Used Fiction

Dear Readers,

I had a usual project this past week.  I worked in the used fiction department to get it ready to be moved at least one time if not more in the next several weeks of the remodel.  What that means is I got to go through the entire used fiction department picking out the books we wanted to keep on the shelves during the summer and which ones we wanted to store and or donate.  It was so fun.

I found different books on the shelves that I didn’t know we had and I found books that I knew we had several of.  It was interesting to look at old covers and see how those have changed over the years.  Until just a few years ago, covers were all hand drawn art work.  Some of them quite good, but others made Joel, the guy helping me, and I laugh right out loud.  (Sorry, but it is true)

I started telling you this to let you know that our used fiction department looks very different.  It is smaller and doesn’t have even half the books in it that it right now.   No worries though, all it really means is when we restart the department later this year we will be starting fresh and new.  Well not new “new” books, but books that you all have been holding on to waiting to sell them to us. 

So I am asking you to bear with us during this time of transition, we will get through it together. 

Happy Reading

New Releases April 30 - May 5

Dear Readers,

The remodel of Baker Book House has slowly gotten started.  Like any other large project it has taken a little bit to get in motion, but now it is starting to move right along.    We are in the process of moving the used book department, which contains over 90,000 used books.  Most of which are very heavy, I know I have been helping them move them and go home at the end of the day very tired. 

The fun thing about moving the books is the chance to see what people have written about over the years.  Some of it is very important to know and understand, Bible commentaries and studies of Prayer etc.., but then there are others that are very dated and I really don’t see who would be interested in that topic any more.   A book about woman’s place in the home really did make most of us laugh right out loud. 

There are old classics that we get request for all the time or beloved authors that someone read years ago and happen to just stumble on that certain book.  I love being able to visit with customers who have found that type of book back there and personally  I was able to buy a book for my mom a few years ago.  That was very exciting as it was from one of her favorite authors and she had never read it before. 

Used books are a wonderful thing to be able to share with others, but they are not the easiest thing to move. 

Happy Reading.

Darkroom - Joshua Graham - Xandra is on a journey to find out the truth behind her father and her family.  She finds her mother's journal that talks of many things including surviving the fall of Saigon.

After All - Deborah Raney - A Hanover Falls novel - After her husband's death, Susan discovered a secret to his grave.  Will she ever get over something that puts her entire marriage in question?

Hannah's Joy - Marta Perry - #6 Pleasant Valley - Hannah is trying to find her place in the world.  Is the Mennonite community she returned to or is it in the world she came from?

Wish You Were Here - Beth K. Vogt - Allison is suppose to get married in 5 days.  So why is she kissing her grooms brother?  Is she marring the wrong guy? 

The Telling - Mike Duran - Zeph is a prophet who has with drawn from society.  Now he is investigating his own murder and trying to close the 9th gate of hell. 

The Prairie Romance - Hake/Miller/Coleman/Davis/Ford - 9 historical romances from America's great plains.

The Soul Saver - Dineen Miller - Lexie starts her day off with a face she is suppose to meet that day.  What happens when she and her family are the mission?

A Sister's Forgiveness - Anna Schmidt - In a moment two families are torn apart.  Tessa and Sadie were  best friends besides being cousins.  Will either family survive after the death of one of them?

Dani Pettrey

Dear Readers,

There has been one author that hasn't written in the past few years that I still get asked about.  Dee Henderson.  So far I have had to say "no she isn't writing anything new" but she has been mentoring several new authors with great results.  Lynette Eason is one and now you can add Dani Pettrey to the list.   

Dani's first book Submerged just released and if you are/were a Dee Henderson fan I recommend this book.  It has the feel of Dee's O'Malley series and I am almost certain who the next two characters of her series are going to be (that is not a bad thing, just fun to watch their storyline develop).

The setting for Submerged is Yancy, Alaska which gives it a dramatic backdrop.  One of the main characters actually sounds better suited to be set in Hawaii, but it does work with how Dani writes them. That is probably the two things that I liked the most about the book, the rich setting and fun characters.   

Bailey left town as quickly as she could after high school and has not been back since.  She has avoided the town even though the only family she knows still lives there.  When Aunt Agnes is killed in a plane crash, Bailey knows she must return to town to put her aunt's affairs in order.  She wants to make sure she sees as few people as possible and just get in and get out.  That is until the bodies start mounting and her aunt's death might not have been the accident that the authorities thought at first.  Bailey may be the only one who can put all the answers together, but will she stay long enough to find them?

Romantic suspense has been one of those categories that the readers have been asking about, but the publishers have been not able to fill until just recently.  Dani will be one of those authors that those readers will be able to enjoy for years to come. 

Happy Reading

Family Fiction

Dear Readers,

I am going to shamelessly promote myself a minute.  To say that I am a wee bit excited about this happening is not even close. 

I am a published author now.  Who would have thunk it.  :-D

I was asked many months ago to write for Family Fiction magazine.  It is a neat little magazine that I have been following since I found them.  They promote new books with author interviews and lovely emails/Facebook notices.  Their goal is to let readers know about good Christian fiction. 

