Matt Bronleewe's Illuminated ~ Reviewed

Title: Illuminated
Author: Matt Bronleewe
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-5955-4249-6
August 7, 2007

Matt Bronleewe’s Illuminated is a refreshing novel full of intrigue, suspense, mystery and love.

When August Adams’ family is threatened, the rare manuscript dealer reaches across the centuries to match wits with a renaissance printer in order to decipher clues in not one, but three Gutenberg Bibles.

Soon August’s estranged wife, April, is caught in the layers of deceit and forced to risk the destruction of the very books she is paid to protect in her job at the Library of Congress.

As they try to unravel the clues, the couple reaches across the miles, across their failed marriage, and through a web of moles within the government and within two powerful bloodthirsty societies who have fought since the time of Gutenberg himself.
No one and nothing is exactly what it seems in Bronleewe’s page turning romp of intrigue.

Reviewer: Marjorie Smith

Beverly Lewis' The Brethren ~ Reviewed

Title: The Brethren

Author: Beverly Lewis

Publisher: Bethany House

Genre: Christian romance

ISBN: 0764201077

In The Brethren, the third and final book in the Annie’s People series, Beverly Lewis continues to give her readers what they have found irresistible in her previous best-selling books. Set amongst the Amish in Paradise, Pennsylvania , the book opens with main character Annie Zook at odds with her strict father, preacher Jesse Zook, and living away from home. The fact that she has chosen to stay with her banned friend Essie (Esther Hochstetler) to help look after Essie and Zeke’s four children while Zeke is being held in jail after confessing to a murder makes the rift all the more galling to the elder Zook.

As is typical in Lewis’s books, more than one serpent has found its way into the Amish paradise. Under the settlement’s idyllic surface are misunderstandings, grudges, and secrets that even strict rules and authoritarian leaders can’t keep hidden forever. The result is a twisty plot that raises questions like did Zeke actually commit that murder, who is Ben Martin really, and will Annie make peace with her father and remain a plain woman or follow her heart to pursue her beloved art and become the fancy wife of her English beau?

Characters play an important part in this story. (As someone who hasn’t read the first two books in the series, I must admit the large cast of them, many of whom were introduced in earlier volumes, had me a little confused, though with close attention I got them all straight.) Main character Annie is a vital young woman who doesn’t always understand herself, is impulsive and strong willed yet hard-working, thoughtful, and kind. Zeke, in his mentally disturbed state is an interesting study. Preacher Jesse Zook seems the most complex character. While unyielding in his rigid stance toward Annie, he is demonstrably tender with his wife and shows a largeness of character at the end of the book that took me by surprise. Off-site characters Lou and Ben provide an interesting non-Amish viewpoint of Paradise.

The setting is also integral to these books about the Amish. Lewis, obviously familiar with their home and farm routines, describes these in satisfying detail, giving readers a sense of living in this picturesque and simple place. Yet even here progress is making inroads – though the juxtaposition of cell phones and automobiles with Amish life did feel a little bizarre. Lewis introduces just enough Amish-isms into the conversation of her Paradise characters (“Wonderful gut,” “purty,” “Ain’t so” etc) to keep them feeling authentic throughout.

Romance is woven through this book, as is the exploration of other relationships – parent-child and husband-wife. The ability and willingness of the Amish to forgive is a theme that plays a big part in the resolution of several of the story’s threads. As is typical in Lewis’s books, the Christian faith and its outworking is also a theme that remains front and center. In The Brethren there is a clash of the Amish belief system versus beliefs more in sync with a personal and literal interpretation of the Bible. Various characters risk being misunderstood and even banned by turning to evangelical ways. In the end, Lewis seems to come down on the side of having both – the outward simple lifestyle plus a personal though secret faith, as expressed by Annie and her beau: “They’d made a secret pact, vowing to live out their days with their eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus.”

If you’ve read the other two book in this series, The Preacher’s Daughter and The Englisher, you’ll not want to miss this conclusion to the story. If you haven’t read any Beverly Lewis before, this book is certainly representative of her popular storytelling style – a style that has seen previous books in this series, and this one, achieve a place on such prestigious bestseller lists as The New York Times and USA Today.

Violet Nesdoly

http://vnesdoly.blogspot.com/

August Book Releases

August 2007 Releases

1. Abomination by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson. A young woman flees from a serial killer who leaves his victims at geocaching sites.

2. Family for Keeps and Sadie's Hero reissued as one book by Margaret Daley, from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. This Love Inspired Classic captures two touching stories that were favorites of readers.

3. Jacob's List by Stephanie Grace Whitson from Bethany House Publishers. Facing the challenge of their lives, the Nolans learn that their son's list is about a lot more than youthful adventure. Jacob's List: a story of reconciliation. . . against all odds.

4. In His Dreams from the Michigan Island Series by Gail Gaymer Martin from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Two widowed in-laws meet again on Beaver Island after a few years absence and find joy in the sense of family, especially the hero's emotionally impaired pre-teen daughter, but the familiar friendship goes far beyond what they expected.

5. Massachusetts Brides by Lisa Harris from Barbour Publishing. Three old-fashioned romances bloom in the heart of New England.

6. Missionary Daddy Book 4 of A Tiny Blessings Tale by Linda Goodnight from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A single missionary battles to adopt two boys from Africa and discovers the woman of his dreams is not who he thought she was.

7. Murder by Mushroom by Virginia Smith from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. A potluck on the lawn of Heritage Community Church brings out the usual pests: ants and flies, gossips and murderers.

8. Off the Record by Elizabeth White from Zondervan. A hidden past with journalist Cole McGaughan could end Laurel Kincade's judicial career...Or will the truth set them free to love again?

9. The Restitution 3rd book in The Legacy of the King's Pirates series by MaryLu Tyndall from Barbour Publishing. When Lady Isabel Ashton's only son is kidnapped, she is forced to enlist the aid of the boy's father, the pirate who ruined her life and stole her virtue.

10. To Love Anew Book One of Three by Bonnie Leon from Revell. When Hannah Talbot is banished from London and transported to Australia on a prison ship she's certain God has turned his back on her.

