Tracy Groot

Dear Readers,

Maggie Bright by Tracy Groot is the story of a little boat that was a place where Murray Vance has fond memories with his father.  Memories that are ruined when his father runs off and leaves him and his mother to struggle along.

As we move forward into WWII, Maggie Bright has already been used to rescue a few souls from being crushed by the Nazi war machine and yet she is ready to give even more.  Maggie now guards a secret, one that the Nazis are desperate to get back as if the word gets out, America maybe forced to join the war.

As Maggie guards her secret, the British Army is in full retreat on the continent and it looks like certain disaster is about to happen.  That is until a very strange flotilla comes to the rescue.  One that included any and every boat available in England with civilians from every walk of life manning the helms and Maggie answers the call.

So you have two very different thread winding their way throughout this book, but two that are connected.  Each one reminds you that war is a messy dangerous place.  Tracy does a great job of reminding us, while showing us not only the worse side of human nature, but also the best.

The story of the Dunkirk rescue of the British Army by the British people, while America sat on its hands across 'the pond' is a reminder that when a few join together, great things can happen.  So this book is not only a good read for history fans, it is just simply a wonderful read for all of us.  One that will instill a bit of awe that those who answered the call were so willing to give their lives just to make sure their army made it home.

Happy Reading,

I

New Release - On Shifting Sands - Allison Pittman

Dear Readers,

If nothing else makes you pick up On Shifting Sands by Allison Pittman, the cover will.  It is a beautiful well done cover that makes you wonder about the woman pictured on the front.  Why does she look so troubled?  Why is the cover done in colors of the desert or dryness?  What caused all this chaos in her life?

Nola Merrill is as dry as the dust bowl.  Her father withheld his affection once her mother passed away and a hasty marriage didn't seem to change that.  After raising their two children, Nola is looking for something more, enter a long-lost friend of her husband's.  One who takes an interest in Nola and then leads to the ultimate betrayal in a marriage.  Will her marriage survive?  Even though she longs to confess, she doesn't think her husband's love is strong enough to withstand the test.

Allison's writing will draw you into the story and yet it will read like you are experiencing the great depression right along side of the characters.  I don't want to say that her writing is dry as that is a negative thing, but because of her word pictures and descriptions she uses, you feel the heat and understand the longing for water in a place that has none. 

Well research, Allison's books are always interesting to read.  She brings the era that she is writing about to life.  I love historical fiction that makes me want to do more research on the time that is written about. 

Happy Reading,

New Release - As Waters Gone By - Cynthia Ruchti

Dear Readers,

I stumbled on Cynthia's books because of a recommendation of a fellow reader.  She suggested When the Morning Glory Blooms and I was hooked.  Since then I have read her other two and looked forward to reading Cynthia's newest release, As Waters Go By.

Emmalyn feels alone, even though she is married.  Her and her husband are separated by  prison walls.  He is sentenced to 5 years in prison.  Emmalyn sentences herself to self-imposed exile on Madeline Island an island in Lake Superior. 

Emmalyn is rehabbing an old hunting cottage, believing fixing the cottage will help her fix her life.  But a home needs more than walls and a roof, it needs love and a family.  Which she needs to if her and her husband can ever be that family again.

Cynthia has a way of tackling a heavy topic, ones that most of us will never experience, and makes it seems like we are given tools to help those that are dealing with it.  Most of us will never experience a spouse sent to prison and yet with Cynthia's writing you are given an idea of what a wife experiences when there is that break in her marriage vows. 

She has us wrestling with issues like, 'do you stay married? What kind of support do you give?  How do you forgive someone that has committed a crime, not against you, but it does effect you?  All interesting thoughts and ones I don't think I have ever thought about.  Thank you Cynthia for making up stretch while enjoying your books.

Happy Reading,

New Releases - April 20 - 25

Dear Readers,

With Mother's day just around the corner, here are a few suggestions of books for that mother who loves to read.  (of course a gift card to Baker Book House is always great also. ;-)

Happy Reading,

Wilderness Rising - A.L. Shields - A church builder novel - To ransom a teen hacker, Bethany must find the Pilate Stone.  On the run from charges of terrorism, Bethany must rely on her wits and a little help from "The Garden."  A group that has it's own agenda and is willing to betray Bethany to achieve it.

A Love like Ours - Becky Wade - (from the backcover) Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars that the ones that mark his face.  He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life and avoids relationships.  That is until childhood friend Lyndie re-enters his life.

Amish Promises - Leslie Gould - Neighbors of Lancaster County #1 - Joel and Shani feel like the quiet neighborhood of Lancaster is a great place for Joel to heal from his tour in Iraq.  Their first meeting with their Amish neighbors is rocky when their son injures their son.  Just when things seem to settle down, Joel's handsome army buddy shows up and catches the eye of the oldest daughter next door.

No Place to Hide - Lynette Eason - #3 Hidden Identity - Jackie is shock to see her childhood friend on TV wanted for a connection to a terrorist plot.  She is ready to help in any way she can, but she maybe in over her head. 

Shadow of the Mountain - Exodus - Cliff Graham - Caleb awaits with the nation of Israel to attack the city of giants, Hebron.  As the warriors wait for the weather to clear, Caleb shares is story with a younger officer.  The one of how Yahweh had his hand on Caleb even before he believed.

