Christmas titles - Part 2

Dear Readers,

Here is the second part of the Christmas title list.

Happy Reading,

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm - Suzanne Woods Fisher - Bess' friend Billy is back in Stony Ridge, but he has changed.  Bess isn't sure what has made him change so, but she knows that he can be drawn out by a rose.

Forever Christmas - Robert Tate Miller - Andrew is having an affair, not the kind you are thinking of, but one with his job.  His real marriage is suffering and he doesn't care.  That is until an accident of Christmas Eve makes him slow down and look at life differently.

Snowfall - Shelley Shepard Gray - A Day of Redemption Christmas Novella - Ruth looses her job because of budget cuts.  When she takes the job of helping widower Martin Rhodes with his 6 children it is suppose to only last until Christmas.  That is until they all find themselves become attached.

Where Treetops Glisten - Tricia Goyer/Cara Putman/Sarah Sundin - Three stories set during WWII.  White Christmas - Abigail lost a beau to the war and is not ready for romance - a certain young man needs her help. I'll be home for Christmas - Pete returns home to recover from more than physical injuries.  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Meredith is a 1/2 a world away and confronts her deepest betrayal.

The Snow Globe - Laura V. Hilton - The Amish of Jamesport - Esther loves her job taking care of an elderly couple.  She dreads the return of the grandson.  Viktor was in her class in school as he did not make a great impression.  She is hoping he leaves soon after arriving or does she?

Evergreen - Susan May Warren - a Christian Winter Novella - Ingrid and her husband, John, are empty nesters.  That means two very different things to them each.  He is ready to travel and starts with a surprise trip to Paris! over the Holidays!?! 

Quilted by Christmas - Jodie Bailey - Quilts of Love series - After a horrible break up with her high school sweet heart, Taryn vows to never love again.  Years later when Justin comes back to town, her emotions seem to be getting the better of her.

New Releases - Dec 1 - 6

Dear Readers,

New books just in time for Christmas!  I love getting books as gifts. Now the complaint I get from family and friends is that I have read everything so they don't dare buy me books.  :-)  Ah well I guess I will just have to get them myself.

Happy Reading,

Masterpiece Marriage - Gina Welborn - Quilts of Love - Mary needs illustrations for her plants.  She turns to Priscilla Osbourne for help.  Zenus turns to his Aunt Priscilla for help with his flooded company.  Priscilla wants to marry off her nephew, but not to Mary. 

Sister Eve, Private Eye - Lynne Hinton - A Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery - Sister Evangeline is called home by her father to help him recover from surgery.  While there she takes of his latest P.I. case.  She needs to decide between the vocation of her heart and the job in her blood.

The Covered Deep - Brandy Vallance - Operation First Novel - Biance is looking for a man who can quote Shakespeare and Jesus equally.  But they are hard to find in her little back water hometown.  So when she wins a trip to London and Palestine she may finally find her true love.

Checkmate - Steven James - The Bowers File - The final installment of the Bowers File, sad to see this series end.  Patrick is racing to stop an attack on US soil.  One that could prove to be even more deadly than 911.

Gift ideas for Men - part 2

Dear Readers,

Ideas for Him part 2.

Happy Reading,

Adventure/Mystery

The Confession – Robert Whitlow – Holt Douglas has a secret, one he has kept since a fateful night in high school.  Now as he investigates the death of a prominate business man, that secret may just get revealed.

Playing Saint – Zachary Bartels – What is a little murder and mayhem among the churches of Grand Rapids MI?  Parker Saint is about to find out that it is not all fun and games.

Alligator Man – James Sheehan – may contain language - a story of greed, anger, love, redemption and two powerful trial attorneys who fight to the end-- and risk everything--for the truth.

The Patmos Deception – Davis Bunn – 3 people race to solve the mystery of the Greek artifacts that are disappearing before there is a worldwide economic collapse.

Advocate – Randy Singer – After trying to get Jesus released, Theophilus never forgets an innocent man killed.  3 decades later he gets his chance to once again defend an innocent, but to Nero.
 
Color of Justice –Ace Collins – Civil rights back in the 60’s, a trial that still is causing ripples today.  Coop Lindsey takes on a case in the 60’s and 50 years later his grandson returns to find out what happened.

Checkmate –Steven James – The conclusion of the Patrick Bowers series.  Murder and mayhem in the most intense way possible.  Will Patrick finally catch his nemesis?

Hawk – Ronie Kendig - #2 the Quiet Professionals – A promise may cost “Hawk” and his men their lives.  What choice will he make?

