J. M. Windle

Dear Readers,

Freedom's Stand by J.M. Windle is the sequel to Veiled Freedom.  Amy is back in Kabul after a short vacation.  The changes to New hope are shocking not at all what she had invisioned for the woman's compound. There is now a carpet making business and the children are even working.  The dividing walls are gone and the men have the run of the ground level, making the woman have to hide upstairs at all times.  No freedom to be in the court yard and relax.  What happen?

Steve returns to Kabul to help our a friend. The friend had a family emergency and needed to return to the states, so Steve said he would be glad to help him out.  Nothing has changed for him.  The is still corruption on every level.  With the elections coming soon the dangers to the man they are protecting get worse and worse.  Especially since he is the front runner to winning the election.

I have loved both of these books, but they have both frustrated me to no end.  I just become very frustrated with people that are saying one thing and acting completely different.  How can you say you are someone who supports freedom for the people, but still abuse your family?  How can you say you support religous freedom and yet inprision or kill anyone of a different faith from yourself.  Being the leader isn't the right to make everyone believe as you do, but it is the command to take care of those under you, whether they believe the same as you or not.

I have a feeling if I would actually go to visit one of the Islamic countries I would be in trouble in about 15 minutes as I could not wear a burka and I have a strange feeling that I also would get in trouble for being to out spoken.   Their laws really don't make sense as I feel that most of them blame the victims instead of the person who commits the crimes.  Unless the victim is a wealthy land owner, then of course the punishment must be dealt out. 

Ok Ok I will get off my soapbox and just review the book, I strongly encourage you to read these books as it will give you an idea of how to pray for the belivers in countries that are run by Sharia law. 

Happy Reading

Julie Carobini

Dear Readers,

It took me a long time to read this book.  Well maybe I should rephrase that, it took me a while to want to read this book, as I had read one of Julie's earlier books and had a hard time getting through it.  I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, I am happy to report I really did like A Shore Thing by Julie Carobini.

I don't know if I happened to hit a perfect weekend or if it is a really quick read, but I started on a Friday night and was finished by Sunday night.  This is a fun little book (ok not so little, it has 392 pages) to read.  It isn't a great suspense novel as I pretty much figured out what was going to happen early on, but it really did keep my attention. 

Callie is a crusader.  She has always been one that is ready to take up the sword for the underdog.  She was trying to save the planet long before it was cool, so when she hears that a local piece of shoreline is going to be developed, she decides she can't quietly stand by and let it happen.

Gage is new in town.  He is still recovering from losing his job because he wouldn't over look his boss's unethical dealings.  He also has his sister and nephew to support now, and is looking to get his architechural business off the ground.  That is why when he is approached to help design the new developement in Otter Bay, he is sure that is a great way to start.

What he doesn't know is that it will put him at odds with the fiesty woman he just met at the beach.  But who is right or wrong?  Who has all their facts straight?  Will either one of them be able to figure out what God's will is for their life?

This book is set on the coast of central California.  I haven't been able to visit that part of our country before, but I think after reading this it will be on my "to visit" list.  The nice thing about a book like this is that it is a great vacation without ever leaving your house.

Happy Reading

New Releases July 25 - 30

Dear Readers,

This post releases on my birthday.  I am not in the store today as I couldn't think of a better birthday present than being able to sleep in.   That is of course relative.  When I was a teen sleeping in meant noonish, when I was a mother of young kids, sleeping in meant a couple of extra minutes that the kids slept after a later night.  Now it means making it to 8:30 instead of 6, but my body has adjusted to the early mornings that started when my kids where in school.  I don't much care for it and I would really like to train myself to sleep into noon again, but am glad for the 8:30 especially after staying up late to read.

Happy Reading

Nobody's Child - Austin Boyd - #1 in the Pandora Files
Heiress - Susan May Warren

Robert Whitlow

Dear Readers,

Argh!!  This is the third time I have started this review.  It is totally me not the book or author.  I want to do the book justice, but seem to not be able to get it right. 

Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors and he is on my to-read list.  I don't always pick his books up the day they come out, but will get them read within a few weeks of their release date. 

Water's Edge is the story of Tom and all he is trying to do is close his father's law office after dad is killed in a tragic boating accident.  Tom is sure it will be an easy thing to do, that is until he uncovers a trust account with 1.75 million dollars in it and no record of where that money came from.

