New Releases Feb. 21 - 26

Dear Readers,

This weeks list has again several exciting books on it.   Couple because of the author and a couple because of the topic.  So once again I will need to take a week and get 6 more books read, the only problem is my boss doesn't agree with me.

Happy Reading

Shrouded in Silence - Robert L. Wise
Lie Down in Green Pastures - Debbie Viguie' - #3 the Psalm 23 Mysteries
No Safe Haven - Kimberley and Kayla R. Woodhouse
Vicious Cycle - Terri Blackstock - #2 Intervention Novel
The Union Quilters - Jennifer Chiaverini -#1 Elm Creek Quilts Novel
Love Amid the Ashes - Mesu Andrews
Bathsheba - Jill Eileen Smith
Heart of Lies - Jill Marie Landis
Springtime of the Spirit - Maureen Lang
The Story Jar - Robin Lee Hatcher & Deborah Bedford
Words - Ginny L. Yttrup
Book of Days - James Rubart
In the Shadow of Evil - Robin CarollLone Star Intrigue - Debra White Smith - 2 in 1
My Father's World - Michael Phillips &Judith Pella - #1 Jouranls of Corrie Belle Hollister - Recover
An Eye for Glory - Karl A. Bacon
Sweet Baklava - Debby Mayne

Mesu Andrews

Dear Readers,

This is one of those books that you need to read all the way to the end before you pass judgement on it.  You must also read the Author's note at the end of the book.  You may read it before you read the book, but it does give away several storylines and I personally wouldn't like that.  I recommend Author's notes all the time as it really gives you a peek into what the author was thinking or why they did the book.

Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews is a very good story.  It does have a storyline that I am a bit uncomforable with.  She wrote the story of Job, but she also included as a main character Dinah, Jacob's daughter.  If you don't know who she is, she is a young lady in the Bible who is raped and then her brothers kill her rapist who had fallen in love with her.

I know that the traditionally held thought on Job is that he was alive before Abraham.  There is also a thought that he might not even be a real person, but just an example to us all.  I have to say that I understood that and I guess I pretty much accepted that.  It was part of this story that I had a problem with and yet I didn't.

Job returns from a visit to his Uncle Jacob and that night his children, wealth and business are wiped out by raiders and storms.   He loses his children to a building collapse.  His wife blames him and his God and quickly so do other people.  There are only a couple who stand by his side to help him through the grief and to tend to the sores that develop over his body.

This is from the Bible story that we know.  He does lose everything.  He does develop sores and he does stand firm in his beliefs in God. That you can find in the Bible, but some of it you can't. 

I talked to a couple of guys here at the store and asked them questions about it.  One is uncomfortable with Biblical fiction all together, they both were not excited to hear that Mesu had put Dinah into the story of Job. They both have studied the Bible or are studing the Bible in college.  So I do trust what they have to say. 

With all that said, I want to say this is a good book.  I did have some issues with things she did, but I also understand where she got her information from.  It makes for an interesting read and once again shows us that God's greater plan is not always what we have planned. 

Happy Reading

New Releases for Feb 14-19

Dear Readers,

Ok so it is Wednesday already.  Sorry about the list taking longer to get here than I expected.  But we did get a couple of interesting books in last week from a couple of authors I enjoy. 

Happy Reading

Blood Covenant - Lisa Harris - #2 Mission Hope Series
False Pretenses - Kathy Herman - #1 in the Serets of Roux River Bayou series
Bound by Guilt - C.J. Carlington
All for One - Melody Carlson - #3 the Four Lindas series
Maximal Reserve - Sam Batterman
His Other Wife - Deborah Bedford

Sorry

Dear Readers,

I am sorry to those of you that usually come by to see the new releases.  I planned on have them up today for you.  I returned from vacation and was planning on being at work today.  The problem is that the Thursday before I left on vacation I dislocated my ankle.  I had a check up today and because of that it was decided it was best I didn't go to work yet today.  Tomorrow the 22 nd I will be at the store in the afternoon as I will have my aircast and will be able to drive. 

Thank you for your understanding

Nicole Seitz

Dear Readers,

There are many different layers in the book The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz.  I am sure I have even missed a few of them that someone else will catch.  It is the story of memories, good or bad.  It is the story of love, for family and friends.  It is the story of confession and how that is good for the soul.

You meet Maggie who because she has suffered several strokes is unable to talk, but you learn about her in her thoughts.  She remembers her childhood and the one thing that happen that changed her and her family forever. 

 

You meet George who has loved Maggie since they were children.  He knew he wanted to marry her long before they are of age.

You also meet Ash, Maggie's brother.  He loves his sister more than life itself and is willing to do anything to make sure she will have a good and perfect life.

They all grew up together.  They were never well off, George's family did have their store, but Maggie and Ash's family would sometimes even go hungry.  But overall life was good.  They went fishing and swimming in the local watering hole.  They played hide-n-seek, they did chores and generally made good memories together. 

That all changed one afternoon when a stranger stepped off the train that went through town.  While the kids watched him climb off the train they were intrigued by him, but, as Maggie says, if they had known who he was and what he represented they would have run far far away.

This is a book of secrets that were kept and secrets that weren't. It isn't a gentle read by any means.  There are things that happen in this book that haunt these friends forever.  They blame each other and themselves for the events that rip them apart.  But it is also a story of forgiving each other and it is never too late to do that. 

I know not everyone will enjoy this story and it is not written for everyone, but if you want a story that is a different perspective on things, this is the book for you.

Happy Reading

Ann Tatlock

Dear Readers, 

Adulthood is hard enough for an adult to understand let alone an 11 year old girl.  Roz knows that her daddy is not a good daddy, but all she wants is for him to be able to live with them again.  She doesn't understand why they had to leave even though he promised that he would change.

 

Promise to Keep by Ann Tatlock takes on this topic.  I love Ann's books. She writes these books that take on topics from completely different perspectives.  As I read about Roz I kept thinking that she should see her Dad for what he really is, but from an 11 year olds perspective he isn't a terrible man.  No matter what he has done.

 

Roz and her family move to the quiet little town of Mills River.  It is the wonderful town where even though the turbulent 60's are going on in America, not much has changed in Mills River.  Kids are still free to roam on their own and neighbors gladly show up on your doorstep with a casserole in hand during times of trouble.  It has the soda fountian resturant and a library that Roz and her friend Mara visit often.  It reminded me of Mayberry.

 

I don't want to say too much more about the book as it is one of those journeys you need to take with Roz and her family.  You need to meet them and understand where they are coming from and where they are trying to get to.  You need to meet Tillie and understand why she believes that the house that she lived in is still hers, even though Roz's grandfather bought it for them to live in.  But Roz's family needs Tillie and she needs them.

 

This is a growing up book, but not in the perfect way that most of us wish our childhoods were.  It is about not letting what happens to you in childhood define you the rest of your life. It is about learning and growing in ways that I pray most of us never will or have experienced.  It is the story of family and how sometimes you are family even when you are not related by blood.

Happy Reading

New Releases Feb 7 - 13

Dear Readers,

Happy Valentines day.  A few of our titles today reflect that.  Heart seems to be a word you need to include in your title.  I hope you have a great day and enjoy the love of family and friends all year around.

Happy Reading

A HEART for Home - Lauraine Snelling

A HEART Most Worthy - Siri Mitchell

HEARTS Aglow - Tracie Peterson - #2 in the Striking a Match series
Chasm - Randy Alcorn
Deadly Ties - Vicki Hinze
A Bond Never Broken - Judith Miller