Archive for the 'Christian Fiction' Category


Kelly’s Chance by Wanda Brunstetter

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

watch?v=tRow0fPkzMo Click on to see “Kelly’s Chance” on YouTube

Life for Kelly McGregor is a daily drudge of driving her overbearing father’s mules along Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Canal. She dreams of one day owning an art gallery where her own drawings and paintings are on display. But these dreams don’t include marriage. . .not after seeing what her father has done to her mother. How then can Mike Cooper, a general store owner, make her realize he is different than her father and wants to support her artistic talent? Will Kelly learn that dreams can walk hand in hand with a love created by God?

My Review: This is a sweet book.  Any female from age 13 to 100 could enjoy it – a great read for Valentine’s Day because it is a love story.  I appreciated it because it shows that not all people are the same.  This is a Christian fiction book,  but is mild and not over the top as far as “preachiness.”  The Wanda Brunstetter books I have read in the past have been about the Amish community.  This book I would consider more historical fiction.  Kelly’s Chance is entertaining and light reading.  I would recommend it for a great escape when life gets too hectic.  It kind of reminds me of the Grace Livingston Hill books I used to read if you are at all familiar with that author.

Let Them Eat Fruitcake by Melody Carlson

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Let them eat fruitcake

It’s the holiday season, and each of the roommates at 86 Bloomberg Place is a little blue . Megan’s got the boss from hell, and now her mom is going on a cruise, leaving Megan alone for Christmas for the first time ever. Lelani can’t afford to fly home to Hawaii and isn’t sure she’d be welcomed anyway, not that she can admit that to anyone. Anna’s old boyfriend—the one who cheated on her—has sailed back into her life, just when she’s met a for-real “nice guy” she’s been keeping secret from her large, crazy Latino family. And Kendall’s met a famous actor, who might be the answer to her money woes—if she could only convince him she’s the love of his life. His wife might have something to say about that, though. Thank goodness God’s around to listen when the girls need help!

Let’s face it, relationships are hard work—whether they’re with family and friends, coworkers and customers, or boyfriends and girlfriends. And when you’ve got your first apartment, a real job, and grown-up responsibilities, too, relationships are loaded with confusion, emotion, and secrets you can’t tell to anyone but God. Best-selling author Melody Carlson has captured all the uncertainty and joy of being twenty-something in pitch-perfect detail—and their stories just might sound like someone you know.

My Review: Although this is advertised as Christian chick lit, I think it relates to all women.   I bought this book last year, but just finished reading it.  I love reading Christmas books and I enjoyed that aspect of this book, but it could be read at any time of the year.  I noticed that it’s the second book in a series called “86 Bloomberg Place,” but  the author explained enough about the characters that I didn’t feel I needed to go back and read the first book, although I am interested in reading the next book because there were plenty of cliffhangers.  The characters seemed extreme to me, especially Kendall.  I had a hard time with some of Leilani’s choices especially concerning her family, and Megan seemed confused in her faith although she was able to help people because of it.  As I write this I realize that maybe this is more true to life than I originally thought.  People can be extreme, make difficult choices and become confused with their beliefs.  All in all I enjoyed this book and found it a quick read.  Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors and I’m looking forward to reading her newest Christmas book, The Christmas Dog.

Seeing Things by Patti Hill

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Video on \”Seeing Things\” by Patti Hill

patti hill

Birdie Wainwright, 72, isn’t concerned about seeing things that others can’t. For a woman who still climbs mountains with her dog (Miss Bee Haven) and likes to tango, the impractical visions brought on by macular degeneration are just another gift from God, adding more adventure to life. But when a tumble down the stairs breaks her ankle and leads back to her son’s home in Denver where she must convalesce, Birdie’s imagination really takes flight. Following a conversation with her grandson about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, she begins to see and speak with the unkempt literary character himself on a regular basis. As the line between reality and whimsy turns brittle, faith is tested among friends and loved ones, and hope is reborn.

Seeing Things is a story about family, reconciliation, and hearing from God in unexpected ways.

My Review: I enjoyed this book although it took quite a while to read.  Parts of the story moved along slowly, but mostly it was my schedule that made it slow.  The family dynamics were quite interesting and it was quite a change reading a book from a 70 somethings’ point of view.  I learned some things about macular degeneration and how to better relate to people who may have this disease.  I grew quite fond of the teenage boy and found his relationship with his father disturbing until I read further and found out some of the reason behind this relationship.  Although this is categorized as Christian fiction, the story told was of true to life people with real problems.  This was a good slice of life story!

