Angela Hunt

Dear Readers,

I first must mentioned, for my church librarians, that this book is not advertised as a Christian book, but it is very clean. In fact one of the main characters, Kate, wrestles with her faith and things that happened in her past.

Let Darkness Come by Angela Hunt is basically a lawyer/trial book, think John Grisham or Robert Whitlow. More in depth it is a story of a wife accused, a lawyer thrown to the lions and a family who thinks they can control everything.

Jeffery Tommassi is found dead by his wife Erin. He was on the fast track to being the next senator in the nation's capital for the great state of Illinois. In fact his goal and his father's dream is for him to win the Presidency. But Jeffery had a deep dark secret and it may have cost him his life.

Erin Tommassi stands accused of killing her husband. She insists she didn't do it. Kate, her lawyer, doesn't believe her. Evidence doesn't lie and there are, of course, according the prisoners, no guilty parties in prison. So what is a lawyer to do.

This was a very interesting read. I stumbled on the book by accident while do some research on a different book. I am really glad I did. I have always liked Angela's books and this one was no different. I know some people haven't liked all her books, but if you liked her book, The Elevator, you will probably like this one.

It is set in Chicago and with all the ... well... umm, interesting happenings in their politics this year, it makes that part of the story ring very true.

Again it is not a "Christian" fiction. There is no foul language or sex. It just doesn't have a Christian message. It does have moral questions in it and ones that I think more than one of us has wrestled with.

Happy Reading

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Rest in the peace that is our Lord

and know he has you in the palm of his hand.

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Dear Readers,

I am not a big fan of Amish books. I will keep saying that even though it seems different because of how many I have reviewed lately. I think the publishing houses are trying to find the next Bev Lewis and keep asking people to help them them decide if they have or not.

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher is not going to change my mind on Amish books. It is a good story and one I enjoyed reading, but it still seems to have the same formula. Boy meets Girl, one isn't Amish and they must decide what to do. Now I will admit that the most of the main characters in this story are Amish, but us Englishers do show up and mess things all up.

Carrie Weaver is ready to run away with Sol. He has been signed to play baseball for the local AAA ball team. He has a fast pitch that nobody can hit and he is ready to leave the Amish life behind. Carrie isn't so sure if she is and when her father dies she decides to stay. Carrie continues on in her life and choosing to marry Daniel to move her younger brother out of her step mothers house as the step mother seems cruel and cold. Carrie figures a loveless marriage is better than a living in a house with Esther.

Nothing goes according to plan and Carrie and Sol find their lives becoming intertwined again. Does that mean that God plans for them to be together? Carrie doesn't think so, and what about Daniel and his cousin Abel? Like I said earlier this was a good story. It is basically a love story. It throws in the Amish lifestyle, which sometimes I do envy, but I really like electricity and running water to much to give that up.

This story reminds you that what we plan may not be what God plans for us for us. What we see sometimes as not good, God is using for our best. It is a story of trust and forgiveness. Of letting go and not keeping secrets.

Ted Dekker

Dear Readers,


Here is one of those authors that is causing the great discussions on what is and isn't Christian fiction. Ted Dekker is one that you either love his books or hate them. I for one love them. They are not all my favorite, but if nothing else, his books always make me think. Nothing is as it seems, sometimes you have to hunt for the answers to questions.

Burn co-authored with Erin Healy will not disappoint Dekker fans. Now to be honest I wasn't as excited when I saw this one as Kiss wasn't really my favorite of Ted's books. Burn is different. It kept me guessing all the way to the end as to where we were going on the twist he threw in.

Janeal lost everything in a fire; or was that gained everything? She was sick of living the gypsy life. She wanted out. When the opportunity presented itself to her, she took it even though it cost her friends their lives. She starts a new life and seems to be living the life she always wanted.

Until the past and the present collide. The friends that she thought were dead are alive and the enemy that she thought she had destroyed is once again threatening her life. Does she really have to go back to her family home to rid herself of her past?

