Michele Phoenix

Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix looked interesting to me from the minute it came in the store.  The storyline is one where you get mostly contemporary, but there is an interesting historical story also.  The historical part is set during WWII in France in a beautiful manor; the Nazis have taken over the manor, but not just for their headquarters in the area.  They have other plans for Meunier manor and they are not plans they want people to know about. 

50 years later Marshall Becker is hired to help renovate the manor for the new owner’s wife’s birthday.  He is short on time and he is in no mood to make it easy for anyone else.   He is an alcoholic who thinks he has it under control, but family and friends know better.  When his business partner springs the job in France in the hopes that Marshall can get his life back together, Marshall is not happy, but he goes to do the job anyways.   

The story is about the manor and all that happened there, but it is also about the people.  I was surprised how much I was drawn into the character’s lives.  It almost made the historical story secondary.  Between Marshall, Jade, the Fallon family and several of the workers, they are rich, well written characters that may make you want to run off to Lamorlaye, France to find them. 

This has been one of those books that I stayed up way too late reading.  Long after I should have turned my light off and gotten some sleep, I was reading.  Because there is a bit of mystery to the story and there are few times where things go “bump” in the night, this book kept my attention throughout the whole thing. 

I am really looking forward to reading Michele’s next book, In Broken Pieces, due out in May.

Happy Reading

New Release - Julie Lessman

Dear Readers,

Julie Lessman took the Christian fiction market by storm.  She set out to write a romance that young ladies could read without all the stuff that other authors seemed to think were necessary to write a good book.  She achieved her goal and has many loyal follows because of it.

Julie's newest series is titled The Heart of San Francisco with book one being Love at Any Cost.  Set in 1902 during the time of gold age of West Coast.  Cassidy's family is has no money.  They are an oil family without a fortune.  Her heart was broken by a fortune hunter she decides to of visit her wealthy cousins in San Francisco.  As she settles in she meets and falls for Jamie, but is only seeing her for the money she can provide?  What will happen when he finds out her family is broke?

With a sense of humor and loads of romance, Julie weaves a story in a romantic time in America that will find you wishing to visit San Francisco.

Happy Reading

New Releases April 1 - 6

Dear Readers,

Ah spring is in the air.  Ok maybe not completely, I am hoping it isn't going to snow anymore.  That I am tired of.  I am ready to snuggle onto the front porch and read in the sunshine.  There have been several titles in the last couple of weeks and this week that I really would like to read.  I just haven't figured out how to read them all.  Any ideas?

Happy Reading

Stress Test - Richard L. Mabry M.D. - Dr. Matt Newman is leaving his life as a surgeon behind with the hope academic medicine will be a better life.  When kidnappers bent on killing him capture him, he can only think of escape.  He is able to escape their clutches, but now he is charged with murder. 

The Heiress of Winterwood - Sarah Ladd - #1 Whispers on the Moors - Amelia goes against family expectations and willingly promises to raise her dying friend’s baby.  When the baby is kidnapped, Amelia and the baby's father, Graham, are team together to find the baby, but it will test their boundaries.

Seaside Harmony - Evangeline Kelley - Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn - Caroline joins her sisters, Gracie and Sam for a Nantucket getaway.  They stumble on an old inn that their mother loved.  It is now a dilapidated place, but the sisters decide to buy, restore and open the Misty Harbour Inn.

Sunflower Summer - Evangeline Kelley - Misty Harbour Inn is open.  As they all adjust to the busy life of running an inn, each sister finds their place in the daily workings of the inn and it's guest.

Though My Heart is Torn - Joanne Bischof - #2 The Cadence of Grace - As Gideon and Lonnie settle into their new life, things look good.  Then news of a woman claiming to be Gideon's real wife forces them to return to Rocky Knob and face Gideon's past.

The Way Home - Thomas Kindkade/Katherine Spencer - An Angel Island Novel - Claire has settled into Angel Island's rhythms.  It has brought her peace and serenity.  When Jamie arrives in town, that all seems to be going by the way side.  Avery loves her new cafe, but Mike doubts that it will survive with all its new ideas and dishes

The House that Love Built - Beth Wiseman - Brooke figures her only chance at love died with her husband.  Now she is just trying to raise her two children and run a hardware store.  But when the new guy in town buys the old Hadley Mansion, she finds herself drawn to more than just the renovation of the house.

New Release - Katie Ganshert

Dear Readers,

Katie Ganshert's first book, Wildflowers from Winter, put her on the map as an up and coming author to watch.  Wishing on Willows is her second book and holds much promise of a great career.

Robin Price doesn't have much to remember her late husband by, a three year old son, a struggling cafe' and a few memories.  She pours everything she can into the Willow Tree cafe', but when Ian Mckay shows up with a plan to build condos where the cafe' stands, she refuses to let him have his way.

