Fiction Addict

Genre: Historical, Romance

Publisher: NAL

Publication Date: August 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Elizabeth I. If you have had a single history lesson on the British monarchy, it’s likely you can spit out several well known details about her. She was the Virgin Queen. The daughter of infamous Henry VIII. The sister of Mary, Queen of Scots. What many people don’t know about Elizabeth is the deep bond that she held with lifelong friend and childhood playmate, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Though she remains firmly ensconced in history as the queen who refused to take a husband and allow a man to steal her power, Elizabeth shared a bond with Robert Dudley that runs deeper than many marriages throughout history.  Certainly it was longer lasting and more substantial than any of her father’s relationships with the many women in his life. Now here is where I must caution that though Elizabeth is known as the Virgin Queen, there is some discussion of a physical nature and some scenes depicting physical acts. Though very sparse throughout the book and nowhere near overwhelming, they are there so for the sensitive reader, be aware.

While doing any research on Elizabeth, you quickly realize that many people know a little about her, but not many know much beyond that.  Fewer still understand or recognize the depth of her relationship with Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Author Jeane Westin, based on much research and a deep abiding knowledge of Elizabeth’s life, bases this book on the love story and romance that held during the lifetimes of Elizabeth and Dudley. With beautiful scenes and a fast moving yet easy to follow storyline, Westin masterfully weaves the tale between letters and historical references to fill in the gaps of this breathtaking romance. Though we know in the first moment of reading that Elizabeth will be left mourning Dudley, still, we follow the tale that Westin weaves and fall as deeply in love with the two of them as they fall for each other.  It is a testament to Westin’s writing that when we reach the end of this tale, we’ve become so wrapped in the story and the characters that we can feel Elizabeth’s pain almost as keenly as she does.

For anyone who is even mildly interested in history, the Elizabethan era or the monarchy itself, this book is a delight to read. Westin’s style, pacing and storytelling keep you interested in the story.  Then she wraps little known historical details in well rounded characters and dialogue that give the reader an education while thoroughly entertaining him or her along the way.

If you are a history buff and love to learn while you read or enjoy books that spark questions and imagination in your mind, then you must add this book to your reading list. Westin’s intelligence shines through her work and allows these historical figures to breathe, walk and talk in front of the reader.  His Last Letter is guaranteed to be a pleasure for anyone who has even a passing interest in history or historical figures.

Review copy provided by NAL.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Publishing Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

“After retiring, you’ve been like an unemployed barber who shaves his cat for want of anything better to do,” Mrs. Ali chides her husband, a retired government clerk. Mr. Ali agrees and so he begins a matchmaking business to occupy his time.

Much to the couple’s surprise, the marriage bureau soon represents clients all throughout their region of Southern India. The now busy marriage bureau irks Mrs. Ali. The phone rings constantly and a steady stream of strangers parade through her front yard, demanding Mr. Ali’s constant attention.

After a few disheartening interviews for a potential assistant, Mrs. Ali wagers with her husband. If she can find a suitable assistant, he’ll treat her to a nice dinner out. In short order Mrs. Ali finds the level-headed Aruna, who possesses her own talent for matchmaking. Sadly, Aruna plans no matches in her own future because her family can’t afford a dowry; or a wedding. But fate tosses Aruna and the Ali family a few surprises.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People brightened several rainy afternoons in my summer. I thoroughly enjoyed the humorous and true-to-life people, the twists and turns of the plot and the exotic details of life in Southern India. As an American, I appreciated the author’s brief, non-intrusive explanations of Indian culture. The story resembled a Jane Austen tale set in the east but and generously sprinkled with humor.

Farahad Zama’s first novel, The Marriage Bureau for Rich People won the Melissa Nathan award for Comedy Romance. I recommend this book for people who love sweet romance and fun, lighthearted stories.

Review copy provided by Berkley.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Dates: June 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

In the middle of a very quiet out of the way beach in North Carolina, there’s a mailbox. It doesn’t stand in front of a house or a condo. It’s literally in the middle of the sand and its labeled “Kindred Spirit.” This mailbox is the centerpiece for Marybeth Whalen’s first venture into the world of fiction, appropriately titled The Mailbox.

Lindsay Adams was introduced to the mailbox by her first love, Campbell, when they were teenagers. Lindsay poured out her heart in a special letter to the ‘kindred spirit’ that first year and she was hooked. After that, she made sure to make a trip to the mailbox to share everything that had happened in her life in the past year. Even after Campbell made a decision that shattered both of their hearts and caused them to take different paths in life, Lindsay stayed faithful to her mailbox tradition.

Now, years later, Lindsay is back at Sunset Beach with her children. She’ll be spending some significant time at her family’s beach house while she tries to work her way through her husband’s unfaithfulness and her divorce. She knows it won’t be easy, but Sunset Beach has always carried a very special place in her heart. So what happens when she finds out that Campbell is still living there and that he, too, is divorced? Will the old feelings come back? And who is the Kindred Spirit that’s been reading all of her letters all of these long years? Will that revelation make a difference?

Marybeth Whalen’s venture into fiction is an emotional journey with relatable characters and realistic dialogue.  As Lindsay tries to figure out her part in the divorce and who she is now, the emotions she goes through are real and painful at times. Being a mother of two kids doesn’t help. Whalen examines the affects of divorce not only on the kids but on each of the people involved. She also deftly explores the dangers of letting your thoughts and emotions wander and the value of trust in relationships.

Lindsay’s growth through this process isn’t an easy journey, but Whalen handles the difficult topics with ease and encouragement toward God in tough situations that we don’t always understand.  She also takes us back to what it was like to be a teenager in the 80’s and what it’s like to see those same people now, decades later. Especially when there are mistakes or hurt in the past twenty years. Who doesn’t have some sort of issues in their past that they need to deal with at some point? Campbell and Lindsay need to work out their issues of the past while trying to figure out how they can get a fresh start.

The Mailbox is a perfect summer or vacation read. With moments of lightness and comedy, memories of the 80’s permeate this emotional yet delightful tale of love lost and found and a mailbox in the middle of nowhere.

Review copy provided by David C. Cook.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Center Street

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“Happiness is a gift that shines within you. The wish of your heart will soon come true.”

Sophie Jones reads these words in her fortune cookie minutes before her world shatters. A tragic car accident leaves the nine-year-old to face life and its misfortunes alone. While she holds a bleak outlook, Sophie doesn’t let that keep her from moving forward. As a grown woman, she owns a chocolate shop where the top sellers are her Misfortune Cookies. Dipped in bitter chocolate and containing a message of gloom she handwrites every day, they are a “treat” inspired by her latest tragedy — Garrett Black.

Garrett Black made Sophie believes that maybe, just maybe, happiness could exist for her. He turns out to be her biggest heartbreak yet when days before the wedding he walks out without so much as an explanation.

Garrett returns begging for a chance to explain why he left. Refusing to be hurt again, Sophie proposes a bet he cannot win. He must put an ad in the paper that says, “Wanted: Happiness.”  If one hundred people reply with something that isn’t fleeting or temporary she will go out with him on one date, otherwise Garrett must leave her alone.

What starts out as something innocent quickly spirals out of control when a reporter sees the ad and runs it on the evening news. Soon letters stream in by the hundreds and Sophie finds avoiding Garrett harder than she imagined.

Sweet Misfortune by Kevin Alan Milne provides a fun and light read that keeps the reader hooked. I greatly enjoyed this book, so much so that I didn’t set it down until I finished. Kevin Alan Milne will prove to suspicious readers that men can write fun, sassy romances. While Sophie’s life overflows with heartbreak, the story never bogs down with sadness. On the contrary, it remains light and optimistic even though the main character is a “the-glass-is-half-empty” kind of girl. Following the main theme, each chapter opens with a fun misfortune that I often felt compelled to share with others.

Sweet Misfortune frequently elicited laughter and now proudly perches on “My Favorites” list. I definitely will read this story again—very soon! I wish I could find more books that left me as happy as this one. If you like romances, you cannot miss this novel.

Review copy provided by Center Street.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“You can’t out-sin the cross” and that is exactly what Linda Nichols’ Not a Sparrow Falls is about — redemption and the power of forgiveness.

Mary Bridget Washburn has made her share of bad choices. Now on the run from a criminal past, Mary changes her name and seeks refuge in a small, Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. But a new name and a town full of strangers can’t ease Mary’s fears of discovery. She makes a simple yet comfortable life for herself despite the cloud of dread looming overhead. Then one night a young girl’s plea for help seizes Mary’s heart setting in motion a series of events that will change the course of her life as well as those around her.

Ever since the death of Anna, dearly loved mother and wife, the MacPherson family is falling apart. Alasdair, a single father for two years, struggles to raise his three young children and pastor the local church his family has led for several generations. Some of the elders want him out, and the church teeters on the verge of splitting.

When Mary and Alasdair’s lives intersect, they find that in order to move forward, they must first let go of the past. Doing this will present challenges. One of those involves his own sister whose life has always revolved around the past and tradition.

I am happy to add Not a Sparrow Falls to my library. A fun and easy read, I finished it in a day. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Mary Bridget and Alasdair are loveable characters that despite their mistakes the reader can’t help rooting for them. Everyone makes bad choices in their lives. Stories like Not a Sparrow Falls give us the hope that second chances exist.

While the reader knows who will end up with whom; the predictability by no means detracts from the story. I really enjoyed the relationship between Mary and Alasdair’s oldest daughter, Samantha. However, the end feels a bit rushed. I found this disappointing because I enjoyed the rest of the book so much. I wished Nichols had fleshed out the resolution a little more. Still, I highly recommend this novel to romance lovers as well as readers who enjoy stories of second chances.

Review copy provided by Bethany House.

Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Allie Miller’s life seems to be nearly perfect. Her father owns a prominent ball bearing company and she’s set to receive a fortune from her family. She’s also engaged to a fine upstanding young man. When she leaves for a short trip to be in a friend’s wedding, she realizes very quickly how unhappy she really is in her life.

Walt Novak has never been considered as handsome or talented as his two older brothers, but still, he’s an essential part of the Army Air Corps and he’s ready to lay down his life for our country. He’s also a mess when it comes to women. He can’t even speak to them without a near panic attack unless he knows that they’re ‘taken.’

So when Allie and Walt meet on a train, things become very interesting. First, Walt believes that she’s married with young children. By the time he discovers that she’s not, they’ve already developed a very comfortable rapport. Imagine the surprise that they both experience when it’s discovered that they’re both going to the same place for the same wedding. Subsequently, the two of them spend a week together for all of the wedding activities and their friendship and attraction grows. So what happens when Walt returns to war and Allie returns to the marriage that her parents have arranged for her?

Sarah Sundin’s debut novel is not your regular every day romance. If you’re looking for boy meets girl, falls in love and all is perfect, you won’t get it here. Walt and Allie both struggle with issues in their lives when they meet each other. Dishonesty, miscommunication, and stubbornness on both of their parts stand between them at every turn. And then there’s Baxter, Allie’s future husband. Oh and the war. That’s a big one too.

Sometimes, when you’re reading inspirational fiction, the mentions of Bible study, church, and every day faith feel like a misstep. It can sometimes feel as if someone crafted the story and threw all of the ‘inspirational’ parts in as an afterthought. Sundin has woven these every day moments in a Christian’s life into the story in great detail without being preachy or overbearing. As Allie struggles with obedience vs. sacrifice, we also see Walt learning the dangers of ‘little white lies.’ It doesn’t cause the story to stumble. Rather, it helps to deepen the story. There is no simple moment of revelation that drastically changes the characters from one second to the next. It’s a process that we, as the reader, follow throughout the story. So when the change does happen it’s something for which we’ve all been waiting.

