Liz Curtis Higgs's A Wreath of Snow ~ Reviewed

A Wreath of Snow

By Liz Curtis Higgs

Published by Waterbrook

ISBN# 978-1400072170

224 Pages

Back Cover: Wrapped in a cloud of steam, the engine rolled to a stop, the screech of metal against metal filling the frosty air. Snow blew across the railway platform and around Meg’s calfskin walking boots. The weather definitely was not improving.

She ordered tea with milk and sugar, eying the currant buns and sweet mincemeat tarts displayed beneath a bell jar. Later, perhaps, when her appetite returned. At the moment her stomach was twisted into a knot.

“Anything else for you?” the cashier asked as she handed over the tea, steaming and fragrant.

Meg was surprised to find her fingers trembling when she lifted the cup. “All I want is a safe journey home.”

“On a day like this?” the round-faced woman exclaimed. “None but the Almighty can promise you that, lass.”

Review:  Liz Curtis Higgs pens moving story that driving home the real meaning of Christmas in her new novella I was thrilled to receive a review copy of. This novella is a Victorian Christmas, in Scotland, 1894.

The two main characters captured my heart as they interact with each other one snowy night on a train. They are both headed in different destinations but troubles with the train derailing have them on the same path seeking shelter for the night from the cold.

This story was easy to read and will help you get into the Christmas spirit as you experience these characters struggle in returning home to a place that didn’t have fond memories for either of them. It was a place to be avoided because of the pain and fear it conjured up.

On the train Gordon realizes who Meg is.  A surprising excitement rises up in him as he sees an opportunity to seek forgiveness for a horrible accident that happened in their childhood. He tried to ask for their forgiveness then but no one would listen, they didn’t see it as an accident. The event changed Meg’s family forever. Was he selfish to seek their forgiveness and bring up the past with its memories? Meg was sweet to him now because she didn’t know who he was, how would she treat him when she found out?

This author writes about a period time gone by when the value of family was strong and home and honesty were gifts to be treasured.  Her main characters are complex and carry the weight of unforgiveness like a heavy load on their backs. Unforgiveness holds them hostage to the horrible childhood event.  It makes the pain fresh and they live the experience over and over again. Liz shows through her characters.  forgiveness is a gift from God to set us free from the pain of the past. God gives us many chances to be set free from the chains that hold us back from really receiving all he has for us. It’s the greatest Christmas gift of all. It’s one to be passed on for sure!

Meg finally realizes who Gordon is and considers his request. Could she put herself and her family through the pain of the past?

Gordon Shaw is not the person she remembered as a child. He was a man who was humbled, changed and seeking to do the right thing. Would Meg give him that chance?

This is a story that will warm your heart and get you focused on the reason for the season. It includes a yummy recipe and questions good for family and book club discussions.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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Linda Windsor's Rebel ~ Reviewed

REBEL

The Brides of Alba (book 3)

By Linda Windsor

David C. Cook Publisher

June 2012

ISBN 978-1-4347-6476-8

With Merlin dead, the succession undecided, and the Celtic church on the defensive from Rome, intrigue sweeps the court of the High King Arthur. But it's all battlefield news that consumes Queen Gwenhyfar's young scribe, Kella O'Toole: her fiance is dead and her father gone missing. Determined to find him at all costs, Kella defies the queen's orders and sets out for Pictish territory. Her foster brother Alyn, a disillusioned priest who questions his calling, agrees to help her. The journey itself is perilous. But it's their secrets that land Kella and Alyn in a viper's nest of treachery that threatens both their lives and the future of Albion. 

Like a big slab of chocolate cake tops off a great meal, REBEL is a satisfying end to this fast-paced historical trilogy. Author Linda Windsor  weaves her facts seamlessly into a story that will stick with you long after you've closed the cover. 

Kella is a feisty heroine, which is quite the combination with hero Alyn's somewhat laid-back personality. He's no pushover, however, even though he's a former priest. Their relationship is as tumultuous as the bickering warlords around them.

I really enjoyed this series. I was hoping for a bit more of a reunion with the heroes/heroines of the previous 2 books (HEALER and THIEF), but that didn't happen. Guess I'll just have to re-read those, eh? Which won't be a problem, because the Brides of Alba trilogy has earned a spot on my bookshelf.

 

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

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Courtney Walsh's A Sweethaven Christmas ~ Reviewed

A Sweethaven Christmas, Sweethaven Summer Series #3
By: Courtney Walsh
Release Date Oct 1, 2012
ISBN 0824931823
EAN 9780824931827


Description

 

* It's holiday time in Sweethaven, but things aren't going as planned! Surprised to learn that she has a sister, Lila is even more shocked by other family secrets she unearths. When a scrapbook reminds Adele of her first love, she arranges a reunion with the man. And are wedding bells in Campbell's future? 320 pages, softcover from Guideposts.

Review:

This book follows up where A Sweet Haven Homecoming left off.  We are reunited with all of the girls again, as they each go through different struggles.  Adele is reunited with her first love unexpectedly, and is unsure what to do next.  Campbell is struggling with whether or not she’s ready for a commitment to Luke.  Lila is confronted things about her family she never would have dreamed, especially when a woman shows up claiming to be her half sister.  Meghan is trying to jump start her career again by filming a Christmas special in Sweet Haven.  And finally, Jane confronts her struggle with her health and is not sure how to take the next step.

