About the book:   Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing - the responsible, dependable thing - unlike her mother who abandoned her family.  But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says “yes” to a new destiny. 

    Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down café where she’s been waitressing falls right into Caroline’s lap.  While she’s trying to determine the cafe’s future, handsome Deputy Sheriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline’s heart.

    But when her frist love, Mitch O’Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.

My review:  Cute story!   I went to university in South Carolina so it was fun to read the southern words and phrases, town names, and unique culture that she sprinkles throughout the book.  The characters are nicely developed.  In fact, I was happy to see that there are more books from Rachel based on some of the other characters in this book.  The main character is great, but maybe a little too perfect.  I’m in a phase right now where I like the characters to be flawed - maybe looking for some empathy out there!  But she is darling and likeable.  The ending is a bit unexpected and makes you wish the story went on just a bit longer.  Now that’s the way to end a book!

From the back cover: I seem to be gathering quite a collection of murder victims: first my husband, then my contractor. And now my ex-husband’s fiancée has turned up dead. But I, Gracie Lee Harris, am on the job - much to the dismay of my boyfriend, homicide detective Ray Fernandez. I’ve enlisted the ladies of the Christian Friends to help me figure out who killed my ex’s sweetie not long before their wedding. My ex is the prime suspect, but his fiancée kept secrets that might have been deadly. I just pray that her secrets don’t get me killed!

No Love Lost by Lynn Bulock was one of my beach reads and it fit the bill perfectly! It is described on the front cover as a cozy mystery. I’m not sure how a book earns that title, especially when the plot of the book involves a dead person! But it was a fun book to read and as far as mysteries go, not too graphic or morbid.

Overall I enjoyed the book. The characters are likeable, the plot kept me hooked, and there was a touch of humor that I appreciated. I had not read one of Lynn Bulock’s books previously, but apparently she has written a few other Gracie Lee mysteries that would be fun to check out.

This book was published by Steeple Hill Books in 2007.

I will start out this review by saying one word. Wow. This is a must read for believers. I really had no idea what to expect from this book as when I started it I had never heard of it before. I knew there was some controversy surrounding the book, but I didn’t know why. I began reading the story expecting it to be a suspense novel - and was I ever in for a surprise!

Now maybe you have started this book, got to the “weird” part, and are considering setting it aside. I urge you to continue. I admit that some of it is a bit weird. But the way that Mr. Young approaches such crucial topics such as forgiveness, why a good God “allows” evil, God’s love for us, Christ’s life in us, and our relationships with others is flat out outstanding.

I truly believe our lives would be so much richer and meaningful if we really believed that God loves us. Oh, we “know” it is true. The Bible tells me so! But how many of us live our lives waking up each morning feeling wonderfully loved by God? Do we feel that God is “especially fond of us?” The Shack will help you to see God’s love for you as a unique individual, and maybe even help you to see others more clearly the way God sees them.

What is this book about? (from Amazon.com’s product description): Football season becomes a time of realization that life’s most important victories are won off the field. A star running back with much to learn, a younger player with much to give, and a woman with a heart for underprivileged kids’ thrown together into a time of self-discovery and a new awareness of the things that matter most.

My comments: Well, I am back from my vacation in Costa Rica and I read about six books. The one I want to share with you today is a very typical Karen Kingsbury book entitled “Between Sundays.” Of course I loved this book, but it has the very Kingsbury formula with a wonderful happy ending. The unique aspects of this book which made it stand apart from the others is first it’s emphasis on the foster care system. The needs and stats are given. This book also explores somewhat life in the NFL. Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers writes the forward to the book. He heads up the Alex Smith Foundation which focuses on the foster care system. The characters are somewhat typical - nothing exciting. I’m not sure how realistic this story is, but it was enjoyable and gave me a bit of an escape on the long flight home from Costa Rica. Kingsbury’s books portray how we all wish life was. I recommend it if you are looking for a few hours of escape and enjoyment.