The plot is fast paced, easy to follow and packed with fantastic details from the time period. From serving in the Red Cross to fighting overseas, you never once struggle with the details of the story.  Sundin’s debut novel proves that she is an excellent storyteller who gives her readers adventure, history and romance with style and grace.

Review copy provided by Revell.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Maya Davis is back!!! I can’t believe I started this review with that sentence followed by three exclamation points.  I will not, despite my college writing professor’s voice clamoring in my head, remove even one of those exclamation points. I may even add another at some point. I enjoyed this book that much.

Maya’s life at this juncture is all about change. She’s now dating Jack who is also one of her best friends. This transition is strange for Maya, but so far she thinks it’s a good change. She’s still trying to sort out those feelings when Jack starts at another job. She knows this means she won’t be seeing Jack all day every day at Cool Beans.  Unfortunately it doesn’t take long for her to discover that she may have to go days and sometimes even a week without seeing Jack. To say the very least, this does not sit well with Maya. And just who is this Presley chick that Jack keeps talking about? No, it does not sit well at all. Oh and did I mention that her roommate Jen is getting married to Maya’s ex-boyfriend. And just to mix it up a little bit more, Jen’s mom is not pleased about the pairing. In fact, she comes to visit and ‘take care of things’ and this visit lasts much more than their usual three day rule. Anyone remember that old adage about fish and houseguests stinking after three days? Point proven in this book.  Poor Calvin the Beagle doesn’t even know what to do with himself.

Having recently discovered the wonder that is Erynn Mangum’s writing, I have had the pleasure of devouring two of her books faster than Rocky Road ice cream disappears on a girl’s movie night. My poor husband wasn’t even allowed anywhere near the laptop for several days while I ravenously consumed my advanced e-copy of this fantastic book. I enjoyed Latte Daze even more than I enjoyed Cool Beans. I am now a certified Maya Davis fan and more than that, an Erynn Mangum fan.

Now don’t start thinking this book is perfect. It’s not. Like its delightful characters, it has inconsistencies and flaws, but they aren’t enough to take away from the overall package. The plot doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. There are no secret romances or surprise twist endings. A few times in the book you might catch your breath and be surprised, but those little spins and tricks aren’t what makes this book such a fun read. It’s the characters that make these books special. Complete with flaws, insecurities and quirks that make them more real than paper and ink, each character has the potential to teach you something that may help you become a better person. How can that possibly be fun? Learning life lessons? Really Lori? I’m sure you’re thinking it’s as unpalatable as eating vegetables and ‘health’ food, right? But trust me; it’s not like finding some way to disguise the taste of green veggies so you can choke them down. Mangum confronts her characters with their own flaws and inadequacies in day to day struggles that most, if not all of us, face. And when the characters deal with it, they’re very open about the tools they use to get past them.  Even if it isn’t the character herself that helps you to learn (Mrs. Mitchell, I’m pointing at you right now) it may simply be the way that the people around that character react that teaches you something.

Another thing about the story, you can see the resolution to many of the conflicts during the first moments you see the conflict. And really, there were a couple of storylines that I expected to go somewhere but didn’t venture beyond just a couple of pages. In fact I walked myself back through the previous pages to see if I’d missed something, but I hadn’t. Perhaps because of the types of books I’ve been reading lately, I found myself looking beyond the snafus in Maya’s life and imagining that they were going to be much bigger or more dramatic than they really were. It seems that sometimes a twisted knee is just a twisted knee and not something that will lead to a bigger situation. It became refreshing and allowed me to relax more deeply into the adventure.

This isn’t complex or difficult reading. Layered with sweet flavors that define comfort food, Latte Daze is a satisfying hot fudge sundae garnished with plenty of nuts and a cherry on top.

Review copy provided by NavPress.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Dog walker Rylee Monroe works in Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, but she lives in the poor, rundown section of town and saves every penny to support her ailing grandmother. A thief dubbed Robin Hood by the local press, targets the homes of several of her clients and police begin to suspect Rylee.

The crimes are peculiar in nature because the thief only takes one possession at a time, passing up items of greater value, only to drop it off at a non-profit organization to “sell and give proceeds to the poor.” Logan Woods, a local reporter follows the break-ins with hopes of eventually publishing a true-crime book. The deeper Logan probes the more convinced he becomes that Rylee is somehow at the center of the mystery.

Logan struggles to unravel the mystery in hopes of creating a more sensational story. Initially, he recruits the young dog walker’s help believing she may have information. A relationship develops and when Rylee’s reputation balances on a tightrope Logan finds his motivation shifting. To further complicate matters, neither Logan nor Rylee were looking for a relationship, but they find themselves falling for the other despite their best efforts.

Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand provide a great read with their novel Beguiled. Intriguing plots; appealing characters; as well as good writing all add up to a page-turning read. While faith is present, it doesn’t play a major role and the book generally avoids preachiness. I like that while both Logan and Rylee have faith in God, neither one are where they should be. Logan no longer attends church and Rylee talks to God, but doesn’t think He listens. They aren’t “super-Christians” who always know what to say and do, but flawed human beings working towards restoring their relationships with God. This less-than-perfect journey makes them realistic. Whether through faith or other aspects of life, readers can understand and relate to the struggles of these characters.

A quick and easy read, I recommend Beguiled to anyone who enjoys a good, clean romance with a mystery on the side. I greatly enjoyed this book and will definitely read it again. I would love to see Gist and Bertrand pair up again and see what other stories they can bring.

Review copy provided by Bethany House.

Genre: Romance, Suspense, Literary

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I will admit I didn’t know where The Familiar Stranger was going to take me. After reading the plot synopsis on the back, I kept thinking, “Hmm… is this going to really grab me… or is it just going to play out like a Christian soap opera?” Thankfully, it didn’t take me very long before I realized that new author Christina Berry had put together some very suspenseful ideas with Melody Carlson-esque characters. And I definitely couldn’t stop reading.

The plot opens out simply enough: typical all-American family: Craig’s a dentist; Denise is a home maker caring for their two sons. They go to church, they have a nice house, and of course the marriage has its rocky moments. But then Denise gets a phone call during church saying that there’s been a terrible accident. Her husband is in the hospital and in a coma. The family rushes to his side, and that’s when things start twisting: Craig’s lost his memory completely. And as they start to figure out his life from the ground up, they both start discovering that their typical all-American family is not quite what they all thought it was…

The writing is pretty crisp and things move along at just about the right speed — Berry gives us enough mystery to keep us wanting to figure it out, and enough of the raw emotions to keep pages turning. Actually, that’s the one place Berry really shines: in the emotions. The characters are fully formed, and the pain that Craig and Denise work through as they re-discover their lives feels real. And with some truly creepy plot twists, there’s enough to keep things interesting.

The only thing I was really worried about going in was the unique story structure. Each chapter is split into scenes from His point of view and Her point of view — sometimes the same time period being covered by both of them to give us both sides of an exchange. At first, I thought I was going to be confused or annoyed reading the book that way — but after the first chapter I got used to it, and actually found myself enjoying the uniqueness of the whole idea.

Overall, The Familiar Stranger is definitely a strong debut from Berry. And if she keeps writing such vulnerable characters dealing with such real heartaches, she will be an author to keep an eye on in the future.

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: B & H Publishing Group

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

Brannon Callahan, a former member of the Coast Guard, works as a search-and-rescue pilot for the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and on this cold, stormy day she is about to find herself in a rescue like none she has experienced before. Answering a distress call from another chopper downed in the rugged terrain, Brannon and her partner realize it is a call for help from none other than a U.S. Marshall ferrying a heart destined to be transplanted in a key witness. What follows is not only a desperate race to keep the heart viable for transplant but to survive along with her partner and others she encounters along the way.

First among those others is U.S. Marshall Roark Holland, the man tasked to get the heart to its destination. The prologue does a good job of setting the scene for he and Brannon’s meeting and interaction. Roark is a man with a lot to prove after a failure he blames on himself. That insecurity shows in his unwillingness to share first place in leading the group to safety when the rescuer and the rescued both become stranded in the huge expanse of the Smokey Mountains. Throw in child trafficking, a questionable politician, some pretty dangerous mountain people, and the human heart and Robin Caroll gives the proper mixture for what makes a romantic suspense work: a lot of heat in the suspense category and just enough on the relationship side to make one care about what happens between the two main characters.

Deliver Us from Evil tackles a subject most would like to believe doesn’t exist in America. An important sub-plot follows the desperate longing of two young girls from Thailand to escape the nightmare of being sold as sex-slaves in the land they both always longed to see. Who will succeed in bringing this despicable business in the buckle of the Bible-Belt to an end? Will it be a key witness waiting in coma for that heart lost in the depths of the mountains, a heart quickly losing viability and depending on Brannon and Roark to find some way to save it? Or will it be a brave teenage girl trapped in a land she always considered a place of freedom? Only those willing to trek along with the characters will find out.

Robin Caroll leaves the familiar confines of her previous novels set in the Louisiana Bayous and offers a fast-paced adventure in a place few would expect to find the evil she uncovers there. The technique she uses to interject the spiritual aspects of the story are unique and one I am sure would drive a guy like U.S. Marshal Roark Holland running away screaming were it not for other factors – factors like the frailties of the human heart and what happens when a woman and God enter the mix.

Review copy provided by B&H Publishers.

Genre: Romance, Mystery

Publisher: Berkeley

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Reagan has a big problem. But she also has a plan. With nowhere to go, no family in the world, and none of the normal concerns of a teenager, it seems like there isn’t a lot of hope in her life. But then there’s Harmony. The beautiful small town of Harmony houses a tight knit community of mostly kind hearted folks that all know each other’s business. When Reagan flees the hopeless nonexistent life that she has and comes to Harmony, she knows exactly what she needs to do to fit into the inner workings of this intimate community. She pretends to be the granddaughter of Miss Beverly Truman, one of the town’s residents who moved away long ago. Miss Beverly recently passed away at a nursing home where Reagan volunteered some of her time. During the last years of the old woman’s life, Reagan learned all about the town of Harmony and also grew to love the old woman. So when Miss Beverly passed away, Reagan knew what she needed to do. And that means the small town of Harmony is her future.

Being Miss Beverly’s granddaughter gives her an immediate ‘in’ to the town’s infrastructure, but it also gives her an instant family. Since Miss Beverly left behind an ornery old brother, that means that Reagan’s brilliant plan to insinuate herself into the small town life of Harmony also means she’s going to have to figure out what to do about grumpy old Jeremiah Truman.

Along with the trials that Reagan endures to become part of this community, we also get to meet Alexandra McAllen. McAllen is the local sheriff who is drowning in the agonizing pain of having lost her brother in a dreadful incident that she feels was her fault. Every Saturday evening she loses herself in a bottle at the local bar. And every Saturday night without fail, she’s saved from her self-destructive tendencies by her brother’s best friend who also happens to be the local fire chief. He also happens to be head over heels in love with her. Unfortunately she can’t see past her own pain to understand anything more than his annoying tendency to always be right and always be watching out for her.
Oh and did I mention that someone’s setting dangerous fires around town too? Yes. There’s mystery wrapped in this romantic adventure as well.
Welcome to Harmony is a beautifully woven tale of life in a small town.  The residents of Harmony not only know each other and everyone’s secrets, but they also accept everyone’s, well, for lack of a better term, ticks. The things about people that make them odd or strange or crazy are readily accepted in this small town because that’s just what you do. No one blinks an eye that the local sheriff goes out every Saturday and drinks herself into a stupor. Everyone knows what it was like when her brother passed and no one questions her abilities because of this problem. There is no politically correct rambling, counseling or therapy in this book. People struggle with their issues and work through them the hard way. It may not always be the best way, but it works in the end. And it makes everyone tighter as a community.