I was so excited that there was another book in this series.  I really enjoyed getting to know all of the ladies in the last book, and this book just tied everything together and gave the story an appropriate ending.  I really liked getting to know each of the characters more.  I kind of hope the author continues the series, as I wouldn’t mind seeing what happens next!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Sarah Sundin's With Every Letter ~ Reviewed

With Every Letter

By Sarah Sundin

Published by Revell

ISBN# 978-0800720810

425 Pages

Back Cover:  

Lt. Mellie Blake is a nurse serving in the 802nd Medical Squadron, Air Evacuation, Transport. As part of a morale building program, she reluctantly enters into an anonymous correspondence with Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer in the 908th Engineer Aviation Battalion in North Africa. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face to face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage to their past? And can they learn to trust God and embrace the gift of love he offers them?

Review: 

Sarah Sundin has the gift of bringing history to life through characters I instantly care about. I was so thankful to receive a review copy of this novel with just the right mix of history that highlighted pioneering inspiring women who served as flight nurses in WWII, romance, suspense, humor and faith. Sarah brings the reader to the front lines of war in a memorable and personal way.

I loved the use of the personal letters in this book as characters wrote back and forth to each other. Mellies Lieutenant Neman’s letter writing campaign inspired by the movie Shop Around the Corner starring Jimmy Stewart is on it’s way.  She was seeking women who would volunteer to write anonymous letters to a unit based in England – Engineer Aviation Battalion – where her husband was stationed. The letters would not include names, pictures, just a message of encouragement to our men over seas.

Mellie was an American, born in Philippines, her father was American and mother was half American and half Filipino. Her father would call her his exotic Orchid, but American men seemed to prefer roses. She was shy and was raised in the jungle as her father did his research. She was not raised knowing the customs in America. She didn’t fit in no matter where she lived. She thought, “What if a letter could ease a man’s fears or worries or loneliness? What if her prayers could strengthen him? What if he wrote back?

On paper it wouldn’t matter if she were a rose or an orchid. Perhaps a friendship could develop, still a paper friendship, but it was more than she’d ever had before. She prayed, Lord give me the right words.”

Sergeant Larry Fong was in HMS Derbyshire, Liverpool, England, it’s 1942. “Fong’s a Chinese name not Japanese. The Chinese are our Allies, remember? I’m an American.”

Sergeant replies as the platoon leader explains the letter campaign. “You each get one letter, anonymous. You can reply or not, your choice. If you do, play by the rules. No names, personal details – hometown, people’s names, etc. Anonymity!”

Mellie starts to write her first letter, “An Anonymous correspondence appeals to me. In the real world shyness bars me from friendship, but a letter removes that barrier. I must warn you, I have little experience with friendship, but I can offer you encouragement, prayer and a listening ear…”

Larry Fong writes back to Mellie, “Dear Annie the Anonymous Nurse, Pardon the nickname but I couldn’t address a letter to “blank” You’re probably surprised to get a reply. As you thought, most of the men are looking for romance. I’m not, but I am looking for a friend.

If we met, you’d think me sociable, cheerful, and surrounded by a crowd. But in the crowd I have no true friend.

You say anonymity appeals to you. Well, it sets me free. For reasons too numerous to mention – and forbidden by anonymity – I can’t be in public. I always have to be sunny. But in anonymity, perhaps I can be myself.

You offer encouragement, prayer and a listening ear. If that offer still stands by the time you get to the end of this letter, I’ll take it. I offer the same to you.”

Larry Fong has an inner turmoil – living in his fathers shadow and being himself, not what others expect him to be.

This is a fascinating story with endearing characters that captured my heart and I could connect with. Sarah does an amazing job of capturing this slice of American history and its people for others to experience and understand.  I highly recommend it and look forward to the other books in this series.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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Are You Writing the Next Great American Novel???

Michelle G will not approve of the Viking helmet as seen above. But she is a NaNoWriMo fan. Join her and countless others as they crack out the next "Great American Novel." Writer's Digest has a handy page for NaNoWriMoers so visit for encouragement, ideas or maybe even threats. No, wait, threats are better found with Michelle.

Carole Towriss's In the Shadow of Sinai ~ Reviewed

In the Shadow of Sinai
By Carole Towriss
Publisher: DeWard Publishing Company
289 pages
ISBN: 978-1-936341-48-1

Description:

Bezalel is a Hebrew slave to Ramses II. An artisan of the highest order,
Ramses has kept him in the palace even when all other Israelites have been
banned. Bezalel blames El Shaddai for isolating him from his people.  

When Moses and Aaron appear one summer, and El Shaddai shakes Egypt to its core, Bezalel must reexamine his anger. Over the course of the next year, Bezalel’s life becomes intertwined with those of an Egyptian child-slave, the captain of the guard, and especially a beautiful, young concubine.  

When spring arrives, all of them escape with the young nation of Israel.

But that’s only the beginning… 

Review:

When I think of the biblical Exodus, I envision the beaten down slave working in the brutal sun, struggling to survive. I’d never paused to consider those with high-ranking or prestigious positions … like Bezalel. With his artistic skill, Bezalel rises in prestige among the Egyptians, gaining the respect of Pharaoh himself, and yet, his gifting deprives him of what he longs for most—connection with his family and his people. Forced to work in the heat, the common slaves view Bezalel as a traitor. Trapped by his own gifting, Bezalel wonders if perhaps God isn’t as loving as some claim him to be. His emotions are complicated further when the plagues brought about by God—those designed to bring liberation—hurts someone Bezalel cares for. Through Bezalel, we experience the plagues—the questions, the fears, the doubts—not only through an Israelite, but through the Egyptians, as well.

The road to faith is never easy, and sometimes we must hit what feels like an impenetrable road block, but in this beautifully crafted novel of hope brought from despair, we realize it is in our times of greatest trials that God triumphs.

