Marta Perry's Restless Hearts ~ Reviewed

Restless Hearts
By Marta Perry
Published by Steeple Hill
ISBN-10: 0373874243

A search for her roots brought midwife Fiona Flanagan to Pennsylvania Dutch country—and made her wonder whether she should turn back. The area's mixture of Amish and English culture confused her, and her first encounter with local police chief Ted Rittenhouse didn't help. he'd thought she was breaking into her own office!

Despite the misunderstanding, Fiona could see that Ted's tough-as-nails exterior hid a kind soul—one caught between two worlds, seeking a place to belong. She felt the same, but trusting him with her heart would require the biggest step of faith she had ever taken.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story kept moving along, each storyline developing strongly and with clear resolution of all the problems. I could identify with the heroine and look forward to more books about her. I enjoy reading fiction about PA Dutch and have read other stories with this theme. The medical part also held my interest.

Reviewed by Cathy Schanz

John Aubrey Anderson's Wedgewood Grey ~ Reviewed

Wedgewood Grey
By John Aubrey Anderson

Published by FaithWords

ISBN 0446579506

In the second installment of the Black or White Chronicles comes Wedgewood Grey, by John Aubrey Anderson.

Set in a small Mississippi community, the war between good and evil continues at Cat Lake. In the dead of night, evil forces descend as a young black woman and her son are brutally attacked by a group of young white boys. When ex-convict, Mose Washington comes to the woman’s rescue, Mose is unable to avoid the law and so begins his journey as a fugitive.

In the tradition of A Time to Kill, Anderson’s novel centers on the premise that it was nearly impossible for a black man in the sixties to receive justice in rural America. Interwoven with the spiritual realm, complete with demons that control some of the
festering unsaved souls in the Delta, Anderson manages to weave a tale that will keep readers looking forward to book three.

There is some warning to readers before reading this book if they fall more into the fan grouping of the romance genre or other more feel-good type books. Wedgwood Grey is scary in some of its graphic depictions of evil, which might leave more gentle readers unsettled. The violence rating in parts of the book is rated R, by this reviewer’s account, but on the other hand, there is no cursing.

For readers who prefer a hard-edged adventure with characters who embrace the Christian faith to fight off evil, Wedgewood Grey is their book.

Reviewed by Tina Ann Forkner
www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com

Susan Page Davis's Frasier Island ~ Reviewed

Frasier Island
By Susan Page Davis
Published by Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736920668

After specialized underwater training, Ensign Rachel Whitney is posted to a remote island in the North Pacific, a tiny scrap of rock guarding a highly classified secret. She could love her new assignment if her commanding officer, Lt. George Hudson, were not so obstinate and a bit distrustful.

Despite George's first reaction to her presence on the island, Rachel sets out to prove she is perfect for the job. She doesn't dream of being a heroine or falling in love, but months later, when word leaks out about the prize they are guarding, Rachel and George have few resources besides each other and their faith in God to foil an enemy attack that could endanger all of America.

Wow! This story packed some emotional punch. I enjoyed the romance and the suspense equally. That's very unusual for me because I usually prefer the romance, but the intrigue was fabulous! The romantic element and suspense were so intricately woven together that separating the two elements would've unraveled the entire story.

I loved George about as much as Rachel did! He was such a great hero in every sense. The longing they felt for each other was perfectly done. It made my heart ache despite the fact that they were fictional characters. At times I lost sight of that fact and just wanted to see them together. And that first kiss....ahhhhh. Very satisfying. Rachel was tough, but lovable and cute. I enjoying experiencing her character growth along with her. Trust was hard for her to learn, but rewarding when she experienced the benefits of putting her life in God's capable hands.

In some ways this story had an exotic feel like the Hawaiian setting of Heitzmann's novel Freefall (which was awesome!) Frasier Island was different in that it had a touch of Gilligan's Island sentiment. Portions of the book had a real "castaway" feel. Rachel made me think of Maryann because she was fun and dainty, yet also tough when needed.

George and Rachel were so isolated on that island that at times it made me get the shivers. And not knowing who the bad guy was for the last third of the book was quite exciting. Sure, there were little hints dropped as who it might be, but I felt the tension as they hid from the unknown. I loved how they had to protect themselves and stay on the offensive at the same time. Brilliantly done!

The secondary characters were also terrific. Pierre was a dream and Brian was creepy at first. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Oh, and the last chapter of Frasier Island was probably the best part of the story.

Talk about great endings! This was no wall-banger. It made me want to sigh and grin like a fool. I loved this book!

Reviewed by Michelle Sutton
http://www.michellesutton.net
http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
http://christianwritersofthewest.blogspot.com

Ted Dekker's Skin ~ Reviewed

Skin
By Ted Dekker
Published by WestBow Press
ISBN-10: 1595542779

“Hello, Colt. It’s payback time. Red”

The red words painted on a gray door plunge police officer Colt Jackson into battle with Sterling Red, serial killer. But Colt isn’t the only person Red has a personal agenda against.

