New release Calico Spy -Maragaret Brownley

Dear Readers,

As I write this post West Michigan is once again digging out of a lake effect snow storm.  I will admit that so far this year it has been pretty mild, but when winter decided to arrive this year, oh boy has it been cold!  But all the more reason to stay home and read, even if you are telling your boss you will work from home.

Calico Spy by Margaret Brownley is the perfect fit.  Set in the west when it wasn't quite tame yet and include two icons of the time, the Pinkerton Detectives and the Harvey Girls.  So comedy, romance and a dash of mystery makes for an enjoyable read.

Two of the Harvey girls have been murdered.  So Pinkerton detective, Katie Madison, is going undercover.  Posing as one of the "girls," she is hoping to enlist the help of the local sheriff, but he doesn't hold much respect for any of the Harvey Girls.

When tragedy strikes town, maybe Katie can prove to Sheriff Branch Whitman that she isn't what he thinks she is.

A perfect one day book, Calico Spy will not only give you a mystery to figure out, it holds humor and laughter.

Happy reading,



Happy Reading,

New Release - Mermaid Moon - Colleen Coble

Dear Readers,

I have been reading Colleen Coble's books as long as I can remember.  Okay maybe not that long, but as long as I have been working in the Christian Fiction market.  She is one of those go to authors for when I need a good mystery set in a romantic spot, but also don't need a lot of blood and gore.  Her mysteries are perfect for those times. .

Mermaid Moon is the second in the Sunset Cove series with each book being a stand-alone, yet set in the same area.  Some of the background characters will be in both books, but you could easily read them in any order.  (which also makes them so nice to read)

Mallory has not returned to Mermaid Point since her mother's death.  Now 15 years later she is returning because of the death of her father.  Mallory is positive that he is murdered, but even her childhood sweetheart, Kevin O' Conner isn't sure he believes her.  He does know he doesn't trust her after she left without a good bye.

A romantic suspense writer before it became a popular thing, Colleen has proven over and over that she is an author worth picking up and reading.

Happy Reading,

New Releases - January 11 - 16

Dear Readers,

Winter has  finally arrived in West Michigan.  Cold, snow and wind.  It is a great reason to stay inside and read.  Oh wait who really needs an excuse to read?

Happy Reading,

Joshua's Mission - Vannette Chapman - Joshua is traveling from Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast to help a town hit hard by a hurricane.  Traveling with him is his younger brother Alton, who has a knack for getting in trouble with the law and Becca, the bishop's granddaughter.  Whatever Joshua plains on finding in Texas, he wasn't really planning on love.

Beyond the Silence - Tracie Peterson/Kimberley Woodhouse - Lillian wants to fulfill her mother's dream of going west.  She takes a job as a nanny in Angels Camp caring for young Jimmy.  For some reason Jimmy hasn't spoken in over a year and Lillian knows the rumors about why are not true, but what did happen?

Lethal Beauty - Lis Wiehl - A Mia Quinn Mystery #3 - Mia's newest case may prove to be her most dangerous as she tries to bring to justice one of the heads of the strong Chinese crime cabal.  Missing witnesses and unsavory jurors make it hard to keep the case open, but Mia is determined to find the answers and make sure the guilty are put in prison.

My Fair Gentleman - Nancy Campbell Allen - A Proper Romance - Jack Elliot is happy to be the captain of his own ship, but things change when his grandfather names Jack is heir.  Jack needs to impress the aristocracy to make sure his mother and sister are taken care of properly.

Soon I hope!

Steven James

Dear Readers,

What to do with my time when I have a 5 day stretch and little to do?  Read of course, and what made that even more exciting is I had a new Steven James book to read.  EveryCrooked Path is part of the Bowers Files. Following Opening Moves we learn more and more of Patrick’s back story.  I also thought was a great way to end an old year and start a new year, loads of murder and mayhem. 

Patrick is working for the FBI in New York, his relationship with Christie and Tessa has moved forward, and he is gaining a reputation as a go to person in cases that make no sense to others.  When a man commits suicide in front of Patrick, he knows there is more to the story than a simple breaking and entering crime.  As Patrick digs deeper into the case he starts finding links between his case and a series of missing children.  What he uncovers will not only put him in danger, but also those he loves. 

The Bower Files series has been some of my favorite books.  Each one is a bit different, but they all have a thread of questions running through them as Patrick wrestles with some moral questions.  This one he struggles with issues of God’s existence.  "If there is a loving God…"  But that is not all, he also wrestles with demon possession and who is to blame for our own mistakes.  There are the other topics that pop up throughout all of the books and it is one of my favorite threads.  It gives Patrick a more 3 dimensional feel because Patrick doesn’t always get an answer he likes.  I actually find that sometimes I am telling Patrick what I think on that issue or he makes a point that  I hadn’t thought of.

I recommend all the Patrick Bower books for those who are looking for a intriguing read but are not afraid of a little bit of blood and gore.  Okay maybe more than a little, but because of the richness of the "extras" that are including, this series of books is just plain fun to read.  

Happy Reading, 

New Release - Stars over Sunset Boulevard - Susan Meissner

Dear Readers,

It has become a tradition for me to read a Susan Meissner book on the plane ride to my vacation.  I was a bit worried that this year we are going a bit earlier than in years past that one would not be ready.  Well I didn't need to worry, Susan knew what I needed and made sure one was ready.

Stars over Sunset Boulevard just released and now I just have to refrain from reading until I leave on vacation. :-)

With Susan's signature contemporary/historical blend of writing we get to peek behind the curtain of Hollywood during its glamour years.  1938 we are on the set for the filming of the movie Gone with the Wind where we meet two young ladies trying to make a go of it in acting.  Violet is reinventing herself after a dream of being a wife and mother falls apart and Audrey has given up her dream of being an actress and starts working on the sets to make ends meet.

In the contemporary a hat worn by Scarlett O' Hara is brought to a second hand shop the owner wants to return it to whomever dropped it off.  Instead it leads Christine on a journey of a life time.

A book about the golden age of Hollywood and a vacation in warmer temps.  What more could I ask for?

Happy Reading,

Mahtob Mahmoody

Dear Readers,

I know it isn't fiction, but we all feel in love with this little girl when we heard her story in the movie Not without my Daughter.  Now we can learn the rest of the story from Mahtob herself.  Hope you can make it. 

Happy Reading,