Don Hoesel

Dear Readers,

I read Don Hoesel's first book, Elisha's Bones, and found it a bit of a stretch for me. You can check out my review on my blog if you are interested in that. I only started Hunter's Moon because a friend of mine asked me to read it and give my opinion. I am glad they recommended it. It is a much better written book, with a tighter story, better characters and a storyline that is more relevant to readers. It will make you glad for the family you have.

CJ Baxter has a past and a family he wishes he could forget about. He left town years ago and has never been back. In fact he made plans of never returning. But when his beloved grandfather passes away, he feels he should return to show respect for the one man who kept in contact with him over the years. It does help that his life in Franklin, TN is falling apart and about to get worse, he just broke into his own house to steal his dog back from his soon to be ex-wife. Maybe it is best to just get out of town for a couple of days... er, weeks.

Graham Baxter is running for a Senate seat. He is hoping to fulfill the one dream of his family that no one else has been able to do: hold public office. The Baxter family would like to be the next Kennedys and have a dynasty. He isn't going to let anything or anyone to stand in the way of achieving his goal, even if the black sheep of the family returns to mess things up.

This book really seems to have it all. Murder, mayhem, political intrigue, romance (just a little), and family dynamics. I found myself caught up in the story and noticed that I didn't want to lay the book down a couple of times.

For my Librarians this would make a good guy book, but it is for anyone looking for a good story.

Happy Reading

Charlene Ann Baumbich

Dear Readers,


Some of you will recognize Charlene Ann Baumbich's name from her Dearest Dorothy series. The funny and lovable series about an 80 year old who was always on the go. She even made me tired.

In Stray Affections we meet up with Cassandra and all her friends and family. If what you liked about the Dorothy series is all the quirky characters, then you will like this book also. If you just liked the good story, then no problem again. If you didn't read the Dorothy books, this is a good story for you to enjoy.

Cassandra decides to go to the Collectors Conventions even though her best friend bails on her at the last minute. When she sees a unique snow globe in another customer's hands, she knows she needs to own it. It has a little girl with the same color hair as her own and three dogs in it The only problem is the silly thing has been nothing but trouble since then. Besides getting knocked down and breaking her nose, getting robbed (which proves her mother right again), she has become obsessed over it and everyone is starting to think she is either crazy or maybe hit her head harder than she thought. Cassandra is beginning to think they are right.

Okay to be completely honest I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I actually started it a couple of times before I read the whole thing. I really did enjoy this book. It was just a lovely, quirky little book that was a good read after reading a very intense thriller. It will be a good fit for those looking for a small escape.

Happy Reading

Colleen Coble

Dear Readers,

Colleen Coble is one of my favorite authors. I always enjoy taking the time to disappear into one of her books. This past Saturday, January 23rd, I had a chance to read for almost 4 hours straight. Which gave me enough time to read most of The Lightkeeper's Daughter.

This book is a bit different for Colleen as it is a historical romance. She does include a little note that she really enjoyed writing in this genre. She blends her mystery writing with a historical setting very well.

Addie Sulivan has only known life on a little island off the coast of California, where her parents work as the light-keepers. She has led a very sheltered life, but until her father died she enjoyed it. Her mother doesn't seem to love her and she can't figure out why, no matter what she does, she can't please her mother. Until one day a man ends up on their stairs and after he recovers enough to talk to them, he announces that he is Addie's long lost Uncle and she really is a daughter of a very wealthy man. Addie isn't sure she believes him, but she has always dreamed of a large family.

John is trying to get his son back from a controlling father in law. Even though his wife passed away a year ago, John has been at sea and his in laws were taking care of the child for him. When he hires Addie as Edward's governess, she sees it as a chance to get to know her new family before they find out who she really is.

I really liked this book. It reminded me of books that I read years ago about a young woman who had a claim to a house or heritage and the family didn't want her around. It felt and read a lot like that, but it was a good story. I found myself caught up in it right away. My husband who was reading over my shoulder even asked me "who-done-it" so to speak. I can safely say that this is not his type of book and yet he was enjoying it.

Happy Reading

Deeanne Gist/J. Mark Bertrand

Dear Readers,


A couple of weeks ago I read J. Mark Bertrand's first novel, Back on Murder. I enjoyed the book and will do a better review when that one comes out. In the mean time, he released Beguiled, co-written with Deanne Gist. Now most of you will be familiar with her from her Historical novels. Bride in the Bargain is her latest. This book is a bit out of their normal writing, if you can call one book normal for Mark. This is a contemporary mystery. It is more along the lines of a Dee Henderson with more of a sense of humor.

Rylee is a dog-walker who is just trying to keep her head above water. She is barely making it. Her Grandmother lives in a retirement home and with those payments and rent, there isn't much to spare. But she loves her job and feels like her clients are part of her family. So when her clients are getting robbed by the Robin Hood burglar, she hopes it doesn't reflect badly on her.

Logan Woods is a reporter for the local newspaper. He is the one that named the thief the Robin Hood burglar when he steals high price items and then gives them to charities to auction off. He is actually just following the story in the hopes of selling the story in book form and launching his writing career. When he meets up with Rylee, he finds her attractive but also suspects she maybe the guilty party. How else to explain that all her clients are the ones being robbed?

This is a light mystery. I had a pretty good guess as to who-done-it right off the bat. But it was a fun read. I will be honest I did have a bit of a problem with how the two authors worked together. I just felt like I could tell right away exactly where each one was writing. Not a bad thing, but each has such a different writing style and they really don't write books that are alike, which makes it harder for them to write together and make it flow.

This book is well worth the read, it just isn't going to keep you awake at night.

Happy Reading,
Chris

Julie Klassen

Dear Readers,

Julie Klassen has become my "go-to" author when I need a gentle read. She offers these wonderful stories set in the early 1800's that are very Jane Erye, Jane Austin-ish. In fact all the way through The Silent Governess I kept thinking that anyone who likes Jane Austin or Jane Eyre/Charlotte Bronte will like this book. Which is kind of funny because I don't really like those style of books. :-)

Olivia flees her home after striking her father. He was attacking her mother and Olivia thought he was going to kill her. With no plan and very little money that her mother had saved, Olivia strikes out for a girls' school in hopes of getting a job there.

On the way, she meets up with poachers and overhears a secret. When Olivia is caught by Mr. Croome as a trespasser, Edward knows he can't let her leave for fear of what she will tell others. So begins Olivia's job as an under nurse to Audrey and Andrew.

Like I said before, these are gentle stories with a bit of mystery to them. It isn't so much something where you need to worry about a killer coming after anyone, but there is the intrigue about what is right. Each character in this book has a secret and none of them is willing to share them with the others, but they are all eager to reveal someone else's.

This is a great read for that cold winter day with a warm quilt and a large cup of hot tea.

Happy Reading

Good Morning

Dear Readers,

I have had a couple of you ask what I am reading as I haven't had a review in a week.  Yes I am reading, but it has mostly been pre-releases from various authors, which means there just a bunch of review coming later.

They are all must reads.  Ok not all, but several are.  Francine River's, Liz Curtis Higg's, Ted Dekker's.  There were also a couple of new authors like J. Mark Bertrand and Sarah Surdin.  So look for those reviews and I hope to have some good ones coming soon.

Happy Reading

Liz Curtis Higgs

Dear Readers,

Liz Curtis Higgs releases long awaited book, Here Burns my Candle on March 16th.  I was able to read it this past weekend.  I believe this one should be on everyone's to read list this year.  There are a few of those coming this year.  I will do a bit longer review of it closer to it's release date.

Happy Reading