Nicole Young and Ginger Kolbaba/Christy Scannell

Dear Readers,

Two series are now complete. The first is Nicole Young's Patricia Amble Mysteries. Book #3 is Kiss me is you Dare. Patricia is on the run, with the drug ring she broke up in the UP hot on her trail. Is she going to be safe anywhere?

I can't wait to read this one. I have so enjoyed the other two. She is one that can easily keep on writing as far as I am concerned. If you haven't tried her, book #1 is Love me if you Must. She is along the lines of Terri Blackstock, Colleen Coble and Mindy Starns Clark.

The second series is the Lulu's Cafe. Katt's in the Cradle by Ginger Kolbaba and Christy Scannell is the third and I heard the final of the series, but that is always subject to change. This series has been a lot of fun to read. It is a really good look inside the fish bowl of the preacher's family. It isn't easy being them. Between "helpfully" little old ladies telling you how to raise your children, having to ask the elders for money to fix the stove and women coming on to your preacher husband even if he doesn't notice, life is never normal for these PWs.

Once again this one is on my must read list. I have so enjoyed the other two. They makes me laugh, cry and think about how I treat my pastor's family. Why do they have to be perfect when the rest of us are not?

So to help past the time on the cold wintery days. (If you live where it is warm I don't want to hear about it) These are great reads for nights when hot chocolate, a warm quilt, a good book and a fire are the only things neccessary for a good night.

Happy Reading

Ted Dekker

Dear Readers,

I had been hearing rumors about this book for several months now. So you can imagine my excitement yesterday when I found out that yes there is a new Ted Dekker book coming, soon! Boneman's Daughter.

April 14th is the release date on this one. He is with a different publisher and I am excited to see what they let him do. As most of you know Ted loves to push the enevelope just a bit, so who knows. I have my copy at home and am trying to be good and not read it before a manuscript I have and need to get read soon. :-)

I know from reading the reviews and excerpts from it, it just plain and simply sounds creepy and a "don't go to sleep until you done" type book. The rep even compared it to the Steven James books that we have. (Yeah)

I have it linked to Ted's website so you can look up the info for yourself. I will get a review on here as soon as I get one done.

Happy Reading

P.S. You are welcome to pre order the book by just emailing or calling me at the store.

Terri Blackstock

Dear Readers,

I wanted to let you know that Terri Blackstock latest book Double Minds released yesterday. It starts a new chapter for Terri because she is no longer writing series. Her books will, according to her, be stand alones now. She is having a hard time keeping series straight, again her words not mine, and to many readers are writing her to point out the mistakes she is making.

Double Minds is, of course, a murder mystery. Parker James is a struggling artist who gets caught up in a mystery that is making her question everything about her own life. It is a new mixture of Terri's mystery and a look at the inside of the Christian music industry.

I haven't read this yet. But I feel very confident with recommending this to you. Terri is know for her good mysteries, interesting characters and good research. For anyone who hasn't read her yet, she is one I think you will like. She isn't creepy like Brandilyn Collins, more like Dee Henderson or Mindy Starns Clark.

I will do a review when I get a chance to read it.

Happy Reading

Jennifer Erin Valent

Dear Readers,

Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent is the Christian Writer's Guild winner for 2007. I have no problem understanding why they picked this book. It is a very interesting read.

Set in 1932 in Virginia, Jessilyn's family, the Lassiters are about to set the town on it's ear, whether they meant to or not. Gemma's family is killed in a tragic fire. The Lassiters decide to take her in and adopt her as their own. Which in and of itself sounds great, except Gemma is black. This does not set well with the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.

Jessilyn finds out the summer of her 13th birthday that not all people have the same beliefs as her and her family. While trying to figure out why some girls act so strangly when boys are around and why boys are just generally speaking weird, she also discovers that not everything is as it seems.