I loved the characterization, the plot and the pacing. It never moves too slow or too fast and keeps you interested throughout the story. I devoured this book. I took it with me to a series of medical appointments my husband had and I finished it in a little over a day. When I was done, I felt satisfied with the conclusion of the story, but I wanted to know more. The small town and quirky characters worked their way into my mind until I, too, felt like I was a part of Harmony and when the book ended, I was sad to leave.

Review copy provided by Berkeley.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Jodi Thomas.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama, Supernatural

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

In Shiver, Grace and Sam discovered each other and learned a great deal about how to overcome adversity. Now, Sam’s not changing anymore and they think they’ve got everything under control. That is until Grace nearly non-existent parents decide to step in and begin parenting with a very heavy hand. And on top of it all, Grace is sick. Really sick. And no one can understand what’s happening to her except maybe Sam. He’s not allowed to see her or speak to her. It’s dire. It’s painful. And it’s beautiful.

The bond that develops between Grace and Sam in Shiver is stretched, tested, tried, and nearly snapped in the circumstances that develop in Linger. Yet the two of them press on together with sheer will and determination.

And then there’s Cole. A new wolf that’s just been turned, Cole is still trying to figure the whole changing thing out. He wasn’t a fan of being a human. He wanted to disappear. So when he starts making connections as a human, he’s not necessarily all that happy about it.

Stiefvater has created her own fantastical universe that’s populated with mythical creatures that are realistic enough for us to believe in their existence without much encouragement. Her descriptions are beautiful. As you’re reading, you may find yourself re-reading descriptions and wondering why you never thought of it that way before. Her characters have dialogue that reads so smoothly that you can easily imagine them speaking the words directly into your ear.

As I did with Shiver, I deeply enjoyed Linger. The journey was beautiful, heartbreaking, and in many places I held my breath to see what would happen next.  And once more, as I did with Shiver, I was annoyed beyond measure with the portrayal of Grace’s parents. Targeted to young readers, I have no doubt that this was an intentional move on Stiefvater’s part, but it still rankled me to see parents portrayed this way. Add to that the idea that there were no ‘good’ adult role models for kids going through some very serious situations and I feel like it’s an opportunity lost. It would have been nice if, after creating such a difficult situation for Grace, we could have experienced a good relationship between youth and their parents or another adult.

That said, I got to the end of this book and yelled out loud that I was going to have to wait to find out what happens next. Amongst bookshelves that are currently packed with supernatural thrillers and mythical creatures come to life, Stiefvater’s books stand out with exceptional writing and beautiful storylines that engage and entertain the audience.

Review copy provided by Scholastic.

Genre: Mystery, Drama, Romance

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

A killer is on the loose in Sophie Trace and it’s up to Police Chief Brill Jessup to figure out who it is and stop the killing. Worse than that, the situation hits a little too close to home when it involves Ethan Langley, her daughter’s boyfriend.

Ethan is home from school and hopes to spend the summer earning money to pay for school and getting closer to Vanessa, his girlfriend. Ethan’s summer plans are quickly shattered as his cousin’s roommate is murdered. Trying to cope with family issues on top of this, Ethan’s struggling to help his cousin past this horrible tragedy. Then a little girl’s body turns up and things really begin to go south in the small town. It’s not too long before things come right to Ethan’s front door and suddenly, Vanessa’s life is in danger as well.

Police Chief Brill Jessup is unhappy that all of this is happening on her watch. When her daughter (Ethan’s girlfriend) witnesses a murder firsthand, it gets way too close to home. She puts herself and her emotions aside and calls for help from another town. It’s not someone who has respected her in the past and some question her decision, but nothing’s going to stop her from solving these murders.

Since this is my first venture into Sophie Trace, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve loved J.D. Robb’s In Death books and was pleasantly surprised to find that this is a good comparison. With emotional ties that keep her closely connected to friends and neighbors throughout the book, Brill is able to systematically take the evidence apart and follow the trails wherever they may go. With just enough crime specific details to be believable, The Right Call is an emotional journey that will take you down the path of wondering how far you can trust someone when they’ve proven unreliable. It’s also a good balance of crime story/mystery and drama. With just enough danger to make you cringe, but not enough to be unrealistic, it’s a tight story with fast pacing and great characters you want to follow.  The spiritual questions are solid without overwhelming the story and the mystery is complex enough to keep you interested until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed my venture into Sophie Trace and look forward to whatever Kathy Herman brings to the table for her next adventure.

Review copy provided by David C. Cook.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama, Supernatural

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: August 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Grace has a deep connection to the woods behind her home. With self absorbed parents that rarely ever even know where their daughter is, let alone what she’s doing, Grace is much more comfortable in the open air. As she wanders through the woods she can hear sounds and taste elements in the air that most people cannot. She can’t explain this and really, it’s not something about which she’s concerned. It’s just a part of her.  Just like the wolf attack she experienced when she was a small child. Though she should have died, she didn’t. She was saved from death by a wolf with golden eyes.  Where most people would spend their lives concentrating on the horror of the attack, Grace spent her life concentrating on the act of grace that saved her life. It is this perspective that not only helps get Maggie through the difficult times of her life, but that also prepares her for the strange events that are about to take her life in a whole new direction.

Years later, Grace recognizes the same wolf that saved her life when she was a child. For some unknown reason, she sees the wolf outside her home often. He’s always watching her. Where she felt a connection before, she now begins to think of the wolf as her own. So when a boy from her high school class is attacked by the wolves, Grace virulently opposes the proposed wolf hunt. She’s worried for ‘her’ wolf. And her worries are completely justified.

She’s horrified one day when she discovers a boy with yellow eyes lying on her back porch bleeding. It’s the beginning of the rest of her life.

Stiefvater’s tale cannot escape comparisons to the other ‘supernatural teen romance’ series that’s on the market today. With several interesting similarities to Twilight, I was at first worried that I was just reading a knock off of the popular tale.  Imagine my surprise when I was drawn in to a world that actually had some explanations, made sense, and had beautiful writing to boot.  Where I was worried I’d find only teen angst and drama, I discovered a beautiful tale that drew me in and left me wanting more. I needed to know what would happen next.

One of my biggest issues with the story was that of Grace’s parents. Well, actually, all of the parents. They were, for all intents and purposes, non-existent. It would have been nice to see some good parental figures that stuck with the kids, listened, and helped them through trials and traumas. Instead we see parents so caught up in themselves that they have little to no impact whatsoever on the lives of their children. These are kids that are basically raising themselves without any adult input or supervision. In fact, when parents do get involved, they are more a nuisance and don’t understand. Teenagers are already of this frame of mind and it’s hard enough for adults to permeate this belief with real care and concern. I would have felt better if there had been at least one set of  understanding parents who didn’t just comply with everything the kids told them to, but really genuinely helped the kids through their situations.

Other than that, the story remained tight and solid, the characterizations were vivid and beautiful and the descriptions literally leaped off of the page.  This story gives you solid adventure in a supernatural universe where Stiefvater creates her own rules about life and how it happens and they actually make sense.
Shiver is a definite must read for those who like romance and teen drama with a little of the supernatural/fantasy world mixed in for good measure. If you’ve read that ‘other’ teen supernatural drama series, definitely give this a try. You may just like it better. I certainly did.

Review copy provided by Scholastic.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

The story of Queen Esther is, perhaps, one of the most well known stories in the Bible. She’s a spectacular role model for young women on not only beauty, but grace and courage as well. A woman who could have it all, Esther was a simple girl who was taught how to exude beauty and grace but she was also wise beyond her years and had incredible faith. Quite simply, Esther is a voice for women through centuries.  This would explain why Esther’s story has been the subject of so many books, films and stories throughout the years.

For those who don’t know Esther’s story, she was an orphan who was raised by a cousin named Mordecai. When she grows into a young beautiful woman, her life takes a fascinating turn and she soon becomes Queen of Persia. Having hidden her Jewish heritage for the duration of her marriage, she ends up taking her life into her own hands by approaching her husband, sharing her heritage, and ultimately, saving her people from destruction. That’s a really watered down thumbnail version of the story, so if you don’t know it or want to know more, please check it out. The fact that it is such a fantastic story is probably the reason that it has spawned books and films for decades.

Chosen brings a completely new spin to the life of Queen Esther.  Imagine that Queen Esther kept a running diary of her story on scrolls and that, centuries later, these scrolls were found. This allows you to experience the hopes, dreams and fears of Esther from a first-hand perspective. Ginger Garrett does a brilliant job capturing the thoughts and the voice of the famous queen.  Even as a queen, the frightened young girl shows through just enough for the reader to remember where Esther’s story began, but also gives you insight into the mind of a Queen.

Taking such a well known story and giving it a new spin is always a gamble. This can be especially difficult when you’re putting words into the mouth of a Biblical character. This is how I approached Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther. I grew up with Esther as that role model and, since she’s a favorite of mine, I approached this story with some trepidation. Thankfully, my worries and concerns over the possible downfalls of the story were not founded. Garrett managed to give this story a beautiful twist that allows faithful Esther devotees a new perspective on a beloved tale. Filled with beautiful description, amazing characters and, most importantly, the great queen’s voice, this is a story you don’t want to miss.

Review copy provided by David C. Cook.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Kemp McAvoy has pulled some fast ones in his time, but nothing like his latest brainchild. Movie star Olivia Hayden has just been hospitalized after a car wreck, and Kemp is the nurse assigned to her in the ICU. Disgusted with is own life and lack of wealth, Kemp develops a get rich quick scheme involving his famous comatose patient and his own impersonation of an angelic being. If all goes according to plan, Olivia Hayden will wake up with a message from an angel that must be published and Kemp and his fellow conspirators will make a fortune from the proceeds. Unfortunately, Kemp will soon find out that impersonating an angel isn’t always the best idea.

Tim Downs takes a break from bugs and cadavers to treat his fans with a quirky tale that is fun to read and impossible to put down. On the surface, this plot seems extremely far-fetched, but Downs really nails this one with his tightly woven storylines and unforgettable characters. Kemp McAvoy might just be the most annoying character I’ve ever read, yet at the same time I had so much fun following his every ill conceived move. Perfectly nestled amongst the shenanigans is a nice little love story and a subtle, yet strong theme about belief in things unseen.  There isn’t a wasted word in this novel and Downs’ research really gives this story the depth it needs to hold the reader’s attention.

I had no idea what to expect from this story on the front end. To be sure this was a risky move on Tim Down’s part, especially after the cliffhanger ending of his last Bug Man novel. However, I’ve walked away from this one with an even greater appreciation for Down’s storytelling ability. Bugs and cadavers or angel impersonating con men….if Tim Downs’ name is on the cover you can be sure I’ll be reading it.

Tim George’s Review:

Kemp McAvoy is drop dead handsome, a medical school graduate, and a genius. If you don’t believe the genius part just ask him and he’ll tell you. Kemp is a nurse, which should give you an idea something went wrong after medical school. What he comes up with to finally make it big is also a clue our non-hero is only a genius in his own over-inflated ego. The scheme is simple – convince an actress in a drug induced coma after a car wreck to believe he is an angel come to give her a new message for the world, get her to write a book about it when she wakes up, and rake in the millions after the fact. Thus begins the funny and yet insightful Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs. If you are one of those who get mad when a reviewer gives away the plot, take a breath; it’s the characters and how Downs tells the story that makes this novel worth reading.

Most of the people in this story are as vapid as the city they live in, Hollywood. Among them are the actress’s agent that has been watching his cash cow slowly dry up over the years, a book publisher desperate to find a replacement for his one best-seller (Lattes with God), and a loan shark from the east coast who has already extended far more credit to Kemp than he ever should have. Were it not for Kemp’s girlfriend, her six year old daughter, and a hospital custodian named Emmet one might give up on the whole human race.