As a freak storm ravages Nevada, traveler Wendy Davidson is waylaid on her journey to Utah when she comes across a stranded brother and sister seeking emergency medical care. Wendy takes Carey and Nicole Swartz to Summerville, only to find the town under siege with a killer on the loose.

Waved down by Wendy, Colt takes the trio to the doctor’s house. Relief is short-lived however when a tornado hits Summerville and the four find themselves trapped in the basement.

Morning arrives, and with it comes a few surprises.

Colt, Wendy, Carey, and Nicole are soon joined by Jerry Pinkus. Thrown together by circumstance, the random group find themselves targeted by Red, and soon discovers a commonality ties their fates together.

As Red manipulates them and what they perceive as reality, the five must overcome their differences and suspicions to save themselves and the townsfolk.

Ted Dekker’s latest offering isn’t for the faint-hearted. More cutting edge than SHOWDOWN or HOUSE, Dekker takes readers on a ride which twists and turns to the very end.

Following on the heels of SHOWDOWN, HOUSE, and SAINT, all of which contain supernatural elements, SKIN is Dekker’s first novel since THR3E that twists its way to a natural, yet unpredictable, ending.

This is Dekker’s first general market release, which is probably a good thing. His delivery is sure to raise voices within CBA. As SKIN explores the question of true beauty, bodies pile up and ensure that this isn’t a cozy read. Despite the general market release, Dekker is quick to assure readers that SKIN isn’t much different from his previous books. It contains a strong metaphoric message, but without the obvious Christian labels. As a Christian reader, I found SKIN’s theme to be just as powerful as Dekker’s earlier books. There is no watering down here.

Readers of Dekker’s previous works will notice each book from the Circle Trilogy series on contain subtle tie-ins. SKIN is no different. Although the connection to the earlier books is minimal, Dekker has revealed in recent interviews that SKIN shares a mirror scene with an upcoming young adult book, part of a series which will expand on the Circle Trilogy. If you haven’t read any of Dekker’s previous books, then don’t fear. SKIN is a complete standalone which can be enjoyed as such. However, delving into the Circle Trilogy, SHOWDOWN, SAINT, and HOUSE will give you added enjoyment to the experience.

If you’re looking for a book with strong characters, snappy dialogue, and a mind-bending plot, then SKIN is just the book for you. Putting it down late at night will be your only problem.


Reviewed by Vennessa Ng

MaryLu Tyndall's The Reliance ~ Reviewed

The Reliance
By MaryLu Tyndall
Barbour Publishing 2006
ISBN 978-1-59789-360-2

A young bride separated from her husband just as a child has been conceived. . .
A grieving husband tempted to take his anger out through the vices of his heart. . .
A marriage and a ship threatened to be split apart by villainous Caribbean pirates. . .

Captain Edmund Merrick, convinced his pregnant wife, Charlisse, is dead, sails away to drown his sorrows. Having turned his back on God, Edmund reverts to a life of villainy and joins forces with the demented French pirate Collier. When Edmund’s mind clears from its rum-induced haze, will he be able to pull himself up from the depths to which he has sunk?

Believing herself abandoned by her new husband, Charlisse begins to battle her own insecurities, as well as the vengeful pirate Kent who now holds her and the Lady Isabel captive. Will Charlisse lose her love for Edmund as well as the life of her unborn child?

As they battle the tempest that threatens to tear them apart, is there any way Edmund and Charlisse can regain the helm and steer their way back to the haven they both so desperately seek? Or will their love drown in a whirlpool of treachery and deceit?

Author MaryLu Tyndall broadsides the reader with a rip-roaring adventure on the stormy Caribbean. It’s all here, from walking-the-plank to rat-infested ship holds, while interspersed throughout with love, devotion and duplicity.

It’s a given that handsome and brave Captain Merrick is my favorite male character, but a close second goes to his first-mate Sloane. A crusty curmudgeon, he’s got a heart as big as the sea. His care and protection of Charlisse in Merrick’s absence is admirable, and his conversion toward the end could make a grown pirate cry.

Many new characters are introduced, but the heart of the story is the faith journey of Charlisse and Merrick. Charlisse’s new faith catches wind and sails in the midst of tragic events. Merrick’s trust in God plunges to murky depths so gloomy, the reader wonders whether he’ll drown in his doubts.

I must admit to being nervous when embarking on The Reliance since my heart had already been kidnapped by Tyndall’s first book, The Redemption. But before the end of chapter one, I’d been reeled in. Tyndall is a master of character development and rope-dangling scene endings. Once you begin reading, your everyday life will be thrown in the hold until the last page.

Two thumbs-up, five stars, ten yo-ho-ho’s and a bottle of rum for Tyndall’s masterpiece, The Reliance. My only concern is how she’ll be able to top this with the third and last book in the series due out later this year.