These are all very adult lessons for a 13 year old to learn, but Jessilyn can't ever leave a good mystery alone. She thinks it is her right to "snoop" and listen to find things out. The big problem with that is she finds out things she shouldn't and also doesn't get all the facts to be able to know the true story. She is independent and refuses to let anyone tell her what to do, which drives her parents crazy and leaves her open to getting in lots of trouble.

I have about 10 more things that I would like to talk to you about with this book. Yet I don't want to give anything away. This is a good read for the middle of the winter as it is set in the middle of a hot summer in Virginia. They are complaining about it being to hot to even swim and it is snowing and blowing here. It is a thought provoking book too, how often do we use threats and violence to get our way in what we think or believe.

Happy Reading,
Chris


P.S. The Reading group that meets at the Baker Book Store in Kentwood will be doing this book for February

Stephen Lawhead

Dear Readers,

This is not a review. This is just to tell you that book 3 of the King Raven series, Tuck, is finally available. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I wanted to let you know that it is here and ready for pick-up. I know several of you that were waiting for it to come out.

It follows Hood and Raven and is listed as the final installment. I can't wait to get a chance to read it, but I may have to wait until spring break before I get a chance to sit and just immerse myself completely. I don't know if I can hold out that long, but I will post a review as soon as I get one written.

Happy Reading

Colleen Coble

Dear Readers,
Colleen Coble's newest book, Cry in the Night, is out a month early. Yeah! She takes us back to Rock Harbor MI in the middle of the winter, of course when else would you go to the U.P? :-) I will suggest that if you are sick of snow and cold, this might be one you leave until summer.

Mysterious cries in the night, dreams of a father long dead, and ghostly figures taking babies. What more could you ask for in a mystery. Bree is once again caught up in a mystery that will test all her skills. Babies are going missing from the reservation and no one seems to know who or what is stealing them. The locals are saying a windigo. The only clue seems to be the loud crying in the night. Bree knows it can't be a creature for the superstitious.

When people start report seeing a guy that looks like Bree's late husband, she begins to wonder if she really understands anything. As the clues start piling up the answers tell her that all she knows is about to be turned upside down. Is it really Rob or just someone who looks a lot like him? What will his mother's reaction be if it is really him? What will Bree do?

Once again Colleen writes about a city that you swear you have visited, even though it doesn't exist. Even her description of the weather makes you cold. I was able to read this past year, when it was still warm out. Then the feet of snow she talks about are not so bad. The thought of that much snow now just makes me tired. :-) (yes I am sick of winter driving) But certainly this is a good read for that day you don't want to go outside and just curl up with a good book, a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

Happy Reading,
Chris

Mindy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,
For years Anna has lived with the notoriety of being part of an accident. A horrible, terrible accident that left 3 people dead. One she paid society for and is still paying for everyday. She has vowed never to return home, that is until the frantic phone call from her sister-in-law telling her that her brother has gone missing.

So starts Mindy Starns Clark's book, Shadows of Lancaster County. Mindy has been a favorite of mine since her Million Dollar Mystery series. I recommend this book and those to anyone who loves a good mystery.

Most readers will recognize this county as the heart of Amish fiction. Don't let that stop you from reading this book. Yes, there are Amish in this story, but just as there would be Grand Rapids people in it if someone would write a book about Grand Rapids. They are just part of the story. They are the friends, family and neighbors that get involved in all of our stories. It was a unique and interesting way to look at their life style.

A nice counter balance to the quieter life is the DNA studies that are going on in the area. Anna's brother is working at the company that has been studying genetic disorders of the Amish communities. He seems to have hit a hornets nest and created a mess that has made him go on the run. Now everyone is looking for him. Will Anna be able to understand his message before the killer finds him?

I know this review was written a bit different that I normally do, but I had a hard time starting it, so I did something different. I really enjoyed this book, it is not a hard read and the mystery keeps you turning pages.

Happy Reading

P.S. OK, ok, I will admit I didn't have it figured out who the killer was until Mindy was ready to reveal it. :-)