Amber Miller’s first novel, Promises, Promises addresses a question many of us have struggled with at one time or another. Where is God when I am hurting? When tragedy strikes, Raelene feels as though God has stopped caring for her; He has abandoned her. Left with not only her grief but also the weighty responsibilities of her farm, Raelene struggles to determine if everything she has been raised to believe is really true. Through her pain and confusion, the overseer of her farm - though at times enfuriating - becomes a trusted friend and even more. . .

Promises, Promises is a great reminder of the fact that God is always with us, even in the face of tragedy and pain. He is indeed the only One who will never break His promises.

I appreciated the historical aspect of the book and enjoyed how Ms. Miller incorporated a portion of a message from Jonathan Edwards into the text. Without wanting to give any part of the plot away, the section where Raelene is listening to that message is probably my favorite part of the book.

Overall it is a great debut novel for Amber Miller. I will say that I did find the plot a bit predictable, but it is still an enjoyable book to read and the message is an important one. I look forward to seeing what she does with her next novel!

Order Promises, Promises

Amber’s second book, Quills and Promises is also available now here!

Visit the other sites on the Promises, Promises tour (some of them have giveaways)!

Book Description
The Church Split Has Not Extinguished Their Love, But the Demands of One Man Still Stand in Their Way….

Caleb Yoder’s father has forbidden him to court Nellie Mae Fisher, but words alone cannot stop Caleb’s devotion. Yet if he continues to pursue Nellie, he risks losing everything. Nellie, too, is torn. She longs to marry her Old Order beau but cannot ignore the gentle pull she feels toward the faith of her New Order family. Can she and her beloved satisfy the expectations of the People while remaining true to their hearts?

My Comments: I loved this book!  Beverly Lewis does such a great job helping you understand the life of the Amish.  This series takes it a step further and tells about a group of Amish who discover a real relationship with Jesus and what happens within their community as a result.  This group reads and studies the Bible.  The reaction each group has to the other is fascinating - reminding me of legalistic Christians and those who are more grace-driven.  It speaks of change and growth as well as salvation.  Of course the love story is between two people - one of whom will stay with the “old way,” and the other whose family has become involved with the “new way.”  Even though I thought this book moved slowly at the beginning - I had a hard time putting it down once I got “hooked.”  This is the second book of a series.  The first book, “The Parting,”  more clearly introduces the main characters and some of the drama which is ongoing in the stories.  I have already preordered the third book, “The Longing” due to come out the first part of October.  If you love reading and learning about different types of people and lifestyles - this is a good series of books for you!

About the Book: New Yorker Sadie Maddox is the toast of the classical music world and the queen of all she surveys in short, she’s a bit of a diva. But lately her CD sales are sagging, not to mention parts of her anatomy. Maybe it’s time for a change. Something new. A second act. So when her agent suggests she take on a professorship at a small liberal arts college, Sadie decides to give it a go. Ivy-covered walls, worshipful students . . . oh yes, the ivory tower has its appeal. And she needs the money.

Except the college is in rural Iowa, and the closest thing to designer clothes is the western wear shop down on Main Street. Sadie’s colleagues are intimidated, her students aren’t impressed, and she has to live far too close to farm animals.

And when Sadie meets Mac, a large animal veterinarian, she assumes they have nothing in common he is, after all, a country music fan.

But when the semester ends, Sadie packs up and decamps for the city that never sleeps . . . and finds she can’t, either. This laugh-out-loud novel about second chances will have readers cheering as Sadie struggles to find her life’s second act

My Review: This was my first novel by Kimberly Stuart and I loved it! It was laugh out loud funny and just a pure delight to read. I breezed through it rather quickly, and was sorry when it was over.

There is a delightful cast of characters, all very different from each other. I have to admit, I’m not much of an opera fan so I probably would have added immensely to Sadie’s problem of being recognized. I cringed at her snobbiness at first (though I can imagine leaving New York would be very hard!), cheered her successes, and yes, rejoiced in the ending.

