace and the support of her many friends in Cedar Cove. And there are babies on the way.... triplets! Life is never dull in Cedar Cove!

Preparing for Jesus is an devotional for the Advent and Christmas Season. Readings begin December 1 and go through January 7, the day after Epiphany. Wangerin focuses on different characters from the Christmas story. Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Angels, the Magi, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, Anna and of course Jesus allowing the reader to get a view of Christmas from the original event. It truly is at times like you are right there in Bethlehem. This is a wonderful way to get your heart in tune and focused on Jesus during a world centered time of year. I just found a copy on Paper Back Book Swap for my daughter so she can read along with me next year! I suggest looking for copies now while Christmas books are on sale.

The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson

What a fun book! I love reading Christmas novels during the holidays and got a bit of a late start this year. I had never heard of The Christmas Bus. I saw it on the Paperback Swap Site and thought it looked and sounded interesting. My library didn't have a copy, so I nabbed one off PBS (great site!)

Edith Ryan and her husband, Charles, live in the Pacific Northwest in a small town called Christmas Village. They own a bed and breakfast ... The Shepherd's Inn. Each year the Ryan's close down for the holidays to make room for their family to come visit, but things are different this year. None of the children are coming home and so they find themselves with no plans and a big empty house. Edith decides to open up for Christmas and prays that the Inn will be nice and full!

Her prayers are answered beyond what she imagined with a cast of characters that turn her world and Christmas Village upside down! And then the bus arrives. An old school bus wildly painted that is providing transportation and shelter for a young couple headed to California and greener pastures. There is no room for them in the Inn, but Charles and Edith see no trouble with allowing them to park there. The town, on the other hand, takes great issue with this.... after all, it doesn't look good.

But the Ryan's win out... the bus is broken down and waiting on parts, so not much can be done. And over time the hearts of the towns folk are softened as they come to see this young couple, with a wife who is great with child, in light of the blessings of Christmas.

Very sweet story.... very funny at times too! A true delight to read!

Forever Christmas by Christine Lynxwiller

Typically I read Christmas themed novels from Thanksgiving to January 1. I have only been able to read 1 this year! Forever Christmas is a charming fun novel set in Jingle Bells, Arkansas... a community I had no trouble imagining! In fact, I would love to visit there one day.

Jingle Bells saved a young Kristianna Harrington and now she is determined to save Jingle Bells. Summer Valley Corp. wants to move in, providing much needed jobs and revenue for this dying town, but part of the bargain is a name change. As it is all the business have a Christmas Theme.. Candy Cane striped bowling pens at the bowling Alley, businesses with names like Blizzard Barbecue, Reindeer Games and Toy Story, and Snow Place Like Home Pet Boarding. Even Kristianna owns a Christmas themed business, a shop she inherited from her grandmother called Forever Christmas.

It seems preposterous that the name change would fly.... but then the town starts to split as some see the increase of income and others hold on to the traditions of the past. The addition of Jingle Bells newest residence, Shawn Webber, attorney for Summer Valley doesn't help.

Kristianna's emotions are on a roller coaster and she feels she is fighting an uphill battle as more and more lean towards the change. When she is betrayed by one of her nearest and dearest, she isn't sure she can continue the fight. Change is not something she likes and it appears everything she holds dear and true is changing right before her eyes.

Lover's Knot by Emilie Richards

My reading time has been very limited the past month of so. I seem to either be running here and there or just too tired to read. Hopefully that will change in 2010!

I recently read the 3rd book in Emilie Richards' Shenandoah Album Series. A friend told me about these books. We are both quilters and the titles are quilt pattern names, plus a quilt or quilting plays into the storyline a bit.

I really enjoyed Lover's Knot. It was different than the earlier books in several ways, one being that portions of the book jump back in history to tell the story of someone who migrated to the Toms Brook area. It was easy to compare the character from the past, Leah, with the current day character, Kendra, whose husband is Leah's grandson. Both women suffered losses in their lives. Both had plans that were drastically changed by a sudden tragic event. Both persevered and became stronger as a result.

Kendra needs a break. She needs to get away from the city.... from her life... from her husband, Isaac. She chooses to spend time in an old cabin in the Shenandoah Valley that her husband inherited from his grandmother. Isaac was adopted as a child and knew nothing of his biological family and really wants nothing to do with them. Kendra, on the other hand, is drawn to the cabin in the woods and to the woman who lived there. She senses a story that needs telling.

The discovery of 2 skeletons in a cave... an odd quilt with mysterious names embroidered on it... and the cabin bring change to both Kendra and Isaac's lives. Change that is exhilarating at times and painful at others, but in the end ... change that is needed.. required.

A beautiful story of seeking the truth and finding that no matter what you find, it really does set you free. A story of learning what is really important in life. Of reconnecting.... renewal....reconciliation...revival.