New Release - S. Dionne Moore

Dear Readers,

The latest Quilts of Love novel is A Heartbeat Away by S. Dionne Moore.  Because this series has such a unique look at something that is very much part of the tapestry of America’s history, this series is doing quite well.  Each new book is highly anticipated and readers are asking for them, even before they are available.

Once again we return to the Civil War in A Heartbeat Away where we meet Beth.  She a Union – loyalist until she meets Joe a wounded Confederate soldier and hides him from her pacifist parents.   When she tells her parents that she is going to become a wartime nurse, she knows that she maybe bidding her parent’s good bye for the last time. 

He mother gives her a stack of quilt blocks for her to sew together as a farewell gift, which leave Beth wondering why.  But as she works on the quilt she finds her mother’s message of love.

Each of these books has a different way of looking at the story of the quilt.  They weave a lovely story of America and how we are all united in our different lives.

Happy Reading

Barbara Cameron

Dear Readers,

Abingdon Press entered the fiction market just a short while ago.  (Not sure how long but in the last couple of years.)  Their books were easy to recommend as they seemed to be making an effort to find good authors with interesting stories to tell.  They had several different genres available and were looking to do something new and exciting.

Abingdon wanted their fiction to be so much more than just a story.  Now to be perfectly honest I wasn’t so sure about this when I first heard about it because I have seen publishing houses do this before and the fiction is lost in the author’s attempt to teach us something.  Very few people read fiction for the knowledge they will gain, they read it for the pure enjoyment of it, if we happen to learn something, well then all the better. .

I was asked to join the blog tour for Her Restless Heart by Barbara Cameron.  It is the first book in her Stitches in Time series.  It is actually the second book that Abingdon has centered a Bible study on, the first being the Shining Waters series by Melody Carlson.  

Understand I did not read the fiction book first, as the study says you don’t need to read the book to do the study.  I wanted to see if it was confusing, if it made me want to read the book or wish I had read the book.   Now those of you who read my blog regularly know that Amish fiction is not my favorite, but I am willing to give it a try.  It all made for a very interesting adventure for me.

This Bible study will work for you whether you have read the books or not.  I had no problem following the storyline and keeping up with what was going on.  Barbara and Abingdon Press did a good job of including enough of the story to make it clear.  The questions are interesting and don’t just focus on the fiction story, they are very much about the Bible story and how it is still so much a part of our lives today.

The videos would be a nice way to open a group meeting; now I was doing the study by myself at home, but Barbara’s interviews and insights made for what I felt would be a good launching place for a group discussion.  If you had done all the homework throughout the week, you would have no problem keeping up doing a group session.

I think the only thing that I would warn groups about is there is homework and you do have to keep up or you lose the train of thought of the story and how it relates to the topic that is being discuss that day.  Sometimes between the reading and answering the questions I felt a bit overwhelmed by the work.  But overall I enjoyed the experience and I think Abingdon has a neat concept.

Happy Reading.

New Release - Cynthia Ruchti

Dear Readers,

There is the age old saying, don’t judge a book by its cover.  I guess that works both ways, I have found some really wonderful books that have terrible covers.  In this case the beautiful cover incases a very good book.

A book about generational hope and truth, When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti is one of those books that you just want to have sitting on your side table or coffee table to display the cover.  Don’t leave it there though as then you will be missing out on a lovely story.

Anna opened her home and life to unwed mothers in the 1890’s, Ivy takes care of Anna and realizes her stories are true and not just the ravings of an old lady, and Becky has a new grandchild that has rocked her world.  Each woman can help the other, but they have to find each other first.

A book for the pool or beach, Cynthia writes a story that is perfect for either occasion.

Happy Reading

New Release - Randy Singer

Dear Readers,

What is it about Lawyer novels?  There is just something about reading a story that walks you through the justice system that we have here in America and maybe it is just good to read because the bad guy is always caught and punished.  It wouldn’t be much fun to read if the bad guy got away with it; that happens in the real world to much already.

With more than 14 books to his name, Randy Singer knows how to write a good story.  Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales is his most recent release.  Once again we enter the world of lawyers and their world.  When Landon lands a job with the only one willing to trust an ex-con, he isn’t too sure about his boss and some of his ethics.  But they find their way and are soon dead into a murder trial. 

Harry is gunned down in what looks like a random mugging, until two more lawyers are killed.  Suddenly it seems to be someone is on the hunt for lawyers associated with the firm.  Who could it be?  Someone from the past or does it have something to do with the trial Landon is working on now?

 Randy’s many years of law experience shine through in his writing.  He knows what it is like to work behind the scenes of a trial where someone’s freedom is at stake.  He knows how lawyers and judges interact.  He knows what it is like to not have the trial go your way and it all shows up in his books.