This novel grabbed me from page one, and I truly loved each character presented. Carole Trowiss’ writing is fresh and engaging, and stirred my thinking long after I finished the novel. You don’t need to love biblical fiction to enjoy this gripping story of redemption. Anyone who’s ever shook their fists at God, anyone who’s ever wondered how good could possibly come from their tragedy, anyone who longs to see God’s love prevail, will thoroughly enjoy in the Shadow of Sinai.  In the Shadow of Sinai is a beautiful novel of hope amidst despair, trust in the face of terror, and a love that binds. Debut author Carole Towriss turned a familiar story of liberation into an unexpected love story that resonates deep in the hearts.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery

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Kasey Van Norman's Named by God ~ Reviewed

Named by God

By Kasey Van Norman

Published by Tyndale

ISBN#978-1-4143-6474-2

239 Pages

Back Cover: 

In many ways, Kasey Van Norman has suffered more heartbreak than one woman can bear. Growing up, she endured her parents’ divorce, date rape, and years of addiction to sex, cutting, and eating disorders. As an adult, Kasey has endured a painful miscarriage; the heartbreak (and restoration) of infidelity; a cancer diagnosis; rejection by her friends, church, and community; and her mother’s death from cancer. But at the end of this twisting path of sorrow, Kasey walked out of the wilderness and into a place of God’s merciful and miraculous healing and redemption. In Named by God, Kasey shares her story of God’s infinite grace and compassion so that others might learn from her experience as they encounter a depth of Jesus like never before!

Review:  

Christian’s aren’t perfect and forgiveness is a gift to be shared Kasey Van Norman shares with readers. Life can even get messy even for Christians, Jesus says in this life you will have trouble, no one is immune. I’m thankful for this refreshing, honest, heartfelt testimonial. Kasey shares her journey of healing a pain so deep only God could see and heal. The author says, “We are named by God, not by our failures but by who Christ says we are.”

The chapters are broken down into three parts. First is overcoming your past, second Transforming your present and third Embracing your future. The author gives the reader hope in their own journey of healing. The first part deals with overcoming your past. What does it mean to be named by God and live out what God says about us? The author states, “…its to abide in a constant state of redemption and surrender. It’s a place of knowing who you are in Christ and knowing that you’re true, identity is found in Him. It is a place of recognizing that other people’s opinions and attitudes toward us no longer dictate our worth. It’s a place where religion and rules fade away and your connection with your creator becomes all the more central. And it is a place where you’re every word, every thought, and every action is preceded by a clear move of the Lord. Being named by god is finding yourself by losing yourself, redemption and surrender…It’s easy to get so hung up in either the past or the future that we fail to live fully in the present…God has a calling for us to embrace right now, today.”

You will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth Isaiah 62:2

You are named by God, He is yours, your are healed, you are more than the sum of your mistakes, you are not alone, you are His Beloved, you are filled with his power, you are forgiven, you are his child, you are safe, you are free from the power of sin, you are His delight, you are chosen are just a few topics covered in this inspirational, practical easy to read book. It’s one you’ll read and keep referring to. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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Kelly Irvin's A Heart Made New ~ Reviewed

A HEART MADE NEW 
Kelly Irvin
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736943838



Description:

In the second novel of Kelly Irvin's Bliss Creek Amish series, readers will be delighted to return to a town and a family they've already come to love.
Annie Shirack is trying to fight her feelings for David Plank, a young Amish man who's struggling with an aggressive case of Hodgkin's lymphoma. David loves Annie too much to let her into his life, only, he fears, to leave her.
When a homeless young woman named Charisma and her two-year-old daughter, Gracie, show up in Bliss Creek, Annie welcomes them into the Shirack household and tries to help them establish a new life. But all the good deeds in the world can't change the ache in Annie's heart...or help her forget the man she loves.

               
 Review:

 A Heart Made New is book two in The Bliss Creek Amish.  In this story, Annie is trying to suppress her feelings for David.  David is in the middle of a battle with cancer, and feels he has no right to Annie’s heart when he doesn’t know how much time he has left to live.  A helpful distraction for Annie comes when a homeless, pregnant young woman comes to their town and needs a place to stay.  Annie makes it her mission to help them and show them God’s love.  In the meantime, Annie’s brother, Josiah, who nearly died from too much partying during his rumspinga, is still struggling between the Amish and the English world.
           
 I read book one in this series, but it’s been a while.  It didn’t take long to get back in the story again, though.  I enjoyed how open (most!) of the Amish were in letting “Englisher’s” into their homes in order to help them.  I don’t really have any outstanding comments to make about the book, but I did enjoy it and was happy with the way the story ended.
 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Dawn Stoltzfus's A Farmer's Daughter ~ Reviewed

A Farmer’s Daughter

By Dawn Stoltzfus

Published by Revell

223 Pages

Back Cover:

Welcome to the warm and inviting kitchen of Dawn Stoltzfus, a young Mennonite wife and mother who was raised on a dairy farm where simple, wholesome food was a key ingredient of the good life. In A Farmer's Daughter, she opens up her recipe box, wipes away the crumbs and wrinkles from the well-loved recipes, and shares them with cooks and food-lovers everywhere. She offers us over two hundred delicious recipes that reflect the comfort foods she learned to cook from her mother, the same hearty and creative recipes she made and sold at The Farmer's Wife Market.

Along with the simple, wholesome recipes for starters, main dishes, sides, and desserts, readers will find charming stories from Dawn's Mennonite upbringing, tips and tricks for easy meal planning and preparation, and ideas for serving with flair. Anyone who loves to feed their loved ones hearty, wholesome meals will treasure this cookbook.

