Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Release - Solomon's Song - Roberta Kells Dorr

Dear Readers,

As the Author description on the back says " Before Francine Rivers and Angela Elwell  Hunt, there was Roberta Kells Dorr."  They are now re-releasing several of her novels including Solomon's Song.

This book is about Solomon at a very young age.  He is the beloved son of King David and yet not guaranteed the throne.  His mother will do just about anything to make that happen and that includes making sure he doesn't marry the lowly shepherdess he has fallen in love with.

There has been a few books written about the beautiful woman that the Song of Solomon was penned for.  Who was she that make the wisest man to ever live write such a love letter?  Speculation has lead many to think it was a woman of his youth that he was not allowed to marry.  Now whether or not that is true, it makes the fiction writers very excited as those are the ideas that make for great fiction.

With a nod to Romeo and Juliet and all star-crossed lovers, the fiction writers run with the idea and pen books for us to enjoy.  If you didn't get a chance to read this one the first time around, now is your chance to learn about Solomon before he became king.

Happy Reading.

Monday, December 30, 2013

New Releases - Dec 23 - 28

Dear Readers,

The holidays are in a hold pattern.  With two major holidays happening a week apart it can make things over whelming.  We actually opened presents later this year with my kids, due to work schedules etc... we decided to wait until the weekend after Christmas.  Which work great for us and made for a little less hectic schedule.  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Here are some new titles for using that gift card on.

Happy Reading,

Shadowed by Grace - Cara C. Putman - The story of the Monument Men - Rachel takes her newspaper's assignment in Italy to find a father she never knew.  While there her story gets her involved with Monument Men and their quest to save works of art and monuments from the Third Reich.

Beowulf - Ronie Kendig - Timbrel and her explosive detection dog are on a mission of their lives.  In Afghanistan Beowulf hits on a false positive and when Timbrel fights to prove him right it brings her face to face with her past.

The Vicar's Wife - Katharine Swartz - Jane is a city girl, so when her British born husband decides to relocate their family to a crumbly vicarage in a remote village in Britain, to say the least, Jane is not happy.  That is until she finds an old shopping list from the vicar's wife.

Game, Set, and Murder - Elizabeth Flynn - A Mystery for D.I. Costello - On the first day of Wimbledon and there is a dead body on court 19.  Much loved player turned coach is murdered, but no one can understand who would want him dead.

The Quaker and The Rebel - Mary Ellis - Civil War Heroines series - Emily tries to continue her parents Underground Railroad efforts, even while serving as a governess to a slave owner's children.  Alexander is the doctor's handsome nephew who finds Emily attractive, but doesn't have time to pursue her because of his secret work for the South.

With Autumn's Return - Amanda Cabot - Westward Winds #3 - Cheyenne Wyoming is not as excited about their new doctor as Elizabeth hoped.  Lady Doctors especially.  The wealthiest of residents are her biggest threat and she may have to team up with her neighbor to save the life of one of her patients, even at the risk of her heart.

Friday, December 27, 2013

New Release - No One to Trust - Lynette Eason

Dear Readers,

Lynette Eason established herself as a contender in the Romantic Suspense category a few short years ago.  Since then she has released 6 books with No One to Trust being her 7th book.  Her fans are always waiting for her books to hit the shelves and with the new series releasing they were ready to meet new characters and follow their stories.

The new series Hidden Identity starts out with the story of Summer who wakes up on morning with three strange men in her bedroom and a missing husband.  It turns out that her husband may not be who he said he was.  It seems his identity is  just a cover for a darker secret life.  One that she knows nothing about. 

Who can she trust?  Will she ever find the answers to her husband really is?  Why did he marry her only to discard her? 

Fast paced tale of lies and deceit, Lynette keeps you turning pages until you finally figure out who the bad guys are.  She has found a home in this genre and hopefully will stay for many years to come.

Happy Reading

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Tracie Peterson/Kimberly Woodhouse

Dear Readers,
 
Tracie Peterson is an author that I don't read often.  It really has nothing to do with her writing, which is very good, but because she is so easy to recommend.  She writes on the same level with every book she publishes, whether she is writing on her own or if she joins with another author and writes along side them.
 
In All Things Hidden Tracie teams up with Kimberley Woodhouse.   Kimberley has written a few fiction books, but she is best known for her two book series she did with her daughter, Kayla.  They were contemporary mysteries, so a bit different than what she has written with Tracie.
 
We return to one of Tracie's favorite places to write about, the Alaskan frontier.   I don't believe it will be a series as I don't see a series title. This is an interesting read about Alaska and how during the depression President Roosevelt had the great idea of sending families to Alaska to help settle the frontier there.  Families that had lost everything and needed a fresh start.  The problem was there was very little preparation and it almost became a great disaster. 
 
Gwyn loves Alaska almost as much as she hates change, but change is coming to their quiet valley, Matanuska.  Gwyn's father Harold is excited about the chance to have new families in the area and has begun the push for a hospital so they will be able to care for the families that are coming. 
 
Along with the good families that really do want to settle the valley and have a second chance, come the few bad seeds.  Families that demand things are done a certain way or fear the natives of the area.  They sow some unrest in the settlement and may cause the whole thing to fall apart.   Will Harold, Gwyn and a few others be able to save the new town or will a killer among them ruin everything?
 
I was reading this gentle little tale in between times of reading a very emotionally difficult to read book.  It was fun to learn a little bit of what it was like in Alaska during the depression, but also how hard it was to get any supplies to Anchorage and then on to Matanuska.  It was fascinating to see what people though of as important.  Not things we think of a important, but just the basics. 
 
Those settlers had to work hard to get ready for winter and that included building their own houses, but also there had to be some way to help them get enough food to survive the winter months, vegetables and meat which had to be canned or dried.  It truly was a community effort to get this little town up and running.
 
Like I said this was just a lovely little read and a great way to spend some quiet time in a completely different state and time.

Happy Reading

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

Dear Readers,

No review or releases today, just a wish for a happy day spent with family and friends.

Rest, relax and remember why we celebrate this season of love.

Happy Reading &


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

New Release - The Sinner's Garden - William Sirls

Dear Readers,

Those that read The Reason by William Sirls have eagerly awaited his next release.  We want to see if this is an author to add to our must read list.  The Sinner's Garden has finally hit the shelves and now we have quickly added the book to our Christmas lists with hopes it will be under the tree for us.

Andy Kemp was disfigured by an abusive father and has built a wall that no one seems to be able to penetrate.  When his Uncle, newly released from prison, announces he wants to mentor Andy they start a strange journey together because Andy says  he hears strange music coming from his ear phones his Uncle is sure Andy is hearing the voice of God.

Across town the police are investigating a strange break in.  Who ever broke in left thousands of dollars in gift cards.  When the investigation continues, there is the discovery of a strange garden and the gardener in charge.

William has the ability to tell a interesting, wonderful story that mixes the normal with the super natural with very little difficulty.  His characters are just average humans that make the story worth reading and even make you slightly jealous of what they experience. 

I am looking forward to a chance to get this one read to find out if it as good as the first.

Happy Reading

Monday, December 23, 2013

New Releases - December 16 - 21

Dear Readers,

The last big push is coming.  A week is upon us.  Do you have all your gifts?  Here are a few more ideas for those last minute gift ideas.

Happy Reading

A Match Made in Texas - Karen Witemeyer/Mary Connealy/Regina Jennings/Carol Cox - Four lovely funny romantic stories that will warm your heart. 

Dare to Love Again - Julie Lessman - Allison McClare is independent woman until she decides to explore the Barbary Coast.  Nick is stuck teaching her self defense, but who is defending themselves from whom?

Sabrina's Man - Gilbert Morris - #2 Western Justice series - Sabrina is tracking down the outlaw who kidnapped her younger sister.  She doesn't want any help, but she is going to need it from ex-criminal Waco Smith.

Solomon's Song - Roberta Kells Dorr - Solomon was once just a boy falling in love with a beautiful shepherdess.  His mother wants the throne for him and won't allow him to marry her. 

Sinner's Garden - William Sirls - Andy's life was never the same after his abusive father disfigured him.  Some one is breaking into houses and leaving gift cards instead of taking something.  Who is behind these break ins and who is the gardener of the secret garden Andy finds?