MaryBeth Whalen

Dear Readers
I will admit that I wasn't really sure if I wanted to read this book or not. It didn't really interest me and it seemed to have the same theme as a recent movie did. But it keep bugging me from the pile by my bed and I finally picked it up. I did enjoy it in spite of myself. :-)

MaryBeth Whalen got the idea for The Mailbox from an actual mailbox that is on a deserted part of the North Carolina coast. You can go there any time and find papers, pens and even notebooks to leave your letters or thoughts in the mailbox. Then, the Kindred Spirit comes and takes them out of the box and reads them. No one really knows who the Kindred Spirit is, but the box never fills to overflowing. People leave all kinds of letters and stories. Ones of confession and ones that talk of problems or the happiest vacation they just finished. It is a local land mark and one featured on postcards for that area.

Lindsey and Campbell meet one summer vacation. There is an instant attraction for them both. When Lindsey returns home to a mother who doesn't want her home, they vow that they will write and love each other forever. Their relationship continues to grow in the next summers as they get together again. It looks like a love that will last a lifetime. That is until Campbell makes a mistake and Lindsey must pay the price.
When life brings them back together at a low point for each of them, the relationship blooms again. Is this what they really want again? Can Lindsey truly forgive Campbell and move on? What about their families, will they understand what is happening to each of them?
This was an interesting little read. It only took me a couple of days to read it, but it was worth it. There is no great mystery to it and yet I did find myself wondering what was going to happen next. I have been to the outer banks of North Carolina and I found myself wanting to go back to visit. When I visited it was in the fall and I would love to visit in the summer and to maybe visit the Mailbox.
Happy Reading

Shelia Walsh/Kathryn Cushman

Dear Readers,

I actually picked up Angel Song by Shelia Walsh and Kathryn Cushman because I really didn't have any idea what I wanted to read next. I know most of the time when I get near the end of a book I have a good idea what I want to read next. Sometimes it is just a topic but most of the time I actually have another book picked out and ready to go.

It does help that the other books by Kathryn that I have read I really do like. She writes good emotional/issues stories. Whether it is because it is an issue I could relate to or just because I really liked the writing style, it doesn't matter, I just plain and simply enjoyed them.

Anne Fletcher fled her home in Charleston, SC for the lights of the big city of New York. She has made a good life for herself and she might have even said she was happy. When her younger sister, Sarah, is getting her master's degree, Anne agrees to come home and celebrate with her. Of course Sarah needs to understand that Anne will not be staying long, just the long weekend.
When a tragic accident happens Anne is thrust into Sarah's life and meets her 'family' that has adopted her. One very unique young man walks into her life from next door and Anne may never be the same again. Keith sees angels and he is convinced that angels are working extra hard to make sure that Anne is ok. She of course can't see them and has long ago turned her back on her sister's faith.
This is just a gentle tale of love and friendship. Don't let the part of there being angels involved scare you off from a good book. To be honest I wasn't real interested in reading it for that reason and that of course would have meant that I missed out on a neat little book. Now whether you believe angels are involved in our everyday lives or not doesn't matter, it is just a neat read. Personally I like the idea that God wants to take care of me so much he sends his angels to guard over me.
Happy Reading

Robert Elmer

Dear Readers,

Many years ago I read Robert Elmer's Like Always. That is the book that made me fall in love with his writing. He also wrote Duet, which was this cute little story about an older couple that falls in love. I also think he was writing that wonderful love story fiction long before Nicholas Sparks or Charles Martin did. He just sets his in the Northwest instead of the south.

Wildflowers in Terezin is a very different setting for me as it is about Denmark during WWII. Now Robert has written several historical fiction books, but they were written for teens and I have never read them. Because of where this book it set it gave me a very different perspective on WWII again. I have been enjoying reading several of these books that have revisited this war, but from a different country than Germany or England.

The story starts with a strange meeting between Steffen Peterson and Hanne Abrahamsen. He is caught in the crossfire on the streets of Copenhagen and wakes up to find himself in the hospital. Hanne protects him from a Gestapo agent and suddenly their lives are connected. So far during the German occupation of Denmark Steffen has been determined to not pick sides and tries to avoid anything political. If there is a hint of the Danish underground he completely ignores it.

That is until Germany had declared that Denmark will be Judenrein - jew free. All jews are facing deportation including Hanne. How far is Steffen willing to go to save the woman he maybe falling in love with? Is he willing to give up his life to save people he doesn't even know?