Did I mention the little girl really does see angels?  The irony is her Christian school insists she have counseling after she tells her story during a See and Say Session in class. One can hardly miss the satire of the whole thing. On one side we have a greedy confederation of users with no qualms about duping the whole world with fake messages from a fake angel and on the other side people who say they believe in the supernatural but fall all over themselves in questioning the validity of the girl’s visions. As the plot plays out we are given a too real vision of the consumer driven pop-culture religion of our day. Downs throws in everything from Oprah to Dr. Oz to make his point.

Tim Downs is best known for hard boiled suspense like Plague Maker, Head Game, and his popular Bug Man series. Good for him for stepping out of his comfort zone and giving us this sometimes charming, sometimes cutting parable of greed and faith. The writing is sharp with some of the best dialogue the author has ever written. Wonders Never Cease will make you laugh out loud and hang your head in shame all in the same moment. And the ending? I didn’t see it coming until it was almost on top of me. It will make you wonder if perhaps you have entertained angels unaware this very day.

Don’t miss our interview with Tim Downs.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: January 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Sophie Ramsay has a problem. She’s the editor of the school newspaper. She’s an example of a ‘good kid’ to most of the other teenagers she knows. And, after a summer away from home being a counselor at a camp run by her church, she’s pregnant. She’s not a screw up. She’s not unintelligent. She’s simply a teenager who made a mistake and has no idea how to fix it. Can it even be fixed?

The story is simple, easy to understand and there aren’t any really big surprises as you’re reading. This does not, by any stretch of the imagination mean that the story isn’t enjoyable. The plot moves pretty quickly as Sophie’s teenage mind tries to absorb (in a first person perspective) what’s happening to her body, what’s about to happen, and what she really hopes happens. There are moments when you feel like yelling at Sophie (like when she doesn’t tell the truth) but more often than not, you just want to wrap your arms around her and give her a hug.

There is, throughout the course of the book, a raging debate. It is a chicken/egg concept that revolves around the very serious topic of teen pregnancy. What is the best way for a Christian to deal with a teen pregnancy? Is it by providing resources and loving the kids through their trials? Or will doing that provide an environment of acceptance that will create more and more teenage pregnancies? The heart of the debate is the central core of the story.

Melody Carlson brilliantly captures the mind of an intelligent, charismatic young girl caught up in a mistake of epic proportions. There’s no debate of what’s right or wrong. Sophie knows, without a doubt, that she should not have slept with Dylan. She understands this implicitly and it is very obvious throughout the course of the story.

Though the story delves brilliantly into the mind of a teenager in this situation, it feels empty in places. We meet Sophie after she’s already slept with Dylan and her view, in retrospect, is very obviously not one of a girl in love. The complete divorce from emotion or feeling and no description of the relationship that developed with Sophie and Dylan makes it a little more difficult to be empathetic to her situation. If we had been given more of a glimpse into the emotion of the moment, it might have been easier to have some sympathy. Although honestly, I’m not sure that Carlson intended for us to have that sort of sympathy for this main character. There’s an obvious tone of self-deprecation and guilty overtones throughout. Sophie knows she messed up and, as is often the case in reality, she has a harder time forgiving herself than other people have forgiving her.

The end of the book comes nearly crashing in on the reader. After following months of Sophie dealing with the ins and outs of pregnancy and trying to hide it from everyone, it feels as if things end anti-climactically. It’s almost as if the point of the book was not to really carry Sophie through her pregnancy, labor, and the difficult time after, but just to cover the debate mentioned above. The labor, delivery and adoption are all glossed over as well as a relationship that appears to be developing with another boy from school, despite her pregnancy. I would have liked to have seen what happens next, in the days and weeks afterward, and how Sophie is able to deal with the fall-out from her decisions. It also would have deepened the story to find out how Sophie moves on after such a traumatizing experience. What happens later at school? Church? With her parents? Perhaps this is something Carlson will look into exploring later. For now though, Anything But Normal was a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a teenager under immense pressure and life altering circumstances. I would recommend it for any teenage girl considering sex and any parent of a teenager or friends with someone who is pregnant. It definitely helps give a new perspective and one that might help minister to those dealing with this situation.

Review copy provided by Revell.

Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Valerie Fontaine is a beautiful young woman with the world at her feet. Daughter of a wealthy business man, she is educated beyond the average of most girls her age, she has grown up in comfort and she is self assured and filled with everything that society holds in high regard. And yet, when her mother passes away, everything that she had planned for her life gets swept away and lost in a tumult of grief and misunderstanding. Not sure of what she should do next; she leaves school without her father’s permission and ventures home. Her travels take her across several states in a land that is preparing for civil war.

When she arrives, she is bitterly disappointed to discover that her father, lost in his own grief, wants nothing to do with her. Instead, he pushes her toward a relationship with a young man that she has known for her entire life. Unfortunately James Ladden is not the gentleman that either of them imagined. Rough and completely disrespectful, Ladden assumes that Valerie will be his and he has no problem treating her as if she already belongs to him.

Enter Benjamin McCabe. The opposite of James, McCabe is the son of an acquaintance of her father. With her father indisposed by his grief and increased drinking and gambling, the task of entertaining Mr. McCabe is left to Valerie. Unsure of what her role should be and how to handle this unexplained acquaintance, she discovers very quickly that Ben McCabe is a man she would like to know better. Her young tender heart turns very quickly toward the handsome and gentle man and she discovers, as their friendship progresses, that the two are more compatible than they’d realized.

When I started reading this book, I was certain that it was going to be a typical period romance where the two very attractive people that, at first, don’t look like they belong end up together. Then we get the happily ever after…yadda yadda yadda. You know what I mean. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was much more to this than the typical romance. With some intrigue, twists and surprised, Boeshaar has crafted an enjoyable tale that takes us not only into the opening stages of a romance, but into the depths of what happens after ‘I do.’ And she’s done it in a delightful way that will keep you entertained and engaged with these wonderful characters. She’s done a great job creating not only a tense storyline with a mysterious plot, but building into the love story in a very real and honest way. I am very happy to see that we have more work from Boeshaar to look forward to this fall.

Listen to our interview with Andrea Boeshaar here.

Review copy provided by Realms.

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Jane Austen is amazing. Pretty much everyone on the face of planet Earth knows this information right? The facts support this. Movies, books, active fan clubs…  There’s even an eHow site that tells people how they can best become an Austenphile. No matter whether you’re a fan or not, you have to admit that those are pretty impressive numbers for a woman who has been dead for almost two hundred years.

The problem is that Georgina Jackson, award winning and critically acclaimed author, has no clue about anything to do with Austen. She’s never read any of her books and she knows nothing about her life. Why is Georgina’s lack of knowledge such a problem? Because when several hand written pages come to light as the beginning of an unpublished Austen novel, her publisher and agent pressure her into completing the novel. Over her head and pushed for 120,000 words on deadline that would make even the most prolific author crumple into a ball of despair, Georgina does the best thing she can. She runs.  Unfortunately in England, there’s nowhere that she can escape from Jane Austen. Even her best friend has started a business that is Austen-centric. Without intending to, she finds herself learning more and more about the grand lady herself and her followers.

I love Austen. Anyone who has seen my reviews on the site knows that. I am, however, cautious about books having to do with Austen. In my personal reading, I have found that it is a huge gamble when you dive into anything modern that has to do with Jane Austen. Sometimes you can come across some absolutely brilliant Austen-centric work but other times, you may have to slog through what feels like very bad Austen Fan Fiction. (Fan Fiction – amateur writers giving their own slant or views to already published work, most often found in film and television shows.)

Obviously Elizabeth Aston has come across the same thing. With her expertise in all things Austen (she’s got six Austen sequels/adaptations of her own on the market) Elizabeth Aston does a masterful job of capturing not only the heart of Austen’s writing, but also the passion of her fans. From the casual fans that only recognize Colin Firth to the rabid fans who know every intimate detail of Austen’s life, Aston has done an incredibly brilliant job at sharing with the reader a thumbnail sketch of what Austenphiles are really like.  It’s a hilarious and endearing and anyone who even has a passing admiration for Austen’s work can’t help but be entertained.

The heart of this book is about finding out who you are, what you love and how to connect with yourself. Georgina is a woman on a search to discover who she is. No matter whether you’re an Austen fan or not, this is definitely a theme that resonates. Who hasn’t questioned this in their own lives at some point?

Aston’s writing is rich, funny, entertaining and her knowledge of Austen is mind boggling. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey into the mind of a writer taking on such a daunting task. I was delighted, thrilled, and can’t wait to see what else Aston has up her literary sleeves in the future.

Review copy provided by Touchstone.

Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Marta Schneider is determined to succeed. She knows what she wants in life and even though she’s young, nothing is going to stop her from getting everything that she wants. She refuses to allow anything to move her from that path. She certainly won’t let a frightened sister, a sick mother or an abusive father do that to her. Determined to rise above the roadblocks and speed-bumps that would slow or stop others in her situation, she turns everything into an opportunity to better herself.

I was completely entranced with Marta’s story through the stages of her life as she blew past outrageously difficult circumstances to succeed at nearly everything she attempted. By the time that she got married, settled down and started a family, I was firmly ensconced in the world that Rivers had created. And then the focus shifted.

Hildemara Rose, Marta’s young daughter, has just as much determination as her mother and unfortunately, just as many obstacles. She fights for everything she gets and has, at the best of times, a rocky, strained relationship with Marta.

When the perspective shifted to that of Marta’s young daughter, Hildemara Rose, I was admittedly a little jarred. My first thoughts were that I wanted to see more of Marta. This was, after all, her story! I had spent hours getting to know her, understanding her, and watching her overcome obstacles. I wanted to follow her and not this young girl who hadn’t been truly granted much of a part in Marta’s story. But as I kept reading, I discovered, once again, the brilliance of Francine Rivers. With the intimate knowledge of Marta’s past, we as the readers are able to experienced Hildemara’s life in a deeper, richer way than if we had only met one or the other of these women on their own.

Francine Rivers is a master of the heart. She cuts right to the center and passion of what drives people and creates an amazing connection between her readers and her stories. This book is no different. She brilliantly pulls together heartache and passion and wraps it around one of the deepest relationships in existence; that of a mother and a daughter. Written from her own family history, Rivers pulls no punches as she examines the mistakes that parents can make as they raise their children. Moments in this book were difficult to read, heartbreaking and at times, I found myself with tears rolling down my face. Again, this is where Francine Rivers excels in her writing. When reading her work, it’s nearly impossible to keep yourself from becoming personally entrenched in the story. With this beautiful multigenerational tale, this is doubly heart-wrenching. As I experienced Hildemara’s heartbreak in her relationship with her mother, I also ached at knowing where Marta had been and why this was happening. Rivers’ writing gave me a deeper understanding of every aspect of this story and really opened her own heart and family to me. My heart rolled when I reached the end of this book and I realized I was going to have to wait to see what would happen next.When does it release? Not nearly soon enough.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed Elizabeth Olmedo

Six years after swearing she would never return home, Jenny Lucas stands on the old doorstep, with her five-year-old-daughter, Isabella, in tow. Wishing she was anywhere but her North Carolina hometown, Jenny faces her aging grandmother and father, as well as David — her high school boyfriend and Bella’s father — who has yet to learn he has a daughter.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jenny relives the past, this time through her mother’s eyes. Jenny prefers spending her final months in any way other than confronting her past, but Bella needs a home and people to love and care for her when that fateful day arrives. For her daughter’s sake, Jenny fights to push aside her wishes and feelings. With the help of her faith and the people who love her, wounds slowly start to heal and a new life emerges.