11. Trusting Him by Brenda Minton from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A woman learning to trust, a man longing to be trusted, and a love that takes them by surprise...

Sherri L Lewis's My Soul Cries Out ~ Reviewed

My Soul Cries Out

Sherri L Lewis

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Urban Books (July 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1893196976
ISBN-13: 978-1893196971

My Review:

My Soul Cries Out is a powerful redemption story about Monica and Kevin that on more than one occasion moved me to tears. I loved how the author wasn't afraid to tell it like it is when it came to internal thoughts, especially the skank ho references to certain women. Hilarious! The author masterfully wrote about Monica's rage the way it might really happen and didn't soften the issues for fear of offending the reader. This is real life trauma and heartache! Monica was a very flawed character but the author did such a fantastic job of growing her in her relationship with the Lord and with others that I couldn't help but love her. I just can't say enough good things about this book.

Kevin's characterization was so well done that I can honestly say I haven't read any novel highlighting the pain that comes from childhood abuse that was better at showing it than this one. And I've read a lot of them. You can't help but have compassion on Kevin when he reveals his struggles and you see how even the church had betrayed him by not protecting him. The way Kevin and Monica's relationship developed throughout the story is proof that God can use anything--even the most horrible sin or mistake--to make us more like Him.

In addition to the main story, there were several subplots regarding redemption that were both believable and moving. The story of Alaysia's quest for peace and redemption was perfectly done and complimented the main theme of My Soul Cries Out. True-to-life, the comments made by an unbeliever can often be used to turn the struggling Christian's life around. Oh, and the ending gave me the happy shivers. I SO loved this story and can't wait to read the next book from this author, who is even more beautiful than the model on the cover.

My Soul Cries Out was published by Urban Books.

Reviewed by: Michelle Sutton (pen name)
http://www.acfw.com/http://www.michellesutton.net/
http://www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

Jamie Langston Turner's Winter Birds ~ Reviewed

Winter Birds
by Jamie Langston Turner
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (September 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764200151
ISBN-13: 978-0764200151


At eighty I knew I must not delay. The branches of the tree were nearly bare. My method: I sent letters to nine people, family acquaintances, five of whom responded, to apply as Providers of Winter Hospice for Sophia Marie Langham Hess.


The wealthy widow Sophia chooses, finally, to live with her nephew and his wife in a modest bungalow in Greenville, Mississippi. Winter Birds, Jamie Langston Turner’s third novel, is the story of Ms. Hess in that winter season and the tale of the gradual unthawing of her heart in the home of Patrick and Rachel.


The time period spanned in this contemporary novel is about one year, though through Sophia’s flashbacks and memories we are able to piece together the entire life story of this intelligent but embittered octogenarian. The setting is spare. Mostly we’re in Sophia’s room, which looks out over a playground, has in view a mortuary and, just outside the window, a bird feeder.


This book majors on characters. Sophia, the main character, who tells the entire story in first person (present tense, no less), is rich and complex. As a former English teacher and the widow of Eliot Hess, a noted Shakespeare professor, she shows herself to be intelligent, cultured and perceptive. She is also sneaky, funny, and at times a less than reliable narrator, colored as her outlook is by low self-esteem, betrayal, disappointment, and cynicism.


Other main characters Patrick and Rachel, as well as secondary characters Terri, Steve and Potts, are seen and interpreted through Sophia’s eyes in satisfying physical and psychological detail. Sophia’s penchant for people-watching leads to some amusing reflections - like this one at the Christmas dinner table, when most of the guests are gushing about the pin Sophia got as a gift and Sophia, catching the look on teenager Mindy’s face muses:

“Mindy is eyeing the pin, frowning slightly as if wondering how such a small thing, something she would never be caught wearing, can evoke such emotion from adults. Perhaps she will tell her friends about it later: “And this fat old woman was wearing this weird-looking bird pin that everyone was having a cow over!”

Langston Turner’s prose style is simple. In one place she has Sophia overhear aspiring writer Patrick report to Rachel “in painstaking detail” (Sophia thinks Patrick is an incredible bore) something his teacher has said about “two kinds of simplicity – one producing art, the other banality.” As I read this book, I got the feeling that simplicity producing art was the effect Langston Turner was after and, in my opinion, achieved. But if the prose is simple, other stylistic features like Shakespearean lines as titles and the descriptions of bird behavior under those titles, both of which are then woven into the story line of the chapter, make the book satisfyingly thoughtful and layered.

Death is a theme that runs through the entire story. That’s probably not surprising, as Sophia is 80 and feels that her own is imminent. This theme is underlined again and again as Sophia watches the goings-on at the mortuary across the street and obsessively reads the "Milestones" columns from old Time magazines, paying special attention to the obits. Other themes that emerge as the back story unfolds are betrayal and deception. What finally transforms this often pessimistic story into a hopeful one is the message that love has the power to heal and restore.

The Christian aspect of the novel is handled with a light touch. Sophia, herself a skeptic throughout the book, does a good job of articulating common objections to belief. These are countered not with platitudes and sermons but with actions. Rachel, Patrick and others do a good job of showing in their own imperfect ways, what it means to serve and love the way Jesus taught.

This book is easily one of my favorites of 2006. The beautiful writing full of wisdom, literary allusions and stylistic elegance give it the moodling possibilities of poetry. Its quiet but compelling plot, realistic characters and sly humor made me wish it were twice as long. It reminds me of Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead and, like that book, it’s one I’m planning to read again, this time with highlighter always at hand.

Violet Nesdoly
http://vnesdoly.blogspot.com/

Susan Meissner's Days and Hours ~ Reviewed

Days and Hours (A Rachael Flynn Mystery)

by Susan Meissner

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736919163
ISBN-13: 978-0736919166

A newborn is found alive in a trash bin and a young, single mother insists her baby was abducted. While St. Paul police are skeptical, attorney Rachael Flynn's strange dreams lead her to believe the mother is telling the truth. But who would steal a baby only to leave it for dead?

When the baby disappears again, Rachael agonizes over her decision to allow the baby to be returned to his mother. Did she make a terrible mistake? And where is that missing baby? Who would wish the child harm? Rachael races to see past the deception that threatens to send a young mother to prison and a newborn to a terrible fate.