Don’t get stranded ashore and miss the adventure. Set sail for the nearest bookstore and capture this treasure!

Reviewed by Michelle Griep

Craig and Janet Parshall's Captives and Kings ~ Reviewed

Captives and Kings
By Craig and Janet Parshall
Harvest House Publishers 2007
ISBN 13: 978-0-7369-1513-7

Authors Craig and Janet Parshall blend fascinating storytelling, excellent research, and their passion for the early 1600s in this exciting follow up to Crown of Fire.

Andrew, astute, applied, and ambitious, has little but contempt for his wayward and adventuring brother, Phillip… who in turn resents what he sees as Andrew’s high-handedness and superior attitude. The rift is deep, and it seems it will be permanent after Andrew learns of Phillip’s unwitting involvement in a court plot and insists that he and his son, Peter, flee to the new colony of Virginia.

So far apart in both body and heart, will the two brothers ever meet on common ground again, let alone find their way to forgiveness?

Without giving away the story, the main characters each play an important role in one of three themes interwoven throughout the book. Andrew travels on a journey of forgiveness. Peter fleshes out true submission, and Phillip presents a picture of true repentance.

Readers who enjoy a quick pace with rapidly changing scenes are sure to like the short chapter lengths. At times, I did wish for a bit more depth into the characters thoughts and feelings rather than the continual action.

Everyone’s heard of the King James version of the Bible, so readers should appreciate the historical highlights from this snapshot during the reign of James. I particularly liked the description of London and felt drawn into the period.

Even though this book is a sequel, having never read the first (Crown of Fire), I had no problem getting to know the characters or following the story. Overall, historical fiction lovers should come away with a smile on their face after reading Captives and Kings.

Reviewed by Michelle Griep

Karen Harter's Autumn Blue ~ Reviewed

Autumn Blue
Karen Harter
ISBN 1-931722-61-7
Hatchette Book Group/Center Street

Sidney Walker is doing her best at raising her three children alone. But lately her sweet son, Ty, has become broodingly angry. When the deputy sheriff arrests Ty and later invades their home with a search warran connected with another local crime, Sidney is overwhelmed. As much as she wants to believe her son is innocent, the evidence is too strong to ignore.

As autumn rolls across the landscape, Sidney fights to save her son from himself and give him renewed hope. Though her options seem to grow more limited, Sidney finds she is not as alone as she thinks, and the solution just may be in the most unlikley of people.

Karen's tale weaves a beautiful story of grace and forgiveness. Millard Bradbury, a crusty old neighbor with a painful secret, is given a second chance to love the unlovable. Pushed to his limit, he calls on his past mistakes to find strength to endure and is rewarded with a new reason to live another day. Sidney's personal struggle to provide the father figure she thinks her children need, rush her to sacrifice love for companionship.

The implications of such a mistake are made clear before she gets to the point of no return and she is rewarded with the potential for a love beyond her expectations.

Note: Conservative readers may find some word choices unacceptable.
* * *
Reviewed by Sandra D. Moore
www.sdionnemoore.com
Murder on the Ol' Bunions, March 2008

Jillian Hart's A Handful of Heaven

A Handful of Heaven
By Jillian Hart
Published By Steeple Hill
ISBN-10: 0373873492

Who’s to say that ordinary people, who live ordinary lives, can’t find love in an ordinary way? Jillian Hart’s Love Inspired book from Steeple Hill exemplifies just that.
Two people, Paige McKaslin and Evan Thornton literally grew up in the same town, attended the same church, and even had children who were friends, still they only passed in the night – mere acquaintances.

She, recovering from a husband who left her with a diner, a baby and more responsibility than she knew what to do with, while he was recovering from a wife who’d financially destroyed him, finally managed to meet and get to know one another.

Paige is bound by a diner, that though she loves, is a cumbersome and draining venture. When she and Evan are finally forced by coincidence to meet and talk, an immediate attraction is unleashed. Both, trying to learn to trust once again, work their way through a series of incidents that offer an opportunity for love.

Faced with the empty nest syndrome as her son prepares to go to college, Paige learns that loneliness is not the company she wants to keep. This “simply sweet” story reminds us that love really happens in the most un-ordinary ways – no ringing bells, no fireworks, just honest, sweet and simple.

Jillian Hart brings a touching and entertaining “feel good” story that allows us to say, “Ahhh,” at the end of her book. My only complaint – Jillian made anyone in their early forties seem old. A delightful book filled with touching descriptions and wholesome reading that teaches love doesn’t have to be tacky to be good.