This book would serve as a great summer read, even if a lot of it takes place in the dead of winter. It’s nice to remember that sometimes it gets cold when you’re so very hot!

You can check out Act Two on Amazon.
Visit Kimberly Stuart’s website.
Look at a sample of the book at David C. Cook’s website.

I just finished reading this last book in the Sisters of Holmes County trilogy. It was great! What is it about you ask? Well here is what Amazon.com says:

Lose yourself in Holmes County, where romance, suspense, mystery, and faith-filled Amish ways rule the day! Martha Hostettler is concerned about the continuous attacks being made on her Amish family. With a definite motive and a myriad of methods, Luke Friesen looks like the culprit. Determined to clear his name, Martha decides to play detective. What will the search for truth cost her?

My opinion: This was a good series. It kept me with it throughout all three books. I loved the mystery and relational elements. This family is not from Pennsylvania, but from Ohio. So we get a tiny bit of a different feel. These books are a fast read - I read this one in a couple of days after and before work. I think Brunstetter has a different take on the Amish than Beverly Lewis. Where Lewis makes the Amish seem strict and legalistic in their Christianity, Brunstetter shows her characters more faithful. Therefore I enjoy both authors - it possibly gives a fuller picture of what the Amish life is like. This book deals with depression, forgiveness and the “English” and Amish working and living together as family.

If you are interested in reading about different lifestyles and are fascinated by the Amish, this is a good book for you! I recommend it.

From the back of the book: After years of running, Hannah Schwartz has finally built a life for herself–far from the insecure husband who bullied and abused her. Far from the close-knit Amish community who raised her, then shunned her. Still haunted by nightmare memories of her parents’ murder and the guilty secret that made her anathema–a true outcast–from her friends and family.

Only love can bring her home again. Love for a child she had feared was lost forever. And love for the peaceful people who shaped her life. But can love heal old wounds . . . or keep the community safe from a deadly danger?

My Review: I LOVED this book. I was in a rotten mood this weekend and felt I needed a good escape and I definitely found it within the pages of this book. I have been reading ALL the Amish books because I find the Amish lifestyle fascinating. This book brings things up a step. The book shows the Amish as real people and highlights their values of family, faith and honest hard work. All of the elements I love about fiction are included in this book - suspense, love, Christian worldview, murder mystery, and believeable characters.

I have read most of Colleen Coble’s books and love all of them. She usually includes a great dog and this book is no exception, so dog lovers will not be disappointed! Her books keep getting better and better. This is definitely my favorite so far! I couldn’t put this book down and read it in a day and a half. I highly recommend “Anathema.”

Anathema was published by Thomas Nelson and is available now.

Carly Lorraine Sinclair grows up in the home of her fiercely strong mother, Leigh. Naturally timid, Carly finds that constantly trying to please Leigh by hiding her own fears only increases her insecurities. In a bold attempt to face them head-on, she joins the Army. Through the military Carly confronts her self-doubt, realizing when sent to Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Storm that facing fears is crucial to survival. After she is wounded, she returns to Ivy Manor and the nursing care of three generations of women who have faced their own warspersonal or otherwise. Carly must determine whether she can cope with her new physical needs and find peace . . . and finally, love.

My comments: The fourth book in the Women of Ivy Manor, “Carly,” differs from the other three in that this book only explores one year in Carly’s life. This is more of a contemporary book. What is interesting is that Leigh, Carly’s mother, reminds me exactly of Bette, Leigh’s mother in the book “Leigh.” It seems they forget what they went through themselves. Carly finds nothing but opposition from her mother when she wants to forego college and join the military. Thankfully, the other women of Ivy Manor support and understand her decisions. Carly has quite a difficult year in the military, however - lifechanging to say the least. She is able to face her fears and conquer them to a great extent. She comes through well, although she faces adversity and loss. This is the most overt Christian book in the series, and possibly my favorite. I hated to see this series come to and end, but look forward to beginning Lyn’s newest series, Blessed Assurance.

Carly was published by FaithWords and released April 2006.