This book once again reminded me how difficult it can be to stand up for the right thing. Sometimes standing up means risking your life or even the lives of those that you love. I know I have wondered why people - especially Christians - didn't stand up to the Nazis more. Why did they not draw the line in the sand and say no more. Well, because they had to choose between their own families and people they didn't know. It is a choice I hope and pray I never have to make and until I have to, I know I can not answer that question honestly.
Happy Reading

Karen Witemeyer

Dear Readers,

When the weather is hot and you are headed on vacation or the beach for just the day a little read is perfect. I will tell you what, this book, A Tailor-made Bride by Karen Witemeyer, is perfect. You can read it, fall asleep, and when you wake up it is waiting for you with no fuss about trying to figure out what was going on when you dozed off. I did that twice to this book and it wasn't the book's fault. The sun was warm and I just needed the rest I guess. Of course it didn't hurt my tan at all. :-)

Hannah Richards is handed a chance to own her own dress store. She needs to travel a bit, but other than that she will be able to go out on her own and stop working for someone else.

Jericho Tucker is not real thrilled that the building in town he was hoping to buy has been bought by someone else. A dressmaker of all things. What does the dusty little town of Coventry Texas need with a dressmaker? "J.T." just knows that a woman who is a dressmaker to others must be vain, and he knows all about vain woman.

Ok so the plot isn't a big secret, but the traveling to get from the beginning of the story to end is the fun part of this journey. It is one of those books that made me laugh out loud a couple times. The funniness/silliness of the two characters along with several of the background characters makes for a fun read. It isn't really going to teach you anything, but it sure is a perfect summer read.
Happy Reading

Steven James

Dear Readers,

The much awaited release of The Bishop is finally here. The book is in our store as we speak. I know I have had several people asking me about the release of it and actually had a few special order for it. I know personally it was hard to wait, but it is so nice to get a good book to read in the dog days of summer.

Ok how to review a thriller/mystery without giving anythng away. Umm... let me see. Read this book. How's that. :-) I can easily say if you like the first three you will like this one. Patrick, Tessa and two different love interests for Patrick are back. To make the story line even more interesting a old nemesis is back, not only to darken to the waters of the murders that are happening, but to tease Patrick with hints to the murders he may or may not have commiteed. To stir the waters even more Tessa's birth father in now in the picture and not everything he says seems to be true. He is a strange figure to add to the mix, especially if you are not sure who you can trust or not trust.

Steven is a master at fake out and misdirection with his clues and this story is no different. I can hardly wait for The Queen to come out, but I am sorry to say that will be next year at the earliest. Sorry. In the mean time enjoy this one.

Happy Reading

Steven James

Dear Readers,

I wanted to let you know that the Bishop is in the store.  #4 in Patrick Bowers series.  It is a must read for anyone who has read the others.  My review of it is coming soon. 

Have a great weekend

and Happy Reading

Chris

Neta Jackson

Dear Readers,

I don't think there are any more adjectives I could use to describe the Neta Jackson books. I have loved every one of them. Who do I lean on is the third in the House of Hope series. Once again Gabby is trying to get on her feet after her husband kicked her and her mother out on to the street. She has found an apartment for herself and her boys and it looks like her dream of a house for homeless mothers will soon become a reality. But now Philip says he wants to talk about the damage done to their marriage and Gabby wonders if that means he wants to reconcile.

Is Gabby interested in letting him back into her life? Does she trust him? What about the strange men hanging out by his condo? Gabby is moving ahead. Her life isn't completely back together and she is learning as she goes along. She learns that friendship means give and take, not just take. She also learns that ex-husbands, ok not yet, but... don't always co-operate the way she thinks he should. What about what Mabel told her, does she carry some of the blame for their mariage breaking up?

I always feel like I have come home again when I read one of Neta's books. I don't live in a big city, but the people in her stories make me feel at home. They are very welcoming and I know that if I were to join one of their groups they would welcome me with open arms and accept me, even with all my faults. They love each other threw it all, but are unwilling to let anyone get away with anything they think may endanger their walk with God. What a neat group of woman to belong to.
The books in the House of Hope series and the Yada Yada Prayer group series are those kind of  books that I love to read and just sink into and just disappear for a while.   It is a great way to enjoy the heat of summer and yet feel like you did something special.
Happy Reading