Review:  

I’m thankful for the review copy of this easy to use and delightful book. The recipes I tried were east to make, the ingredients were easy to find, instructions were simple and my family loved the end result.

I enjoyed reading the food for thought sections where the author talked about life, family, food and friends.

The sections in this book are broken down as follows: Drinks, Breakfast and Breads, Salads and Dressings, Summer Sandwiches and Winter Soup, Garden Fresh Veggies, Comfort Food and Sides, Main Entrees, Desserts, Cookies, Cakes and Bars, and Do It Yourself Recipes.

I made and enjoyed Pumpkin spice latte, Chai tea latte, Baked oatmeal with apples and pecans, Baked peach French toast, Pecan pear muffins, Blueberry cream muffins, Fresh corn and chicken chowder, Zucchini and Ricotta Bake, Garlic mashed potatoes, Chicken curry, Parmesan Chicken, and double chocolate chip cookies.

I found the author very interesting and enjoyed reading about her. She grew up in a real farmhouse kitchen in Ohio, where she began creating recipes for her family of six at the age of sixteen. Her father was a Mennonite Pastor and farmer. Dawn’s family raised their own beef, had fresh milk and raised chickens and gathered eggs.

She missed these fresh ingredients when she moved away from the farm and figured others did too so she opened a store in the western suburbs of Washington, D.C. called The Farmer’s Wife, in honor of her mother. The store specialized in things you could find in a farm kitchen.

She ran until she was ready to start a family of her own. In the four years her shop was opened she learned a lot about people, how important food is to families and relationships and what recipes make people smile.

She says, “Food has a way of bringing people together. Relationships are formed over food, and sharing meals with the ones you love has a way of opening out lives up to each other.”

The recipes in this book are simple to make, great to serve with your family and guests. There are tips for entertaining and ways to create your own family legacy. I can’t wait to try more meals, drinks and desserts from this book filled with yummy recipes. It’s great to use for your family and pass on as a gift.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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Melanie Dobson's Where the Trail Ends ~ Reviewed

Where the Trail Ends (American Tapestry)

Melanie Dobson 

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Summerside (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609366859 

 

 

 

 

Description:

 

A young woman traveling the Oregon Trail in 1841 must rely on a stranger to bring her to safety. After losing her parents along the trail to Oregon Country, Samantha Waldron and her young brother, Daniel, must overcome tremendous challenges to reach the Willamette Valley before winter. When their canoe capsizes on the Columbia River, they rely on handsome British exporter Alexander Clarke to escort them to Fort Vancouver. A number of men vie for Samantha’s affections, but the only one who intrigues her is the one she cannot have. When Alex’s betrothed arrives from Britain, Samantha becomes determined to create a home far away from the fort. But when Daniel disappears into the wilderness alone one night, Samantha must rely on the man she loves to rescue her brother before it’s too late.

 

Review:

 

Where the Trail Ends follows Samantha Waldron  as she travels with her family along the Oregon Trail.  Along the way she is separated from her wagon party when her father becomes sick.  When he dies, she is left to take herself and her brother the rest of the way to Willamette Valley before winter.  When they are caught on a river in a rainstorm, they are rescued by British exporter Lord Alexander Clarke.  Though he is promised to another back in England, he finds himself drawn to Samantha.  Samantha is feeling the same way, but knows they can never be together, but doesn’t know what to do about it.                 
This was a really good book.  One thing that interested me was the settlement that Alex Clarke lived at.  It was run by the British, and the British folks were upset that the American s were “immigrating” to their territory.  I never realized that was an issue at that time.  I really enjoyed Samantha’s character.  She was strong and determined and didn’t let the fact that she was a woman hold her back.  She did, however, have to learn to turn things over to the Lord a few times, after realizing she couldn’t handle it on her own.  This was a great read!
 

 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Katherine Scott Crawford's Keowee Valley ~ Reviewed

KEOWEE VALLEY
By Katherine Scott Crawford
September 2012
Bell Bridge Books
ISBN  978-1611941722

Keowee Valley is the saga of one woman’s dreams, adventures and passions as she struggles to build a life for herself on the Appalachian frontier during the turbulent years leading to the American Revolution.

Heroine Elspeth Quincy MacFadden is an orphaned city girl living in Charleston with her Scottish grandfather. But the social constrictions of urban life is not for her. When word comes that her missing cousin has been captured by the Shawnee, she sets out on a dangerous journey to not only rescue him, but also to purchase some land she can claim as her own.

So begins quite an adventure—one that changes her life in ways she could never expect.

I’ll be blunt here…Pre-revolutionary war sagas are not usually my chosen genre from which to read. I accepted this one on a whim. And just like Quinn, my reading life changed in ways I didn’t expect. Translation: I LOVED this story! And I totally can’t wait for a sequel.

While I was sometimes annoyed with Quinn for her super independent spirit, I also love that it made her character unpredictable. I didn’t always relate to her, but that just made her more believable.

Hero Jackson Wolf is everything a hero should be. Strong. Courageous. Yet his love for Quinn—or Mac, as he calls her—is undeniable and sometimes very sweet and compassionate. He’s a complex man, with a fierce loyalty to family and his Cherokee people.

Disclaimer: this is not a “Christian” book. There are several steamy scenes that are pretty explicit, so if that’s a turn-off for you, you might want to skip a few parts.

KEOWEE VALLEY is a stellar debut novel for author Katherine Scott Crawford. She combines breathtaking description with passionate relationships amidst some intense action. Her writing is strong. Her history lessons are real and gritty. And I am anxious to get my hands on her next book!