Reviewed by Cindy Sproles
Mountain Breeze Ministries

http://www.mountainbreezewriter.blogspot.com/

Allison Pittman's Speak Through the Wind ~ Reviewed

Speak Through the Wind
by Allison Pittman
Published by Multnomah
ISBN-10: 1590526252

In the mid-1800's, a little girl is rescued off the streets of New York City. Reverend Joseph offers Kassandra (Sadie, from Ten Thousand Charms) a home, an education, a chance to learn about the love of God, and a cranky housekeeper. It's not a bad package until, when Kassandra is just fifteen years old, Ben Connor sweeps her off her feet, shatters her heart, and steals her hope. From one NYC brothel to another in San Francisco, and a baby in between, Kassandra winds up in Wyoming Territory with scarcely a light in her eye. Then she meets Gloria, who's pregnant and desperate, and Biddy, a young girl of great faith. After all Kassandra has been through, what could they possibly teach her that life's cruelties haven't already? Perhaps the truth that God never left her...and the chance to return home again.

Allison Pittman pens a powerful novel in "Speak Through the Wind."

I've read plenty of prostitute fiction from the same time frame. You'd think I wouldn't find a story that would touch me anew.

However, Kassandra's story is heartbreaking and believable. The tale requires that the reader suffer and learn along with Kassandra from the wisp of a child beginning through the dank reality of adulthood.

At times gritty and gut-wrenching, Pittman manages to tell the truth with just enough detail that the book pulls the reader into the setting. Weak-stomached, weak-kneed, or those who don't want to read about the reality of a fallen world might find the sensory experience of this novel a little too costly.

I see myself in Kassandra's story. No, I've not lived the life of a prostitute. But I have swallowed Satan's lies and made some pretty ugly messes. I've not sold myself for money, but I've sold my self-respect to gain a friend, or my common sense to feel a little better for a brief moment.

Through poignant prose, Kassandra lives and breathes on Pittman's pages.

As a fan of Francine Rivers, I've always been more inclined toward The Last Sin-Eater because of the haunting loneliness of the characters than to Redeeming Love's perfect Hosea. Pittman manages to capture the beauty of both of those novels as she paints a haunting character in Kassandra and a beautiful picture of redemption in "Speak Through the Wind."

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it and meet Kassandra. I think I could even say that her life changed something within my soul.

Isn't that what Christian fiction is supposed to do?

Reviewed by
Kelly Klepfer

Karen Hancock's Return of the Guardian King ~ Reviewed

Return of the Guardian King
Karen Hancock
Published by Bethany House (April 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0764227971

Abramm Kalladorne knows that is his wife Maddie singing just ahead. Separated from her and their boys when his kingdom fell to his brother, he is anxious for a reunion. As he hurries forward, he stumbles—and is jerked back to cruel reality. He isn't crossing a sunny meadow on his way to a joyous family reunion. He's one in a group of refugees lost in a snowstorm in the mountains, miles from his family. Known to his companions as Alaric, evil knows his true identity and pursues him into the mountains and beyond. Moroq, his oldest enemy, will do anything he must to destroy Abramm.

His wife, Maddie, has arrived in the royal city of Fannath Rill, in her home country of Chesedh. Alone. Her oldest son, Simon, is missing and Ian, her youngest, she saw killed as they tried to escape Kiriath. She's also received word that Abramm was captured and burned in Execution Square. An outcast among her own people, she comes under increasing pressure to cast aside her grief, renounce her faith, and assimilate into the royal lifestyle. As First Daughter, she has a role to play and certain rules to follow.

Others of the Kirithian royal party are also living in Fannath Rill. Crown Princess Carrissa, Abramm's sister and Trap Meridon, Duke of Northille-Abramm's oldest and closest friend-are exiles with Maddie. Each has their own personal storms to contend with, as well as grief the loss of Abramm and his sons.

The personal struggles are carried out against the backdrop of war. Betrayal and a new role she feels unprepared to fill will stretch Maddie's faith to the breaking point. Abramm's own faith undergoes it own fire as he determines to follow his first love, no matter what the cost.

Return of the Guardian King is the final novel in the outstanding Legends of the Guardian King series by Karen Hancock, winner of multiple Christy awards. This last book lives up to the standards set by the first—an intricate and complicated story world inhabited by complex characters. A lot of her writing reminds me of JRR Tolkein's fantasy works—story worlds with great depth and characters capable of stirring up this reader's emotions. This entire series has a permanent place on my bookshelves.

Cheryl Russell
www.unseenworlds.blogspot.com

Nicloe Seitz's The Spirit of Sweetgrass ~ Reviewed

The Spirit of Sweetgrass
By Nicloe Seitz
Published by Integrity/Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10: 1591455065

Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins is a 78-year-old sweetgrass basket weaver who sits on the side of Hwy 17 in the company of her dead husband, Daddy Jim. Inspired by her Auntie Leona, Essie Mae finally discovers her calling in life and weaves powerful "love baskets," praying fervently over them to affect the lives of those who visit her roadside stand. When she's faced with losing her home and her stand and being put in a nursing home, Daddy Jim talks her into coming on up to Heaven to meet sweet Jesus – something she's always wanted to do. Once there, she still has work to do. Now Essie Mae, who once felt powerless and invisible, must find the strength within her to keep her South Carolina family from falling apart.