My Review:

Days and Hours is tragic, beautiful, awful and realistic. Susan Meissner has done it again. This is the first of her Rachael Flynn series that I've read, and I will be picking up those I've missed. Meissner writes with depth and compassion, honesty, and a poignancy that wraps around the reader, bringing her characters to life in the reader's imagination.

Rachael's life, like so many real women, becomes intertwined with her job. Bad enough. But when the job is gut-wrenching on bad days and difficult on good ones, Rachael is faced with choices beyond what most women are forced to consider. Several moments in the book go beyond "just a good story" into soul-tweaking.

Rachael's family, friends and life read real. Okay, maybe her husband is a little too sweet. Many young mothers don't face the choice of hiring a nanny vs. staying home in their cozy loft either. Fig, my favorite character, is over the top, but he reminds me of a few men I've known and loved. The situation of a baby in peril will likely disturb more sensitive readers. So beware if you fall into that category -- some of the scenes are brutal.

The Christian jargon is low level and once again borders on realistic. Rachael's reliance on God just happens to permeate her life and others also as she interacts with them.

Looking for an author who produces great book after great book? Meissner needs to be on your check it out list.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Popa's To Dance in the Desert ~ Reviewed

To Dance in the Desert
Kathleen Popa
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Cook Communications Ministries (April 20, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589190947
ISBN-13: 978-1589190948

Having witnessed the violent deaths of both her husband and father in one terrible day, Dara flees to the solitude of a secret house in a remote desert valley. But she's not alone, for a strange woman dances on the distant sands of the desert. Further, Dara's begun to hear a voice in the wind that whispers it loves her, and invites her to dance. Follow Dara as she learns the art of loving despite her fears, discovers the mother who abandoned her long ago, and surrenders at last to the rhythm of grace.



My review:

Kathleen Popa's debut novel blends a heart-twistingly beautiful tale of human frailties and ugliness with the love of God working through broken characters.

From the rigid Bible professor who has God all figured out and bullet-pointed directions for anyone else who might need help, to the inner whisper that tells Dara that she is sought by God -- this story is full of forgiveness and renewal.

Love blows through the narrative like a wind across a desert, lifting, shifting and rearranging thoughts and raising questions.

Grace abounds and amazing reconciliations and understandings bloom into joy.

The characters reached in and grabbed my heart, leaving shadows of subtle influence behind.

After an initial struggle to ease into Kathleen's rhythm and voice, I caught the nuances and rode it to the solid conclusion.

A sensitivity alert -- this novel contains grittiness that may be too intense for those looking for a simple escapist read.

Reviewed by Kelly Klepfer
http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Tracey Bateman's Defiant Heart ~ Reviewed

DEFIANT HEART
By Tracey Bateman
Published by Avon Inspire
ISBN-10: 0061246336

Orphan Fannie Caldwell and her twin siblings are trapped in an indentured servant relationship with a cruel master. Fannie desperately wants a better life for her siblings and to escape the abuse they have endured. Fannie comes up with a plan to secretly join a wagon train heading west. Her plan runs into a snag called Blake Tanner the wagon master. Seems he has rules about allowing unmarried woman on the train. But Fannie's determined to leave her abusive situation. She has planned and saved for 2 years. Tonight was the night no matter what that wagon master said. She had to be set free.

Fannie had not thought long and hard about life on the frontier as a single woman. Life on the trail tests every part of Fannie’s body and soul. Will the wagon master let her join the wagon train? Will she make the wagon’s final destination Oregon or have to settle for some other town?

Will Blake sacrifice his own dreams and guide Fannie to safety? Or will Fannie's stubborn independent spirit keep her from finding peace and true love in her life? Get reading to find out the answers to these questions. I could see this as a TV movie special. I look forward to reading the rest of them.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Life Way Book Club Leader

Eric Wilson's Shred of Truth ~ Reviewed

In The Best of Evil, Aramis Black uncovered family secrets and historical conspiracies, hoping that his own dark past had come to certain resolution. But now, in the dark of night, he finds his brother unconscious and tied to a statue in Nashville’s Music Row …with the initials AX carved into his back.

A shadow from his former life has reappeared, casting threats of violence and retribution. And soon the attacker is swinging his blade of self-righteous judgment directly at Aramis, calling upon him to “face his sins.” Can Aramis finally break free from the guilt of his old ways… or will he succumb to the vengeance of an arrogant sociopath?

My Review:

Eric Wilson's Shred of Truth is a novel full of compelling writing, history and mystery.This is my first visit into the life of Aramis Black and I missed the in-depth story as shared in book one, but I believe I still got an accurate feel for the character and his life.

Told in first person POV, Aramis continues to struggle with his generational ties to Meriweather Lewis.

Shred has it's share of blood, so the Big Honken Chicken Club might not be able to handle it.

Wilson did a great job with red herrings and twisted motivations. Several paths veered into dead ends and the mystery remained intact until the end.

Historically the reader is treated to a blend of Knights Templar, KKK, Lewis and Clark, Masonry legends and the Russian Czars. These all add to the story, making it feel very much like the movie, National Treasure.

If you love Eric Wilson's previous novels you'll find much to like in Shred. Action, crime drama and history buffs might want to check him out as well as those who just like a good solid story.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com

Chuck Holton's Island Inferno ~ Reviewed

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Fiction (May 15, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590525035
ISBN-13: 978-1590525036

My review:Island Inferno is a page-turning suspense novel that you don't want to miss. I had not read the first book in the series and didn't feel like I missed out, so I think this can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel (though now that I've finished the story I'm dying to read the sequel).

The author takes you to numerous settings and countries and puts you into the heads of the good guys and the bad. In some ways this book made me feel like I was in Jurassic Park, but minus the dinosaurs. Island Inferno even had college students exploring the island, totally unsuspecting what was going on behind the vegetation. And that bottled water was downright scary because you never knew when someone would take a swig and possible blow up. I couldn't stop reading this book! It contained enemies who were just as frightening and deadly as man-eating dinosaurs, and you never knew when they would appear and kill someone. Very exciting and nerve-wracking.

