New Release - Mesu Andrews

Dear Readers,

Mesu Andrews doesn’t not take on easy writing tasks.  She loves to write the story behind the story of well-known Bible stories.  She has taken on Job, Solomon and now in Love in A Broken Vessel she writes about the story of Gomer and Hosea.

Mesu talks about writing a story that is along the same lines as the beloved book, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  As she points out Francine’s book is a biblical story set in American’s history, while Love in a Broken Vessel is biblical fiction.  It is set in the time of the Bible story and puts some history to the setting.

Biblical fiction isn’t for everyone, but for me, it puts a face on the people in the stories.   They become real people who are all too human, but that is what makes the stories so relevant to us.

Happy Reading

Ginny L. Yttrup

Dear Readers,

I have started saying that Ginny L. Yttrup is one of Christian fiction’s best kept secrets.  I wish it wasn’t true, but it seems to be right now.  She has been gaining ground and her first book, Words, continues to find readers even with the difficult subject matter.

Invisible is Ginny’s third book and she is just getting better and better.  She takes on the matter of body image,   which is a sore subject to anyone over the age of about 1.  We look into the mirror and don’t see what we think we should see and we beat ourselves up over it.  We watch TV/Movies and look at magazines and know we will never be a size 1 and we believe we don’t measure up to society's standards. 

Ellyn is not anyone’s idea of a model perfect figure.  She is a chef and believes that butter should be an ingredient in every dish possible.  Twila is recovering from anorexia.  She has always tried to make her dad love her and she thinks if she doesn’t feed that need she will not need his love.  Sabina is a counselor who needs time to recover.  She needs to figure out that other people’s choices are not her responsibility.  Three very different women on a journey together.

I am not sure I can put my finger on why Ginny’s books are so good, but I know that she writes about issues that either affect us directly or someone we love.  She writes strong characters and does not give pat answers to the problems.  Her solutions are not a solve-all to the problem, she has her characters know and understand that faith in God does not make us perfect any more than losing weight will make us happy with ourselves. 

Whatever it is, I know that I am already looking forward to Ginny’s next book.

Happy Reading and remember, Imago Dei,

New Release - Maureen Lang

Dear Readers,

Maureen Lang has written both historical and contemporary novels.  Both genres are well written and she has established herself as a must read in her historical books. 

Her newest All in Good Time takes us all to Denver in 1887.  Dessa wants to open a refuge for former prostitutes in the city.  She has raised most of the money, but is going to need a loan to make sure her dream comes to past.  Henry Hawkins is in charge of the bank and he isn't sure he can support Dessa because it may bring Henry's dark past to light.

Maureen does her research so her stories ring true.  Not only do you get a interesting read, you might even learn a little something about the history of Denver.

Happy Reading

New Releases March 18 - 23

Dear Readers,

We are only a couple of weeks away from our Spring Librarian's Day.  If you are a church or public Librarian and are interested in details, let me know and I can send you a flyer.  We have loads of fun and lots of giveaways for you. 

Happy Reading

The Dance - Dan Walsh/Gary Smalley - The Restoration series #1 - Marilyn is sick of having everything except the one thing she wants, her husband.  When she leaves Jim has to make a choice as to whether it is worth pursuing her.

The Gate - Dann A.  Stouten - Schuler planned vacation takes a detour when his wife heads off on a shopping trip and he rents a cottage for a getaway.  He is just looking for rest, but the unexpected guest as the ones that make this time alone even more special.

A Place to Belong - Lauraine Snelling - Wild West Wind #3 - Cassie is supposed to be in love with Lucas, but he just doesn't send her heart skipping.  Shouldn't you be attracted to the man you are going to marry?  But Cassie would rather join the traveling Wild West Show

Sweet Sanctuary - Kim Vogel Sawyer - Dr. Micah Hatcher works in Queens helping the immigrant population.  Lydia just wants to provide a safe place for her son.  When their two lives collide the work together to make a place of refuge for all that God puts in their way.

