New Release - Alton Gansky

Dear Readers,

There are certain authors I read that I love, but sometimes make me wonder why I like them.  It has nothing to do with their writing, but usually their subject matter.  Alton Gansky is one of those authors.  He is a bit off center with his books and that is problem why I like him, but his books make me think and make me a bit uncomfortable sometimes.   Case in point, his newest book, Wounds is under the following genre titles.  Mystery fiction – Homicide fiction – Serial Killers fiction, so maybe that last topic didn’t need to be brought up as it really makes this book sound creepy.

The murders are mounting and there doesn’t seem to be much that ties them together.  Dr. Ellis Poe seems to have the answers to the puzzle, but he doesn’t want to be bothered.  Will he decide to help before the body count gets to number s never seen before?

I love a great murder mystery.  When I am asked “if I could only read one genre which one would I pick?”  When push comes to shove in this case I almost always answer Mystery/thriller.   That is probably why I Alton’s books.  They are interesting and usually lead you down a merry little path that sometimes I am reluctant to go down, but once on the way, enjoy thoroughly. 

Happy Reading

New Releases - May 13 - 18

Dear Readers,

What a week.  We have several big events here at the store and on Friday I think we all collectively had a big sigh that we made it.  Don't get me wrong we love the business of it all, but there are days when it is so busy because of a special event, we don't feel like we get a chance to talk to you our regular customers.  So it has it good and bad sides. 

Either way, loads of good books on the list again.  Where will I find the time to read them all?

Happy Reading

Slow Moon Rising – Eva Marie Everson – A Cedar Key Novel – The Claybourne home has always offered refuge to the family, but it might also be the thing that is destroying the family.  What secrets have been hidden in Cedar Key and can the family find reconciliation before it tears them all apart?

The Quarryman’s Bride – Tracie Peterson - #2 Land of Shining Waters – Emmalyne and Tavin gave up a life together because her father declared she needed to stay home and take care of the family.  Years later when they meet again their love still burns bright.

Trouble in Store – Carol Cox – When Melanie finds out she inherited the mercantile she sees it as a chance to survive.  Caleb believes he inherited the mercantile and tries to marry her off as quickly as possible to get Melanie out of his hair. The only problem is he finds none of the guys are good enough for her.

That Certain Summer – Irene Hannon – Irene is known for her romantic suspense, but this is a contemporary novel.   Karen and Val are sisters, but not close.  Karen stayed home and took care of their mother, Val followed her dream.  When their mother has a stroke it brings the sister together again, can they find healing and forgiveness?

Catch a Falling Star – Beth K. Vogt – Kendall’s plans are not coming together.  Griffin’s plans are suddenly changed.  When they are forced together during a tragedy will they find that there is a better plan for them both?

Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel - Melody Carlson - A Dear Daphne Novel - Daphne thought big city living was the thing to do.  After a short time she is ready to forget it all and move back home.  When he Aunt passes and she inherits her estate, Daphne finds herself trying to comply to all the strange terms of Aunt Dee's will.

Grace's Pictures - Cindy Thomson - An Ellis Island Novel - Grace is just trying to earn enough money to bring her mother over from Ireland.  When she is using her camera in Central Park, local gansters believe she has taken a picture of their leader and they want her camera.  Who can Grace trust to save the day?

New Release - Deeanna Gist

Dear Readers,

Deeanne Gist burst onto the Christian fiction scene a few short years ago with a wonderful spin on the historical genre.  She added humor, lots of it.  It made for a delightful read and one that just added to the pleasure of losing yourself in a light and easy read. 

Sadly I have to admit I have not read all her books, but the ones I have I have completely enjoyed.  They are full of quirky and fun characters that make it an engaging time spent in the past.  It is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

It Happened at the Fair is Deeanne’s most recent release and once again she uses an usual setting and gives us a bit of a history lesson while charming us with the characters.  Cullen McNamara has an invention that he has bet the family farm on.  He sets up at the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893 to show it off.  When he can’t hear what potential buyers are saying, he hires Della to teach him the art of lip reading.   The problem is Cullen has a hard time concentrating on his lessons, Della is quite a distraction. 

To help you get the feel of the world’s fair, Deeanne has added pictures of different inventions, displays and even the giant Wheel that Mr. Ferris brought to show off.  It adds to the story see what people were excited about at the World’s Fair.  Things that we will either find common place or even silly, it just helps the story to be an even more complete picture.

Happy Reading.

Angela Hunt

Dear Readers,

I was hoping to have my summer reading suggests for you today.  That did happen in that I am still trying to get it written, but all the really good books that have come out in the past months, the list kept getting longer and longer.  So hopefully by next week I will have it all set and ready for you.  Sorry for the delay.

Instead I just wanted to talk about a book that I read a few years ago called the Shadow Women by Angel Hunt.  I was reminded of it a couple different ways in recent weeks.  First when I saw it sitting on the shelves in the used book department.  I loved the book when I read it back in 2002 and have mentioned it to a few people when I saw it on the shelves back there.  Secondly because of another book I am reading right now that is causing a little stir in the fiction market because of who and what it is about.  

Shadow Women is the story of the women who were part of Moses’ life.  His mother, sister and wife, and it is not necessarily the story you would expect.  While Angela did a great job sticking to the Biblical story, she also did a great job at making sure we see Moses as a human also.  He did great things and followed God’s plan for his life, and yet wasn’t perfect.  He struggled with many different parts of his life. 