The Spirit of Sweetgrass is a beautiful tribute to southern traditions and lifestyle as well as a disappearing art. The history and Gullah details Seitz incorporates in the story make it a must read for anyone fascinated with Lowcountry culture.

Nicole Seitz writes beautifully, weaving and crafting this saga not unlike the baskets so diligently and painstakingly woven by her protagonist's loving fingers.

Those who expect a specific genre basket hook on which to hang The Spirit of Sweetgrass will find a touch of sweet romance with women's fiction depth, chock full of history and fantasy. This story stretches beyond one genre and seeps into other categories. If forced to choose, I'd call it literary because of Nicole's style. I got caught up is Essie Mae's life from the beginning, and though there were a couple of chapters that dragged a bit for me, the end satisfied.

Jesus is mentioned throughout, but those who only read clear "how to be saved" Christian fiction aren't likely to feel comfortable reading The Spirit of Sweetgrass.
Nicole has managed to bust open the God box, maybe replacing it with a woven basket so He bursts out all over. Heaven sequences are thoughtful, speculative and may frustrate theologians. Serious jot-and-tittle Christian fiction readers may want to avoid reading this book, especially if they tend to read with a microscope. Voodoo and ghosts are tossed into the mix now and again, too.

If you love to ask God questions and like to ponder heaven, or if you curl up with lazy, literary fiction, quirky characters, cultural details and stories that wrap around your thoughts and your heart, I think you'll enjoy The Spirit of Sweetgrass.

Reviewed byKelly Klepfer

Dr. Gary Chapman and Catherine Palmer's It Happens Every Spring ~ Reviewed

It Happens Every Spring
By Gary Chapman and Catherine Palmer
Published by Tyndale
ISBN-10:1-4143-1165-6

Word travels fast at the Just As I Am beauty shop. So when a homeless man appears on Steve and Brenda Hansen's doorstep, the entire shop is abuzz, especially when Brenda lets him sleep on their porch.

That's not all the neighbors are talking about. Spring is blooming outdoors, but an icy chill has settles over the Hansen's marriage. Steve is keeping late hours with clients, and the usually upbeat Brenda is feeling the absence of her husband and her college-age kids.

Add to that the unsavory business moving in next to the beauty shop and the entire community gets turned upside down. Now Brenda's friends must unite to pull her out of her rut and keep the unwanted store out of town. But can Steve and Brenda learn to thaw their chilly marriage and enjoy the hope spring offers?

I love Christian fiction because you can learn while being entertained. Based on concepts from his non-fiction book The Four Seasons of Marriage, Dr. Gary Chapman joins forces with CBA best-selling author Catherine Palmer to launch The Four Seasons series.

Anyone who's been married or contemplates marriage will enjoy this first book. A page-turner, I read it in It Happens Every Spring in two sittings. An explosion of trouble in the opening sentence sets the stage in this fast-paced novel. Be ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride. You'll chew your nails, laugh out loud one minute and cry the next.

You may also see your own marriage through new eyes. Chapman and Palmer hold nothing back in presenting a gut-wrenching story filled with all the temptations and problems of marriage. Be ready for some unexpected twists in this honest portrayal. Novel Reviews gives It Happens Every Spring a high recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com

Kim Vogel Sawyer's Bygones ~ Reviewed

Bygones
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Published by Barbour Books, April 2007
ISBN 1597894044

After being shunned by her parents for marrying a man outside the Mennonite community, widow Marie Koeppler left her childhood home and never looked back. It was too painful. Now, nearly twenty-five years later, she's stunned to see her former beau walk through the doors of the truck stop where she waitresses. He bring unexpected news.

Marie's aunt has died, and to everyone's surprise, she's left her house, belongings and café to Beth, Marie's daughter. To receive her inheritance, Beth must come and live within the Mennonite community for a period of no less than three months. She determines to live there so she can pay her mother back for all the sacrifices Marie made for her growing up.

Marie returns with Beth to help her adapt to the Mennonite lifestyle and finds more than her list beau waiting fro her, It isn't long before she finds herself wanting to remain. Beth, however, finds herself living under a shadow of suspicion when homes are broken into and antiques stolen. Loyal to her daughter, yet missing the simplistic lifestyle, Marie is once again faced with a heart-wrenching decision.

Romance is not my first choice in books, but if Kim Vogel Sawyer's name is attached, I'll grab it, knowing I'll get a good read. In her second novel Bygones, and the first of a trilogy, Sawyer doesn't disappoint. Reading more like women's fiction, it's a story of hope and restoration. It's a story of a strong relationship between mother and daughter. I saw my own relationship with my mother reflected there.