Gina Holmes’ work is stunning in her heart-wrenching, debut novel. In Crossing Oceans, Holmes carries her readers on a journey of love and forgiveness. I strongly advise readers keep a box of Kleenex handy. Holmes masterfully reaches the emotions, delivering a mix of love, anger, sorrow, and hope. Both the plot and characters are refreshingly real. Faith is addressed in a true-to-life fashion, and not in an artificial, preachy manner often typical of novels in this genre.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone searching for a story that feeds the heart. I hope this is only the first of many novels by Holmes.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: April 2010

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Maya Davis loves coffee and is not a big fan of eating healthy. She will gladly drink her body weight in caffeine and eat frozen foods for every meal of every day.  She’s not looking for love. She’s happy in her job as a barista at a local coffee shop (Cool Beans). She loves her friends. She loves her dog. In short, she’s completely content where she is.

Until her roommate, Jen, brings her new boyfriend, Travis, to meet Maya. Then things get a little sticky. You see Jen’s new boyfriend is Maya’s ex, but Jen doesn’t know that and apparently, neither does Travis. Since he and Maya dated years ago, she has cut and dyed her hair and lost some weight. This presents an interesting dilemma for Maya. Should she tell Jen and risk hurting Jen’s feelings or should she wait it out and see how serious things get? Or should she just go get another cup of coffee and forget about the stress for right now? Which choice do you think is the right one? And now, the better question, which one do you think Maya chooses?

If you picked getting a cup of coffee and forgetting about the stress you got the right answer. Well, as far as Maya is concerned.
Maya Davis is a snarky fun young woman who has a great way of viewing the world and Erynn Mangum expresses her values and views in a non preachy but totally realistic way. Instead of Maya being a perfect person who always chooses the right thing because the Bible says so, Maya is very realistic in her attitudes. She does what most of us in the world do. She avoids situations that make her uncomfortable or that might hurt people she loves. Oh and did I forget to mention a potential love interest in the middle? And it’s not Travis either. It’s a mixed up plot with a lot of fun inner monologue from Maya and interaction between Maya and those around her. Though the story isn’t full of angst, heavy romance or drama, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Mangum’s characters are heartwarming, delightful and fun with just enough conscience to make you cringe in sympathy at their troubles and distress. The pacing of the story is light and fun, easy to read (or devour) and at the end, it feels like time well spent. Even though I’m not a coffee drinker, I found myself craving the smell and flavor of a medium roast or dark roast. I longed for a girl’s night in pajamas with my best girlfriends and a movie (and did that last night actually – I credit Maya for the inspiration!) and a fun place to work like Cool Beans.

It appears that this is the first of a series of books from Maya’s perspective. I cannot wait to dive into Latte Daze, the next book, and find out what trouble comes Maya’s way this time.

Shaun Stevenson’s Review:

One thing is for sure: Erynn Mangum must love coffee. And chocolate. And watching Runaway Bride in pajamas. Because all three definitely appear in her new book, Cool Beans: A Maya Davis Novel. Maya Davis is twenty-four, single, working daily at the local coffee shop, Cool Beans, and loving life. That is until her roommate and best friend Jen starts dating. But she’s not just dating anyone. She’s dating Maya’s ex-boyfriend, Travis, from five years before. And thus, Maya’s perfect little world is flipped completely over. Can she deal with this new awkward relationship, her ever-annoying brother Zach moving back to town, and just sleeping through the night without her dog waking up the entire apartment complex?

Mangum returns after finishing her Lauren Holbrook series with a new setting, new characters, and more humor and relationship drama. At times, Maya is very similar to Lauren from the previous series, with many of the same quirks and habits, and it was hard to distinguish the two characters from each other. The basic construct of Maya’s world felt very similar to Lauren’s, with single’s group on Wednesday nights, a coffee shop, and church every Sunday. But that’s about where the similarities in plot and character end. About a fourth of a way through, Maya begins to emerge as a character of her own.

The writing moves along swiftly. Most of the chapters are made up of dialogue between Maya and her friends, and Mangum uses these conversations to advance the story. A few of the ending “twists” are pretty easy to see coming, but the characters are so enjoyable that they make up for the weaker plot. The reason for Maya’s breakup with Travis in the past is built up throughout the novel, but when the reality is revealed, it was almost a bit of a let-down, as we’ve been expecting something quite different from the truth. The drama never completely envelops the story, and things stay pretty light-hearted throughout.

Fans of Mangum’s earlier books (Miss Match, Rematch, and Match Point) will enjoy a new outing with funny characters and hints of Robin Gunn Jones-esque drama. All said, reading Cool Beans was often like sipping through a cup of coffee – warm and satisfying through to the end.

Don’t miss our interview with Erynn Mangum here.

Review copies provided by NavPress.

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Publisher: Putnam

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

When eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan’s parents send him to his grandparents’ South Dakota horse ranch for a summer on his grandparents’ horse ranch, he expects the worst two months of his life. Instead, he meets the neighbors’ daughter, Lillian Chance. She shares his love of baseball and teaches him how to ride horses. With each annual visit their friendship grows and develops into something more, until the year they stumble on the body of a dead hiker.

From that day on, their lives follow different paths. Coop breaks away from his father’s demands while Lil becomes a wildlife biologist and creates the Chance Wildlife Refuge.

Twelve years later their lives intersect once more. Coop leaves his job as a private investigator in New York to care for his grandparents and the ranch. Still hurt by his departure all those years ago, Lil determines to not let his presence hold her back. But when animals are slaughtered, and left for Lil to find, and a man goes missing, Coop will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even if it means disrupting her life and the peace she fought so hard to achieve.

At first, I was very excited to read Nora Roberts’ Black Hills, but the more I read, the greater my disappointment grew. While the plot is intriguing and Roberts draws the reader into the world of wildlife biologists, I grew irritated with the crude language. By this I refer to swear words as well as countless distasteful conversations between the characters. They treat sex in a cavalier fashion, often talking about it or the opposite sex in extremely debasing terms. The words lust and love are thrown around freely and interchangeably, even when it’s lust every time.

Numerous sex scenes leave little to the imagination. Roberts isn’t a bad writer, she pulls her audience into the intricacies of a wildlife refuge and the lives of its inhabitants and caretakers, but if one pulls out the vulgar words, crass conversations, and sex scenes, there isn’t much left to this book. That aside, this novel is for those who prefer figuring out how to catch the culprit rather than learning whodunit, as the reader knows the culprit almost from the beginning.

Overall, Black Hills disappointed me. Knowing that Roberts is a mystery writer and having enjoyed several movies based on her books, I had high expectations for the novel. Unfortunately, I will now have to think twice before reading a Nora Roberts book again and stick to the movies, which are cleaner.

Review copy provided by Putnam.

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

In an attempt to flee her past, underwater archaeologist Shiloh Blake moves to Mumbai, India, hoping to put as much distance as possible between herself and her father. At a dig, tragedy strikes, leaving a colleague dead, her best friend fighting for his life, and Blake running from an unknown enemy. Searching for answers, Blake finds herself caught in the middle of a nuclear terrorist plot. Those behind it will stop at nothing to see her dead. To survive, Blake must remember everything her father taught her and even do the one thing she vowed never to do — become a spy.

Former Navy SEAL, Reece Jaxon, faces the task of keeping the feisty and stubborn archaeologist alive. But how can he make Blake trust him when every man in her life has betrayed her, including her own father? How can he show her that despite the bruises and battering the world has inflicted, God has never abandoned her?

Ronie Kendig shines with her debut novel Dead Reckoning. She seizes the reader from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the end, leading her audience through a labyrinth coated with lies and dangers. She expertly keeps the reader flipping through the pages anxious to learn what follows. Though God and faith play a part in the novel, Kendig is never preachy.

Kendig could have offered more details and provided a bit more closure in a couple areas that affect Blake’s personal relationships, but regardless, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance and suspense. Once started, the reader will struggle to put down the book. It is a refreshing to find a book where clean doesn’t mean cheesy and page-turning action doesn’t mean foul language or inappropriate scenes. I eagerly await many more books from Kendig.

Review copy provided by Abingdon Press.

Genre: Mystery/Romance

Publisher: Mira

Publication Date: November 2009

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Hannah Shay lived in Black Falls all her life. While life has never been easy, the recent attack that shocked the small town and left several dead has made everything harder. Her own brother barely escaped with his life and now people suspect the killers had inside help. Hannah fights the increasing fear that a man she grew up with is involved as she juggles running her café, studying for the bar exam, the speculations and aftermath of the recent violence, as well as dealing with the Cameron brothers.

Sean Cameron has returned to town hoping to uncover why assassins targeted and murdered his father. Hannah’s behavior together with theories he’s compiled of the event convince Sean the young woman is hiding something. He struggles to win her trust hoping to uncover the truth, but in doing so he risks losing his heart to the beautiful and stubborn woman.

Cold River is the second book in the Black Falls Series, although readers will quickly pick up the story line. Carla Neggers explains the events of the previous book—maybe too much so. Hearing the same story from every character quickly became annoying.

Neggers also tends to spell everything out. The author makes the characters’ thoughts and feelings clear through their actions and words, only to go on and state what they are. Neggers should give the reader the benefit of the doubt and tell him/her once. Sadly, this urge to explain led to much unnatural dialogue as Neggers forces too much information. The character’s unrealistic conversations slowed the story.

That aside, while Cold River presents no new takes on the romance/mystery genre, the novel provides a few hours of easy and entertaining reading. A couple of swear words show up occasionally, but it’s nice to find a book that isn’t filled with vulgar language. Readers should be aware that there is one sex scene which anyone who wishes to can easily skip and miss nothing. While this isn’t the kind of book I’d read a second or third time, its fine for a one-time read.

Review copy provided by Mira.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Summerside Press

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Paradise, Pennsylvania is a small town nestled in the heart of Amish country. It’s not a huge bustling metropolis but it’s not really what you would call a quaint gorgeous little town. It’s more like…oh wait. I’m supposed to review the book, not the town. See, I grew up in Pennsylvania so I’ve been to Paradise (the town) on more than one occasion. So when I got a copy of this book in the mail from Loree Lough, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I’ve read Loree’s work before and I’ve visited the town. That’s a perfectly matched partnership for expectations on this book. As is Loree’s expertise with people and the location in this book.

Julia is a beautiful young attorney whose family originally hailed from Paradise. Her life growing up was the furthest thing from ideal that you could imagine. Initially removed from her drug addicted parents and placed in care with her grandparents, Julia loved life in their beautiful home in Paradise. Then the government system stepped in, removed her from her grandparents and placed her in the foster care system.  When her grandparents passed away and left her their home and their land, at first she wasn’t interested. After a lot of wrestling with the decision, she moved back to Paradise and that’s where she met Simon.

Simon is a handsome young widower whose wife died very young. He was left broken hearted and determined never to love another woman again. The first time he meets Julia, those promises go out the window. He can’t stop the attraction he feels, but Julia is broken by her past and believes that she’s somehow tainted, so she keeps Simon at arm’s length.

Their story is rich and beautifully crafted. With good friends in the Amish community, the two characters give us a glimpse of what the ‘simple’ life is like. We learn about forgiveness amidst great tragedy and how a deep and real love can change you to your core. Loree’s writing cuts to the heart of topics that touch everyone. Acceptance, brokenness, inadequacy. She writes them all in such a way that helps clear the mind and lets the reader see some of these issues in a new way.

