Lisa Wingate

Dear Readers,

I am going to be completely honest with you all.  I had a terrible time getting into this book.  I am not sure what it was, but it just wasn't hitting a chord with me.  I struggled with the start of it, but am very glad I stuck with it. 

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate is the second book in the Moses Lake series.  I use the word series very loosely here as the two books (Larkspur Cove is the first one) have very little to do with each other.  The background characters are who you will remember the most from the first one with the main characters coming and going as part of the natural part of the community. 

Heather fled Moses Lake as soon as it was legally okay for her to go.  She has not been back since and has no desire to return now.  Her family has forced her to revisit the place of her worst memories.  She has been working on a deal with her boyfriend’s brokering firm to buy her Uncle's home and land.  In return her architecture firm gets to help design the new building that will be going in and she may get lead architect.  Everything is looking good, that is until her mother changes her mind and meddles in the sale.

Heather flies into town thinking she will be back in time to spend Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend. 5 days, that should be enough time to put everything in motion again and save her job.   When she arrives in town no one seems to want to talk to her about why they are stalling the sale.  Her brother is there and he seems to think he is going to open a bed and breakfast, but Heather knows he has never finished anything in his life including college.  So how can he think he is going to run a resort? 

Then there is that guy from high school, the one Heather had the crush on.  He is still in town and even better looking than ever.  Could things get any worse? 

Like I said, I struggled with the beginning of the book.  I am thinking I had a hard time warming up to Heather herself.  She is very focused and doesn’t seem to care about anything or anyone except herself.  She is probably someone that if I met her, she would be a hard one to get to know or even like and that may have been why.  Just like I said earlier I also am glad I did finish the book.  It is a good story and Heather’s story is interesting.  It just took me a while to warm up to her.

Just rest assured that if you liked Lisa Wingate’s other books you will like this one.  Her writing style is consistent and very good.  She develops her characters well and that is why I am sure that I liked the end of the book.  I was just anxious to like Heather and Lisa knew I needed to understand her more than I would like her.

Happy Reading.

New Releases Feb 6th - 11th

Dear Readers,

At this moment there are no less than 4 books that I really really want to read on my "to read" pile.  Each one of them has come highly recommended or are favorite authors.  I am in the middle of a new author's books and enjoying that also, which means I don't want to quit reading it to start one of these others ones.  What's a reader to do.

This is one of my favorite problems.  Too many books to read.  That has not always been true in Christian fiction.  When I first started working for Baker I read very few Christian fiction, now I can't keep up with the good ones.  This has been such an exciting change to watch happen.  I still have people that think the Christian market is basically historical romance.  It is not, it is so much more than that and it is good.

I will keep you up to date on which ones I am reading and if I am liking them.  This new author, Dani Pettrey, writes in the style of Dee Henderson/Irene Hannon/ Lynette Eason.  It is set in Alaska and the book releases in May of this year.  It is one that you should put on your 'to Read" list.  I will have a review on it closer to it's release date to remind you.

Happy Reading 


Something New - Dianne Christner
A Ranger's Trail - Darlene Franklin
Honor Redeemed - Loree Lough
Ruth's Redemption - Marlene Banks
Prize of my Heart - Lisa Norato
Chasing the Sun - Tracie Peterson
Before the Scarlet Dawn - Rita Gerlach

Gayle Roper

Dear Readers,

Gayle Roper has written many different genres in fiction.  Years ago I read her Seaside Seasons series, which had a bit of mystery to it, but it was mainly an issue driven series.  Each book had a different focus and I really liked them.  Over the years I have read some of Gayle's books off and on.  I enjoy them for their mysteries and got a good issue with it also.

Shadows in the Sand is a new addition to the Seaside Seasons, but is listed under Seaside Mysteries.  Which leads me to believe there will be more. 

When the dishwasher from Carrie's Cafe is murdered and then one of the young waitresses goes missing, the tweeters of Seaside get the community involved with trying to solve the mysteries.

Who would want to kill Jason, he is finally get his life back after spending time in a cult.  Where would Andi go?  Does she know who the murderer is?  Is there a connection between Jase and Andi? 

I got this book from Multnomah for the purpose of a review.  It has been out for a little while, but well worth the time it took to read it.  I enjoyed getting reacquainted with the people who live in Seaside.  It really does sound like a nice place to live, well of course except for those pesky murders.

Happy Reading

P.S. This book is available in the store or by request at bakerbookstore.com

New Releases Jan. 30th - Feb. 4th

Dear Readers,

Ok I am going to admit it.  I have spring fever.  I am all done with snow, yes it is beautiful and all that, but it comes with cold weather and I am sick of cold.  It always just seems to be so much harder to do anything in the winter, shopping, going to work, visiting with anyone.  They all require the extra time to get winter clothes on and driving in a cold car until it warms is just yucky.

I get spring fever usually within days of the first snow fall.  Which if that happens in November makes for a long winter.  I long to watch the boys of summer playing ball.  I can't wait to walk down the dirt road.  I look for those first flowers of spring with much anticipation.  I am just ready for warmth. How about you?  Ready for spring yet?