With this being a mystery I am not going to say any more about the story line as I don't want to give anything away.  It is actually an easy recommend, as if you like Robert's earlier books you will like this one.  Or, if you like John Grishom's novels I recommend Robert's books to you. 

The one thing I did want to mention and this doesn't give away the plot at all, but in one part Tom and his friends go white water rafting in the Ocoee River.  I personally have white water rafted the Ocoee River in the very spot Robert is talking with the rafting company he mentions.  I would recommend that if you are in that part of the Georgia, take the time and white water raft that very excitng part of the river. 

Happy Reading

New Releases July 18-23

Dear Readers,

As I am writing this over half the country is locked in a heatwave.   Temps have sored into the 90's and higher with humidity just about as bad.  It is hot muggy and uncomfortable, a great time to sit and do nothing but turn pages. 

Sunday when the heat started building that is what I did.  I read a new Susan Meissner book.  It releases later this fall and is titled A Sound Among the Trees.  It is written about a house that survies the Civil War and the battle of Fredericksburg, VA.  It was a good one to read in the heat but while sitting by the pool watching the grandgirls swim.

Happy Reading

Under a Desert Sky - Diann Mills
Shadows on the Sand - Gayle Roper
Restless in Carolina - Tamara Leigh
Shadows on the Sand -Gayle Roper
Courageous - Randy Alcorn - Based on the Screenplay for the Courageous Movie releasing Sept. 13
Sweet Sanctuary - Sheila Walsh/Cindy Martinusen Coloma
Healing Hearts - Beth Wiseman - three Amish Novellas

MaryBeth Whalen

Dear Readers,

I have been waiting to read MaryBeth Whalen's newest book She Makes it Look Easy.  I wanted to wait for a chance to just enjoy the book and relax through it all.  This past weekend was that chance.  It was worth the wait, but I also wish I had been able to read it earlier.

Ariel Baxter thinks she can become the perfect wife and mother, it just takes a bit of work.  When her family moves into the Essex Falls neighborhood, Ariel think she is almost there.  Once she meets her "backyard" neighbor she just knows she will be able to get her life on track.

Justine's life looks perfect.  She is ultra-organized, her girls are always in cute, clean and pressed dresses.  She has a handsome husband who adores her and she never seems to forget anything.  Ariel wants to be just like her, in fact she can't wait to learn how to do it herself and Justine is the perfect person to do it.  Or so it would seem.

I really want to say more about the plot line, but can't as that would take away from your enjoyment of reading it.   

For those that remember you know I wasn't all the excited about reading MaryBeth's first book, The Mailbox, and then quickly fell in love with it.  I didn't have the "not wanting to read it" problem this time.  I so enjoyed this book that I didn't want it to end.  The characters are people that I would want to hang out with and get to know.  They are people who live in our own neighborhoods and go to our churches. 

This is not a light read.  It deals with several major issues, but it is not such a heavy book that makes you feel like MaryBeth is trying to teach you something.   It does in fact have several times that you might laugh out loud because it is a 'real' life book.  I could almost move into that neighborhood except I am not huge on neighborhood associations. 

This is one of those books that would lend itself well to a book club read or just a quiet read at the beach or sitting by the pool.

Happy Reading

New Releases July 11-16

Dear Readers,

I don't know about you but there is something about opening a new fiction book that is so very exciting to me.  I don't know if it is because if the new adventure I might find in the pages or if it is because of the new friends I will meet.  Whatever it is it is one of those things that if you say it to a person who is not a fiction readers, you actually do sound a little insane.  That is ok with me, I just try to remember and not say things like that when I am amoung people who don't understand. 

Happy Reading

Livvie's Song - Sharlene MacLaren - #1 River of Hope series.
River's Song - Melody Carlson - #1 The Inn at Shining Waters
Rally Round Green - Judy Christie - #3 the Green series
Over the Edge - Brandilyn Collins
Pompeii: City on Fire - T.L. Higley
Beside Still Waters - Tricia Goyer
Fade to Blue - Julie Carobini
Target Down - Bob Hamer
From Ashes to Honor - Loree Lough
The Faith of Ashish - Kay Marshall Strom