I also totally loved the special forces and commando feel of the book. You can see that the author has experience because the details show that he knows what he's writing about, which makes it feel even more real. My favorite characters were Rip and Fernanda. The end of the story was fabulous and even a tad romantic, and while it wrapped up some details, it left just enough loose ends for a sequel.

The spiritual thread in this story truly impressed me--how the circumstances opened up situations where people truly wanted to know God in a personal way. It came out very naturally through the plot, and in my opinion was one of the best things about the story.

While packed with a variety of violent situations (I'm quite squeamish and the details were awesome), the story would be lifeless without the James Bond/Mission Impossible feel to it.

I highly recommend this book! In fact, I think it would make an awesome movie, too.

Island Inferno was published by Multnomah and released in May 2007.

Reviewed by: Michelle Sutton (pen name)
http://www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

Alton Gansky's Crime Scene Jerusalem ~ Reviewed

CRIME SCENE JERUSALEM
By Alton Gansky
Paperback: 318 pages
Publisher: River Oak (January 20, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589190963

ISBN 978-1-58919-096-2


Alton Gansky never ceases to amaze me in his variety of styles in writing, and Crime Scene Jerusalem turns the tables again.

Crime Scene investigator Maxwell Odom is a troubled man. One of the best in his field of forensics, he is suffering from a few personal setbacks. He is “kindly” forced into a business trip to Jerusalem as a speaker and teacher to a special police unit. Here he was to teach some of the newest tactics in forensics. After a long tiring trip, he lays down to nap before his speech and suddenly finds himself transported to ancient Jerusalem.

His guide, Yoshua, escorts him throughout old Jerusalem to investigate the murder of an innocent man – the Son of Man. Taken to various significant places a few days after the death of Jesus, Maxwell attempts to work a modern-day crime scene investigation in first century Jerusalem.

Though he has become a calloused man through years of gruesome crime scene investigations, Maxwell is forced, to not only observe the facts of this crime; but to reevaluate his own beliefs as well. Given a unique opportunity to meet those who loved Jesus, traveled with him, and knew him personally, Maxwell seeks out the truth. He is now forced to see, what to him was only a story in history, as a reality and truth.

Alton Gansky has beautifully incorporated footnotes that reinforce the truth that lies beneath the fiction. This unique combination of fact and fiction bring together a wonderful marriage of words. Gansky has done his homework in the forensic field as well, bringing a vivid true-life picture of the death of Jesus.

Clearly, this is another score for Gansky as he presents this clever combination of fact and fiction. Cook Communications and RiverOak have found a winner.

Reviewed by Cindy Sproles, Mountain Breeze Ministries

Shepherd and Everson's The Potluck Club Takes the Cake ~ Reviewed

The Potluck Club Takes the Cake
By Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
Published by Revell
ISBN 10: 0-8007-3074-7

Is the Potluck Club becoming the Bridesmaids Club? Wedding plans and romantic desires abound as the six friends continue to share food, friendship, prayer—and new adventures renging from hilarious to dangerous!

Shocking rumors, family secrets, and a mountain avalanche threaten the friends' sense of security, their relationships, and even their lives. As Evangeline's wedding day draws near, Lisa Leann's matchmaking ways threaten to cause trouble ion more than one relationship. Will the Potluck Club be able to put aside their differences and help each other survive the storms of life and love?

The church ladies live on, and if you liked the first two Potluck Club books, you'll love this one. I just know these ladies are members of my church, and if you look over your shoulder, you may see them in the pew behind you, too. The sometimes zany, sometimes crotchety, and sometimes out-of-control characters are always charming. Shepherd and Everson have delivered another fun-filled read with some unexpected results. Things I wanted to happen didn't, but it was okay. With surprises at each turn, this third book of the series does indeed Take the Cake! And the recipes are delicious, too.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com

Kristin Billerbeck's Split Ends ~ Reviewed

Split Ends: Sometimes the End is Really the Beginning

by Kristin Billerbeck

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 17, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591455081
ISBN-13: 978-1591455080

She's armed--with hot irons, sharp shears, and a flair for color.

She's dangerous--truly bad news for bad hair.

And she's going to do whatever it takes to make a place for herself in the exclusive Beverly Hills salon.

Even if that means sweeping hair, emptying trash, scrubbing dummy heads, and making soy lattes for the stars that come to Yoshi's salon.

Even if it means hiding the fact that she's not really an up-and-comer from New York, but a drunk's daughter from small-town Wyoming.

Even if it means igoring her attraction to a tall, dark stranger in a fedora who just stepped off the elevator...and into her heart.

But can a talented hairdresser from the sticks really make it in image-obsessed L.A.? And can she ever find true love and real success in a town that wrote the book on fake?

My Review:

Kristin Billerbeck writes charming men and sassy, angsty women with such warmth and creativity that I can't help but sigh when closing one of her books.

Split Ends is well told and with seeds of truth that push the reader to ponder the things that hold them captive to messed-up thinking or burdens from the past.

Each chapter begins with a quote from a movie star from "back in the day." The day when all men were gentle yet tough and women felt protected enough to be vulnerable.

Those who are old movie fans, Hollywood hounds, into hair and/or fashion, or just love a sweet story will find much to like.

I discovered a time conundrum or two within the story. But since this is Chick-Lit and those of us who enjoy it do so for the escapism and the fun and subtle errors are easily overlooked.

For the more sensitive readers -- a wee bit of language and slightly indelicate mention of natural beauty enhancements occasionally pop up along the story line. However, anyone who watches television won't be put off unless they think that Christians don't know slang, or that it's a sin to use it.

Reviewed by Kelly Klepfer

http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Tracey Bateman's Catch a Rising Star ~ Reviewed

Catch a Rising Star
By Tracey Bateman
Published by FaithWords, (July 17, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0446698938

Book DescriptionWhen thirty-something Tabby Brockman has the opportunity to reclaim her role as a killed-off character on the nation's #1 daytime soap opera, she figures this must be God's reward. But back on the set, she's faced with the same hateful head writer who killed off her character in the first place, kids who drive her crazy, a stage dad who rubs her completely wrong, and and an unwanted boyfriend who can?t seem to get the message. Faced with this dizzying rollercoaster of challenges, Tabby has to wonder: is she finally a star on the rise or just on the brink of another spectacular fall?

