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

Francine Rivers

Dear Readers,

I know I don't recommend books that release more than a month after my post, but I have got to tell you about Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. I finished my copy over the weekend and loved it. It took me a few pages to warm up to the main character Marta, but it was one of those books I didn't want to stop reading.

It is a story of a mother's love and how sometimes what we do in love can be seen as the opposite. Hildiemara believes her mother does not love her. This is the story of the two of them and how their relationship isn't the easiest one.

Her Mother's Hope releases March 16th. It is available at our store for special order or even a pre-pay for that special reader in your life.

Her Daughter's Dream (title so far) releases in Oct. of 2010 and I already can't wait to get my hands on a copy. :-)

Happy Reading

Melody Carlson

Dear Readers,

Limelight by Melody Carlson is a bit different for her. It isn't one of her serious gritty novels and yet there were several different spots where I stopped to think about what she had written

Claudette Fiore' had it all. She was rich and beautiful. She had fame and a wonderful husband who took care of her in life and after he passed. Well except the part about a crooked accountant who didn't pay the IRS and now she has lost everything. When she realizes that it is all gone, she tries to kill herself.

When we pick up her story she is about to be released from the hospital and isn't sure she really cares. Her step son Michael helps her set up home in her mother's house that was left to her at her mother's death. Claudette on the other hand isn't quite as excited as he is. But live there she must. It isn't a house with happy memories for her. She plotted and planned to leave town as fast as she could when she was a teen and now she is back again.

I wasn't sure I liked Claudette at first, but I felt sorry for her in many ways. Of course her learning to do the wash and cleaning etc... was amusing. I can also imagine that grocery shopping was not the easiest thing to learn either.

Claudette learned that sometimes God has different plans for us that we have for ourselves. He wants to get our attention and sometimes that means our plans for our future will not be what really happens. This is a story that is funny, sad and triumphant.

Happy Reading

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Readers,

I just wanted to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for each and everyone of you. Your comments etc... have encouraged me through out the year. I pray that each of you will enjoy the holiday season and even during this busy time, take time to relax and rest.

Happy Reading.