Sky Zone – Creston Mapes - #3 in the Crittendon files – Jack is asked to help when a presidential candidate arrives in town.  A plot is discovered, but will they be able to stop it in time?

Embers of Courage - Diane and David Munson - Once again Special Agents Eva and Griff race to stop terrorists before they have a chance to strike against innocent people.  When Eva's teammate is captured, she risks her life to rescue him.

Checkmate - Steven James - The Bowers File - The final installment of the Bowers File, sad to see this series end.  Patrick is racing to stop an attack on US soil.  One that could prove to be even more deadly than 911.

 

 

Mel Starr

Dear Readers,

The Abbot’s Agreement, by Mel Starr, is book #6 in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon.  I have review a couple of them and loved all 6 of them.  I was unsure if I wanted to review another as I didn’t want to just repeat myself about the series, but as I was reading the book I was once again struck by how much fun this book was to read.  The quirks of some of the characters and even Hugh himself are so interesting to read.  To be able to experience life in the 14^th century is a delight. 

Mel makes the characters and their experiences come to life.   How the pestilence –black plague – wiped out families and sometimes entire communities.  They lived in terror of if and when it would enter their communities.  It was part of life and nothing they could do anything about.  I have no experience with such a disease or anything that would just wipe out everyone I knew.  Mel weaves that into his stories, each and every person has lost family and friends to the pestilence and each understands when someone brings it up.  The work force is smaller because of it.  People have been able to purchase more land as landowners and churches lost money because of the loss to this tragedy.  I never thought of how much it would affect.  It made the story much more intriguing. 

Master Hugh is on the way to Oxford to purchase a Bible.  He has longed for one for some time now and has finally the coin and time to get one.  His wife is expecting their second child soon and he wants to be back in time for this event.  While on the way he is distracted by a flock of birds alongside the road and goes to investigate, what he finds is the body of a missing novice from the local Abbey.  He is soon hired by the Abbot to figure out who killed young John and why.  His wages for doing so?  A new and complete Bible.  More than ample reward for his services. 

 

As the clues start coming together, Hugh and groom Arthur find themselves at risk and the murderer would do just about anything to keep his secret.  Is it the younger son of the local land owner?  Is it a different suitor for beautiful young Maude’s hand?  When John’s father asks Hugh if he had any in mind that would kill his son,  Hugh responds with “Several.”  It is what makes the mystery so fun to read in these books.  It is all testimony and word of mouth.  No surprise DNA results to help you along the way.  No find a small drop of blood on the dagger that is tested to show you whose blood is on the dagger.  It is all just listening for the clues and trying to figure it out yourself.  Mel does a good job of pointing you in a certain direction and then changing your mind.  I love that part of the work, no CSI to come in and tell you the answer in the end, just good old fashion leg work.

Happy Reading.  

Gift Ideas for Men - part 1

Dear Readers,

Sometimes it is hard to find the perfect book for that guy on your list.  Here are a few ideas broken down by genre.  Part two will be tomorrow's post. 

Happy Reading,

Historical

What Follows After – Dan Walsh – Colt and his little brother are sick of their parents arguing all the time. So they come up with a plan to get them to stop, but that plan goes terrible wrong.

Keepers of the Covenant – Lyn Austin - #2 in the Restoration Chronicles.  What was it like moving Israel back from Babylon?

Auschwitz Escape – Joel Rosenberg - Jacob Weisz joins the resistance to fight for his beloved country.  Through a terrible mistake he ends up at Auschwitz were all he can think of is escaping.  Will he be able to escape and tell the world what is happening?

Thief of Glory – Sigmund Brower - Jeremiah Prins has to do a lot of growing up quickly when the Japanese invade the Dutch East Indies where he and his family live.

Color of Justice –Ace Collins – Civil rights back in the 60’s, a trial that still is causing ripples today.  Coop Lindsey takes on a case in the 60’s and 50 years later his grandson returns to find out what happened.

A.D. 30 – Ted Dekker – A Bedouin princess goes to find Herod to ask him to honor the treaty his father and her father had made year before.  Set during the time of Jesus.

Sentinels of Andersonville – Tracy Groot – The story of the most notorious prison camp of the Civil War and the town’s people that lived near it.

Feast of Thieves – Marcus Brotherton – When Rowdy Slater returns from WWII he finds himself on the wrong side of the law.  When he is giving a choice serve time or serve the Lord.

Contemporary

Life Intercepted – Charles Martin – Is there life after football?  Is there life without football?  Part of the agreement for Matthew’s release from prison is he has nothing to do with football, but what if the only way to win his wife back is to mentor a young man in football.

