New Release - Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits - Mary Jane Hathaway

Dear Readers,

Mary Jane Hathaway is a pen name for an award - nominated writer.  After a bit of research I recognized a couple of her other titles that we have carried here at the store.  Now those titles were not related to anything Jane Austen, but if you like historical fiction they are worth looking up. 

After reading her blogs I believe her heart lies with writing about, researching and reading Jane Austen.  Her new series is titled Jane Austen takes the South and from what I can find, there will be 5 books in the series.

In Pride, Prejudice and Chees Grits you meet Shelby Roswell, her career is on the move, she is fast-tracked to make tenure soon.  Until her book receives a bad review from a famous historian, then suddenly her career is in a holding pattern and she doesn't know how to fix it.

When Shelby finds out that the man who ruined her life is now a professor at her small town college, she knows she has to get rid of him.  The two of them lock horns and the battles reach Civil War proportions.  Will they be able to find a way to make peace before they are torn apart?

There is something about Jane Austen, her fans are truly fanatical about her and they all seem to want to write books based on her books.  I also find it amazing that even though I am not a huge fan of Jane's books, I find myself enjoying those written using her books as a backdrop. 

Happy Reading,

New Release - Annie's Stories - Cindy Thomson

Dear Readers,

Annie's Stories by Cindy Thomson uses a beloved child's story to tell a tale of a daughter and her fond memories of her father.  The Wizard of Oz is just new to the country and everyone is reading it and talking about it.  For Annie it reminds her of her father and the wonderful stories he use to tell. 

She arrives in America with only his stories and a dream for what can be.  She quickly settles into the heart of New York and finds a new "family" at the boarding house where she lives.  Annie loves her new life and when a friend urges her to share her father's stories, she has to decide if she is ready for the world to know them. 

Cindy has a way of including the simplest things into her story that makes the story all the richer for it.  To include the Wizard of Oz and how it swept the nation before it was a movie is such a neat twist.  It is a reminder that books and stories have been effecting people since the beginning of time. 

Happy Reading,

New Releases - June 23 - July 5

Dear Readers,

Here are a few more fun facts about books from Margaret Brownley.

• The first published book ever written on a typewriter was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain used a Remington in 1875.
• Charles Dickens had to be facing north before he could write a word.
• One out of every eight letters you read is the letter 'e'.
• William Shakespeare invented the word hurry. He also invented the words boredom, disgraceful, hostile and puke.  So if you have occasion to use these words be sure to credit the Bard. 
• It took Noah Webster 36 years to write his first dictionary.
• Dan Brown was a pop singer and songwriter before writing The Da Vinci Code.
• Before the Renaissance, three-quarters of all the books produced in the world were Chinese.
• Americans buy approximately five million books a day. 125 new titles are published daily. 

Happy Reading,


In the Field of Grace - Tessa Afshar - Ruth has followed Naomi back to the land of her people. Now alone and at starvation's door, Ruth uses the only thing she has left - a strong back to gather the left overs in a field.

Pride, Prejudice and Chees Grits - Mary Jane Hathaway - Shelby is looking at tenure at her college until a bad review of her new books derails her plans.  When the reviewer who put her career on hold gets a job at the same college, she isn't sure how to handle him.  Falling in love was not it.

Secrets of Sloane House - Shelly Gray - The Chicago World's Fair Mystery - Rosalind's plan was very simple - get hired to Sloane House as a maid then figure out what happened to her sister while she worked there.  But there are dark secrets being kept at Sloane House.

Heaven Sent Rain - Lauraine Snelling - Go to Lauraine's website - laurainesnelling.com and join the contest of joy for a chance to win.  Dianah's neat and tidy life is turned upside down when she takes Jonah for breakfast one morning.

The Family of Jesus - Karen Kingsbury - Life Changing Bible Study - Meet the family that knew Jesus best.  Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, James and His beloved mother Mary.  Told in a fictional tale with Bible study included.

Happy 4th of July

Dear Readers,

Because I am sure the founding fathers meant for you to spend the countries birthday celebrating with a good book,  here is a quick list of patriotic books for you to enjoy.