Happy Reading.

New Releases April 29 - May 4

Dear Readers,

With Mother's day just around the corner, we all need ideas of what to buy mom.  I know flowers are always a great gift, but there are some great ideas on the list below.  If your mother is at all like mine a book always trumps flowers. 

Happy Reading

A Heartbeat Away - S. Dionne Moore - Quilts of Love Novel - When Beth leaves her pacifist parents behind to become a nurse during the Civil War, her mother gives her a strange gift.  Quilt blocks for Beth to stitch together.  But as she works, she realizes that her mother had a message for her also.

Paint Chips - Susie Finkbeiner - For those of the thinking "It doesn't happen in my town.”  Cora and Dot are both caught up in the sex trade.  They both ended up in it for different reasons, but they both need rescuing.  Will either woman be able to find their way out.  

The Texas Brides Collection – Mills, Y’Barbo, Franklin, Mindrup, Hancock, Murray, Sowell and Ule – 9 Romances from the Old West, set in Texas.   Texas Rangers, outlaws and the independent people that helped settle the Lone Star State.

The Pieces of Summer – Wanda Brunstetter - #4 in the Discovery series – Lancaster County Saga – Meredith is trying to adjust to life without Luke, but will she be able to accept help from another man?

Dead Lawyers tell No Tales – Randy Singer – Crusty old lawyer Harry McNaughten is willing to take a chance on Landon even though he is an ex-con.  When Harry is killed and two other lawyers of the firm are killed, Landon begins to think that someone has a vendetta against the firm.  But who could it be?  Someone from a past case or one they are working on now?

Talon – Ronie Kendig - #2 in Combat Tracking Team – Aspen’s brother is missing and the only way to find him is a dog that is afraid of his own shadow.  With Dane’s help will Aspen and Talon be able to bring home the missing Marine?

Gina Holmes

Dear Readers,

I wanted to read Gina Holmes’ book Wings of Glass as soon as it came out, but because I was in the middle of a couple other books at the time, it had to wait.  I can’t say I was sorry to have to wait because it was great to anticipate what I was going to read. Yet, I could hardly stand to wait to read it either.

Penny saw Trent as a chance to get away from her abusive father, but it turned out to be “going from the frying pan into the fire.” Trent was a prince while dating; he called her beautiful, made sure she understood she was his girl, stood up to her father and stole her away.   Penny thought those were all signs of someone who loved her and wanted to take care of her, when it just meant that he wanted to control her and keep her under his thumb.

When Trent is hurt in an accident it forces him to allow Penny to get a job to support the family.  Not only does she have a job for the first time in her life, she starts to find herself.  With the two friends she makes while cleaning houses helping her, she finds her backbone to stand up for herself and to be able to live and laugh.

I am not sure which of the two women who support and help Penny I loved the most, Fatimah or Callie May. They are wonderful, funny, and gentle with Penny.  They each have their own baggage and yet want to help Penny get out of a situation that is hurting her.  They never once tell Penny she is not worth “saving” just because most of the men in her life have told her she was worthless. They love her unconditionally.   On the copy on the back of the book it says “… and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to find her own.”  What a wonderful way to put that.

It is not a light read and yet it has funny moments.  I know there were a couple of times I was reading and I could feel myself reacting emotionally with Penny because of the way Trent was acting or that he was due home soon and supper wasn’t ready or the house might not be clean enough.  To be able to put your reader into the emotions of the character is a wonderful thing an author can do, it makes that story so much more to savor.

Happy Reading.

New Releases - Ronie Kendig

Dear Readers,

I stumbled on Ronie Kendigs books totally by accident.  I am still not sure what made me pick up her first book, Digitalis.  There really was nothing special about the cover and I know it had been out for a few months if not a year or two before I read it.  Once I got started I knew I had found an author that I was going to enjoy reading for years to come. 

Talon is book #2 in the Combat Tracking Team – A Breed Apart and once again incorporates military and ex-pats into her storyline.  In the Combat Tracking series she includes war dogs that we have heard so much about lately.  

Veteran Aspen Courtland just wants her brother back.  The Marines say he is dead, but until she sees his body will Aspen believe them.  The only way she may find him is with the help of Talon, her brother’s tracking dog.  The problem is Talon is now afraid of his own shadow.

Dane swore he would never work with a woman, but the only thing that can save him is doing just that. 

Fast paced, written with lots of knowledge of the military and how things happen inside, Ronie does a great job of writing a storyline that will keep anyone’s attention until the last page.  We often forget about the animals that help us through war, but not only are we reminded in the story, Ronie includes information about a military war dog and his handler.  Just the one experience that is written about made me respect the teams of men and dogs even more and all they do to keep their fellow soldiers alive.

Happy Reading