New Release - Fall of Marigolds - Susan Meissner

Dear Readers,

Susan Meissner does not write books fast enough to suit me.  She really needs to start releasing books at least once a month and that way I will never worry about what I am going to read next, I will always have one of hers on hand. 

I was hooked by her writing in the Rachel Flynn series and have read her books as close to their release dates as I could.  I have taken them on vacation, mission trips or just a weekend at home, but they are must reads for me.  I am so looking forward to reading The Fall of Marigolds while on vacation and then reporting back to you. 

Two women an hundred years apart have their stories connected by a scarf.  One that has it point her to the truth and the second one is forced to confront the powers at work in her life.

In the style that Susan does best, she combines past and present and reminds us that we all effect others, even if sometimes it might be years after we have left the planet. 

Happy Reading,

Julianna Deering

Dear Readers,

I don't know if I am reading more because of the weather or because there are so many good books that have been releasing since the beginning of the year.

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering is book #2 in the Drew Farthering Mystery series.  With a lovely cross between Downton Abbey and Agatha Christi this series has been a joy to read.  With a wicked sense of humor and a bit of murder and mayhem thrown in, it is the perfect read for a snowy Sunday afternoon.  Of course you must include a cup of tea in the equation as they are set in England.

Once again Drew finds himself drawn into a murder mystery, one that thankfully doesn't include any family members this time.  All he wants to do is try to get Madeline to accept his marriage proposal-in spite what her Aunt Ruth thinks of him. 

Working along side Drew and Chief Inspector Birdsong is jolly good fun as they fight, poke fun of each other, and work very hard to solve the mystery before one more body shows up.   I am looking forward to Julianna's next book which is scheduled to release in July of this year.

Happy Reading,

New Release - Friend Me - John Faubion

Dear Readers,

There has been so much on the News about the dangers of the internet and some of the social media sites.  It has worked its way into the fiction books before and once again with Friend Me by John Faubion.  The dangers he writes about are to a marriage already in trouble.

Rachel is a lonely housewife.  Her marriage to Scott is on the edge and because she is desperate for attention, she creates a virtual friend.  She befriends Melissa on line, unknowing that Melissa has also friended Scott, Rachel's husband.

Melissa is searching for the perfect man and figures she has found him in Scott.  As Melissa gets more and more aggressive, Scott and Rachel realize that not only must they save their marriage, but their very lives are at stake.

As the winter drags on, it is time to get out that book that keeps you awake at night.  Friend Me will be one that may also keep you off the net for a couple of days. 

Happy Reading,

New Release - Shaken - Kariss Lynch

Dear Readers,


Shaken by Kariss Lynch is her first book from what I can understand or find.  If it is different someone correct me.  Now that is not where her writing started, it sounds like she feel in love with writing in the 3rd grade and she has been pursuing that dream ever since. 

Kaylan follows her calling to serve in Haiti, where she finds a people she can love and help.  Even with a voodoo priest that tries to stop her work, she know she is doing what God wants her to do.

Nick Carmichael never thought he would love anything or anyone more than he loves his country.  As a Navy SEAL he is use to difficult and dangerous situations, but when Kaylan is trapped in Haiti after the earthquake the devastated the country, he knows she is not prepared for any of it.  Will his love and faith be enough to rescue her?

The Earthquake that shattered Haiti was over 4 years ago already, hard to believe.  I personally was surprised that there hasn't been more fiction books about the tragedy and someone had to lead the way. 

I am not sure what I would have done if a loved one was stuck in a 3rd world country when a natural disaster happened.  Kariss is giving us a chance to explore our own emotions and thoughts of what we may or may not do if that would even happen to us. 

Happy Reading

New Releases - February 10 - 15

Dear Readers,

February can be such a long month in the northern states and this year that is going to be very true.  With over 100 inches of snow on the ground a prediction for more, we are looking towards many more weeks of not being able to do much outside. 

Sometimes the only way to survive the winter months is a bunch of good books, thankfully we have another good long list of new releases.

Happy Reading,

Susanna's Dream - Marta Perry - #2 Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley - Susanna's life is upside down.  She is mourning the lose of her mother, her business partner is hinting about leaving their gift shop and now she found out her mother is not her birthmother and she has two sisters.

Princess Ever After - Rachel Hauck - #2 the Royal Wedding Series - She is a small town girl who love to restore cars.  He is the Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg who need to find the long-lost princess to save the throne.

Mark of Evil - Tim LaHaye/Craig Parshall - #4 The End Series - As the reign of the Anti-Christ reaches new heights, Josh and the Remnant fight for their survival.

Friend Me - John Faubion - Rachel and Scott's marriage is in trouble.  They both turn to a friend on the internet, but that friend has other plans for them.  Ones that may cost their lives.

Hopeful - Shelley Shepard Gray - #1 Return to Sugarcreek - Miriam puts on a good front.  She appears to be happy, but she really longs for a family of her own.  When the man she longs for starts paying attention, she is thrilled, until she realizes that he is only using her to get the attention of another woman.

Love Redeemed - Kelly Irvin - #2 The New Hope Amish - Phoebe is so excited to head out on a vacation with her family at the lake, but when tragedy strikes, her and Michael need to discover that forgiveness is available.

New Release - Smitten Book Club - Coble/Billerbeck/Hunt/Hunter

Dear Readers,

Smitten Book Club by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter, actually came out a couple of weeks ago, but I thought I would wait until the perfect day to promote it to you.  What better day than the one day of the year the town of Smitten was made for, Valentine's day.

An old leathery tome is found in a dusty cardboard box and as soon as Heather sees it she knows it is coming home with her.  The Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Romance is not only appealing it is written by a local woman from generations before. 

Little does Heather or her book club know how much this old book will change their lives.  Not only does it change their love lives, but it seems to hold the clues to a buried gold.  How can the group not go on a treasure hunt together.

Laughter, friends, and romance and then throw in a little hidden gold and what more could you ask for in a book.  The Smitten series has been a fun read, with moments of out loud laughter.  You can tell this was written by four friends as each story seamlessly blends with the others.  Each character has their own voice and yet they all belong together. 

I for one hope the Smitten series goes on for a long while yet.

Happy Reading

P.S.  This review is dedicated to the memory of Diann Hunt.  You fought the good fight with great courage.  Thank you for all the wonderful time we have spent reading your novels. 

Janice Thompson

Dear Readers,

 

I was looking for a light romance to review in celebration of Valentine's Day and The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson fit the bill.  Janice has a gift for writing cute stories, with powerful meaning tucked in between the pages.

 

Gabi dreams of being more than a seamstress, she wants to design wedding dresses.  Her sketch book is full of ideas and she is working on a dress for her friend, but she knows that if her boss finds out what she is doing on the side he will fire her and she can't afford that.

 

I could go into more details of what the storyline is about, but those are easy enough to get off the back cover.  Janice does a lovely job of writing a story that is for a variety of ages with an important message to us all. 

I loved the Cinderella sample and the thought that maybe that fairytale wasn't written about a prince and the cinder-girl, but about God's love for us.  Janice weaves that through out the entire story, different themes about God's love for us instead of a person's love for us.  How maybe that is what we are really searching for when we are looking for love in all the wrong people.

 

With the themes of finding a mate and the relationship between fathers and daughters running throughout the entire book, this may seem like a light read, but it is so much more than that.  It is one I would gladly share with any one struggling with those issues in their lives.

 

Happy Reading