Happy Reading,

Burning Sky - Lori Benton - Set just after the Revolutionary War, you get a wonderful look at what life was like on the edge of the new country.   Willa returns home after being abducted at the age of 14.  What she finds is much different than she remembers.

Raptor 6 - Ronie Kendig - The Quiet Professionals #1 - Anything by Ronie will make you proud of our military.  Dean Watters and his team fight against cyber-terrorists.

Sky Zone - Creston Mapes - #3 Crittendon Files  - Nothing like fighting terrorists on the Fourth of July weekend.  Jack was fired from his reporter job, now he uncovers a terrorist plot against a presidential candidate.

Renegade - Mel Odom - #2 Called to Serve - If you ever thought being in the military was an easy job, Mel's books changes that.  Pike is not the best civilian, but he is one of the best Marines.  One you want on your side when hunting for a top al Qaeda leader.

Counterfeit Lies - Oliver North & Bob Hamer - Read about what it is like to live and work in the underside of life.  Both Olive and Bob can write from experience.  Jake is an undercover agent who steps into a deadly underworld.

Julianna Deering

Dear Readers,

Julianna Deering’s Drew Farthering series has been an absolute joy to read.  The series consists of really good mysteries mixed with characters that have great and fun conversations with each other and then set in a wonderful time in England’s history.   The series has been a wonderful mix between Agatha Christi and Downton Abbey.  The books are just the right length to enjoy over a weekend or to take along on vacation.

Murder at the Mikado is the third book in series and was just as much fun to read as the first two.   Drew, Madeline and Nick are drawn into a mystery that involves one of Drew’s old flames.  Madeline isn’t so sure this is a good idea, but she can’t resist a good mystery any more than the guys. 

Things look grim for Fleur Landis when one of the actors from the troupe sees her leaving the dead man’s dressing room.  She protests her innocence, but her past makes it hard for anyone to believe her.  With only 3 weeks until their wedding, will Drew and Madeline solve the case before they need to put the finishing touches on the ceremony? 

These are not gruesome mysteries, they are almost a cozy mystery.  They are filled with loads of snappy conversation and dialogue.  Julianna does lay down a few clues as to who the actual murderer is, but she leaves it up to you to figure out who that is until the very end.   Which makes for a jolly good read. 

Happy Reading,

New Release - Fatal Exchange - Lisa Harris

Dear Readers,

With Lisa Harris' first book Dangerous Passage winning the Christy, her second book had a very timely release.   Fatal Exchange is book #2 in the Southern Crimes series and continues to show her writing skill.

Emily's family has many cops in it, but she is not one of them.  Life as a High School teacher is as much excitement as she wants.  She is moving on with her life since the death of her brother and is looking to buy her own home and settle in.

Mason is an undercover who may or may not have had something to do with Emily's brother's death.  Now he needs her help with a case that he is working on and he is desperate.  A young man was kidnapped by the drug cartel and time is running out to rescue him, but is Emily willing to risk it all for someone she doesn't know.

The Romanic Suspense genre has really mushroomed in the last couple of years.  Books that have loads of suspense, but also a very romantic side to them have rapidly become favorites of many readers.  Lisa Harris is a wonderful addition to that genre.

Happy Reading,

New Release - Yankee in Atlanta - Jocelyn Green

Dear Readers,

Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green is book #3 in her powerful Heroines Behind the Lines series.  They have all had a story of a woman doing her best to survive a terrible and often terrifying situation.  Whether caught behind 'enemy' lines or just trying to bring comfort to the wounded and dying, these strong woman do their work with strength and character. 

When Caitlin awakens it to the realization that those taking care of her think she was fighting for the south.  That is when she knows she needs to keep her secret and to reinvent herself to fit in.  She makes her life as the governess for Noah Becker's daughter. 

Sherman is knocking on the door and starvation is running rampant, will Caitlin stay or will she run?

It is good to be reminded what it is like during war.  It is not always glory and heroism.  Sometimes it is just people going about their lives and trying to survive.  Jocelyn does her research and brings a story that is eye opening, but also full of people that could have been our next door neighbors.

Happy Reading,