Review
Tabby Brockman is a young girl who is getting a second chance to reprise her role on the nation’s number-one daytime soap opera. Right away Tabby’s faith is tested. She knows that she wants to make a different in the field she loves – acting; but is she have the courage to stand up for her principles? Will she be strong? Will being on the show be different this time now that she is a “Christian”? The story is funny, witty and believable. Tracey shows what Tabby has to deal with as a member of the soap opera cast on a daily basis. Tabby learns how to make Jesus - Lord of her life through a process of trial and errors (some pretty funny) Tabby also battles with “Lies” of the enemy about her weight and other topics that come up in that industry. This was a fun book and the first in its series called "Drama Queen".

Reviewed by Nora St. Laurent

LifeWay Book Club, Buford, GA

Ruth Axtell Morren's The Healing Season ~ Reviewed

The Healing Season
By Ruth Axtell Morren
Published by Steeple Hill
ISBN-10: 0-373-78588-7

Description:

Could a scarlet woman win the heart of an honorable man? Tough he'd found his life's calling, Dr. Ian Russell hadn't yet found his life's mate. Then the former Army surgeon encountered the enchanting stage actress Eleanor Neville.

Ian's good works and strong faith set him apart from other men Eleanor knew. But despite his fascination with her glittering world, Eleanor feared her notorious past would end their future together before it had ever begun. Could true love and faith overcome all obstacles and make their lonely hearts as one?

Review:
It wasn't until I neared the end that I realized this book is a retelling of Hosea and Gomer, albeit with a twist. Thoroughly engaging in story and style, Morren transports her readers to London in the early 1800s. Credible emotions and prejudices color both Ian's and Eleanor's lives, creating wonderful conflict and tension. The Healing Season doesn't have the predictability of formula romance; rather it's a beautiful love story of God's grace. A definite recommendation for your bookshelf.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
http://www.anemulligan.com/

Linda Hall's Black Ice ~ Reviewed

Black Ice (Fog Point Series)

by Linda Hall

Book Description

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 20, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1578569559
ISBN-13: 978-1578569557

They said she came in with the ice…

Lenore Featherjohn found the girl, frozen against a snow bank behind Lenore’s bed-and-breakfast. Some said she was a ghost, others said an angel.

Lenore knows better. Fearing that the police might look to her sons as murderers, she hires Jake Rikker and his crusty business partner, May, to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding her undesirable discovery. Their search leads them not to the strange girl–or to Earth’s final days, as many in the town suspect–but to Amy McLaren, the wife of a local minister. As Jake and May get closer to the truth, the tension between Lenore and Amy rises, forcing each woman to face the secrets they’ve hidden far too long.

Return to Fog Point in Black Ice, a gripping novel that asks, is any faith strong enough to survive the coldest seasons of life?

My Review:

I don't know how I've managed to miss Christy nominated, best-selling author, Linda Hall.

I will be rectifying this.

Black Ice wrapped around me and pulled me in, holding my attention until the very satisfying conclusion. Beautiful, haunting descriptions. Multi-dimensional and realistic characters. Page-turning, haunting plot.

The Christianity elements resemble the Christians I know, chipped, cracked and broken in progress and process.

Well done and recommended.

Reviewed by Kelly Klepfer

http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Susan Meissner's Sticks & Stones ~ Reviewed

Sticks & Stones (A Rachael Flynn Mystery)
By Susan Meissner
Published by Harvest House
ISBN-10: 0-7369-1915-5

Description:
"They're going to find a body at the River Terrace construction site. He deserved what he got, but it wasn't supposed to happen. It was an accident."

Lawyer Rachel Flynn has only been at her new job in the Ramsey County attorney's office for four months when she receives an unsigned letter with the startling message.

Two days later the predicted body is found, but to everyone's astonishment, the remains have been buried for at least 20 years. When the body is identified as that of a 15-year-old-boy, the police begin to dig for clues. Rachael continues to receive anonymous notes...and the questions keep coming...
Was it really an accident, or was it murder? Why has it taken so many years for this story to come to light? And why did the young man "deserve" to die?

As Rachael searches out the identity of the writer, she finds herself drawn to the neighborhood where the body was found—and to an abandoned house that no longer exists, but seems to call out to her nonetheless.

Review:
Brilliantly written, Sticks & Stones is one of the best books I've read this year! Meissner's characters step off the page, taking you by the hand to journey with them.

And that journey takes you into a dark past, where a bully made their lives a living hell. I found myself angry at the parents and the school officials for not stopping him. And yet what could they really have done? Nothing more than they did. And that's why this story rings so true. You'll feel the victims' helplessness, their terror, and see how each has the perfect motive for murder.

Each one a suspect, Meissner leads you through a labyrinth of twist after twist, not to mention plenty of red herrings, and leaves you be kept guessing until the end. This reviewer gives Sticks & Stones her highest recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan

http://www.anemulligan.com/

Palmer & Chapman's Summer Breeze ~ Reviewed

Summer Breeze
By Catherine Palmer & Dr. Gary Chapman
Published by Tyndale
ISBN-10: 1-4143-1166-4

Description:
Nothing spells disaster like a meddling mother-in-law. Unfortunately for Kim Finley, hers has come to visit...indefinitely. Not that Kim couldn't use the help: she recently returned to work, leaving the care of her ten-year-old twins to her new houseguest. What she didn't count on was Miranda's unwanted decorating tips and unending criticism.

Kim's husband, Derek, soon finds himself volleying between the woman he loves and the mother he can't escape. With increasing demands of his job as a Water Patrolman, Derek can barely keep from drowning.

Winter may be drifting into the Finley household, but summer is in full swing in Deepwater Cove, and the members of the Tea Lovers' Club intend to take full advantage. There are barbecues to plan, neighbors to help, and a new store owner to welcome. But when they lose the one person who brings them together, the community craves the calm only a summer breeze can bring.

Review:
I don't like to give away the story when I review a book. So instead of talking about the plot, I just want to tell you this second book in the Four Seasons series is as good as the first. The same quirky characters are back, along with some new ones.