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Michael Scott's The Lost Scrolls ~ Reviewed

The Lost Scrolls (A Jonathon Munro Adventure) 

 Michael J. Scott (Author) 

Paperback: 356 pages
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing House, LLC; Reprint edition (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937844900

 

Description:

 

When Dr. Jonathan Munro s house is broken into, and his former best friend and colleague, archaeologist Stephen Kaufman, is knifed in the streets of Ankara, he is thrust into a world of international criminals who will stop at nothing to claim the priceless artifact Dr. Kaufman unearthed - a scroll revealing the location of the missing autographs of the New Testament.
Is it the find of the century, or a costly fraud?

As he flees with Isabel, Kaufman's beguiling sister, Dr. Munro finds himself pursued by relentless mercenaries intent on seizing this incalculable treasure for themselves. Through some of Christianity s most revered historical sites, he and Isabel must race to unravel the clues and find the autographs before they fall into the wrong hands.
 

Review:

 

Michael Scott has penned a page turner full of mystery, intrigue and rough characters. A legendary lost scroll may have been found, and since Jon Munro is an expert and his university has been involved in seeking this text, he is sent to Turkey to verify and obtain the ancient writings. His former roommate who had ruined his own reputation and had a hand in rocking Munro’s world is the finder of this document. Full of distrust and disbelief…Munroe doesn’t even believe that the document is real…he heads out to clean up this ridiculous rumor.

Unfortunately, Munro is the only skeptical one and the believers are fanatical. Munro finds himself in a cat and mouse game with some who play for keeps. The simple academic time waster of a job turns into a blood bath, a test of faith and a battle of wits. His former girlfriend joins forces with him and turns his world upside down emotionally as well.   

I’m not a fan of lots of characters to keep track of, but Scott did a good job managing many characters and kept them from becoming overly confusing. Some of his writing gets poetic and descriptive, other times the action whips along at a head twisting pace. There are twists and turns that take the characters across the map. Scott even tossed a bit of a love story in for those who like a wee bit of tragic love with their suspense. Opportunities arise for Munro to share his beliefs and his knowledge about the Bible and it’s historical significance.

Adventure or ancient history lovers should find much to like in Lost Scrolls, or information to debate. Looking for a quick moving beach or plane read, this novel could keep you at the edge of your seat or toes dug into the sand. Those who like a little apologetics in their literature might like the teaching moments, however, those same folks might be put off by language, violence or the actions of characters. I wouldn’t recommend it for children unless a parent gives it a look through. Language, though not vulgar, is peppered throughout. One character in particular is creepy and violent, others are fueled by anger and revenge. Inspirational readers or clean, tidied up endings lovers might want to pass this one up.  

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Davis Bunn's Lion of Babylon ~ Reviewed

Lion of Babylon

By Davis Bunn

Published by Bethany House

ISBN#978-0-7642-0905-5

378 Pages

Back Cover: 

Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq--kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight--a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation.

Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy--from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?

Review: 

Bunn hits a home run with this new novel that has you rooting for his main character Marc Royce. I’m thankful for the review copy of Davis Bunn’s suspenseful action novel introducing the first book in a new series and Marc Royce, a man who walks out his faith in amazing and dangerous situations.

I was instantly captivated from the beginning of the novel, “The current Administration in Washington is fractured. Top to bottom. I’ve never seen such in-fighting. Worse than Nixon. It’s a virus that’s eaten into every dept, including Intel. They need a voice they could trust. Someone who’s beyond politics. I advise what Intel is fact, what is biased and what is pure political lard.”

“Who watches the watcher?” Marc Royce asks.

“Everyone” Ambassador Walton replies.

Marc Royce was on a leave of absence from the Bureau taking care of his wife during her illness when Ambassador Walton dismissed him from intelligence. Now he wanted him back? His friend Alex was missing. They think it had to do with an issue tied to the Green Zone Chapel – the underground church in Baghdad! Marc heard enough from the Ambassador – Personal matters aside, He’d take on the mission.

The heart of the story shines out in the middle of the action, drama and complex plot. Davis Bunn worked and lived in the Middle East and Israel. He’s very familiar with the underground church there, has an understanding for the people their culture and love of the land.

Marc Royce is asked to help find his friend Alex, who’s been kidnapped. This author gives the reader a visual snapshot of this region, helps them understand the traditions of the people and their history all throughout this page turner.

This is a deeply moving and memorable novel that will leave you wanting more. You’ll want to read the next book in this series called Rare Earth, where Davis Bunn takes Marc Royce and the reader on another mission impossible. I highly recommend it!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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Janice Thompson's Queen of the Waves ~ Reviewed

QUEEN OF THE WAVES
Janice Thompson 
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Summerside (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609366867
ISBN-13: 978-1609366865


Description:

When pampered Jacqueline Abington secretly elopes with the family gardener, she asks another woman to take her place on the much anticipated maiden voyage of the Titanic. Tessa Bowen hails from a poor corner of London but has been granted the opportunity of a lifetime—a ticket to sail to America aboard a famed vessel. But there’s a catch: she must assume Jacqueline’s identity. For the first time in her life, Tessa stays in luxurious quarters, dresses in elegant gowns, and dines with prestigious people. Then a wealthy American man takes an interest in her, and Tessa struggles to keep up the ruse as she begins falling for him. When tragedy strikes, the game is up, and two women’s lives are forever changed.

Review:

Queen of the Waves begins in London in 1912.  It revolves around a young woman named Jacqueline Abingdon who is being forced into an arranged marriage by her father.  Her mother and her plan an escape for her by arranging a voyage on the new ship, the Titanic.  However, Jacqueline, or Jackie, as she is called, has other plans.  She has fallen in love with the groundskeeper, Peter.  Jackie and Peter arrange for Peter’s sister, Tessa Bowen, to take Jackie’s place on the Titanic so Jackie will be free to stay and marry Peter.  Thus, Tessa, is transformed from a farm girl into a debutante.  While on the ship, Tessa meets a wealthy American man named Nathan.  As her feelings grow for him, so does her guilt for lying about who she really is. 