Red Runs the River by Anthony Bollback

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
red-runs-the-riverProduct Description
This is a book born of passion; passion that Anthony Bollback has for the Chinese people. . . . This is a wonderful work that will grab your attention and capture your heart. -Dr. David F. Presher Vice President for Advancement, The Christian and Missionary Alliance Since the Communist takeover, every missionary China Hand has lived with two kinds of pain. The first, leaving a part of themselves behind in that beloved land, and second, the agony of soul in knowing of the persecuted church that must remain. Anthony Bollback, with sensitive insight and skill, has shown us another side of the story: the story of how that church has survived in triumph. The reader will be deeply moved with this account. Though by necessity fiction, it is exciting and historically factual. Read it and weep-and laugh-and rejoice. -Dr. Edwin W. Kilbourne, President at large, OMS International, A China Hand Life-changing in its challenges and adventurous in its presentation, Red Runs the River . . . masterfully reveals genuine human aspirations, concerns, and longings in the lives of Meiling and Anching, [This book] will capture your every emotion. -Dr. Mark T. O’Farrell, District Superintendent, The Christian and Missionary Alliance Readers of this book will feel the heartbeat of that great nation portrayed in real conditions and characters captured in an engrossing drama. -Dr. Wayne Frair Ph.D Former Chairman of the Biology Department, Kings College Through the horrors of war and intense and almost unbelievable persecution for their faith in Christ, the characters in this novel-all composites of people known to the author-display enduring perseverance and courage. The underlying truth of each fictional episode makes this book much more than mere fiction. It is the gripping story of real people who would not recant their faith despite the most traumatizing conditions. Truly the gates of hell could not overcome China’s courageous believers of Jesus Christ.
My Review: I enjoyed reading this book.  Rev. Bollback used to be my husband’s boss and I am well aware of his passion for the people of China.  I needed to read this book because I was getting involved in the mundane problems of life and needed to see a bigger picture which this book provided.  Would I be willing to die for my faith?  What IS important in life?  What is worth dying for?  Are my problems really that big? NO!  I liked the characters in this book.  I would like to think they were believable.  Red Runs the River begins a series of books on the suffering church in China and I can’t wait to read the next installment!


Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

words-unspokenProduct Description
Lissa Randall’s future was bright with academic promise until the tragic accident that took her mother’s life–and brought her own plans to a screeching halt. Eighteen months later, she still can’t get back behind the wheel.A casual recommendation to Ev McAllistair’s driving school sets in motion a cascade of events… until Lissa begins to wonder if maybe, just maybe, life isn’t as random as she’s thought.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lookout Mountain, TN, Words Unspoken weaves together a vibrant cast of characters whose intertwining stories of courage, choice, heartbreak, and hope will hold you captive until the final page. 

About the Author
Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon’s editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel.

Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon’s editors.

My Review:  I felt depressed when I began this book, but it got better as it went along.  The book dealt with depression and anxiety; there was also a little mystery thrown in.  I’m interested in reading more by this author.  She doesn’t give pat answers or create perfect characters.  Yet the characters solve their problems through faith, using mostly constructive means.  I took a day and read this whole book.  I felt satisfied at the ending, although there were times throughout when I wasn’t sure I would be, and that kept me reading.

A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

gift-of-graceProduct Description
When Rebecca Kauffman’s older sister, who left the Amish community when she was a teenager, dies in an automobile accident, Rebecca is left custody of her two modern non-Amish teenage nieces, Jessica and Lindsay. Will she be able to reconcile the two worlds in her home—or will the clash of cultures tear her world, including her marriage, apart?

From the Back Cover
Rebecca Kauffman’s tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly has custody of her two teenage nieces after her “English” sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.

Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica’s rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces, Rebecca feels as if her world is being torn apart by two different cultures, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God.

My Review:  Books about Amish life are so fascinating to me; including this new one by Amy Clipston.  Imagine two teenage girls being transported from normal American life with all the advantages and perks we have to a simple, basic life in an Amish community.  Imagine a young married Amish woman unable to have children of her own inheriting these two girls. Imagine her husband getting pressure from the Amish community to control those girls.  Sounds like disaster ready to happen, right?  First of all, the girls lose both of their parents in an automobile accident.  This seems like quite a bit to deal with, would you agree?  The result is an interesting, quick read that pulls at your emotions.  I look forward to more books by this author!

Take Two – Above the Line Series by Karen Kingsbury

Saturday, July 25th, 2009


take-two2
Product Description:The second book in the Above the Line series finds independent filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison at the center of Hollywood wheeling and dealing. The two friends discover that all that glitters is not gold—and that success in Tinsel Town could cost them everything—their relationships as well as their ideals. 
From the Back Cover
Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers’ dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase’s marriage is strained and Keith’s daughter — Andi Ellison — is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film — but is the change worth the cost? 