As Water Gone By - Cynthia Ruchti - Emmalyn husband is serving a 5 year sentence.  She is struggling to survive a marriage while being alone.  A self-sentenced exile to Madeline Island may provide a roof over her head, but a home needs so much more than a roof and walls.

Blockbuster

Dear Readers,

I have been thinking a lot about the state of Christian fiction.  Mostly because it is my job to, but also because I just finished reading a book that actually kept me up at night.  I can't tell you the last time that happened to me.  I mean a book that I kept reading long after my eyes are tired and you really should go to bed because you have work the next day.  When I was a kid, it was a book that you read under the covers with a flashlight so your mom didn't yell at you to turn the lights off. 

Each book is different and there are many really good books out there on the shelves, but one that kept me up at night... no so much.  Why is that?  Is it because I read so much of it I have just become used to storylines and it would take a really great book to get my attention?  Or is it because fiction seems to have gotten comfortable with where they are? 

Someone very recently asked me "where is that blockbusting book that everyone is talking about?  Not the book that everyone is reading because of a controversy, but the one that the author is a favorite and we all want to read it before anyone else?"  That got me wondering. 

So am I missing something?  Where is that one huge release that sets the Christian fiction market on its ear?  Is this one of those things that e-readers has changed?  Will we ever have a time again where people race each other to a bookstore to be one of the first reader to get the book?  If not that makes me sad.  (Okay I am going to sound old here) I remember those days where people would line up before the bookstore opened so that they would get the book before it even hit the shelves.  *Sigh* I do miss that as it was a time of talking, visiting and recalling our favorite parts of past books.  Maybe even a chance to learn about a new author we hadn't read yet. 

So what do you think?  Are those days behind us?  What book are you looking forward to this year?

Happy Reading,

Varina Denman

Dear Readers,

Jaded is Varina Denman’s first book.  It won the 2013 ACFW Genesis Award and I can see why.  What started out as a gentle story of a small town and the people in it, quickly turned into a book I really had a hard time laying down at night.  It has been a while since a book has kept me awake at night, long after I should have put the book away and gotten some sleep. 

Jaded is the story of Ruthie.  The story starts when she and her mother are kicked out of the church one morning.  Ruthie is not real clear on what happened, but it has turned her away from not only church and the people in it, but God also.  As we move forward 13 years, we find Ruthie dreaming of the day she can shake the dust of Trapp from her shoes and never return.  Her mother suffers from depression and Ruthie walks on tiptoes to make sure not to rock mom’s world.  That is until an interesting new family moves into town. 

The Cunninghams are not just a new family, they are the new pastor’s family.  Dodd is the oldest son and is now supporting his mother and younger brother after the passing of his father.  He takes a position of not only the new pastor, but also invades Ruthie’s space when he becomes the new math teacher at the high school where she works.  They soon find themselves attracted to each other and the opposition rises against the idea of them dating.  Not only from Ruthie’s mother, but also the leaders of the church. 

When I first started this book, I thought it was going to be a sweet little love story that will have the couple face the bully and love will conquer all.  Well that is not exactly what this story is about.  Yes it is a love story, but interestingly it is not just Ruthie and Dodd’s love story as a couple.  It is the story of Christians loving people to Christ.  It is also about secrets.  Secrets that people know and use against others to keep them out of the church.  And yes, a bully.  A bully who thinks he can get away with whatever he wants.

What this book turned into was a story of a family that just loved on their neighbors.  Never once did they preach at them until questions were asked.  They didn’t judge them by their past and what others said of them.  They weren’t perfect, but they sure did try hard to live a life that would attract people to them instead of preaching about how bad someone was and how they needed to fix something before the church would welcome them back.

I am sure I am not the only one who could tell stories about what has happened to us in a church, but this is not that type of story, this is a story of redemption and forgiveness.  But it is also a story of Love, yes with a capital “L.”

Happy Reading,

New Release - Maggie Bright - Tracy Groot

Dear Readers,

Tracy Groot's newest book is here in the store.  Maggie Bright is the story of Dunkirk.  I am not sure what else to say about Tracy's books that I have not already said.  If you love history, if you love a well researched book and if you love an interesting read, pick up any of her books and enjoy. 

Clare Childs inherits the Maggie Bright.  Little does she know of the boats secrets.  When an American is arrested breaking into the boat, Clare begins to wonder about the story behind the boat and searches out the criminal to ask him what he was looking for.  But what she finds out is not what she expects.

Meanwhile, the British army finds themselves trapped on the shores of Dunkirk with no escape in sight.  Churchill puts out the call for all the civilian boats to rescue their boys.  Clare answers the call even though it might mean losing her boat to the mines in the channel. 

Dunkirk is the thing of legends.  A nation came to the rescue of their boys so they could all stand together against the greatest threat their nation had faced in modern history.  Even if you are not British the story of Dunkirk inspires awe, but also makes you proud to be a human.  So much ugliness came out of WWII, but Dunkirk, that makes you proud. 

Tracy is going to be in our store on May 14th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss her research, read an excerpt and sign books.  Come with your questions and find out the secrets behind writing of a great historical novel.

Happy Reading,