Tessa Afshar

Dear Readers,
Biblical fiction is a tough genre to write in. Some people won't read it because you are "changing the Bible." Some people won't read it because "I have already read that story." I struggle with it because it can be so boring as some writers will just rewrite the Bible story with no changes to it and then expect us readers to like it.
The Biblical fiction I do like is because of the face it puts on the characters involved and brings the actually Bible story to life. Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar is that type of book for me. It really made me think more about Rahab and her story. Questions like, why was she a prostitute and what was she really like? came to mind.
The cover is what actually got me curious about this book in the first place but the subject matter is what made me want to read it. Rahab is one of only five women mentioned in Jesus' lineage. What earned her that right? It also made me realise that Jesus was not ashamed to mention her in his lineage.
Rahab was sold into prostitution by her father. It was a time of drought and famine in Jericho and her family was starving. They didn't see any other way to survive. In the years to follow Rahab continued on in the lifestyle that was chosen for her mostly because she figures no one else would want her anyways. That is until she hears about a country and their God who is laying waste to any country that stands against them. Bigger, stronger countries. The scarest thing is Jericho and Canaan are in the sights next.
I have often wondered why Rahab would betray her country. I am sure there was no great love for her country, but treason? Wow. But why? It had to have been a God thing. He knew the plans he had for her long before she even knew that He exsisted.
Once that country had destroyed her homeland why would she want to join them? They had killed off everyone and only saved her and her family because of a promise made to a couple of spies. Why trust them and why did they accept her?
Rahab's story is one of God's pursuit of us no matter what we have done, how he will and does use all of us and mostly it is the story of His forgiveness and love for us.
Happy Reading

New Releases Oct. 4-9

Dear Readers,
Not a large list this week.  It gives me a chance to catch up on my other reading.  We did receive a large number of Christmas books and I will do a list of those at the beginning of Nov.  That way you will have time to pick out a couple of stories to make your holiday season.
Happy Reading
Love is Grand - Annalisa Daughety
Wrangler in Petticoats - Mary Connealy
Nipped in the Bud - Susan Sleeman

Alice J. Wisler

Dear Readers,

Sometimes you go on a vacation and you just want to go back to visit all the time. The Outer Banks in North Carolina are like that for me. I have only been there once and yet I want to go back again. It is just one of those places where even though there are lots of houses and people it seems just a bit wild. The ocean was never still while we were there and there were many places that were made for walking and just wandering around in.

Hatteras Girls by Alice J. Wisler is set on the Outer Banks and that in and of itself made for a good read for me. Jackie has two dreams, one is to find a good man and the other is to become the owner of a beloved bed and breakfast that she and her sister used to visit when they were younger.

The Bailey Place is a local landmark, but since the owners moved and then passed away the house has fallen into disrepair. When Jackie meets the grandson and current owner of the Bailey Place she is sure God has started to answer her prayers as the grandson is also single. Maybe both prayers will be answered by one person.
I have liked all of Alice's books that I have read. This is her third one and she is finding her niche in the fiction world. She writes delightful stories that are just nice to read. She is very good about making you want to visit the places she writes about. You will want to meet the characters and become friends. They make for great summer reads all year around.
Happy Reading

New Releases Sept 25-Oct. 2

Dear Readers,
Saints Among us - Tales from Grace Chapel Inn - Anne Marie Rodgers
I shall Not Want - Debbie Viguie
Emily's Chance - Sharon Gillenwater
The Waiting - Suzanne Woods Fisher
The Lightkeeper's Bride - Colleen Coble
The Reluctant Prophet - Nancy Rue
One Lane Bridge - Don Reed
When the Devil Whistles - Rick Acker
The Voyage of Promise - Kay Marshall Strom

The Blood of the Prodigal - P.L. Gaus

The God Hater - Bill Myers

Seek Me with All Your Heart - Beth Wiseman

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers,
There is always a bit of excitement when a new Lynn Austin book is due in. There are many people that look forward to her new book and start asking for it weeks in advance. While We're Far Apart is Lynn's newest and she once again doesn't disappoint her loyal fans.
I am not sure who I would call the main character of this book. You have Esther, who is trying to figure out how her life fell apart. Her mother has been gone a little over a year and her father just announced he is leaving for the army to help fight the Nazis. There is Penny, who has been in love with Eddie for as long as she can remember. When he announces he is leaving for the army and needs help with his children while he is gone, Penny is sure this is a way for her to get noticed by him. There is also Jacob who, besides trying to recover from the loss of his wife, is worried about his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter who are in Hungary. They all have such an important part to play in the story. There are also background characters that are just as important and yet don't have as big of parts.
Young Peter who has been unable to speak since the day his father left. Penny's parents and the secret they have kept and even Roy the young man on the bus. They are all part of the rich tapestry that is this story. I can't imagine the story without them. They all start out with their own tale, but as the story continues on they all become wrapped together and become part of each other's lives.
For me one of the most interesting storylines was Jacob's. How he waited to hear from his son in Hungary. How he worked behind the scenes to send money to different charities to get money over to Europe and save as many of the Jews as possible. Sometimes we forget that not only did Hitler affect families over in Europe, there were many families over here waiting for years to hear word of missing family members.
It is interesting to read a story like this in that it is a reminder that there are numerous families right now in America with family members overseas. They are all making new memories without that loved one there to share it with them. It is a great calling to defend our country, but it costs the families much.
Happy Reading

T.L. Hines

Dear Readers,
Author T.L. Hines for me has been the go-to author when I need something that is not easily explaine.d. His books are not only different, they are not ones you can put in a certian category. I could put them in horror, but they are not really scary. I could put them in fantasy, but they are not that either. Thriller might be about as close as I can get and yet that doesn't really fit either as there is usually not a big mystery involved.

The Falling Away is T.L.'s newest and I read it over the weekend. I needed something very different to seperate me from the books I had been reading and to get away from having to bring my youngest to college. There was little or no emotional attachment for me to any of the characters, which usually makes for a difficult read for me. With this book it wasn't a problem and that may have been because the storyline was interesting enough.Dylan is a chosen one or so he has been told by several people. First by his buddy in Iraq who was killed by a roadside bomb and now by this strange woman he just met. He has no idea why he is chosen or what that means, but he doesn't believe them anyways. How can he be chosen for anything?

Quinn knows there is something special and 'chosen' about Dylan, even if he doesn't. She is in a spiritual battle every day of her life. She is part of the Falling Away and her job is to keep an eye on a cult that has a demonic leader. Her job is to keep them from 'infecting' others and to keep any of the Chosen away from the compound.

See, now you understand why I have a terrible time button holing these books. They are good and interesting stories that don't really follow the status quo. There was nothing really scary about the book, but it did make me think about the different things brought up in the book.

Happy Reading

New Releases Sept. 20-25

Dear Readers,
Divine Appointment - Charlene Ann Baumbich
A Secret Identity - Gayle Roper
Code Triage - Candace Calvert

Pursuit of Justice - DiAnn Mills

Judgement Day - Wanda L. Dyson

Simply Sara - Hillary Manton Lodge

The Perfect Blend - Trish Perry
World's End -Tim Lahaye/Jerry Jenkins (Left Behind books #10-12)
Catching Moondrops - Jennifer Erin Valent
A Prairie Christimas Collection - Various authors