My Review:  Check out the promo video on YouTube for a good preview of the book.  As always, Karen Kingsbury has a winner.  She seems to connect well to her reader.  If I had a middle school or high school daughter at home still, I would not hesitate to give them this book.   Even as a grandmother, I enjoyed it!  The book deals with real life issues of love, family, temptation, sin, and the human condition.  Kingsbury has a way of keeping you reading and wanting more.  I think living near L.A. and recently seeing the moving Fireproof and all of  it’s sequels, this book was especially interesting to me.  The main characters in this book want to make a difference with their films, just like the church in Georgia wants to make a difference with their films.  I recommend this book highly – another great summer read!

Critical Care by Candace Calvert

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

critical-careFrom back cover:  After her brother dies in a trauma room, nurse Claire Avery can no longer face the ER.  She’s determined to make a fresh start–new hospital, new career in nursing education–move forward, no turning back.  But her plans fall apart when she’s called to offer stress counseling for medical staff after a heartbreaking day care center explosion.  Worse, she’s forced back to the ER, where she clashes with Logan Caldwell, a doctor who believes touchy-feely counseling is a wast of time.  He demands his staff be as tough as he is.  Yet he finds himself drawn to this nurse educator…who just might teach him the true meaning of healing.

My Review:  I enjoyed this book and the hospital setting.  It is a Christian romance novel and followed along the familiar Christian romance pattern.  It was also based on the Grey’s Anatomy model, with characters such as McSnarley, and McMuffin.  If you enjoy that television program but long to see something cleaner, you will love this book.  Hope is offered in difficult situations.  Our female main character is beautiful, but doesn’t realize it.  She has fears that need to be conquered due to her tremendous nursing skills.  Our male main character recognizes those skills immediately, and although he understands the reasons behind those fears, still wants Avery for his nurse.  Christianity plays a huge role in the healing of our characters in a believable way.   This book is written by an ER nurse with personal experience in this type of setting.  I look forward to more books by her in the future.

Review: A Claim of Her Own by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Product Description
It’s 1876, and 20-year-old Mattie Flynn is determined to make a fresh start after fleeing from her sinister boss in the gambling house where she was employed as a singer. Mattie travels to Deadwood, South Dakota, in search of her younger brother, who went ahead of her in hopes of making a fortune in the gold mines.All Mattie wants is a safe and respectable life for the two of them, but that doesn’t seem to be her destiny as she faces more heartache and trials. Will the suspicious bottles of gold dust from her brother’s claim be the key to her future…or does the handsome street preacher, who is always turning the other cheek, truly hold the answers to her deepest longings?

My Review:  

I found this book slow to begin with but by the time I finished the first chapter I was totally engaged.  I became interested initially because I love the cover, and for some reason, the author looks familiar to me.  The main character travels to be with her brother and only living relative in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  She was also escaping nightmarish treatment from her boss in Abilene, where the family originated.  Mattie is a very likeable character.  She pitches in to help and wants to make her own way.  She makes a lot of new friends in Deadwood.  Some of these new friends have a real faith in Jesus, which Mattie did not share.  This is classic historical Christian fiction with romance and adventure.  I learned a little about history as well – seeing the time period from the view of the main character.   I have never read this author before, but will now check out more books by her!

Review: A Cousin’s Promise by Wanda Brunstetter

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Product Description

Willkumm to the lush and lavish Amish country where Wanda Brunstetter’s new romantic series, Indiana Cousins, begins with A Cousin’s Promise. Loraine Miller finds herself torn between the love of two good men – Wayne Lambright who, crippled after a tragic accident, feels himself unworthy of her love; and Jake Beechy who, after having abandoned her to explore the English world, returns to renew their courtship. To which man will she pledge her love and loyalty – for better or worse, until death they do part?

My Review:  I love this book.  Anything written by Wanda Brunstetter is a safe bet.  As well as being great books for adults, I would be very comfortable giving her books to young girls – grade 8 and above.  Mrs. Brunstetter’s books are clean and have an engaging story line, although somewhat predictable in places. A bonus is learning about Amish cultures in different parts of the country.  This series is written about the Amish in Indiana.  

The main character, Lorraine, is someone I wish I could be like.  The other characters are believable and I  would love to have them as friends.  The story is probably something that could happen, and the characters reactions are believable.  The plot includes suspense, romance, and creates some feelings of frustration with the reader for the characters.  Mrs. Brunstetter creates a warm community sense in her books, including this book.  I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.