 This was a great story line.  It was interesting seeing how both Jackie and Tessa justified their deception in the beginning, yet they were never comfortable with it, and eventually had to face the truth, as well as admitting their wrongdoing to those they loved.  Jackie had to realize how selfish she had been in her decision to deceive her parents and her intended.  Tessa came to realize the forgiveness we have in our heavenly Father.  I really enjoyed this story, and read through it pretty quickly.  It was hard to put down!


Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher's Life with Lily ~ Reviewed

Life with Lily

By Mary Ann Kinsinger and

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Published by Revell

ISBN#978-0800721329

288 Pages

Back Cover: For a child, every day is a thing of wonder. And for six-year-old Lily Lapp, every day is a new opportunity for blessings, laughter, family, and a touch of mischief. As she explores her world, goes to school, spends time with her family, and gets into a bit of trouble with her friends, Lily learns what it means to be Amish and what it means to grow up. From getting a new teacher to welcoming a new sibling, Lily's life is always full of adventure.

The first of four charming novels that chronicle the gentle way of the Amish through the eyes of a young girl, Life with Lily gives children ages 8-12 a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Amish--and lots of fun and laughter along the way. It combines the real-life stories of growing up Amish from Mary Ann Kinsinger and the bestselling writing of Amish fiction and nonfiction author Suzanne Woods Fisher. With charming illustrations throughout, this series is sure to capture the hearts of readers young and old.

Review: 

I came home from work to discover a review copy of this book in the mail.  I sat down to check out a page or two of this adorable book. I ended up reading over half of it before my husband told me dinner was ready. I was immediately drawn into the book by the front cover and transported inside an Amish farm cracking up over this heartwarming story of Lily and her family.

This is the first of four books in a series aimed at readers eight years old and up. It has thirty-nine short chapters with beautiful illustrations that reminded me of those in the Little House on the Prairie books.

Each chapter unfolds a new adventure through fun loving Lily’s eyes. This precious novel begins with Lily and her younger brother, Joseph being rushed off in the middle of the night to their grandparents’ house without saying good-bye to their mother. This troubled Lily greatly. They would learn the next day about the new member added to their family. Dannie was their new baby brother.

I loved how Lily asked her father where this new baby came from and her father’s reply.

“God brought him to us, Lily.”

“Lily clasped her hands at the thought. How wonderful that God had taken the time to bring a baby to them! “Is God still there?” she asked hopefully. But Papa said, No, she couldn’t see God today.”

“What a disappointment. Lily wished she had been home to meet God when He stopped by the house to bring a baby.  The thought of meeting God was even more exciting than having a new baby.”

I was captivated by this sweet six year old girl. Lily stole my heart. I found her view of life charming, innocent and real. I smiled big as I read about Lily’s life. I enjoyed reading of how they added a new family member, had a barn raising, a new dog, cow, and chickens and took a trip to Kentucky to see their grandparents delightful. All the while learning life is always changing and there are new things to discover and learn. 

It reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls. It’s definitely a story for all ages. The detailed illustrations enhance the story. The reader will get a peek into the Amish life style through this child’s eyes and learn how this community does family, school and how they interact with friends. I highly recommend this novel for readers of all ages, it’s fun and enchanting.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

Linda Rondeau's America II: The Reformation ~ Reviewed

America II: The Reformation
L. W. Rondeau
File Size: 452 KB
Print Length: 286 pages
Publisher: Trestle Press (June 17, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B008CGFVUI


Following unprecedented climatic changes, resultant pestilence and war brought the world into chaos. Eventually, each nation surrendered its sovereignty to form a global democracy, initially known as The Accord. However, the democratic government proved too weak and was soon replaced by a faux democratic rule.
 

The year is 2073, and current governor of Western America Province, Edwin Rowlands, is poised to become the Constitutional Government’s second president. Many fear that the sweeping reforms found in his proposed Preservation Act will set him up as a dictator. If enacted, defection both past and present would become a crime punishable by death, thus bringing all outlands into crushing subjection.
 

While most believe reform is critical, factions disagree on how to prevent the Preservation Act from becoming law. Ahmed Farid, second President, believes reform can be managed within the existing government. Leader of the Revolutionary Army, Jimmy Kinnear, trusts only in military intervention. However, Jacob Goodayle, Chairman of Western America’s illegal outland government, favors separatism.
 

As tensions rise, civil war seems imminent. Who will be the voice of reason in a world on the verge of a third dark age?


Review:

Halfway through “America II: The Reformation,” I kept asking, “So what’s going to happen?”

And that’s a great question for a writer to bring to life in the mind of a reader. L. W. Rondeau did this with masterful stroke after masterful stroke, and each chapter hooked me further and further into wanting to know the answer.

Rondeau created characters worth knowing and brought me the reader right inside their heads. Hearing the thoughts of Edwin Rowlands, the story’s resident bad guy, I understood how he manipulated people and situations to satisfy his lust for power and women.

Ahmed Farid, Rowlands second in command, is a delightful character who remains faithful to a repressive government. He’s a pagan at heart but constantly wrestles with faith questions. He is both wise and cunning.

Rondeau creates a future world and, through the power of story, addresses some controversial issues our world faces now and will face in the future. She does so from a clear Christian perspective but not in a preachy way. She crafts a story worth reading.