Loree Lough’s books are a breath of sunshine in a market that has trended toward heavy topics of late. (Not that this is a bad thing. I have several books that I’m looking forward to reading that would definitely be called heavy topics!) I recently told someone that Loree’s books are like mouthwash. They are easy to use and leave you feeling fresh and clean. If you’ve been wrapped in heavy books lately or would like a breath of fresh romance in your reading, give Loree’s books a chance. They’ll not only leave you with that fresh feeling I mentioned earlier, but the characters will wrap around your heart and meet you wherever you are.

Review copy provided by the author.

Genre: Historical, Adventure, Romance

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Every time you open a book, it’s a chance for a new adventure. Limitless potential. For me, opening An Echo in the Bone meant that I would be visiting with old friends. I have been following Gabaldon’s Outlander series since book one and have since truly become friends with Claire, Jamie, Brianna, Roger, and a host of others that Gabaldon has created.  So when I opened the book, I was ready for adventure and Gabaldon did not disappoint.

Let me back up a little. Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser is a time traveler. In the first book of the series (Outlander) she inadvertently traveled from 1940’s England to Scotland of the 1700’s. She quickly discovered what life was like for a woman in that era. Being without the protection of a man was not a good thing and she ended up forced to marry a young man, Jamie Fraser, for just this purpose. Since she was a married woman when she traveled back, you can imagine she was pretty unhappy with this development. But hey, her husband of modern times wasn’t even close to being born yet so could she really be unfaithful? Besides that, the marriage was a life or death situation. Without it, she wouldn’t have survived. Claire had a background in medicine which added to her knowledge of history and made her an incredibly valuable resource. And this was the humble beginning of a back and forth time travel series that sent modern day women around the world swooning over men in kilts.

Now, where were we? Oh yes. An Echo in the Bone. Echo takes place mostly in the United States though it’s not quite united yet. Claire knows enough history to remember major events or people (like George Washington and Benedict Arnold), but not enough to guide her own path safely through every circumstance of the war. After all, there were hundreds and thousands of people involved in the revolution that didn’t end up with their names and cities in history books. Still, Claire remains a brilliant encyclopedia for Jamie to rely upon when meeting new people or visiting new places. It creates for a delicious state of tension when Claire finds herself delighted with a handsome young man of impeccable manners and realizes that she has not properly introduced herself. Imagine her state of being when he takes her hand and warmly introduces himself as Benedict Arnold and places himself at her service.

The book takes place in a variety of places that span from the continental states to Britain, France and Scotland. Gabaldon has also straddled the storytelling between the 1980’s and the 1700’s. This device gives the reader an interesting perspective as Claire’s daughter and son-in-law discover where she has been and what she’s been doing through historical documents and research. The tension builds through this device as we all know where Claire is at certain times and they are able to research history and discover how close she is to battles, disaster or danger.

If it were possible for me to review each and every page of this book I would. Having been a Gabaldon fan since the beginning, I had high expectations. Gabaldon not only met but exceeded what I could have imagined for this book. I found myself gasping out loud, giggling in places and enjoying the pace of the book.

Though there were moments when I felt like the story slowed down in pacing, it was still a breathtaking ride. I also stumbled once or twice in places with references to characters from previous books. I know that some of the suspense and drama was probably not as exciting as it could have been had I re-read the previous books before diving into this one.

Still, I couldn’t help myself. When the book arrived in the mail, I had a hard time putting it aside so I could finish other books. I loved the story and where Gabaldon has taken Jamie, Claire, Roger and Brianna. I’m also thrilled to say that with the ending, it looks like we can expect more adventures in the future. It should say something when you get to the end of a book that’s 800+ pages and you frantically turn to the back cover to find out when the next release is expected. I’ll be biding my time until we hear from Gabaldon again. For anyone who loves adventure, romance, time travel or historical fiction, Gabaldon’s entire Outlander series is a must read.

Review copy provided by Delacorte Press.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Guideposts Books

Publication Date: February 1, 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Claire Prescott’s life is not, in any way, in an ideal position. She’s just lost her job and she’s unhappy with…well, pretty much everything. So when her sister can’t go abroad to Oxford for a Jane Austen symposium, Claire volunteers to go present her sister’s paper in her stead.

Upon arrival, it becomes even clearer that she not only doesn’t belong in this sort of venue, but that her life is really, well, underwhelming. When she meets a charming handsome man, instead of sharing her story, she crafts a far more interesting tale of what her life is like. Unfortunately, it’s not true. This obviously puts Claire in a really difficult position. Enter The Formidables. Or at least one that we’ve met before.

The Formidables are a secret society that Pattillo introduced in her previous novel, Jane Austen Ruined My Life. Once again, they come to the aid of an Austen lover. Through exploration of Austen’s own life and works, they’re able to open up a lot of possibilities and a greater understanding of life for Claire.

For anyone who knows about Jane Austen’s real life, both of these books are an eye opener. I enjoyed reading both of them and learning more about one of my favorite writers. If you’re a fringe Jane Austen fan and haven’t read a lot of her books or only enjoy the really popular ones (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility) Patillo’s work will still enlighten you and give you interesting information about Austen while partnering it with an interesting story.

Though I really enjoyed her first book, this one felt a little more like Pattillo was trying her hand at rewriting Austen’s work instead of giving it a fresh new look. At times as I was reading I found myself pulled from the story and wondering if this was merely a vehicle for her own Pride and Prejudice rewrite. (Everyone else has been doing it. Why not?) At the same time, Claire Prescott is a fun character that is easy to enjoy and understand. Her journey is a little fantastical every now and then, but the ending to the story is satisfying and enjoyable.

This is a fun afternoon or weekend read when you’d like to get away and dive into some Jane Austen without immersing yourself in Austen’s own work. It’s a fun retreat and feels a bit like your own personal vacation from reality. A sort of Jane Austen light, Pattillo’s work and characters stand well enough on their own, but they are made vibrant with the backdrop of Austen’s work and life as an accessory.

Review copy provided by Guideposts Books.

Genre: Romance, Religious

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

When Maura Sullivan left the small town of Granger, Ohio, she didn’t plan to ever return. You see when Maura left town, she also left her husband, Nick. As sad as this is, we all know that this happens often in today’s society. What makes Maura’s story different is that Nick is also a beloved pastor in this small town. Throw in a well intentioned woman who leaves both Nick and Maura some very special things in her will and you have a very sticky situation with some interesting ramifications.

Everything in Maura’s life has gone south since leaving Granger and she is anxious to do what she needs to do and leave the town and its people behind once again. The last person she wants to see is Nick, so imagine her feelings when she ends up sharing an elevator with him at the attorney’s office building. Things get even worse when she discovers that in order to receive the bequest from the will, she’s going to need to live with Nick in the parsonage for six months. Really?!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. This subject could easily be overbearing and preachy and I admit that I feared the worst. Imagine my delight when I opened this book and found myself so deeply involved in it that I carried the book everywhere with me. This story completely entranced me. It drew me in with a compassion and interest that made me feel like these were people I know.  The writing shows a keen insight and understanding of what people go through as they live their Christian walk every day. AlLee addresses the hurt that comes from separation and divorce without ever preaching or judging. She moves deftly and with great beauty through the thought process of characters confronting sins of their past and mistakes of the present as they stretch through a sometimes painful maturing process.

The storyline could easily feel trite and contrived, but AlLee diffuses this by having Maura voice the same feelings herself. The disbelief, questions and concerns that a reader might have, all get addressed through the storyline and plot, helping to make the story more believable and real.

Many Christian books, especially stories about divorce or contemporary life, have a tendency to be heavy handed and preachy. The characters can sometimes speak some sort of Christian-ese language that doesn’t flow well with what believers live and speak daily. This book not only does not suffer from that problem, it flows with realism and understanding. The struggles are relatable. The language is honest. The writing is simple and beautiful. Several times as I was reading, I wanted to find Maura or Nick and give them a hug. This was a simple, beautiful story of love interrupted, found, and built again. This book would be a wonderful gift for a pastor’s wife, a newlywed, a seasoned wife… You know actually, just forget the list. This book is a beautiful read no matter who you are.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Jove

Publication Date: January 26, 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Audrianna Kelmsleigh has a problem. Her father, embroiled in scandal, has just committed suicide. Audrianna is convinced that he was innocent and though he’s dead, she’s determined to clear his name. Not only will it fix his reputation, but it will also reopen the door to polite society for her family.

With a fierce determination that matches her beauty, Audrianna plunges herself headfirst into the intrigue and danger that led to her father’s death. Against all better judgment, she leaves herself in an unguarded position with a man that she thinks knows more about the trumped up charges against her father only to find that not only is he not the man that she thought he was, but he’s also investigating the same mystery.

When Lord Sebastian Summerhays meets Audrianna, he has no idea why the man he was supposed to meet is a woman. Not only is she a woman, but a young beautiful, albeit naïve woman. Though known far and wide for being a rogue who romances women wherever he goes, Summerhays soon realizes that Audrianna is far more than just beautiful. She’s captured his heart. Adventure, intrigue, mystery and romance soon ensue.

If romance and passion are what you want in your reading, then Madeline Hunter should be in your reading list and Ravishing in Red belongs at the top. Hunter takes the classic stories of strong independent women and partners them with the brave handsome rogues that they tame. The characters are fresh and exciting as we follow Audrianna’s journey to discover whether or not her father truly committed treason. As she grows deeper into life with Summerhays and his family, she discovers that the mystery affects far more than just her own family. She begins to learn more about his motivations.

With a clever and sometimes heart wrenching mystery wrapped around the two lovers, Ravishing in Red brings new life to the romance genre.  This book does have adult situations and descriptions and the passion is not lacking in description, so be ready when you read it. But if you’re looking for something to take you away from bills, stress and hassles, give it a try.

Review copy provided by Jove Publishing.

Genre: Romance, Supernatural

Publisher: Lucas Lane

Publication Date: December 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Kayla Rowe is getting married. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, she is having trouble fully embracing the moment. Her first love, Billy, has suddenly come back into her life and Kayla can’t escape the intense feelings between the two that seemingly never left. What they shared was often unstable and surprising, yet always full of passion and longing, the kind of love Kayla had never felt before. The problem with Billy was that he reminded Kayla too much of what her father must have been like. She lost him when she was only two, but as the big day approaches she wishes more than anything that he could be there to give her away. Being around Billy again has brought out all of those old emotions leaving Kayla more confused than ever.

Thomas Rowe loved to dance with his baby girl. His time with her was short, only two years, but even in heaven he remembers those precious moments. He is overwhelmed when he is suddenly presented with an opportunity he can’t refuse. He can return to earth and dance with his daughter on her wedding day. The only catch? She won’t know it’s him and he must make sure she marries the right man. This is everything Thomas has dreamed of, ever since he first held Kayla in his arms. He only hopes he has enough time…

Travis Thrasher has carved out a nice little niche for himself in recent years as a supernatural thriller writer. With Every Breath You Take he goes back to his roots and gives readers a powerful love story with a supernatural twist that will sit with you long after the final page. This is first and foremost a love story that Thrasher has written to his daughter. Indeed, the relationship between Thomas and Kayla is beautifully crafted and I challenge any father not to shed a tear or two as they think about their own little girl while reading this story.

Thrasher uses his love of music to cleverly carry this narrative. The novel is broken up into six parts, each part bearing the name of an album from Coldplay or The Police. In each part, the chapter names are taken from songs from the corresponding album. In lesser hands this approach might come across as gimmicky, but I found myself constantly scrolling through my iPod to see how each song fit with the story. The characters’ love of music added a whole new depth of emotion to the story, drawing me effortlessly into the pages.

In the end I was knocked off my feet by the unexpected, only to be reeled back in by the powerful message that comes surging through. Every element of this story worked for me, and I’m shocked that a publishing house didn’t pick this up. While Thrasher is more than content with this being a special little project, I can’t help but wonder about the potential of this story if placed in some influential hands. Whether Every Breath You Take eventually takes the publishing world by storm or it always remains a fan collector’s item, I’ll be forever grateful that I took this journey with Kayla, Billy, and Thomas.