The conflict between Marie and Henry is believable—their reluctance evokes empathy. The spiritual thread in this book is excellent. Marie's return to her roots is well executed and a natural outgrowth of the character, never feeling contrived. Without spoiling the story, I'll just say Sawyer winds the spiritual message through her stories with the skill of a master-weaver. The best part of reading this book is this author turned off my inner editor. Novel Reviews gives Bygones a high recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com

Mary Connealy's Petticoat Ranch ~ Reviewed

Petticoat Ranch
By Mary Connealy
Published by Barbour Books
ISBN-13: 978-1597896474

What better groundwork could be laid for a humorous romance in Texas, than having the twin brother of your dead husband literally fall into your lap?

The widow Sophie Edwards does a double take when she retrieves a fallen cowboy from a deep creek bed. The mud covered and injured man looks vaguely familiar. When one of her daughter swears her Pa is back from the dead, Sophie knows this the man couldn’t be the husband she cut down from a noose and buried herself.

Clay McClellan has come in search of the killers of his brother Cliff, and when fate drops him into the middle of Cliff’s widow and four daughters this rugged cowboy finds himself surrounded in an estrogen filled environment.

Both Clay and Sophie find their ultimate goals are the same – find the men who killed Cliff and set things right. However, their rough idea of being a good Christian steps in the way more times than they realize. Clay decides since the men in the Bible would take care of the family widows, he’d be obedient and marry Sophie, taking on all four children and a wife who’d lived as a survivor for some time. The entire package almost proved to more than a hand-full, but through his determination to provide for his new family, he and Sophie go head-to-head with the band of outlaws who unjustly strung up her husband.

You’ll chuckle as the two practically come to blows through their own stubborn antics, and you’ll be touched at how God subtly grooms the two into belief, repentance and forgiveness, providing a reward of happiness and love in the end.

Barbour Publishing has done it again by bringing the talents of Mary Connealy to the forefront with her wit, crisp work, and believable characters. Sit back and enjoy the half-cocked banter that knits Sophie and Clay into a full-fledged family. Petticoat Ranch is a wonderfully crafted love story that drives a gentle message of forgiveness you’re sure to find well worth the time.

Reviewed by Cindy Sproles
Mountain Breeze Ministries

Ann Gabhart's Orchard of Hope ~ Reviewed

Orchard of Hope

by Ann Gabhart
Published by Revell, March 1, 2007
ISBN-10: 0800731697

Thirteen year old Jocie Brooke never knew so much could change in one year. Despite her trust in a loving God, things seem to be worsening for her beloved town of Hollyhill. The war over civil rights has people in an uproar, so when a black family purchases a farm just down the road, Jocie wonders if her neighbors, her friends. . .her church, will somehow find the path to peace.

Not if the Klan can help it.

Their presence means trouble, not only for the black residents of Hollyhill, but for anyone with the courage to stand up to them, including young Jocie. She believes God loves everyone, including Noah Hearndon and his beautiful activist mother, Myra.

The moment I sat down to read this novel, I knew I was in for rollercoaster ride. At times I found myself terribly anger, at others, unutterably sad. With words that flowed like poetry across the page, Ms. Gabhart created a work of art that deals beautifully with a difficult time in our nation’s history.

I wept at the beauty of the emotions evoked by such lines as:

“I know he kept breathing till after we got him to the hospital, but it was because his spirit took off so fast his body got caught by surprise. As soon as he saw those angels coming after him, he was gone. I know he was.”

In other places I raged, my heart pounding in fear for the safety of this young girl and her family.

In the end, I stood up and cheered—heartened by the knowledge that we as a people have begun to grow past the hate that once consumed us. Thanks to our loving Creator, we can learn to forgive, learn to heal. Best of all, we can learn to hope. This is one book I will remember for a very long time.

Review by Elizabeth Ludwig
http://www.elizabethludwig.com

Sharlene MacLaren's Through Every Storm ~ Reviewed

Through Every Storm
By Sharlene MacLaren
Published by Whitaker House
ISBN: 0-88368-746-1

Struggling through the tragic loss of a child, Jeff and Maddie Bowman experience the immense pain and grief caused by a broken heart and a marriage severely strained and headed toward divorce. Feeling completely hopeless, Maddie questions whether life will ever be normal again.

Then faced with having to care for a precocious little boy, Maddie slowly realizes how to let God be in control even when life is crashing down around her. The love that she finds will give her hope and strength to make it through every storm.

MacLaren's debut book is a page-turner. A compelling plot, her characters are deep, both fragile and strong—especially the little boy, Timmy. MacLaren portrays the genius child with a depth of insight I found completely believable. He was still a child with childish ways, in spite of his brilliant mind.

Without giving away the end, both Maddie and Jeff find their way back to God in a manner I found natural and in harmony with the story. I applaud MacLaren for not overwriting this. This heartrending tale unfolds at just the right pace and carries the reader through to a very satisfying end. Novel Reviews gives Through Every Storm a high recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com

Susan Meissner's Widows and Orphans ~ Reviewed

Widows and Orphans
By Susan Meissner
Published by Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736919147

At first, attorney Rachel Flynn isn't too upset with her mother's phone call. After all, this isn't the first time she's called Rachel regarding her younger brother, Joshua. He has dedicated his life to helping those in need, particularly widows and orphans. Arrest records in four Minnesota counties proves he won't hesitate to break the law to right a perceived wrong.