First phone call from Heaven – Mitch Albom – Soft cover release of his best seller.  Why are families now getting phone calls from deceased family members?

 

In the Heart of the Dark Wood – Billy Coffey - #3 in the Mattingly VA books – Allie lost her mother in the tornado that stuck Mattingly 2 years ago.  Now the compass her mother left behind has started working about and Allie and her friend Zach set out to find where it lead

Prime of Life – P.D. Benton – Ben was a cardiothoracic surgeon and he gave it all up to be a janitor at the a retirement home.  But his past is about to catch up with him.

The Wish – Jake Smith -James McConnell’s one wish is for his son to be healthy.  His son’s one wish is to see his dad play in a major league game.
 

Sign Painter – Davis Bunn – Amy first loses her husband to illness and then her and her daughter become homeless.  A job lead maybe just what they needed, but can she trust enough to take the job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Titles - 2014 - Part one

Dear Readers,

Here is the annual Christmas title list.  I hope it is one that helps you decide which of the titles you wish to purchase and enjoy or share as gifts through out the holiday season.  There is something very special about being able to slow down, relax and rest while reading a Christmas book.

Happy Reading,

The Christmas Cat - Melody Carlson - There are very few authors that readers ask for the Christmas novel, but people wait for Melody's to arrive every year.  She is the queen of the Christmas story and must keep writing them or many o' folks will have their Christmas' ruined.  After Garrison's beloved grandmother passes, he must work to find homes for 6 cats. 

A White Christmas in Webster County - Laura V. Hilton - Mercy Lapp is not going to get involved in her new community as she doesn't plan on staying.  That is until her and Abner have a chance encounter.  It feels like love at first site, well as much as one can have while guarding your heart.

Silent Night, Holy Night - Colleen Coble - 2 novellas in one - What is Christmas without a little murder and mayhem.  You return to two of Colleen most popular series.  You venture to Rock Harbor with Bree and her search dog Samson.  If that is to cold, you can head to Hawaii with Leia and Bane as they prepare for their Christmas wedding.

Clara's Wish - Beth Shriver - Lizzy is planning on meeting and marrying an upstanding Amish man, but why does she find herself attracted to her best friend's rebellious brother?  Zack is the exact opposite that she is looking for, but her heart says otherwise.

Christmas comes to Little Hickman Creek - Sharlene MacLaren - Sharlene takes us back to her most popular series.  Sadie use to love Christmas, now all the merry and bright just makes her remember her loss.  When she is asked to be on the committee to find the town's Christmas tree, maybe things will begin to change.

An Amish Second Christmas - 4 Novellas in one - Beth Wiseman/Ruth Reid/Kathleen Fuller/Tricia Goyer - (from the backcover) - Second Christmas is a time of Family, fun and tradition in Amish Communities.  Come celebrate this special time with 4 heartwarming Amish Romances.

Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past - Sharyn McCrumb - Return with Sharyn to her beloved characters of the Ballad series.  Someone finally buys the old Honeycutt place.  Nora is excited to see new life brought to the old mansion.  That is until the new owners decide to stay through Christmas.

New Releases - November 24-29

Dear Readers,

I never know what to expect in releases this time of year.  As much as I talk to publishers I can't quite seem to convince them that releases this time of year are great because of the Christmas season.  They seem to think no one buys books in December, especially new books.  Ah well, we will make do with the good ones we are getting and maybe this year the sales will prove it.

Happy Reading,

A Most Inconvenient Marriage - Regina Jennings - Abigail agrees to marry Jeremiah Calhoun on his death bed, she will have a place to go after the war between the states and he will have someone to take are of his sister.  Then who is this not only claiming to be Jeremiah but very much alive.

Destiny - Don Brown - Prequel to the Navy Justice series - When WWII starts, Walter Brewer has no idea that his life is soon going to become entwined with a Nazi Officer and a Royal Navel Commander.

Abbot's Agreement - Mel Starr - 7th in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton Surgeon - Master Hugh finds a body of a young novice on the way to Oxford and is soon embroiled in solving who stabbed the young man.

Pound Foolish - Neta and Dave Jackson - #4 Windy City Neighbors - a parallel novel with Penny Wise - Greg Singer's job put stress on his marriage and it seems his wife has noticed the handsome lawyer at the end of the block.  Will the recession give him a chance to "fix" things?

The Bachelor - Stephanie Reed - #2 Plain City Peace - Set in 1970 - Betsie is back home again and her life seems to be back on track.  Charley and her make a pledge to each other.  That is until Betsie agrees to do her English host family a favor.