I like how Palmer and Chapman deliver with a touch of humor, real issues couples face in marriage. There are really about four stories going on here, some of which are left unresolved. I imagine they will be the focus of the next books in the series. One can only hope. I want to see more of the residents of Deepwater Cove.

I think Palmer and Chapman have a winning series going. A great summer read. A great read any time of year.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
http://www.anemulligan.com/

Richard & Evangeline Abanes' Homeland Insecurity ~ Reviewed

Homeland Insecurity: A Novel

by Richard Abanes & Evangeline Abanes

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736914692
ISBN-13: 978-0736914697

With no warning, white supremacists launch the most devastating attack on America to ever be witnessed. In Los Angeles, journalist Frank Delafield narrowly escapes death and starts his own investigation to find out how the deadly plot could have been planned and executed right under the watchful eyes of law–enforcement.

Delafield is led to a clandestine group called Yahweh’s Holy Temple in the sleepy town of Rosamond, California. There he meets true Christians...but also those who twist the Bible’s words into a violent religion that reflects the hate of their own hearts. Even the hard–boiled journalist is shocked by their ambitious plans to destroy the U.S. government and replace it with a “Fourth Reich” based on Hitler’s teachings.

Will Delafield be able to find enough information to expose their plans...and will he find that information soon enough to prevent more deaths?

Review:

Richard Abanes is a known truth sifter. I have appreciated his careful handling in the titles I've read in his "... and the Bible" series.

Abanes (and his wife Evangeline) have wisely taken their research and passion one step further -- to fiction.

Homeland Insecurity is based on the truth behind the white supremicist movement and stretched, not too outlandishly, into what could and does happen when hate plays out.

This novel is not for the weak-hearted or already terrified. The horror of terrorism or a holy war where those who hate are willing to sacrifice it all for the cause is bone-chilling. The Abanes paint such a picture. The fact that one of the fictional sites for an act of terror takes place in my home state, and I've been in the building, brought it even more uncomfortably close.

One of the most frightening passages occurs during the sharing of the white supremecist doctrine. They claim Christ.

The Abanes dug deeper into their "faith" and exposed the truth behind the beliefs that drive the hate -- but it is unsettling to see spelled out so clearly on the page.

A Bible teacher at our church read from a book one Sunday. He asked if we agreed with the statements, and we did, they were true and Biblically sound. And then he shared the name of the book. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. That was my first taste of the insidiousness of hatred's twisting power.

Homeland Insecurity has given me another serving.

This is not a novel that you will read for the deep characterization because it is told in an omniscent point of view and many characters are involved in the telling of the story. This is not of work of literary beauty either. Some of the plot line was predictable. I'm giving this novel a 4 star rating because of what I learned and the amount of work the author's put into dispensing the information into a believable end result of the ugly facts they have unearthed.

I believe the author's intention and desire was to craft another avenue of the truth, and have discovered the value of parables. I don't learn by memorizing facts and dates, but only when I can see those facts and dates through the eyes of another human being who causes me to care.

Unfortunately, Homeland Insecurity is not purely historical fiction. There are elements, but there are also warnings.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer
http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Siri Mitchell's Moon Over Tokyo ~ Reviewed

Moon Over Tokyo

Siri L. Mitchell
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736917594
ISBN-13: 978-0736917599

Though reporter Allie O'Connor has lived in Japan for two years, she still barely copes as a foreigner. After an office romance ends badly, she prays in her lonliness one moonlit night for a friend. Just a friend.

Soon after this prayer she runs into Eric Larson at church, an old classmate from high school. Eric has been assigned to the U.S. embassy and lives in Allie's district. In school he had been a young Republican. Allie had been a liberal Democrat. He is not the friend she was looking for. And yet…here she is. Here he is.

Will Allie risk their fledgling friendship to find out if it can become something more?

Moon Over Tokyo is a charming story of girl-finding-what-she-never-knew-she’d-always-wanted.

I absolutely loved “The Cubicle Next Door” and couldn’t wait to crack the cover on “Moon.” I found an entirely different style story. This is a good thing in that Siri Mitchell is versatile and full-octave voiced, but sad in that I missed some of the quirkiness that made “Cubicle” so fun to read.

That said -- Allie’s story is sweet and full of angst but I think the lacking piece is the charm of the quirky support system in “Cubicle.” Allie is bound up and fearful and looking for something that she just can’t find, and her two female friends don’t offer much relief or hope. This is where it differs from usual Chick-Lit and I wouldn't give “Moon” that label.

Enter Eric who is exactly what she loathes and his confidence in his loathsome state frustrates Allie repeatedly.

Each chapter begins with a Haiku – an impressively appropriate Haiku. Japanese scenery, sights, smells, sounds and tastes permeate this novel, giving it depth.

Spiritually, this novel is enriched by the graceful and respectful way Mitchell shares Japanese customs and Buddhist beliefs. Mitchell creates characters who follow God but make mistakes along the way. The main characters drink socially so beware if you make it a policy not to read books with alcohol imbibing Christian characters.

Reviewed by Kelly Klepfer

http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Delia Parr's Day by Day ~ Reviewed

Day by Day
By Delia Parr
Published by Steeple Hill Books
ISBN-10: 0-373-78580-1

Description:

Three grandmothers bound by one common thread. Barbara lost her son, a single dad, to senseless violence. Judy's daughter fell into a black hole of addiction. Ginger's girl threw away motherhood for money, status and materialism. And the grandmothers had to pick up the pieces...

Miraculously, they found one another, a mismatched trio with no common history, yet with so much to share. Together they found wisdom, strength and courage—and rediscovered the true meaning of faith.

Review:

A timely novel for grandmothers raising grandchildren, but more than that, it's a great read. Day by Day is a heartwarming story of three women, dreaming of the day they retire and how they'll spend those years. But each of their lives gets interrupted and dreams are put aside.

Parr deals with the subject with honesty, not hiding the real emotions these women go through. A grandmother myself, I was able to relate to one or the other of these characters all the way through. And I love the characters she develops. They're all such different personalities if they hadn't the commonality of grandchildren, they would never have become friends. That's one of the things that makes this book work so well.

