Where Do I Go by Neta Jackson

Where Do I Go is Book 1 of Jackson's new Yada Yada House of Hope Series. I absolutely adored the Yada Yada Prayer Group series and am so happy Jackson decided to write a "spin-off". While the main focus is on a new character who is not part of the prayer group, the story is connected to the Yadas and many of the characters from that series show up in this one. For me, it was a bit like going back to visit some old friends and making new ones also. Gabby Fairbanks has moved to Chicago... away from her children... away from her career... and thrown into a new world and a lifestyle she has no desire to embrace. Determined to make the best of it, Gabby sets out to explore her new home and discovers Lucy, an ill homeless lady. In a gesture of good will she puts Lucy in a cab and sends her to the nearest shelter, Manna House. Her husband, Philip, hopes that is the end of it... but it isn't. Gabby cannot get her thoughts off Lucy and ends up going to the shelter to check on her. She comes home with more than she bargained for... a job opportunity and a tiny spark in her dead faith. As Gabby flourishes, her marriage doesn't... and as her faith grows, her life falls apart.

Warning.. this book has a cliff hanger ending and leaves many questions unanswered. I have no idea how many books are planned for this series, but I do know number 2 is out! And Neta Jackson's husband has written a series that parallels this one... the Yada Yada Brotherhood. I have the first in that series in my to read stack.. Harry Bentley's Second Chance.

This is an excellent read! If you love the Yada Yada series, you must read this one! And if you have not read the Yada series, I encourage you to do so a.s.a.p. They are one of the best series I have read! Not just entertaining, but Faith building!

The Best Question Ever by Andy Stanley

One of the wonderful Titus 2 women God has placed in my life is also my Bible study leader. She devours books like this and is always saying '"You need to read....." The Best Question Ever is one of her "need to read" books. So I read it!

Now I know the obvious question is... what IS the best question ever? But, of course, I cannot tell you that! I will tell you that Stanley has a unique perspective, based solidly on Scripture, for making decisions. He has practiced this for 20+ years and has shared it with many people. This question will bring clarity to decisions involving money, relationships, time, career .... ever aspect of your life large and small.

The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin

This is the first Love Inspired Historical book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Bylin is also a new author to me. Adie has a lovely home at Swan's Nest with her infant son and the ladies she has taken in. They are a mismatched bunch that create a loving family. Then one night Joshua Blue shows up on Adie's doorstep sick and exhausted and in search of his long lost sister. Despite her "rent to no men" rule, Adie takes Josh in for just the night... that is until one of the ladies sees him and, thinking he is out to harm them, shoots him. As Josh recoups at Swan's Nest, he learns first hand of the threats and violence against them. He determines to stay put and protect Adie and her charges. But how can he continue to look for Emily is he stays and what will become of Adie and her son if he leaves?

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

Off on another SisterChick adventure! These books are delightful reads filled with fun and laughter and a dose of Faith. In Wooden Shoes, Summer decides she needs to escape the reality of her world a bit and heads off to the Netherlands to meet Noelle, who has been her penpal since 3rd grade. Their adventures seem right up my alley... their good intentions are often met with hilarious mishaps and confusion.. and yet they get through each one with laughter and usually some chocolate! (Chocolate is a running theme in this series!). During their time together, Summer is able to make peace with her present and possible future and Noelle makes peace with her past. It is all about letting go and letting God. Something we all struggle with doing!

My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I discovered Sawyer a year or so ago when my neighbor loaned me a book of hers. Some of the first Christian fiction I ever read was by Janette Oke and I quickly fell in love with Historic Fiction. Sawyer reminds me a bit of Oke and others who tend to write about the past.

My Heart Remembers centers around three children, Maelle, Matthew and Molly Gallagher... three orphans who are placed on an orphan train and sent out West. Although they plan to stay together, the powers that be have other plans. A wealthy couple has specifically asked for a baby girl with red hair and green eyes and Molly fits the bill. Soon after she is taken Maelle and Matthew find homes of their own and so the 3 siblings are separated. As she says Good-bye, Maelle slips each one a remembrance of home. To Molly, the family Bible; to Mattie, a photograph of them with their parents and for herself, the letters her mother wrote to her Da in their younger days. Maelle vows she will find her two younger siblings.