Happy Reading
Beyond Molasses Creek - Nicole Seitz
Firethorn - Ronie Kendig
A Bride's Flight  - Murry Pura
Addison Blakley Confessions of a PK - Betsy St. Amant
Tomorrow's Sun - Becky Melby
Rose's Pledge - Sally Laity/Dianna Crawford
Legacy of Fools - Missy Horsfall/Susan Stevens
A Wedding to Remember - Annalisa Daughety
From Across the Ancient Waters - Michael Phillips.

These books are all available at Baker Book House or by request at bakerbookstore.com

Austin Boyd and Brannon Hollinsworth

Dear Readers,

There are reviews that are hard to write, there are reviews that are easy to write and then there is this review.  H2O by Austin Boyd and Brannon Hollingsworth is a very interesting book.  It is not an easy afternoon read.  It is a book that I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen next even though I had a pretty good guess as to where it was going.

The problem with this review is to tell you about the book and its story line might not make sense.  It is not a "normal" story line, which intrigues some people and turns off others.   

Kate Pepper is on top of the world.  She has the job she always wanted, she is dating her boss, and her life is in perfect order. She has left behind her crazy mother who was always seeing visions and her deadbeat dad who never left his chair in front of the TV.  Everything is going her way.

When Kate has her first vision, she is sure she can control them and she does not want to turn into her mother.  This cannot be happening to her, she just won't allow this to happen.  But what can she do?  What is causing them to happen?  She refuses to lose everything because of something so stupid.   

I said earlier in a spot on my blog that reading this book was kind of like watching a train wreck.  I didn't really want to watch Kate's descent, but I couldn't look away either.  I wanted to know what happened to her.  Which is why I found the book so interesting.  The authors do not write Kate as a likable character and yet there is something about her that makes me want to cheer for her and hope she gets her life on track.   

This is one of those reads that kind of sticks with you later and I actually had to mull this book over for a bit before I could write this review.  I think it might be an interesting book to read with a book club or even a Bible study.  

Happy Reading

New Releases Jan. 23rd - 28th

Dear Readers,

Is anyone else shocked that it is January 30th today?  That means we are one month closer to spring around here.  Which brings to mind that at the beginning of May, the 4th and 5th to be exact, we are taking part in a very exciting weekend.  

At the Shack in Fremont, MI we are going to be participating in an Author Encounter weekend.  You will get a chance to spend Friday night and all day Saturday with some of our favorite authors.  Local authors David and Diane Munson came up with idea and I think it will be a fun and very interesting experience. 

You rent a room by contacting the Shack and the cost includes your meals on Friday night and all day Saturday, with chocolate Sundaes every night.  But while enjoying the beautiful Bed and Breakfast and food, you will also get to spend time with Colleen Coble, Dave and Neta Jackson, and David and Diane Munson.  It will be a time to ask them questions, listen to where they get their ideas from and just to get to know them better. 

At the end of this post is a link to a youtube video that will give you all the details to help you make reservations.  I know I will be technically work while there, but I am so looking forward to visiting with these authors.  I am also looking forward to getting to know some of you better.

Happy Reading

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7ROBHNpUok

Lost and Found - Ginny L. Yttrup
Sweeter than Birdsong - Rosslyn Elliott
Into the Free - Julie Cantrell
Injustice for All - Robin Caroll
Blue Moon Promise - Colleen Coble
Heart of Gold  - Robin Lee Hatcher

Mel Starr

Dear Readers,

I am writing this review as part of a blog tour for Kregel publishing.  They sent me the book and then asked any of us who received the book to write a review and post it.

I read book #1 of Mel Starr's Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, series, The Unquiet Bones and really really enjoyed it.  I meant to read the next couple that came out, but missed them.  I may have to go back to read them, but not sure if I will ever have time.  

Unhallowed Ground is book four of the series.  They are set in 1300 England, which in and of itself is very interesting to read, but then Mel makes them mysteries besides and that really adds that element that make these books fun to read.  Hugh de Singleton himself is an interesting man, he is really just trying to do his job to the best of his ability.  Because he is the local Bailiff, many people are leery of him.  Because he is also a surgeon, many people like him.  It is a conflict for them, but because he is a good person he is a very likable character. 

When Thomas atte Bridge seems to have taken his own life, the village people are willing to let it go at that and not worry about a murder that did them all a favor.  There is probably not one person in the area that has not had dealings with either Thomas or his brother Henry.  No one's dealings with Thomas were on purpose as he was just an evil man who was always trying to get ahead by cheating/threatening/blackmailing... I think you get the idea.   So Hugh isn't sure he really wants to know who the murderer is. 

That all changes when Hugh and his wife seem to be the target for the murderer.  He thinks that because he is getting close to the answer the murderer is willing to kill to keep that secret.  Is he really getting closer or did he just open a different can of worms? 

Maybe because of the time it is set in, maybe because I really like Mel's characters or maybe just because :-), I really like this series.  It is well written with very interesting characters.  Ones that you almost feel like you could meet walking down the street (of course one of us would be very confused).  Even with a time that is very unusual for us all it has the feel that any one of us could just step right into this story.  I really just plain and simply like this book and its series.

Happy Reading