I'm not going to talk about the plot, but simply tell you to get the book. Parr writes wonderful stories that captivate and hold you spellbound until you turn the last page. She has jumped to my five favorite authors list. If you love Deborah Raney, Robin Lee Hatcher, Sally John or Roxanne Henke, you'll love Delia Parr. This reviewer gives Day by Day a high recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
http://www.anemulligan.com/

Melanie Dobson's Going for Broke ~ Reviewed

Going for Broke
By Melanie Dobson
Published by Honor Books
ISBN-10: 1589190939

Book Description:Leia Carlisle can't tell anyone her secret. After a debilitating ski injury, Leia loses her job as an airline pilot and turns to gambling for its empowering adrenaline rush. But the more she gambles, the more Leia thrives on the rush of euphoric wins until her obsession consumes her. If she doesn't overcome this addiction, the game will destroy her family, her faith and her life.

Review:
This book starts out light hearted and shows an average married couple in the early years. Leia has an accident and is confined to the house for the first time in her life. She is going crazy. What can she do to occupy her time? She starts searching the web. What does she find but a gambling site? What can it hurt? (she tells herself) The site lets her gamble for free. She knows her husband doesn't like gambling; they are Christians. Christians don’t gamble. She tells herself it's not gambling because she is not using "real" money.

Her husband Ethan is off on business trips and she is stuck home alone in the house with the computer calling to her. She is thrilled that she has won $10,000.00 play money one night. “Oh, how that could help them out if that were real money,” she thinks to herself. Maybe she would try it with real money her husband doesn't have to know. It sure would help out since she was out of work for 3 months (the lie - the seductive trap).

As I was reading the book I wanted to stop the character from entering the trap. In the authors notes at the end of the book, she states that women succumb to gambling nearly 3 times faster than men. I was surprised to also learn in this story that a gambling "addiction" can take as little as 2 weeks to develop. It is just as bad as using a substance you put into your body. This book was very informative. The characters and their stories were very believable and sometimes tough to read.

Nora St.Laurent
Life Way Book Club Leader Mall of GA store

George Bryan Polivka's The Legend of the Firefish ~ Reviewed

The Legend of the Firefish
Book One of the Trophy Chase Trilogy
By George Bryan Polivka
Harvest House Publishers 2007
ISBN 13: 978-0-7369-1556-2


Packer Throme longs to bring prosperity back to his poor fishing village by discovering the trade secrets of Scat Wilkins, a notorious pirate who now seeks to hunt the legendary Firefish and sell its rare meat.

Packer begins his quest by stowing away aboard Scat’s ship, the Trophy Chase, bound for the open sea. Though he is armed with a hard-won mastery of the sword and the love of Panna Seline, daughter of a priest of the kingdom of Nearing Vast, many tests of his courage and his resolve will follow—beginning when the young voyager is discovered by Scat himself.

Will belief and vision be enough for Packer Throme to survive? And will Talon, the Drammune warrior woman who serves as Scat’s security officer, be Packer’s deliverance… or his death?

And what of the innocent young Panna Seline? In her determination not to lose Packer, she leaves home to follow the man she loves but is soon swept up in a perilous adventure of her own.

This heroic struggle of faith makes The Legend of the Firefish a compelling story that will be enjoyed the world over by fans of adventure, fantasy, and well-told tales of honor and sacrifice.

Author George Polivka does not shy away from portraying the hero, Packer Throme, as sincerely doubting and struggling with his faith. That’s what endeared me as a reader to Packer. This character is ‘real’, not a garden-variety Pollyanna type.

The villain, Talon, is a character you’ll love to hate. Throughout the story, the reader wonders if she can possibly get any more evil—and then she does. However, toward the end of the tale, Polivka masterfully turns the reader’s heart to actually feel sorry for her.

There is eventually a happy ending, though most of the way through the book it seems as if no good can come from all the horrible events. A great analogy of how God works things together for good to those who believe.

The one thing I personally found frustrating is the point of view. It’s omniscient, meaning that from paragraph to paragraph, you know what everyone is thinking. There were a few spots I had to re-read because at first I didn’t know which character was thinking what.

Overall, though, a hearty round of applause goes not only to George Bryan Polivka for some mighty fine action-packed writing, but to Harvest House as well for taking a chance on a fantasy.

I’m hoping sales of the Trophy Chase trilogy will sky-rocket, opening the door to more new authors in this genre.

Fantasy lovers put your money where your mouth is and get out to by The Legend of the Firefish.

Review by Michelle Griep

Craig & Janet Parshall's Captives and Kings ~ Reviewed

Captives and Kings
Craig and Janet Parshall
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736913254
ISBN-13: 978-0736913256
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches







From the Publisher:



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?





My review:


I was surprised that the description from the publisher didn't include the information that drew me to the book. The court plot alluded to is the plot to destroy King James and his court in Parliament. The story is about conspiracy against the Protestant king as much as it is about the relationship between brothers. It's about diabolical planning, murder, torture, heartache, injustice, adventure, and secrets. It's about political struggles, conspiracy, opposing religious forces, Bible translation, travel to the "New World", salvation, and true love. In short, it's about a whole lot more than the description would lead you to believe.



That said, I really enjoyed this book. The point of view was mainly omniscient, which provided for a variety of perspectives you wouldn't get from a third person POV account. This entire novel held my attention. I really took an interest in the portion of the story where Phillip and his son Peter traveled to Jamestown with the original group as settlers. Peter met Pocohantas, though he didn't know her name at the time. There were skirmishes with the native peoples, a thwarted search for the lost settlers of the original Roanoke settlement, sickness, and other adventures. At first I didn't think I'd like that part of the story, but it turned out to be my favorite portion of the book, though I also enjoyed the rest of the novel.



Captives & Kings was about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and about how the sin of one family member can impact the lives of so many innocent people. I had a hard time putting this book down. If you love historical fiction, this novel covers points of history rarely covered anywhere else in novel form.



Michelle Sutton (pen name)
ACFW Volunteer Officer writer/book reviewer
http://www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/
www.shoutlife.com/michellesutton

Diann Mills' Lightning and Lace ~ Reviewed

Lightning and Lace

Diann Mills
ISBN: 1597893579

ISBN-13: 9781597893572·

Format: Paperback, 288pp
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated

Even good God-fearing people make mistakes and Bonnie Kahler is no exception. After two years of mourning the loss of her husband this Christian mother wakes up one morning to realize her life hasn’t moved forward and her children are suffering the price.