With a dash of romance, Katie weaves lovely stories of life in the US.  Stories that most of us can relate to in one way or another.

Happy Reading

Nicole Seitz

Dear Readers,

I love Nicole Seitz’s books.  They are these lovely tales that have a bit of a twist to them.  Not always a huge twist where you say “oh my goodness I didn’t see that coming,” but always something that just makes her stories unique.  They are also set in one of my favorite parts of the country, the South Carolina coastline.

Beyond Molasses Creek by Nicole was released in January of last year, but my bookclub wanted to read it and so I waited till now to do so.  I took it on my vacation to Florida with me and it was the perfect spot to read it, warm sea breezes and sunshine. 

Ally Green has been running her entire life.  She couldn’t wait to get out of town and eventually became a stewardess for AirAmerica and enjoyed the jet set life.  She flew all over the world, lived in many different countries and didn’t have to think about what she left behind. 

Vesey Washington is who she was running from.  Growing up across Molasses Creek in the 60’s their relationship was forbidden.  With her being the daughter of a prominent doctor and him the son of a black coal miner, they had nothing in common.  But they were drawn together by the creek they both grew up on. 

I really don’t want to say more as it really gets into the story line that is just so much fun to discover.  The story flows along like the creek that is the center of the story.  I don’t know if you have ever been to South Carolina in the summer, but nothing moves quickly at that time including the water.  It just goes about its business of getting things moved along and at the end of the day all is completed and content.  This story is like that; it won’t be hurried, but savored and enjoyed so when you get to the end you feel rested in finding out Ally and Vesey’s story.

Happy Reading

New Release - Bodie and Brock Thoene

Dear Readers,

Brock and Brode Thoene have been favorite authors of many readers because of their award winning series Zion Covenant and Zion Chronicles.  They started writing Biblical fiction a few years ago with their series A.D. Chronicles.  They continue with that genre in the Jerusalem Chronicles with book #1 When Jesus Wept.

We all know the Bible story of the raising of Lazarus.  If the story still holds so much of our attention over 2,000 years later, what was it like when it happens?  Who is this man Lazarus?  What is his story?  He is listed as a close friend of Jesus and yet we know so little about him.   With Passion week having just past, now is a great time to slow down and read the story with fresh eyes.   

Happy Reading

New Releases March 25-30

Dear Readers,

So I could do a funny post than surprise you with April Fools.  But it is one of those practices that I really don't like.  Now don't get me wrong, I love a good joke, but April fool’s day is not one I participate in much. 

Rest easy, all the books listed below are on the shelves and ready for reading.

Happy Reading

A Matter of Trust - Lis Wiehl/April Henry - #1 A Mia Quinn Mystery - After listening to her friend’s murder, Mia teams up with Charlie to find the murderer.  The answers are more unsettling that she thought possible.

When Jesus Wept - Bodie and Brock Thoene - #3 Jerusalem Chronicles - Who is the man Lazarus?  He was the extraordinary man that Jesus raised from the dead, but that is not the only time we hear about him.  He was a witness to many parts of Jesus' life and yet we really know so little about him. 

Wishing on Willows - Katie Ganshert - Robin is trying to keep her Willow Tree Cafe' open.  It is one of the few things that help her remember her late husband.  Ian is trying to make sure the family business survives and it hinges on the development he is working on.  But Robin's Cafe' stands in the way. 

A Healing Heart - Angela Breidenbach - Quilts of Love - Mara decides the best gift to give her daughter at graduation is a photo quilt.  When a heart attack stops her, she needs time for her heart to heal, not only physically, but also emotionally.

The Bird in the Tree - Elizabeth Gouge - originally released in 1946 - #1 The Eliot Family Trilogy - Lucilla's family is all she cares about.  Her home is a refuge for them to come and visit.  When a beloved grandson goes against her wishes, she will need her faith more than ever.

The Guardian - Beverly Lewis - #3 Home to Hickory Hollow - Jodi is headed to Lancaster to house sit.  She finds a little girl alongside of the road.  There are no missing person reports and the little girl doesn't speak English.  Who could she belong to?  Why is no one missing a child?

Love at All Cost - Julie Lessman - #1 The Heart of San Francisco - Cassidy heads to San Francisco to get over her jilted heart.  When she meets Jamie she loses her heart to him.  But what Jamie doesn't know is Cassidy doesn't have any money either.  Will their love survive?

Jewel of the Pacific - Linda Lee Chaikin - #3 the Dawn of Hawaii - The long awaited sequel to Spoils of Eden and Hawaiian Crosswinds.  Eden seeks refuge at the leper colony and Rafe goes to San Francisco to seek help with his eye sight.  When he returns it becomes the year of decision.