One part of his story I have often wondered about is his royal upbringing.  What was it like for him in the palace of Egypt?  How soon did he know that he was adopted?  All questions I would like to ask him someday, but in the mean time it was interesting to speculate with Angela and try to understand more about Moses and the women who loved him.

I am sorry to say the book itself if out of print and I am unable to order you a copy, but if you are quick, I have one used copy here.

Happy Reading

New Release - Rachel Hauck

Dear Readers,

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck is exactly what it sounds like, a modern day fairy tale.  What little girl at one time or another did not dream of meeting Prince Charming just like in Cinderella.  He would see her true beauty and rescue her from the drudgery that was her everyday life and fall in love to live happily ever after.  (Let’s all collectively sigh now.J)

Rachel believes in that can happen.  She is a romantic at heart and it shows up in her books and writing.  She also knows that reality comes in and sometime true love doesn’t win.  Duty does call and life just doesn’t go the way we want, but what fun is that in a book.

Susanna was expecting a proposal from her longtime boyfriend.  Instead he broke up with her and broke her heart in the process.  She is struggling to regain her life and move on.  Prince Nathaniel never expected to find love while standing under a tree labeled Lover’s Oak, but that is what happens when he meets Susanne.  The problem is that they are both from very different worlds; they can never be together because duty calls. 

I can already see the Disney people writing a lovely happy movie for this book, but until then, pull up your nearest royal chair, your tiara, maybe a spot of tea and enjoy a fairy tale written for the little girl alive and well in all of us.

Happy Reading

New Release - Donna Fletcher Crow

Dear Readers,

An Unholy Communion by Donna Fletcher Crow is the third book in the Monastery Murders.  #1 is A Very Private Grave and book 2 is Darkly Hidden Truth.  This has been a fun series to read, it has a different feel to it because it is set in England written by someone very familiar with the culture of the church in England.  Donna has written more than 35 novels with most of them set in England, even though she lives in Idaho.

Once again we join Felicity and Antony as they try to solve a murder that lands right at their feet.  Hwyl Pendry is a former student of Antony and when his body lands at Felicity’s feet after what appears to be a suicide jump, they and the police let the case go.  That is until Hwyl’s widow convinces them otherwise.

There is something very appealing about these books.   They are more of a straight up mystery and that makes them a pleasure to read.  It is fun to just track along and see if I catch all the clues left by Donna, which I usually don’t.  Mysteries in and of themselves and just an enjoyable read, they engage your brain and yet offer you an escape. 

Happy Reading

New Releases May 6 - 11

Dear Readers,

I was having a conversation with a fellow employee the other day and we were talking about how many books we have read at one time.  It dawned on me that at that moment I had 5 books going at once.  One on my nightstand, one by the bathtub, one on my desk at work, one I read on lunch at work and one non-fiction that I have been reading at various points of the day over the weekend. 

I also hate to admit there is a 6th book that I had read over the weekend while sitting outside in the sunshine.  I think that is the most I have ever had going at once.  Thankfully they are all very different so I am not getting to confused, but maybe I should finish a couple before I start another one.

What is the most number of books you have had going at once?

Happy Reading

An Unholy Communion - Donna Fletcher Crow - #3 in the Monastary Mysteries - As voices are lifted on Ascension morning, Felicity's worship is turned to horror when a body lands at her feet.  The police think it is suicide, but Felicity and her fiance' Father Anthony know otherwise and set out to solve the mystery.

Angelguard - Ian Acheson - Not all the spirits are good.  A corrupt business man and the evil spirits he has sold his soul to are trying to bring the G8 nations to their knees.  Jack and his angelguard are all that stand between thema and sucess.

Once Upon a Prince - Rachel Hauck - A modern day fairy tale.  Susanna is expecting to be engaged, not broken up with.  Prince Nathaniel is not expecting to find love under a tree on St. Simon's Island.  But it happens, but their two different lives will not allow them to love each other.

Chasing Francis - Ian Morgan Cron - Pastor Chase loses his faith and the church elders encourage him to go away - far away.  He ends up in Italy following in Fancis of Assisi's footsteps.

A Most Peculiar Circumstance – Jen Turano – This is Jen’s third novel.  They are not listed as a series, but they have characters running through all three books. (The second book is a free novella available on-line only)  Miss Arabella Beckett returns home with trouble in tow.   Theodore Wilder is hired to make sure she gets there, the only problem is they continue to run into each other whether they like it or not.

Stealing the Preacher – Karen Witemeyer – Crockett just wants to be a preacher, Joanna just wants a preacher for her town’s church.  When they meet she thinks he is an answer to prayer, but he is there against his will.

It Happened at the Fair – Deeanne Gist – Cullen is looking to sell his newest invention at the Chicago’s World Fair.  The noise makes it hard to here if anyone is interested in buying, until he takes lip-reading lessons from the fair Della Wentworth.  

Katie's Choice - Amy Lillard - A Clover Ridge Novel #2 - When Samuel turns his back on the church and Katie, she decides to dedicate her life to God and the children at the small community school.  Zane learns a lot about the Amish when he is sent to live among them for a news story.  The most intriguing thing he finds is the young school teacher.

Sweet Dreams - Carla Stewart - Dusty Fairchild didn't want to go to  finishing school, she wanted to go to college.  She didn't want to learn about party planning and poise.  She wants independence and adventure.  The only upside it her best friend Paisley, that is until they both fall for the same man.