Diann Mills weaves a wonderful continuation from Lanterns and Lace where we first learn of Bonnie Kahler and her dying husband, Ben. The transition from one book to the other is beautifully penned in this story of a woman who loses herself in grief for time.

At the retirement of her stepfather, Reverend John Rainer, Travis Whitworth steps up to the helm of the Piney Woods Church. His job is cut out for him, as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of Reverend Rainer. His first encounter in town is breaking up a fight between two boys, one who is Bonnie’s son, Zach.

The story, crafted tediously, brings Bonnie to the realization she is neglecting her children through her own grief. As she struggles to manage an out-of-control son, Travis steps up to lend a hand. He helps Bonnie out on the farm and manages a little spare time to offer guidance to a troubled Zach.

When a Travis finds a murdered townswoman, his church members begin to shift their eyes in an accusing manner toward him and Zach. In a story filled with surprises, Lightning and Lace takes hold of the reader and grips them tight.

Mills takes twists and turns throughout this work which approaches many subjects including how even Christian minds wander. This third in a series of the Texas Legacy has brought us still closer to the townspeople of Kahlerville, their lives and deep personal relationships.

Once again Barbour has allowed Diann Mills to bring us into a western world where real people have love, suffer hurt, and find redemption.

Reviewed by Cindy Sproles, Mountain Breeze Ministries

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

Alton Gansky's Finder's Fee ~ Reviewed

Finder's Fee


by Alton Gansky




Paperback: 331 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (May 2007)
ISBN-10: 0310272106
ISBN-13: 978-0310272106



"If you do not do exactly as I instruct, he will die."

A terrifying phone call sweeps rich and powerful businesswoman Judith Find into a desperate search for a kidnapped boy. If she involves the authorities, the child will die...and "The Puppeteer" will reveal Judith's darkest secret to the world.

Judith is teamed with a mysterious stranger with a carefully guarded secret of his own. But is Luke Becker an unwilling ally or an agent of the kidnapper? As Judith and Luke's mutual distrust wars against a growing attraction, the life of a small boy hangs in the balance. A boy unlike any other Judith has ever met.

Eight-year-old Abel Palek will help Judith discover a faith and a life she has never imagined. But freeing him could cost her everything.

Her career.

Her reputation.

And very possibly her life.




My Review:


The biggest problem with being a book reviewer is time. Now that I have read an Alton Gansky, I'm going to have to get a copy of each of his previous novels and read them. This is becoming a burden. I don't watch television anymore, I'm only up on the current events when they are a little old. I don't know any celebrities on first name basis. "Brad who? Paris? As in France? You're going to Europe -- Lucky!"


Finder's Fee is an intriguing story. Two people with a past that could ruin their present get sucked into a cat and mouse game. At first I thought the story might be similar to the movie "Cellular" which was in itself quite suspenseful. But it ends up going a whole lot of different directions, though Ganksy's created a story that begs a movie.


Well-rounded and likable characters. Fairly heavy spirituality without preachiness. Tight suspense, some blood, some tragedy, plenty of treachery, even some sweet moments of romance. Like I said, I'm going to be reading more Alton Gansky.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer
http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/

Judith Pella's Bachelor's Puzzle ~ Reviewed

Bachelor’s Puzzle
By Judith Pella
Published by Bethany House
ISBN-10: 0764201336

Book Description
The church ladies society in Maintown, Oregon, is buzzing over the arrival of the new preacher. Their eligible daughters are fashioning a special quilt for him---in the shape of a ring---because rumor has it he's unattached. But when the "clergyman" turns out to be nothing more than a handsome opportunist, humorous blunders abound!

Review
The women of the Maintown church ladies society are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new circuit-riding preacher – a bachelor, they are told. Zach Hartley is unlike any preacher the church has ever seen. Zach does his best to fill the role of “New” preacher. He hangs laundry, washes dishes, tends children - whatever it takes; whatever needs doing he is ready to do. Zach gets to know and love these town people (a surprise to him). In Maintown he learns of life and the love he never had growing up. The women of the sewing circle present the preacher with a welcoming quilt they are proud of. A competition starts up among the women as to who can make the best quilt block and win the preachers affections. In the back of the book the Author has an offer for a free book. If you send a quilt to one of the 13 organizations (listed in the back of the book) that pass out quilts for different reasons; she will give you a book. The book also includes a pattern for the "Bachelor's Puzzle" quilt. It doesn't get any better than that a quilt for a free book. This is the first in a series called “Patchwork Circle”. I can’t wait until the next book.

Reviewed by Nora St. Laurent

LifeWay Book Club, Buford, GA

Jenny B Jones' In Between ~ Reviewed

In Between
by Jenny B Jones
TH1NK Books
an imprint of NavPress
http://www.thinkbooks.com/

Book Jacket:

Katie Parker knows life isn't fair. After all, when your mom's in jail and your dad's a no-show, you figure things just aren't going your way. But hey, she can deal. Then she finds out she's being sent to live with a foster family- in In Between, Texas.

What kind of town has a name like In Between? And what kind of family wants a kid like her? One thing's for certain: None of this will be good. Sure enough- thanks to some new "friends" and her non-Mom's crazed mother, Mad Maxine- life sails right past bad to stinking.

Then again, she's just a temporary kid, they're just temporary parents, and she definitely doesn't have any ideas about making any of this permanent. God, on the other hand, may have other plans altogether.

My Review.

Jenny B Jones has to be one of the most hilarious writers ever to come up with the character of Katie Parker. Katie not only is funny smart aleck, teens can relate with her, hands down.

In the first book of the series, as soon as you're introduced to Katie, you get that feeling of what she has gone through in her life. But the book isn't just a story about a serious teenager with a problem. This book will have you rolling around on the floor laughing, since almost everything that comes out of Katie's mouth will make you LOL. I recommend that you put In Between on the top of your "To Do" list.

Reviewed by Shelby Klepfer ~ teen reviewer