A Noble Groom - Jody Hedlund - Michigan 1880 - Annalisa has been hurt by her husband in many different ways, and his death just seem to be the final straw.  She needs help on the farm, but she only wants to marry for love.  Carl need a job and seems to fit the bill, but he seems to be hiding something.

Avenged - Janice Cantore - Pacific Coast Justice Series #3 - If you are reading this series know this will contain a spoiler or two.  Carly and her husband Nick find 3 gangbangers shot execution style.  They are afraid that it points to a start of a gang war in the town.  But is there more going on than what meets the eye?

All in Good Time - Maureen Lang - Dessa wants to open a house as refuge for former prostitutes.  She has raised lots of money but will still need a loan from the bank.  Henry does not allow people into his life; he has a past to protect.  Henry is drawn to Dessa, but it might bring his dark past to light.

Truth Stained Lies - Terri Blackstock - Moonlighters series #1 - Cathy is an investigative blogger.  She has over 2 million followers.  Some of the can be kind of creepy, but this new letter she got seems more threating.  When her brother is accused in the death of his ex-wife, Cathy begins to think the writer of the letter and the killer might be the same person.

New Release - Dan Walsh/Gary Smalley

Dear Readers,

Dan Walsh writes southern genre books.  Gary Smalley's mission in life is to help marriages.  The two of them decided to combine their gifts and write a series.  Gary has authored or co-authored 16 books now.  Most for him are non-fiction, but this is not his first time wading into the fiction waters. 

Dan is gathering quite a following of his own.  His books are gentle stories that have a strong message in them.  This seemed like the perfect for both authors and we the readers get to reap the finished project.  The Dance is the first of a three books series that they will be writing.

Merrill is sick of the perfect wife imagine she needs to uphold.  Her husband has given her everything, except the one thing she longs for, his love and support.  When she finally draws the line and walks out, is shocked to finds her gone.  He needs to make the choice of whether of he wants to pursue her or not and if he does, what does he need to change.

Happy Reading

 

New Release - Janice Cantore

Dear Readers,

Janice Cantore is doing something with her Pacific Coast series that not many other authors in this genre are doing.  She is appealing to both men and women.  That may not sound like a hard thing, but in the romantic suspense category, it is.  I often find authors going overboard on the romance that the suspense gets lost in the shuffle.  Janice has found a nice balance.

Avenged follows book #1 Accused, and Book 2, Abducted.   I recommend them in order and if you are reading one or the other of the first two this may contain a bit of a spoiler, so you may want to stop reading.

Carly and her husband Nick are beginning to think that Las Playas is on the verge of a gang war.  The weapons they are finding of the street are stolen from a local military base.  The problem is the answers to who and where they come from don’t add up.  As Carly digs deeper it seems to be there are forces that don’t want the answers found.

These books move along at a fast pace and they all make for enjoyable reads.

Happy Reading

Ann H. Gabhart

Dear Readers,

There are not many times that I get really frustrated when a book goes out of print.  I wish they could all stay available forever, but that is just not practical.  But when Ann H. Gabhart’s book Scent of Lilacs and the following two in the series went out I was upset.

There was something about this wonderful series that just made me feel right at home with everyone in the book.  It's set in the summer of 1964 and Jocie is 13 and on the cusp of womanhood.  She is beginning to wonder about this secret that everyone she knows seems to be in on, except her.  The summertime seems like a good time to see if she can discover what it is.   She just didn’t know what she was going to find.

This story was a wonderful delight to read.  I fell in love with the characters, the storyline itself was one that felt like I was there in the middle of the story, and I didn’t want this story to end, even after three books.

I am so happy to say that Scent of Lilacs is on shelves now with book two, Orchard of Hope coming in October and Summer of Joy to soon follow.  If you haven’t read these already you are in for a treat.  If you have read them, let everyone know so they can join the fun.

Happy Reading.