Fast paced, with several twist and turns, this was more than I expected. It isn't really a thriller, but it has several elements of a thriller. It isn't really a fantasy like the Circle books. It is just a very interesting story that kept me reading quickly to the end.

This book was scheduled to come out in January and it nicely released early. Which is always nice if you are looking for that last minute gift for that hard-to-buy-for reader in your family.

Happy Reading
Chris

favorite book 2009

Dear Readers,

I have put this off long enough. I try to pick my favorite book for the year long before Christmas approaches, but this year because of all the good books that have come out in the last year it has been a hard choice. I kept changing my mind, but yet kept coming back to this one.

I picked Haunt of Jackels by Eric Wilson. It is the second book of the series. It is a vampire series but so much more. The idea behind the books is that vampires are not friendly beings, but an evil spiritual being that is out to destroy humankind. Sound like anyone else you know?


I was quickly caught up in the storyline and can hardly wait for Valley of Bones, book #3 to releases in April. I have a teenager at my home that ask me a couple times a month if I have heard anything or gotten my copy yet. She liked them much better than the Twilight series. These are her words not mine, " Much better written and a "real" book, not just a sappy love story."



Happy Reading

David and Diane Munson

Dear Readers,

One of the rules of writing is write about what you know. Diane and David Munson do that with all 4 of their books. They are all spy/lawyer novels. I don't know if David would call himself a spy, but he has some really good stories to tell in the books they write together.

In Hero's Ransom, when American Amber Worthing is arrested in China for spying, it sets a series of events into action that could put our nation's security at risk. Bo Rider is racing to save Amber and to keep China from finding out what her secret really is. She isn't a spy, but she knows something that would put our relationship with China at risk.

While Amber is caught up in an international struggle, her mother is fighting to keep Amber's son Lucas out of the hands of his paternal grandparents. People he has never met, and until Amber's arrest they had no idea he existed. Emotions run high when the two sides battle for the rights to a child caught in the middle.

The Munsons label their books as family friendly and they are. There is plenty of action and adventure without some of the gore. It also will make you wonder about the state secrets that David and Diane know. We complain about our government not doing much, but I believe that a lot happens behind the scenes that we never know about and to be honest with you, I don't want to know about. It would probably keep me awake at night.

This book is exclusive to Baker Book House and the Munson's website. It will release to the rest of the country in Febuary. Thank you David and Diane for your support of our store.

Happy Reading.
Chris

Nicole Seitz

Dear Readers,

I understand that Nicole Sietz's books are not everyone's cup of tea. I for one love them. They are a little off center and I think that is why I like them. They make you think about different subjects. In Saving Cicadas she takes on the subject of Abortion. Not an easy topic for anyone.

How do you explain Abortion to an 8 1/2 year old? It is a concept most adults don't understand. So when Janie Dae Macy's mother finds out she is pregnant again, Janie doesn't understand that there is a third way to take care of things. She only counts two. Keeping the baby or give it up for adoption. She even makes a list to help her mother see the pros and cons of both.

Janie's older sister is convinced that Mama is carrying baby Jesus in her tummy. Rainey has Down's Syndrome and she is just excited that there will be another baby in their house soon.

Mama decides she needs some space and she goes looking for the girl's father and winds up in her hometown, where her family still owns a house. They move in and things seem to be looking up. They all settle into a routine and Janie and Rainey await the arrival of their new sibling. That is until Janie finds out Mama is considering Abortion.

I don't dare go any farther as I am afraid of giving it all away. This is not a murder mystery, but it does have a couple good twists. I did like it a great deal, even though there were a couple times I wondered where Nicole was going with it all. She tells an interesting and thought-provoking story. It will not be for everyone and I can see where there will be church libraries that will have some problems with it.

I do want to add, Nicole is not in favor of Abortion. That is not what would be the objections, but I can't say what they are for those who want to read it. If you are really want to know for the library, let me know and I can give you a better idea of what is going on in the book.

Happy Reading
Chris