I look forward to the next installation of America II



Reviewed by: T. Neal Tarver

M.K. Gilroy's Every Breathe You Take ~ Reviewed

Every Breath You Take [Paperback] 

M. K. Gilroy (Author) 

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Worthy Publishing (October 23, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1617950688    

 

Description:

 

A high-profile murder tied to an online dating service has the Chicago news media buzzing. Who better to go undercover in the world of personal profiles and promising matches than an ace detective who is single and as attractive as she is tough? Detective Kristen Conner can't figure out her own dating life, but she is about to get a crash course on finding true love - or at least a Friday night date - and become the object of a killer's affections.

 

Review:

 

Every Breath You Take is book two in a series by M.K. Gilroy. Though I haven't read book one I easily entered the continuing story of Detective Kristen Conner. And since I love police procedurals and a bit of mystery I found myself turning pages pretty rapidly. I also appreciate a strong female character who isn't a superwoman. Kristen is a wee bit of a mess but can kick some serious hind-end when she needs to.  I've watched a lot of cop television and Every Breathe You Take is that same kind of guilty pleasure, but it can be packed up and taken along during traffic jams or long flights (definitely was nice escapism during my long recent layover.) 

The subject matter obviously is not for the weak-kneed or kids. The spiritual message is low key as Kristin seems to be deciding whether or not to make God a bigger part of her life, so depending on whether or not you are looking for depth take that into consideration. A few fairly big questions are not answered in the book so there will be another in the series, so if you don't like open endings you may get frustrated. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

James Rubart's Soul's Gate ~ Reviewed

Soul's Gate (A Well Spring Novel) [Paperback] James Rubart (Author)
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401686052

 

Description:



Reece stood and faced the group. “Every now and then we get a break from reality. A glimpse into the other world that is more real than the reality we live in 99 percent of our days. The Bible is about a world of demons and angels and great evil and even greater glory. A world the prophets saw; the world Enoch, and Elijah, and Paul, and John the apostle all saw. A world that is all around us in every moment if we would have eyes to see and ears to hear.”

What if you could travel inside another person’s soul? To battle for them. To be part of Jesus healing their deepest wounds.

Thirty years ago that’s exactly what Reece Roth did. Until tragedy shattered his life and ripped away his destiny.

Now God has drawn Reece out of the shadows to fulfill a prophecy spoken over him three decades ago. A prophecy about four warriors with the potential to change the world . . . if Reece will face his deepest regret and train them.

They gather at a secluded and mysterious ranch deep in the mountains of Colorado, where they will learn to see the spiritual world around them with stunning clarity. And how to step into the supernatural as powerfully as anyone in the Bible did.

The four have a destiny to battle for a freedom even Reece doesn’t fully fathom. But they have an enemy hell-bent on destroying them as well and he'll stop at nothing to keep them from their quest for true freedom and the coming battle of souls.

Review:

 

 I really didn't want to find another author to go immediately onto my MUST read list. I was able to not get sucked into Rubart's previous titles because they didn't arrive in my mailbox. But this little gem did. 

If you love books about spiritual warfare or novels full of twists and turns and creepy potential around every corner...if you love to be kept up way past your bedtime or love good writing and strong characters....well, you just need to get a copy.  The ending and the "Well Spring" tag imply that there will be follow-up books. This is good. Very good. There are just enough issues unresolved and just enough of a promise that things are only going to get worse to make sure that I will seek book two out.

In the meantime I will be working backwards to get a copy of previous novels by Rubart. He does need to get cracking on book two in the series. Time's a ticking, Mr. Rubart, this inquiring mind needs to know what will happen next.

 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Susan May Warren's You Don't Know Me ~ Reviewed

You Don't Know Me
Susan May Warren
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Original edition (September 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414334842


Description:

To everyone who knows her, Annalise Decker is a model wife and mother. She’s a permanent member of the PTA, never misses her kids’ sporting events, and is constantly campaigning for her husband’s mayoral race.

No one knows that Annalise was once Deidre O’Reilly, a troubled young woman whose testimony put a dangerous criminal behind bars. Relocated through the Witness Security Program to the sleepy town of Deep Haven, Deidre got a new identity and a fresh start, which began when she fell in love with local real estate agent Nathan Decker. Twenty years later, Annalise couldn’t be more unprepared for her past to catch up with her. When Agent Frank Harrison arrives with news that the man she testified against is out on bail and out for revenge, Annalise is forced to face the consequences of her secrets. Will she run again, or will she finally find the grace to trust those she loves most with both her past and her future?

Review:

You Don’t Know Me is about a woman named Annalise Decker.  She is known by her family and to the city of Deep Haven as a devoted wife and mother.  However, no one knows her true identity is Deidre O’Reilly.   As a troubled young woman, she ended up with the wrong people, and was put into the Witness Security Program after testifying against a dangerous criminal who was put behind bars.  However, twenty years later, she is visited by her agent, Frank Harrison, who warns her that the man she testified against is out of bail and set on revenge.  Annalise is torn as to whether she should run again to protect her family, or if she should tell the truth and risking losing them all.
                
 I’m normally not into suspense books, but this one was really good.  I was engaged right away in the story line.  One thing that amazed me is how Annalise was able to completely start over, so much so that no one suspected she had lived any other way.  I’m not sure I could have kept quiet about it, especially to my husband.  I would want someone to confide in.  The story did show her struggle with turning her problems over to the Lord, and I think if she had been able to do that in the beginning, she could have trusted her husband with her secret.  Either way, it was a great story line and I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Amanda Flower's A Plain Death ~ Reviewed

A PLAIN DEATH 
Amanda Flower
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: B&H Books (July 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1433676974


Description:

Welcome to Appleseed Creek, the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, where life is not as serene as it seems.