But when her mother chokes out that he's confessed to murder, Rachel's world tilts on its axis. She leaves Manhattan with Trace, her illustrator husband, and their baby daughter, McKenna, to return home to St. Paul, Minnesota. Deep down, Rachel knows there's no way Joshua has committed the crime he's confessed to. But he refuses to change his plea or to let Rachel represent him. Convinced Josh is taking the fall for someone else, she decides to investigate the case on her own.

She has a reluctant ally in the lead investigator, Sgt. Will Pendleton. He has his own doubts about Joshua's story, but he can't ignore Josh's confession. Sgt. Pendleton gets permission for Rachel to read the reports and visit the crime scene. As she walks around the damp basement of the Hmong grocery, she realizes the crime couldn't have happened the way Josh said. But critical pieces of evidence are also missing, and it turns into a race against time to prevent her brother from making a terrible mistake.

She enlists the help of Trace and several of his artist friends. Their sketches, based on her descriptions, move her further along in her investigation. But gaps remain. Fig, her husband's eccentric friend (and one of the best characters in the book) draws another sketch, which makes no sense to anyone involved, but may hold the key to what really happened in the basement.

Widows and Orphans is the first book in the Rachel Flynn mysteries. Susan Meissner has crafted a novel of unique characters and a plot that isn't easy to figure out. The ending is a twist, but fits in with the plot and the actions of the characters.

Cheryl Russell

www.unseenworlds.blogspot.com

Michael Palmer ~ The Fifth Vial

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
(February 20, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0312343515
ISBN-13: 978-0312343514








Book Description:

"From the blockbuster, eleven-time New York Times bestselling author comes a novel of medical suspense that begins with these chilling questions: Who ends up with the blood samples you routinely give for tests? What else are they being used for? Why don’t you know?

Take a Deep Breath. . . .In Boston, a disgraced medical student is sent to deliver a research paper that could save her career. . . . Four thousand miles away, in a jungle hospital in Cameroon, a brilliant, reclusive scientist, dying from an incurable disease that threatens to make each tortured breath his last, is on the verge of perfecting a serum that could save millions of lives, and bring others inestimable wealth. . . . In Chicago, a disillusioned private detective, on the way to his third career, is hired to determine the identify of a John Doe, killed on a Florida highway, with mysterious marks on his body.

Three seemingly disconnected lives, surging unrelentingly toward one another.

Three lives becoming irrevocably intertwined. Three lives in mounting peril, moving ever closer to the ultimate confrontation against a deadly secret society with godlike aspirations and roots in antiquity.

Medical student. Scientist. Private eye. Three people who will learn the deeper meanings of brilliance and madness, truth and deception, trust and betrayal. Three lives linked forever by a single vial of blood—the fifthBook Description
From the blockbuster, eleven-time New York Times bestselling author comes a novel of medical suspense that begins with these chilling questions: Who ends up with the blood samples you routinely give for tests? What else are they being used for? Why don’t you know?

Take a Deep Breath. . . .In Boston, a disgraced medical student is sent to deliver a research paper that could save her career. . . . Four thousand miles away, in a jungle hospital in Cameroon, a brilliant, reclusive scientist, dying from an incurable disease that threatens to make each tortured breath his last, is on the verge of perfecting a serum that could save millions of lives, and bring others inestimable wealth. . . . In Chicago, a disillusioned private detective, on the way to his third career, is hired to determine the identify of a John Doe, killed on a Florida highway, with mysterious marks on his body.

Three seemingly disconnected lives, surging unrelentingly toward one another. Three lives becoming irrevocably intertwined. Three lives in mounting peril, moving ever closer to the ultimate confrontation against a deadly secret society with godlike aspirations and roots in antiquity. Medical student. Scientist. Private eye. Three people who will learn the deeper meanings of brilliance and madness, truth and deception, trust and betrayal. Three lives linked forever by a single vial of blood—the fifth vial. vial."


Reviewed by Gina Holmes

Michael Palmer addresses the bio-ethical issue of organ trafficking in his fast-paced medical thriller, The Fifth Vial.

Around the globe, people are unsuspectingly having their blood tested in a life and death lottery. If their number is picked, (ie. if they are a tissue match), elitists decide who is more worthy to have their beating heart, them, or the wealthy, influential patient who needs the transplant to live.


Three seemingly unrelated lives,(a medical student, a research physician and a private eye), intermingle in unexpected ways. All three are pushed to the limit of human endurance, as each must answer the call of their conscious, putting their lives on the line to stop an evil which leaves orphans and widows in its gluttonous and infinite wake.

This novel was fast-paced, contained fleshed-out characters, and an intriguing plot that had me on the edge of my seat until the exciting conclusion.