NOTE: Currently this novel can only be purchased directly from the author. To order your copy click here. If you want to read Travis Thrasher’s account of why he chose to self-publish this story, you can check out his blog. You can also hear Travis talk about the story behind this novel in our recent interview with him.

Genre: Romance, Historical, Religious

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: January 5, 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Lucinda Bishop’s life has just been turned upside down. With the loss of both of her parents, everything that she has ever known is gone. Now she’s moving from the East coast and bustling city life to the territories of the west and a ranch in the Oklahoma territories.

It’s a difficult transition for a young girl who, at the age of 17, hasn’t spent time outside the city or any time away from her parents. She learns very quickly that life at the ranch doesn’t allow for sleeping in or for relaxing in the afternoons. Thankfully she has a loving considerate family to help her learn the ins and outs of this new life.

Of course, as usually happens with young women around this age, into the turmoil and upheaval is introduced yet another factor, a young man. Jake Starnes is a handsome young man who works for Lucinda’s Aunt and Uncle on their ranch. A fine worker with a mysterious past, Jake does everything possible to help Lucinda’s family keep the ranch together and that includes helping Lucinda with the transition to ranch life. The more time that the two of them spend together, the more he realizes that his feelings for the young girl run far beyond that of merely attraction. What Jake doesn’t know is how to proceed in courting this beautiful young woman when he’s got a past that isn’t going to leave him in peace.

Lucinda’s struggle with her feelings is one that transcends time and reaches out to all young women who are picking their way through the dating process. How do you control your feelings for someone when you know that your belief system is completely different from his? And what do you do with those feelings when you don’t know if you could have a future with him. As Lucinda and Jake navigate the potential minefields of attraction and figuring out the future, the story crosses the boundaries of history to become relevant to young women today.

Strang Book Group has chosen a solid and enjoyable read for their first venture into the historical romance genre. Martha Rogers has created delightful characters and a beautiful storyline that keep you engaged and interested throughout the course of the book. Though the outcome is predictable, the way in which they reach the conclusion is very much not and as with all of life, the journey is as important as the conclusion. The growth of Lucinda and Jake through their difficult circumstances is a wonderful example of how God can transform a life no matter how insurmountable the odds. Becoming Lucy was a wonderful escape from the everyday stresses of life. If this is any indication of what Strang has in the works, I’ll very happily allow them to supply my ‘escapes’ in the future.

Genre: Adaptation, Science Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Ulysses Press

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

As part of my recent Austen binge, I thought to myself that I was reviewing zombies in the Regency era, why not vampires? After all, vampire folklore has a longer history than the current zombie fads. It might be interesting to explore.

In this book, Fitzwilliam Darcy, our favorite romantic hero, is a dhampir. That’s half human half vampire. When the book opens, he’s already fighting his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet and the two of them have stolen away for several evening adventures that would have been considered scandalous had they been caught.  Darcy fights his feelings, not because of Elizabeth’s pride or stature in society, but because of the curse that has followed his family for generations. He doesn’t want to pass the curse on to another generation, and so he has decided that he will remain single for all of his days. That is, until he meets Elizabeth Bennet. He then falls madly in love with her and spends the rest of the story trying to figure out what he should do with these feelings.

The story differs from the original while remaining true enough to make sure that the main characters all ended in the same general manner as the original.  This is a love story. It’s about passion, desire, romance and overcoming obstacles. It was a fun read but it took me separating my ideas and expectations and putting them aside before I could enjoy it. After I divorced myself from the attachment to Austen’s original, I pulled back and quit trying so hard to make it fit into what I already knew and loved. Then it became a much better read.

Rather than a tried and true adaptation of this classic romance, it felts more like a vampire love story into which our favorite characters were dropped. It was hard to imagine Darcy saying some of the things attributed to him in this book and likewise, difficult to see Elizabeth acting in the manner that she did.

As I mentioned previously though, once I removed the expectations and viewed it through a fresh lens, it was a good story that was interesting to follow. With the crazy vampire phenomenon all over publishing right now,  (honestly you can’t drop a popsicle stick in a fiction section these days without staking a vampire book) I’m sure that many will find pleasure and delight in this book bringing together the latest craze with a tried and true classic favorite.

Genre: Adaptation, Science Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Quirk Books

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Pride and Prejudice. And Zombies. What else is there that you can possibly say when a beloved classic is suddenly injected with the modern day idea of brain eating zombies? I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and I approached it with trepidation. I love Jane Austen. Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Bingley. Netherfield. Pemberley. These are old friends not just to me but to generations of romantics at heart. How can one honestly put zombies in the mix and have it be good?

And yet, it is. Yes. I’ve said it out loud right here on the internet for the entire world to see. This book was good.  Beyond good, it was delightful to read.

Using Regency era language and manners, the new sections fit seamlessly into Jane Austen’s original text and story.  In one moment you may be reading about Darcy and Elizabeth taking a turn about the gardens at Pemberley and a page later, the two are fighting ‘unmentionables’ side by side with a deadly accuracy. Or Lady Catherine De Bourgh, while hosting a meal at her lavish home, suddenly shares the stories of how she came to have so many ninjas in her employ.

It’s an amazing adaptation that delighted me to no end. In fact, parts of this book were (dare I say it?) more satisfying in conclusion than the original. Wickham’s dastardly actions are answered in a manner that is admittedly over the top. Yet as I was reading, I couldn’t help but give a cheer at this Darcy’s actions and response.

In this adaptation, the Bennet girls are well known throughout the countryside for being exceptional zombie killers. They even traveled to the Orient to study under world renowned martial arts masters. They are, in short, as deadly as they are beautiful. When a troop of unmentionables shows up at a ball, the Bennet sisters are quick to dispatch them all with grace and style.

This adaptation has kept all of the characterization, mannerisms and language of the original Pride and Prejudice and taken great care to insert zombies in places that are a surprisingly seamless fit. In fact while I was reading I would find myself so engrossed in the story that when zombies were mentioned, I laughed out loud because I’d forgotten what I was reading. But still, they fit in an odd alternate universe sort of way.

This book was a delightful read that made me laugh and at the same time, re-experience the beautiful romance that belongs to Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth. If you’ve been wondering about it, give it a try. You might find yourself surprised and delighted.

Genre: Chicklit, Romance

Publisher: Summerside Press

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

For someone who doesn’t like Christmas, it’s not easy for Bryce Stone to live in North Pole, Alaska. Throw in the fact that he’s just returned from Iraq where he was blinded in one eye and that he has no clue what to do with the family business, and all you need is a spunky independent woman to make a perfect romance. That’s what Loree Lough has pulled together in this installment of the “Love Finds You” series from Summerside Press.

When Sam Sinclair packs up and moves her entire life to Alaska to take a job, she’s more than unhappy to find out that the job has already been given to someone else. This leaves her with no job and Bryce with a lot of loose ends in his life. Thankfully he’s got an Aunt who always has her eye out for his best interests and she hires Sam to manage the family’s Christmas store. It’s not long before Sam and Bryce are delightfully driving each other up the wall. I laughed out loud at several of their discussions and couldn’t help but get a kick out of some of the flaws that the two of them discover in each other.

With gentle twists, nudges, and beautiful heart wrenching moments, Loree Lough introduces us to beautiful characters that are flawed, beautiful, complicated, and yet still easy for everyone to understand.  Her writing style is beautiful and descriptive while being comfortable enough to make you feel like you’re sliding into your favorite pair of blue jeans.

This was the first Loree Lough book that I’ve read, though she has a bajillion of them on the market. Okay, maybe not a bajillion, but enough that one should stand up and take notice. I’m delighted to say that I have another waiting here to read and more to come in the future. If you need a break from reality that’s heartwarming and beautiful while giving you the desire to travel to a new place, give Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska a try.

Genre: Comedy, Chicklit, Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: May 5, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

As part of my continuing Jane Austen kick, I decided to dive into What Would Jane Austen Do? I won’t lie to you. The cover art caused me to raise an eyebrow. Instead of a traditional bodice ripper, this one seemed to have a button down ripper?!  Okay, that’s a twist.

Eleanor Pottinger is a modern day expert of Regency fashion and therefore knows almost everything there is to know about Jane Austen. So when she attends a modern day seminar in England about the Regency period, she believes she’s fully prepared. Unfortunately, the inn where she’s meant to stay has lost her reservation and must put her in a suite of rooms that is never used. Why? Supposedly the rooms are haunted. Eleanor soon finds out that there’s no ‘supposedly’ to it when she meets Deirdre and Mina Cracklebury, the former owners of the home and ghosts who are unable to ‘rest’ until some circumstances that happened in their lives get set straight.  Can you see where this is going?

Eleanor goes to sleep in modern times and wakes up facing the real life women behind the ghosts. Of course they have no idea where she’s from or who she is and they assume that she’s a long lost cousin who has come over from the Americas.

There’s mystery, romance, adventure and of course, a few fleeting moments with Jane Austen herself in this novel. A perfect read for a long trip or a vacation, this book is for anyone who enjoys romance and a little bit of adventure with a dash of time travel thrown in the mix. With a mystery that keeps you wondering and twists that are unexpected and delightful just the same, Brown does an excellent job of capturing what a modern day woman would think if tossed into the middle of a Jane Austen novel. With a few fun modern references and some very modern feelings about the men around her, Eleanor is a wonderful central character that you want to follow.

Laurie Brown has created fun characters, seemingly impossible situations and conversations with Jane Austen that are realistic and not overblown. I expected the novel to have more interaction with Austen or to have more about her, but when all was said and done, I was very glad that it didn’t. Where it would be easy to give in to the tendency to bestow Austen with her own words or thoughts, Brown resists the temptation. Instead, she gives us a wonderful slice of a possible moment in time with Jane Austen.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

In six weeks, Brad Cutler will marry the woman of his dreams. Laura, perfect for him in every way, shares the same faith, morals and goals. Unfortunately, the past Brad thought he buried long ago breathes down his neck threatening to ruin everything he’s built.

Brad travels back to North Carolina to find Emma, the ex-girlfriend he abandoned nine years earlier after the bad choices of a fateful summer led to an unwanted pregnancy and abortion. He hopes to atone for his past wrongs, but in doing so, he risks everything. Laura now wonders if she even knows the man she is about to marry.

In Shades of Blue, Karen Kingsbury once again delicately weaves a story of love, faith and redemption. She tackles difficult issues and expertly shows how the choices we make change our lives forever, not only affecting us, but also those we love the most. Brad’s character demonstrates how bad decisions can lead to a lifetime of pain and regret. At the same time, though he cannot change the past, he shows that the hope of forgiveness and redemption always exist.

Not your typical romance, Shades of Blue focuses mostly on Brad and Emma’s broken past and journey to restoration while Laura struggles with anger and forgiveness miles away from her fiancée. Some Christian clichés do come through, making the narrative feel forced in places, but Kingsbury makes up for it by dealing with a complex issue, such as abortion, with gritty realism that palpably draws readers in.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: Guideposts Books

Publication Date: February, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

A couple of weeks ago, I went off on a total Jane Austen binge. I contacted Jake here at Fiction Addict and gave him a list of books that I wanted to read – almost all of them involving Jane Austen’s wonderful writing. (Watch for What Would Jane Austen Do, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Vampire Darcy’s Desire…all coming up for review soon!)  Jake was awesome (as usual) and within just a couple of days, my mailbox was overflowing with big oversized envelopes stuffed with books. All of them inspired by the great lady herself, Jane Austen.