The years pass by and all three grow up never knowing where the others are or if they are even alive. In fact, Molly never knows the others exist until she is a grown woman. It is interesting to see the different paths each has walked and where those paths have taken them.

As is no surprise to the reader, they all end up in the same settlement in Missouri... each for very different reasons. They go about their separate lives, dealing with their own demons and heartaches. They even meet, but each has different names now and no reason to think they are related. But soon Maelle see one of the ties from home she gave her siblings and it as if a veil is lifted and their eyes are open to the truth.

This is a happy ever after kind of book. A fast moving, easy to read one also. But none the less a very fun, uplifting, entertaining read.

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

When I go to the library, usually to pick up a book I have requested, I always peruse the new books shelves and I usually find at 1 or 2 books to add to my stack. Sometimes they are new books by favorite authors and occasionally they are books by an author I don't know but something about the book captures my attention. Such was the case with The Wednesday Sisters. I have never heard of the author nor the book, but the cover caught my eye, the title intrigued me and when I read the synopsis on the back I knew I wanted to meet these ladies.

In The Wednesday Sisters (set in California during the 1960s) is a group of five young mothers who meet at a local park. They start out chit chatting about their children, as young mothers do, and the conversation moves on from there. They eventually turn their talk to books and then to writing and decide to form a writing group... thus the birth of the Wednesday Sisters Writing Club.

In this novel we follow these friends -- Frankie, Linda, Kath, Ally and Brett -- through the various bumps and bruises, highs and lows that life throws at them. Through prejudice, infertility, rejection, adultery, fear... through promotions, acceptance, courage and victory. The ladies grow in knowledge and strength and in their friendship with each other.

One thing I love about this book is that Clayton doesn't sugar coat everything and spin happy ever after fairy tales. We see these women and their lives warts and all. We see them celebrate with each other and we see them disagree and fall apart together. She presents the issues of the time in truthful ways not pressing an agenda and allowing her characters to be real and have real thoughts and reactions to the changing world in which they live.

Most often the books I review are distinctly Christian. The Wednesday Sisters is not. That said, except for 2 scenes, I found nothing offensive in it. There are, however, 2 scenes... both deal with sex... both contain graphic detail and one has a word considered extremely vulgar. I have to say that the word fits the mouth that utters it and the situation, still... some may prefer to not read a book with any language in it.

I truly enjoyed reading The Wednesday Sisters and plan to look for other books by Clayton.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

This is Morton's 2nd novel and the 1st one I have read by her. If her other work is even half this good, she will go on my must read list. I absolutely loved The Forgotten Garden! I am not even sure where to begin in describing it.... for it is a bit like 3 stories in 1 that twine together to create the truth.

Once upon a time there was a little girl. She was placed on a ship headed to Australia and then abandoned. After a long voyage, she was discovered by the port master who took her home for one night... or so he thought. Nell became the child he and his wife longed for and enjoyed life as the oldest of a household full of girls. That is until her mother's death.. when her father told her the truth... she wasn't who she thought she was.

Eliza was always running... from whom or what she wasn't sure... and then one day she was caught and thrust into a fairy land where she was allowed to visit and watch, but never to really belong. Her heart ached for to be needed and loved and in time, that ache was eased but at great cost.

Cassie feels a bit unwanted and a bit unpurposeful. Unsure of what life holds for her, she sets off to England to unravel a mystery only to discover herself along the way.

Morton's writing is a delight to read... her descriptions are like paint strokes on canvas... clear and vivid... creating a masterpiece in the mind's eye. Her characters are round and full and so real. I could see them.. hear them.. it was truly like being with them.

I know a lot of you read Christian Fiction only, so I need to tell you that this is a secular work. But I also have to add that it is clean and just too good to miss!

I am waiting for her first novel to be free at my library and looking forward to future works!