While her Cleveland friends relocated to Southern California and Italy, 24-year-old computer whiz Chloe Humphrey moves with some uncertainty to Appleseed Creek to direct technology services at a nearby college. Her first acquaintance is Becky, an ex-Amish teenager looking for a new home.

While driving Chloe’s car, Becky collides with a buggy, killing an Amish elder. But what looks like an accident is soon labeled murder when police discover the car’s cut brake line.

Now, Chloe must take on the role of amateur sleuth to discover who the real intended victim was before the murderer makes a second attempt. Becky’s handsome Amish-turned-Mennonite brother, Timothy, a local carpenter, comes in handy along the way. With God’s help, they’ll solve the mystery that’s rocking this small community.


Review:


A Plain Death begins with a young computer whiz named Chloe Humphrey who moves to Appleseed Creek to head up the computer department at the local community college.  On the way there, she rescues a young Amish girl, Becky, who has run away from home, from two local thugs.  Chloe then takes Becky in, but before barely getting her foot in the door, problems arise.  Becky borrows Chloe’s care without asking (and having no driver’s license) and gets into an accident, killing an Amish elder.  It’s later found out that someone cut the break line in the car, leaving everyone to wonder who the intended victim was and who the culprit is.  So Chloe, along with Becky’s Mennonite brother, begin doing their own investigation to find the murderer.

This was an enjoyable book.  It kept my attention really well and I was able to stay interested from the beginning.  One thing I really liked was the author’s description of Applewood Creek, specifically the town square and where the little Amish Farmer’s Market was set up.  I was able to envision the whole thing in my head, and wished I could have been there!  If you enjoy Amish stories, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book, with all its twists and turns!
 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Jackson Keene's Nolichuck! TJ's Wild Frontier Adventure ~ Reviewed

Nolichuck! TJ's Wild Frontier Adventure
Author: Jackson Keene
ISBN: 678-1-936127-50-4
Publisher: WhoooDoo Mysteries a division of Treble Heart Books
(September 19, 2011)
Page Count: 281

Description:


TJ s just an ordinary fourteen year old kid with extraordinary
problems at home and school: A broken up family from his parents
bitter divorce, evil bullies almost every afternoon, failing grades,
boring classes, snobby girls, mean teachers, cut from basketball
tryouts, few friends. Life is rough for TJ Cockrell. And then that
mysterious little green book had to go and throw him into the past.
And not just any past, but into the untamed forbidding forests of 1802
eastern Tennessee along with the savage Indians, wild beasts,
bloodthirsty robbers, backwoods ruffians, and log cabin living! Yup,
it s definitely not 2011 Knoxville anymore.

Review:
 
As much as I hate to say it, I was a bit biased toward this book. I've
never been to fond of westerns, and I committed the horrendous act of judging a book by it's cover (Sorry!). Lucky for me Nolichuck! had just enough of a small green magical book to get me interested. It
turned out not to be strictly a western... perhaps a fanestern? or a
westasy? In any event it is centered around TJ - the son of a famous
historian and member of a broken family. TJ is your average teenager,
teased at school, ignored by the "cool kids", with a little Ta i-kwon-do  knowledge thrown in. After his parents divorce the whole world seems a dark place. Then he wanders into his fathers study and...
 
Well, you'll have to read the book to find out more. If your a fan of
pioneer life and magical green books you just might find what your
looking for in Nolichuck! TJ's Wild Frontier Adventure. Good Luck, and happy reading!

Reviewed by: Jayshua Nelson

Courtney Walsh's A Sweethaven Homecoming ~ Reviewed

A SWEETHAVEN HOMECOMING 
Courtney Walsh
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Guideposts Books (August 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0824931718

Description:

The Sweethaven Circle is back -- and so is a friend they thought they'd never see again!
The women of Sweethaven are enjoying an Indian summer when their old friend -- the missing member of their scrapbook circle -- arrives back home. Meghan Rhodes has moved on with her life, leaving Sweethaven and its painful memories in the past. But when her ex files for custody of their twins, she takes the first flight back to the beach town full of haunting memories. Meghan wants to make things right with her ex-husband, her children, and the friends she'd convinced herself she no longer needed. But is she too late? Meghan works with friends Jane, Lila, Adele, and Campbell to begin a new scrapbook for memories yet to be made. Picking up where A Sweethaven Summer left off, A Sweethaven Homecoming explores the strong bonds of friendship, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of unconditional love.

Review:

A Sweethaven Homecoming revolves around a group of women who used to spend a lot of time together scrapbooking who have grown apart, but come back together again, amidst trials and tribulations.  Meghan, who has been a successful country star, returns to try to get custody of her children, whom she abandoned two years previously, while trying to avoid her feelings that she still has for her ex-husband.  Jane, a Pastor’s wife, realizes she hasn’t learned forgiveness when Meghan shows up, as Jane’s son, Alex, drowned tragically while in Meghan’s care.  Lila returns to get away from her husband, Tom, whom she has found out fathered a child with her best friend, Suzanne, twenty five years ago.  Campbell, his daughter, now wants to be in their lives and get to know them, and Lila doesn’t know if she can trust him again.

Once I got into this book, I really enjoyed it.  It took a while to keep the characters straight as I hadn’t read the previous book.  And each chapter begins with the character’s name who’s perspective it’s being told from.  That, I did enjoy.  It’s nice for a change not having to see the whole story from one person’s point of view.  I really liked how everything came together at the end and the way the characters were reconciled to each other.  It was a very heartwarming story!
 
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers