New Release - Woman of Fortune - Kellie Coates Gilbert

Dear Readers,

When you first start reading Kellie Coates Gilbert's book, Woman of Fortune, you will probably not be able to relate to the way of life that Claire Massey lives.  She lives in the lap of luxury and expects things to be a certain way.  I know I had no idea what it would be like to have your own "buyer" who when you call them will go a get you a different pair of shoes just because the ones you had picked out for an outfit don't quite match.  Then no matter the cost, deliver them to your hotel suite. 

It all comes crashing down when her husband is arrested for fraud and suddenly she is squaring off with lawyers, the media and those who lost money.  She needs to find her way on her own and learn who she really is. 

Kellie's writing style is inviting and one where you feel like you should pull up a chair on the front porch and enjoy the story.  It is a comfortable fit and one that is easy to like.  Even though the characters are not perfect and not always easy to like, you will find yourself feeling at home right in the heart of Texas, even if it is not the same size house you live in now.

                                             Happy Reading,

Victoria Bylin

Dear Readers,

A few weeks ago I had a chance to tuck myself in a warm corner of my porch.  Out of the wind but in the sunshine.  It wasn’t really sit-outside weather yet, but that little corner was prefect.  I thought I would enjoy a few minutes of reading a new author Victoria Bylin’s book Until I Found You.  Well, a couple hours later I found myself completely enjoying the storyline and the romance that went with it. 

It is a typical boy swears off girls, girl swerves off road, boy rescues girl from the cliff story.   Ok, not so typical, but loads of fun to read.  Each of the main characters has different reasons for not wanting to get involved with anyone.  Kate doesn’t want to get involved because she only plans on staying in town long enough to make sure her grandmother has recovered from her stroke.  Nick is a new Christian who is recovering from life in the fast lane.  He figures the best way to do that is to focus on his new found faith and his work.  Of course Kate challenges that right from the first minute when he finds her hanging off a cliff. 

 

A sweet story with lovely characters is always a pleasure to read, but Victoria adds in a California Condor named Wistoyo.  It is an element that adds so much to the storyline.  I knew very little about California Condors. While I was reading about them in this book it made me want to know more, so I looked up some information on them and found out lots of interesting things about the birds and how they are recovering since being on the brink of extinction. 

Happy Reading,

Summer Reading List - Part II

Dear Readers,

Part II of the list is a bit longer than the first, but I thought instead of drawing out the list for several weeks, I would get it a bit quicker for your summer reading.  The third installment in next week.

Happy Reading,

Meant to be Mine – Becky Wade – After a whirlwind wedding, Celia is ready to be Ty’s wife, but Ty is not ready to be a husband.  After 5 years, Ty returns to the woman and child he left behind.

Silenced – Dani Pettrey - #4 Alaskan Courage series – Kayden is out for a relaxing climb when she comes face to face with a dead body.  Is it murder? 

Here to Stay – Melissa Tagg – Blake is ready to settle down, but Autumn is ready to be anywhere but Whisper Shores.  Her dream job in Paris is waiting, until Blake asks her to help him with planning the Christmas festival.

Runaway Saint – Lisa Samson - Sara seems to have her life completely together, a supportive husband, a hip business, and a house that is the envy of the neighborhood.  That is on the surface.  Underneath she is restless and when a long lost Aunt shows up unexpectedly on her doorstep, everything comes to the forefront.

Life Support – Candace Calvert - #3 Grace Medical - Nurse Lauren puts her life on hold to help her sister.  Elijah is at odds with his father over the care of his disabled brother.  They need each other, but they seem more at odds with each other than able to get along.

How Sweet the Sound – Amy Sorrels - 3 generations come together on the family plantation in Alabama where 13 year old Anniston finds love and forgiveness that only God can give.

Dancing with Fireflies – Denise Hunter - A Chapel Springs Romance #3- Jade McKinley couldn’t wait to leave Chapel Spring behind, but now she is forced to return.  Daniel has loved Jade for years, and now he has a second chance to win her love.

For Such a Time – Kate Breslin - Stella Muller isn't whom she seems to be.  She is really a Jewess hiding in plain sight.  She is able to work for a German while working to save her people from the death camps.

Smitten Book Club – Colleen Coble/Denise Hunter/Diann Hunt/Kristin Billerbeck - Heather finds an old book written by former Smitten resident Pearl Chambers, little does she know how that book will change her life.

Butterfly Palace – Colleen Coble - When Lily recognizes the man that abandoned her at a dinner party, her past and present collide.  The Servant Girl Murder is moving closer and she feels trapped in a web that is closing in on her.

A Draw of Kings – Patrick Carr - #3 Sword and the Staff - The awaited conclusion to the series.  Can Errol and his band of friends save their country from threats within and outside their borders?

The Fall of Marigolds – Susan Meissner - Two women connected over the years by a beautiful scarf.  A scarf that arrives in their lives at a time when they needed reminding that they are loved

Summer of Joy – Ann H. Gabhart - #3 The Heart of Hollyhill - re-release- As the summer of 1964 draws to a close, two people arrive in Hollyhill.  Each one comes for a different reason, but each will stir things up for Jocie and her family.

Death by the Book – Julianna Deering - #2 A Drew Farthering Mystery - Drew and Madeline are once again involved in a murder mystery.  This one is puzzling them as there seems to be no connection between the victims.

The Dancing Master – Julie Klassen -Regency romance - Alec is hoping for a fresh start for himself and his family in remote Devonshire as a dance teacher.  Julia's mother has an unwritten rule against dancing in their small village.  Both families have secrets that just don't want to stay hidden.  

All Things Hidden – Tracie Peterson/Kimberly Woodhouse - Gwyn loves being a nurse for her father and hates change.  Their little town is about to have major changes to it and she isn't sure she is ready for it.

Shadowed by Grace –Cara 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.

The Sentinels of Andersonville - Tracy Groot - (from the dust jacket)  "Near the end of the Civil War, inhumane conditions at Andersonville Prison caused the deaths of 13,000 Union soldiers in 14 months.:"  This is the story of 3 Confederates and their fight to improve what was happening in their town.

Sweet Olive – Judy Christie - Camille has one final job to finish for the oil company that her family owns.  She is ready to move on to her real passion of running an art gallery, but first she has to return to the town that was the scene of the worst week of her life

The Prayer Box – Lisa Wingate - Tandi is running from her past, but when she is given the tasks of cleaning out Lola's Victorian House, she finds that years’ worth of prayer boxes.  They tell a story of an unassuming women and her journey of faith.

Return to Me – Lynn Austin – 1 The Restoration Chronicles - The Jews are ready to return to Israel and rebuild the temple.  But who will lead them?

A Broken Kind of Beautiful – Katie Ganshert - Ivy Clark has only known the fashion industry.  As her career seems to be coming to an end, will she be able to find herself in something besides her looks.

Bridge to Haven – Francine Rivers -After a 3 year wait Francine delights us with a tale of Hollywood's golden age.  

Distortion – Terri Blackstock - Moonlighters Series #2 - Juliet sees her husband murdered by what she thought was a random shooting, until she arrives back home and hears the threatening voicemail.  She realizes that she and her children are at risk until she can figure out all the secrets of his past.

New Release - Twice a Slave - Sammy Tippet/Randy Willis

Dear Readers,

Sammy Tippet has written several non-fiction books, so Twice a Slave is a bit different for him. Even though this book is based on a real person,  Joseph Wallis, it is considered a fiction book as it is a fictional telling of Joseph's story.

Joseph was born into slavery.  He was the son of a white man and Cherokee woman.  He struggled to find freedom his whole life.  He looked for it in many different places including falling in love with the wrong woman. 

When he became a slave to Jesus Christ is when his whole world changed, he experienced a freedom no man could take away from him.  He helped change the course of a nation and establish the Baptist faith in America. 

Starting in 1758 this book gives a small picture of America's history before we were even a country.  I went looking for information on Joseph and the details I found were pretty interesting.  He didn't have an easy life from the beginning and it didn't get easier when he became a Christian, the struggles were just different. 

So here is a different type of story that reminds us of the courage it takes to stand up for your faith.

Happy Reading,

New Releases May 19 - 24

Dear Readers,


Thank you to all have and are serving to keep us free.

Happy Reading,

The Midwife - Jolina Petersheim - Much anticipated 2nd book - Beth Winslow doesn't exist anymore.  Years ago she became Rhoda Mummau, head midwife at Hopen Haus.  Her story is the reason she does what she does. 

A Woman of Fortune - Kellie Coates Gilbert - Claire loves the life she has.  Designer clothes, Luxury cars, beautiful homes, it is everything she could have dreamed of.  Until it all comes crashing down when her husband is arrested for fraud. 

A Place in His Heart - Rebecca DeMarino - #1 The Southold Chronicles - Mary Langton wishes to marry for love, but instead she along with Barnabas Horton marry to proved his two sons with a mother.  But his secret of moving to the new world turns Mary's world upside down.

Truth be Told - Carol Cox - Amelia vows to print only the truth in the newspaper she has taken over for her father.  The problem is sometimes the truth can cause as many problems as a lie.  When the wrong people take offense at an article in the paper, Amelia decide to investigate why.

Network of Deception - Spencer E. Moses - (from the backcover) He's committed to his country. She's committed to her God.  The problem is, someone is committed to their utter destruction.

Full Steam Ahead - Karen Witemeyer - Nicole's father has always reminded her what she is not, not a man, not married and not able to run his company.  She sets out to give him an heir the results are not exactly what she had in mind.

Rumspringa's Hope - Beth Shriver - #1 The Spirit of the Amish - Torn between two worlds, Emma needs to decide between staying in the big city with Caleb and his mission work there or returning to the farm to start a family with Zeb.  Which man is the right one for her?  Which calling is the place she wants to be?

Stuck Together - Mary Connealy - #3 Trouble in Texas - Tina focuses on getting the only saloon in town closed.  When unknown and unexpected family shows up Vince feels even more pressure to stay open.  But Tina's picketing may reveal more than she planned on and could put his whole family at risk.

A Moment in Time - Tracie Peterson - #2 Lone Star Brides - Alice lost her family in an attack that left her terribly scarred.  Texas is a place to recover and start over.  Robert seems an answer to pray as he doesn't worry about obstacles in the way.

Northkill - Bob Hostetler/J.M. Hochstetler - #1 Northkill Amish - Story of the authors family and what they went through while settling in America after fleeing Europe to find religious freedom.  Jakob is forced one morning to make a decision that will forever tear his family apart.

Twice a Slave - Sammy Tippit - Based on the true story of Joseph Willis who changed our nation forever.  Joseph is born a slave because of white father and Cherokee mother.  When he receives Jesus, he is no longer a slave to man. 

New Release - Somebody like You - Beth K. Vogt

Dear Readers,

Can you imagine what it would be like if you were mourning you husband and suddenly on your doorsteps he appears?  Haley had that happen, but it wasn't her husband but a twin brother that she knew nothing about.  The brothers had been estranged from each other for years and Stephen comes to make amends with his brother, but to late.

That is the storyline behind Somebody like You by Beth K. Vogt.


I can't even pretend to know what that would be like.  First of all the shock would be hard enough, but then secondly, to find out that my husband had been hiding a secret like a twin brother would be so very hurtful.  The person you thought you knew best didn't trust you with knowledge of a brother. 

What an interesting idea for a book.  A chance to enter a story that we will never experience, but a thought provoking story.  How do you handle a situation like that?  How do you come to grips with something you late husband did?  The book creates lots of questions that beg to be answered.

Happy Reading,

Summer Reading list 2014

Dear Readers,

With Monday being Memorial day I thought I would start releasing my summer reading suggestions.  Not ever good book is on the list as I think this year it would be about 6 or 7 pages long.  They are not in any particular order, I recommend them all, just pick out the ones you would like best and enjoy.

This year you can map your summer reading road trip out.  Amy at Bethany Publishing gave me the idea and I thought it sounded like fun.  Grab a map or let me know and I can send you one, and color in the state that the book (s) that you are reading is set in.  See how many states you can visit before Labor Day.

Happy Reading,

P.S. I will be sharing more of the list as dates and time allow.  If you want the complete list right away, please contact me and I will mail you a copy or you can stop by the store and pick up a copy in the fiction department. 

All My Belonging – Cynthia Ruchti - (From the back cover) Where do you turn when changing your name doesn't give you the anonymity you want? 

One Perfect Spring – Irene Hannon - Keith had no idea that the letter that lands on his desk will change everything for not only himself and the letter writer, but those around him also.

Critical Condition – Richard L. Mabry -What is supposed to be a quiet dinner party turns into a scene of a murder when a stranger is killed on Shannon's front yard.  Now there is someone wanting to know what he said before the stranger died and he will stop at nothing to find out. 

Scarlett Says – Julie Cannon - Scarlett's muse is a fictional character, Scarlett O'Hara.  She uses Scarlett's devil may care attitude to write her blog and give advice that she normally wouldn't.  But when one of her first readers offers her a chance at a life outside of make believe, Scarlett isn't sure she is ready.

Visible Threat – Julie Cantore - book #3 of the Brinna Caruso series - Brinna is asked to help solve the murder of a young lady found with a strange tattoo on her hip.  What Brinna finds is something more dangerous than anything she experienced before, a human trafficking ring.

Just 18 Summers – Rene Gutteridge/Michelle Cox - (from the back cover) "With just 18 summers before their children are grown, how do (parents) make the most of that time when life gets in the way."

The Queen’s Handmaiden – Tracy L. Higley - Lydia is the handmaiden to Cleopatra and her young son.  But when Lydia's mentor is murder, she decides to deliver the old scrolls to Jerusalem herself.  Can she deliver them safely before they fall into the wrong hands and are destroyed forever?

The Auschwitz Escape – Joel Rosenberg - (From the backcover) "Evil, unchecked is the prelude to genocide."  Jacob works for the resistance in Belgium.  When he and his fellow workers attempt a daring rescue of a train headed to Auschwitz, Jacob becomes trapped in one of the cars.  Once at Auschwitz all he can think of is escape.

A Table by the Window – Hillary Manton Lodge - first novel of Family Secrets and Heirloom Recipes - Juliette writes for a food magazine, but she is unsure of what she really wants to do with her life.  When her brother Nico offers a chance to open a new restaurant together she is unsure what to do. 

Pelican Bride – Beth White -  #1 Gulf Coast Chronicles - Genevieve Gaillain agrees to be a bride to a man working in the new world to escape her painful past, what she finds is love and that nothing can be hide forever.

Woman of Courage – Wanda Brunstetter - Amanda gives up on romance and decides to follow fellow missionary couple Rev. and Mrs. Spalding over the mountains.  Her first convert is the wife of a trapper who saves her life, but he and a fellow trapper want nothing to do with Christians.

The Fearful Gates – Ross Lawhead - #3 the Ancient Earth Trilogy - (from the backcover) "The army is gathered.  The Alliance for good is holed up in the Langtorr.  The fate of Britain - and the world - will be decided in the events of a single day... a day when the Fearful Gates are finally opened, and the mystery that lies behind them is revealed."