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. :-)

Jannette Oke

Dear Readers,

Yes you read that correct, Janette Oke has come out of retirement to write a new Biblical fiction series with Davis Bunn. The Centurion's Wife is book one in the Acts of Faith trilogy.
When Leah's family lost their wealth, she becomes a handmaiden for Pontius Pilate's wife, Procula. It's not a bad life and is much better than her sister who is sold/married to a man who abused her. Leah is very content to just work and never marry, but that is all about to change because of one Jewish carpenter.

Pilate promises Leah in marriage to Alban, a centurian who has ambitions of advancing to a position of power. Alban has had an encounter with the carpenter, his young servent was sick and he asked Jesus to heal him without coming to his house. (Remember the Bible story?) He is interested in the rumors that are circulating about the man and his death.

Sent by Pilate to check out what happen to the guards that were guarding the tomb and why they seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth, Alban finds out more than he bargained for.

This series is about the new church and how it got started and what they had to say to the world. The time is set just after the ascension and before Pentecost. (At least part of the book is :-) The followers are in hiding, yet eager to share what has happen to them. I loved meeting the Mary's and even Peter. I think, even with the pursecution that was going on this would have been one of the most interesting times in the life of the church. We all understand what was going on, but they didn't. I can't imagine their confusion and sorrow with their lose, but yet he isn't dead, of their beloved friend and leader. I am not sure what I would be feeling at that time.

I can easily say that if you like Janetter Oke before her retirement you will like her now. It isn't the settling of the west, but it is a good story. I know some of you don't read her, but this series is worth the read just to learn a bit about our history as Christians.

Happy Reading

Ted Dekker

Dear Readers,
Kiss by Ted Dekker is due out on January 6th. This book is a stand alone Physiological thriller that are my favorites of Ted's. My favorite book of his is still Three, mostly because of the huge twist that comes at the end of it. Kiss doesn't have that big twist in it, but it is a good mystery/thriller that does keep you guessing as to who the good and bad guys are all the way to the end.

Shauna McAllister causes a car accident that cost her memories and her brother is permenently brain-damaged. Everyone in her family blames her because of the drugs found in the car. She is struggling to remember anything that will help her understand why the accident happened at all.
Shauna struggles to prove her innocence. She has no proof or memory of why she would try to kill herself or her brother, just a feeling. When snippets of memories start to come back she is more and more sure that this accident wasn't just a simple accident.

I'm done, no more clues as to what the book is about. I hate those reviews. I never understand why someone would want to ruin the whole book for someone else. Just know that I did like this book, it is an interesting read and I had no problem wanting to keep reading it. It is a book that you do need to pay attention to. About the time that you think of someone being a certian thing, Ted changes it for you, just to see if you are paying attention.

This book is not just for Dekker fans, it is for anyone who likes a good mystery. I was so looking forward to reading it and was not disappointed. If you haven't noticed I liked this book. I think those who like this type of book will throughly enjoy it. :-)

Happy Reading

Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn

Dear Readers,
Ok first the house keeping stuff. Healing Waters by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn . It is the second book of the Sullivan Crisp series.
To be perfectly honest with you all, I am having a terrrible time writing this review. It is not for lack of trying and it is not because I disliked the book. In fact I loved the book. It is more because I feel I am not doing the story justice.

There is so much to learn from Sullivan and Lucia. I feel like everything I want to write is so very disjointed. Mostly I want all of you to understand that this is a very good book. Simply put if you liked book #1, Healing Stones, then get in your car and come and get your copy of this book today.

Lucia is our main character.. She has always been told to take care of her sister, Sonia. When Sonia had a terrible accident, Lucia drops everything to go and live with Sonia. This is where she meets Sullivan. He is a friend of Sonia's and is looking to make sure she is ok, but it turns out Sonia isn't the only one in need of a counselor.

This is where I will stop. Now this is a good read. You don't want to lay it down, but have no problem picking backup for those times you do. It is always sad when real life interfers with reading isn't it. There is so much to say, but it all gives the plot away and I really don't want to take away from the pleasure of reading this story. I also don't want you to think that this review is a bit shorter than others because I don't have anything to say. The problem is just the opposite, I have to much to say and am not sure I could stop.

Happy Reading