They have a sister magazine called Family Fiction Edge with their focus being suspense, thriller and speculative fiction. 

Anyways back to my news.  Here is the link to follow off to my column if you are interested in reading it.  I would love to hear from you if you know of a library or bookstore that I could feature in my column.  Thank you for all your support.

http://www.familyfiction.com/magazines/2012/may-jun/pageflip.aspx

Happy Reading

Chris

P.S.  There is also a very nice interview about Tracy Groot in this edition. 

New Releases April 23 -28

Dear Readers,

I just found out that a friend of mine and local author is coming to the store.  I have already read the book that she will be signing on that date and it is good, really good.  I can hardly wait to share it with you all.  For now put June 16th on your calendar between 10 -1 to meet Tracy Groot and to pick up an autographed copy of her new book Flame of Resistance. 

Happy Reading.

Paradise Calling - Ilze Henderson - Now every step could be their last as they learn the implications of this extraordinary discovery for the human race and the power it holds to change even their own hearts.

Harvest of Rubies - Tessa Afshar - Sarah is struggling to find her worth in a man's world.  Can a scribe working in the queen's court ever truly find happiness and love.

Ann Tatlock

Dear Readers,

If you are looking for a gentle story that has a powerful story to tell, try anything by Ann Tatlock.  She faces issues head on, but while gently nudging her characters to decisions that may not always be the easiest, but it is where they need to go.

Traveler's Gift is no different.  Jane has loved Seth since they were in school together.  They became engaged and he was sent to Iraq with his National Guard unit.  Jane's only prayer is that he will return to her soon and they can start their life together. 

Seth does return, but only after a sniper's rifle take away any chance of a normal life.  He is paralyzed from the neck down.   He thinks his life is over and that he has no chance at happiness now.    Jane sees it differently and is determined to prove her love to Seth and her willingness to make their life together work in spite of this new obstacle. 

What would you do if this happened to you?   Is it an easy answer for you?  Do you stay or do you run the other direction?  Jane receives lots and lots of advice from several different sources.   Some try to tell her what to do and some just try to help her make a decision on her own, by pointing out all the challenges she would face.  I honestly couldn’t answer the question for myself.  One of the conversations points out that the answer maybe be different when you are engaged or if you were married.  I thought that was an interesting point to the story.  Either way I really don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here.  I can’t of course tell you what happens as that would give the whole story away, but I found this entire book fascinating for the thoughts and questions it raised. 

Here is a small side note, not long ago I had a conversation with someone about something close to this.  This person is engaged and said that they would not stay if they were not married.  I will tell you straight out, that answer really bothered me.   Our conversation at the time did not involve a person who was paralyzed, but it was an illness.   So some things were different, but I did find it a bit ironic that I had just talked to someone about this. 

Happy Reading

P.S. This book is available at Baker Book House or online by request at bakerbookstore.com

New Releases April 16 - 21

Dear Readers,

Over the past few weeks, I have had many chances to read several books that are only in manuscript form.  Some I have gotten in e-form, but most come in hard copies that make it a bit of a trick to read.  Some are packaged all nice in a binder of some sort and others come in loose leaf form.  The loose leaf ones always make it more interesting to read.  I have a system down, but every once and a while I get mixed up and end up reading backwards.  I know that sounds hard to do, but I manage to do it.  It is usually when I am reading late at night and am a bit tired.  Let me tell you when you are already tired and suddenly the story seems to be going backwards...  my oh my that is confusing.  LOL  I guess that is why they put them in book form. 

Happy Reading
Cowgirl Trail - Susan Page Davis - A Morgan family saga - A young woman determined to save the family ranch, a devastating loss and an answer to prayer as shot are fired.

Trauma Plan - Candace Calvert - #1 Grace Medical - Riley just wants to be an ER nurse again, but the powers that be won't let her.  Instead she finds herself trying to prove herself at a controversial clinic.  Wull it prove to be a good choice or a place that may cost her more than she is willing to give?

Amelia's Journey - Martha Rogers - For Ben Haynes it is love at first sight, but can a Boston socialite firnd true happiness with a cowboy from Kansas?

Heaven Help Helen Sloane - J.R. Lucas - Helen is in for one interesting year, just take a look at her journal...

Love's Tangled Web - Keren Franklin - A picture-perfect marriage, a little harmless flirting, two sisters, with lifelong resentments.  The ultimate betrayal.

Where Lilacs still Bloom - Jane Kirkpatrick - Based on the life of Hulda Klager and the plant hybridization she did.  Her Washington State gardens still exsist today filled with flowers that people can still get cuttings from.

A Stand-Up Guy - Michael Synder - This Pull no punches book, looks at how the truth hurts.. and heals... is for anyone who recognizes the wisdom of learning to tell the right truth at the right time.

Relentless Pursuit - Kathy Herman - #3 secrets of Roux River Bayou - Sax is trying to find his sister her left behind 11 years ago.  When fear of a terriost in the area makes the area his sister was last listed unsafe, he knows he needs to continue the search to regain peace.