Mr. Palmer not only told a great story, but addresses the bio-ethical issue of organ trafficking, asking the hard questions of: Is one person more worthy to live than another? Who decides?

Susan May Warren's Reclaiming Nick ~ Reviewed

Reclaiming Nick
By, Susan May Warren
Published by Tyndale House
ISBN-13: 978-1-4143-1017-6

Nick Noble hadn’t planned on being the prodigal son. But when his father dies and leaves half of Silver Buckle—the Noble family ranch—to Nick’s former best friend, he must return home to face those he left behind. And to make sure that the Silver Buckle stays in the Noble family.

Award-winning journalist Piper Sullivan believes Nick framed her brother for murder, and she’s determined to find justice. But following Nick to the Silver Buckle and posing as a ranch cook proves more challenging than she first anticipated. So does resisting his charming smile.

As Nick seeks to overturn his father’s will—and Piper digs for answers—family secrets surface that send Nick’s life into a tailspin. But there’s someone who wants to see the Silver Buckle leave Noble hands, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen, even if it means taking a life.”

Susan May Warren roped me in with the first chapter of this fun and heart-warming page-turner. She achieved what every author hopes to achieve- made this reader both laugh and cry. And the suspenseful story that kept me guessing made my heart beat harder than the hooves of stampeding cattle.

Reading Reclaiming Nick was like taking a vacation. Ms. Warren’s extensive research on ranch life and all things cowboy resulted in a very authentic read. So much so that I could almost hear the horse’s whinnies and cattle lowing, see the rolling pastures and majestic mountains, and smell the barbeque, sweat, and manure.

The characters were real and deep, so that I felt their hurts and frustrations, sympathized with their hopes and longings, and laughed at their antics. Ms. Warren made me care about them enough to fear for their safety and sincerely hope for a good outcome. My journey through Reclaiming Nick was a wild ride that lead to a satisfying end. I look forward to reading Taming Rafe, the next book in the Noble Legacy series.

Learn more about author Susan May Warren and Reclaiming Nick

Reviewed by Janet Rubin
http://janetswritingplanet.blogspot.com/

Dee Henderson's Before I Wake ~ Reviewed

Before I Wake
by Dee Henderson
Published by Tyndale House
ISBN-10: 1414308159

The sheriff of Justice, Illinois, is hunting a killer. Women visiting town are being murdered, tourists in nice hotels, money still in their billfolds, jewelry still on the dresser. Quiet kills - they go to sleep and never awaken. The sheriff is not pleased to find the new detective in town, Rae Gabriella, working the case on behalf of one of the families. She's staying in the same hotel as one of the victims - and her classy looks and upscale car suggest she could be the next victim.

Dee Henderson books have always excelled in several areas. First, her character dialogue moves well. Second, she's great with the whole: protective male rescues (and rescues, and re-rescues) smart but vulnerable female plot line.

This book is very different.

For one thing, Before I Wake has about ten times the layering, twists, and density of her past stories. Henderson does a great job making us wonder 'whodunit' with this book, and offers some intriguing glimpses into the lives of coroners, crime-scene clean-up crews, private detectives, and designer drug "cooks".

The book surprises with an unexpected twist toward the end, and it presents real character struggles with God, faith, and life in an un-canned, un-preachy way.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that what first seems like a slow build in the character dynamics department becomes fizzling potential that never ignites.

Henderson's characters--Nathan, Rae, and Bruce--never seem to progress at all in their relationships. Everything's great and platonic, there's no jealousy, Rae likes them both just as well. The men are both perfect Christian gentlemen. No fire. No sparks. No conflict.

I found myself disgusted with Rae (never a good emotion to feel about a heroine). She dates both men, knowing that these men are good friends with each other, and that they're both interested in her. She's never even honest with herself about what she's doing with their emotions. Tacky.

I was equally frustrated when, by the end of the book, very few of the major plot points had been resolved. If this is a series, then I applaud the cliffhanger, but want to know WHY the book was not marketed as a series, either in print or on Henderson's web site.

If this is not a series then I don't know what to think. There is precious little satisfaction or closure by the last page. The bad guy is still at large, the romantic triangle (if you can even call it that) is not resolved, and we've just read through 381 pages with very little payoff.

Other issues include an infestation of speaker attributions--on many pages characters address each other by name every other line--a number of spelling/grammar errors, and, other than the front cover image and a brief description of Rae's eyes, no real idea what any of the major characters look like. Readers will also note that Rae's eyes are a different color in the book than on the book's cover.

Despite all this, Henderson does a great job making the town of Justice come alive through the story. And the characters have potential. Especially the grandfather who barrels through Justice in his fancy sports car, no matter how many tickets he receives. Now that's an interesting character.

So although the book is a mixed bag, I believe Dee Henderson fans will still find a lot to enjoy.

As for me? I'm waiting for a sequel. One that will answer all that's unresolved and send Nathan and Bruce real women who will wake them up.

Reviewed by Kelli Standish