I reached for this book first because really, what self respecting woman hasn’t wished for Mr. Darcy or even the somewhat less spectacular Mr. Bingley to rescue them from the modern dating scene? (Although I suspect that some of my friends and myself have been just as much in love with Colin Firth as with Mr. Darcy, but that’s a different review now isn’t it?) Regardless of this, I felt an immediate kinship and sympathy with this title. (I feel like I should say here that I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with my adoration of both Mr. Darcy and Colin Firth in such a way as to make me love and adore him even more. That’s pretty impressive.)

So now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, shall we attend to the book that we are here to discuss? Indeed!

Emma Douglas has spent her entire academic career studying, lecturing on, and writing about Jane Austen. She is, in short, the quintessential Janeite.  She is quite pleased with the way her life is going until, in one shattering and slightly queasy moment, she discovers her husband and her teacher’s assistant involved in something very biological on the kitchen table. Things go downhill from there. He and his mistress accuse her of plagiarism and thus, not only do we meet our heroine in the middle of a personal crisis, but a career crisis as well.

Instead of giving up on everything she’s ever known, Emma decides that now is the time to separate from everything she’s become comfortable with and, on a lark, she gets rid of a lot of material items and finances her own trip to England to track down Jane Austen’s lost letters.

Here is where I need to back up and give a little history lesson. Jane Austen, being a writer, was an avid and prolific letter writer. It is believed by scholars that during her lifetime, she wrote over three thousand missives to a variety of people. Upon her death, her closest and most beloved fan, her sister Cassandra, destroyed a majority of her letters and allowed the others to be made public. Now that you know that fact, we can move on with the review.

Emma has received information that a very special group of people in England still have ALL of Jane’s letters and that they were not, in fact destroyed. This is not only intriguing to Emma, but it casts her a lifeline in the middle of her chaotic life. The discovery of these letters could mean the revival of her career in academia. She chases after these tidbits of information with the smallest whisper of logic and an incredible measure of passion.

Along the journey, she discovers more about Jane Austen than she’d ever thought possible and also begins to look at her beloved works of writing in a completely new light. On top of all of this, she learns more about herself than she’d understood before.

This book was a delight to read. For anyone who loves Jane Austen it is an absolute must. With exquisite attention to detail, Pattillo uncovers Jane Austen’s life for the reader who hasn’t had the opportunity to research on his or her own and she laces it through with a fictitious story that is delicious and wonderful to follow. Several times while reading this book I thought “Why didn’t I put those pieces together?!”

A little bit Pride and Prejudice mashed up with Sense and Sensibility and a chase worthy of National Treasure or Indiana Jones, you’ll delight in the world that Pattillo has created around a beloved international author and the stories she chose to tell and some she didn’t.  I was disappointed when the story ended. Not because it ended badly, but simply because it ended. I wanted to know more and follow what happened next. Thankfully there is a sequel due soon. I can’t wait to get my hands on Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart.

Genre: Romance, Drama

Publisher: Scribner

Publication Date: September 29th, 2009

Lori Twichell’s review:

“Elspeth died while Robert was standing in front of a vending machine watching tea shoot into a small paper cup.”

Thus begins Audrey Niffenegger’s first novel since The Time Traveler’s Wife.  Now let me start out this review by saying that I am a first level geek for Niffenegger’s work.  I fell in love with The Time Traveler’s Wife and when I discovered that this book was coming out, I was over the moon. When the book finally arrived in the mail, I tore into the package like Christmas. I even paraded it around the house saying “Look! See what Mommy got in the mail! Isn’t it awesome?!” (My son, by the way, was nonplussed with the big book that had no pictures.)

Her Fearful Symmetry combines a ghost story with romance, sibling rivalry and woven throughout, death. The setting of the book is quite literally in the backyard of the famous Highgate Cemetery in London and as you may have noticed in the first sentence of this review, the main character of the book dies. That’s how the book starts. It’s not really your typical ghost story or romance. But that’s okay. Niffenegger’s normal is always anything but typical.

The main character in this book, as I mentioned, is Elspeth. She’s the dearly departed without really having departed. For some reason, Elspeth hasn’t really gone away. So when her mirror twin nieces arrive from America to take over her apartment, things get a little awkward. We follow her journey as she spends her days and nights trying to figure out ways to communicate with the girls. She also spends a lot of time trying to get out of the apartment and see Robert, her lover who lives in the flat below the girls. As Elspeth struggles with her lingering presence and lack of purpose, she notices something odd. Her niece, Valentina, has begun to have feelings for Robert. This puts Elspeth in an even more awkward position than just sleeping in a drawer. She doesn’t know what to do. Should she stop it? Encourage it? Yes. I know. Some moments of the plot do feel a little daytime soapy when you repeat them out loud.

Thankfully Niffenegger’s mastery of character development and description makes things feel far less sudsy than your average soap. She can pull off the most stunning descriptions of characters, events, and locations with the simplest turns of phrase. She can draw you in to the oddest set of storylines and characters with just a few sentences. Even as you’re thinking, “This isn’t really my style” you will come across something that takes your breath away and requires that you read it multiple times to really capture the depth of it. Her writing remains brilliant, beautiful, and stunning.

Now to be fair, the plot wasn’t something that I would normally enjoy and the ending felt like it came far too late in the story. Everything could have really been wrapped much sooner than it did. And in all honesty, I scratched my head at the abrupt climax of several major storylines. But still, it’s Audrey Niffenegger. She writes so beautifully and so brilliantly that even if you get to the end and ask “What?” you still had an amazing journey along the way.

Marianne Peters’ review:

Grief. Ghosts. Two sets of twins. Lovers separated by death and distance. Family secrets. And London’s Highgate Cemetery, an ancient burial ground full of storied occupants. Who can resist a novel with all these compelling elements?

Her Fearful Symmetry begins with Elspeth Noblin’s death and her adventures afterward as she haunts her London flat.  In her will, Elspeth mysteriously leaves her flat to her estranged twin sister’s twenty-year-old twin daughters. Her nieces, Julia and Valentina, share a creepily intense sibling bond. They move into Elspeth’s former home, located in a building which borders famous Highgate cemetery. Julia forms a friendship with upstairs neighbor Martin, a gentle, brilliant, but hopelessly obsessive-compulsive man who refuses to leave his flat. The twins also meet Robert, Elspeth’s grief-stricken former lover who is writing a history of Highgate cemetery and working as a volunteer guide there. When Robert and Valentina form a romantic bond, relationships between the living and the dead begin to unravel.

Highgate itself becomes a character in the novel. Its history, architecture, inhabitants, and daily rituals create an atmosphere of decay, a reminder of the inevitable. Descriptions of the cemetery are the most enjoyable part of the novel, along with Niffenegger’s rendering of ghost-life. Elspeth grows in ghostliness as she attempts to communicate with the twins and with Robert, her erstwhile lover. Niffenegger imagines Elspeth evolving from a misty disembodiment to a visible, powerful presence, and watching her discover her strength and begin to insert herself into the twins’ lives makes for compelling storytelling. Nothing good can come of it.

Like her previous novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger renders a fantastical situation plausible with imaginative detail – for instance, what does it feel like to pull a soul from a body? Unlike her previous novel, her characters did not venture far from type, which made the outcome predictable.  Predictable, but still eerie fun, especially with a setting such as Highgate cemetery, full of ghosts and memories.

Don’t miss our interview with Audrey Niffenegger.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: September 22, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Anita Shreve’s previous novels explore the complexity of human relationships and the deeper end of emotions that everyone shares. Her latest novel, A Change in Altitude is no different. Throughout the book Shreve explores the question of whether a marriage can survive misunderstandings wrapped around tragedy.

Margaret and Patrick have a young marriage full of hope and dreams when they move to Africa. They quickly discover that the human aspects of 1970’s Africa are as untamed and unruly as the wildlife itself. Robberies, rape, attacks and a misunderstood political society all confront Margaret in a very short time, making it difficult for her to acclimate to this new life she’s chosen.

When it’s decided that Patrick and Margaret should join some other couples in climbing Mount Kenya, Margaret isn’t interested in the adventure, but she chooses to go along with it so that she can be with her husband. As they hear about all of the dangers and difficulties involved in the climb, Margaret remains unsure of the trip but continues in preparations anyway.

Then tragedy beyond comprehension strikes and Margaret must learn more about herself and her life than she ever believed possible. How does she move on? CAN you move on in the face of something like this?

Shreve does not shy away from the hard topics in this novel. As she explores marriage, friendships, internal struggles and the alienation of a foreign land, she plumbs the difficult paths that many refuse to acknowledge in their writing.  Sometimes this makes it difficult to read. A few times I was tempted to put it down and give myself a break from Margaret’s thoughts. In fact I did do that a few times. But the journey, though difficult, was as many things are in life, a beautiful one. Africa was far more than just a setting in the book. It was a character, many times more three dimensional and full of life than some of the other human characters in the book.

Reminiscent of  “Out of Africa” and even making a few references to Karen Blixen herself, the book is a journey of not only self discovery but life discovery. It’s a journey that works as any other good journey does.  It leaves you changed when you reach the end.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Publisher: Mariner Books

Publication Date: May 27, 2004

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Romance. It’s usually a very simple formula. Boy meets girl. Girl and boy fight then make up. Then it’s happily ever afterland.

In the case of the Time Traveler’s Wife, Girl (Claire) meets Boy (Henry) when she is six and he is in his late 30’s. Henry, on the other hand, doesn’t meet Claire until he’s in his early 30’s and she’s in her early 20’s. Confused? Yes. I know. It can take a bit of mental acuity to follow along, but the effort is paid off in spades by the end of the story.

Henry DeTamble is a time traveler. He’s not some scientist or great inventor who has come up with a brilliant new way to bend time and space. He’s a librarian who has a genetic disorder that makes him unable to hold on to his place in time. He travels through time without choice, often leaving or returning at the most inopportune moments. Worse yet, Henry’s clothes don’t travel with him. Imagine appearing naked in an alley where a gang is mugging a helpless victim. Or finding yourself in the middle of a restaurant with no clothes. At the least it’s embarrassing. At the worst it can be life threatening.

By the time that Henry meets Claire for the first time, she’s been in love with him for her entire life and yet he has no idea who she is. It’s a surreal experience for Henry but it turns into the best moment of his life. For the rest of the story, Claire and Henry’s lives are interwoven through time with tragedy, drama and some of the most heart rending scenes you’ll ever read.

This book isn’t titled The Time Traveler though. It’s about the Time Traveler’s Wife. And I think that is a key to the whole story. Henry didn’t choose his time traveling nature. It was genetically instilled within him. Claire, however, DID choose this life. She wanted Henry. Even knowing what life would be like, she wanted Henry. She chose it. Perhaps my role in life as a military wife made this story more heartfelt for me. It’s not easy to be in Claire’s shoes and be the one left behind.

I am in awe of Niffenegger’s accomplishment as a writer and storyteller. As I read, I bounced back and forth through Henry and Claire’s lives in a manner not dissimilar to his time traveling. I never knew when the next chapter would be in the course of their timelines, but I knew that no matter what, it would fill in necessary gaps and details.

Niffenegger doesn’t whitewash the realities of time travel and make it ‘exciting’ or adventurous like many science fiction writers do. Instead, she places it firmly in the context of everyday life and trials. This makes it a challenge that Henry and Claire need to work through for their marriage to survive. Everyone has issues in their life that they need to work through. Henry and Claire’s are really no different from our own. We just find the circumstances more fascinating.

The story is beautifully crafted and brilliantly woven. This book will move you. It will shatter you. Beyond that, it will make you want to hug the people that you love. Right now.

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: September 8, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Summer vacation is usually a time that people look forward to with much delight. Throw a beachfront property in there and you have what many people would consider a perfect vacation. Ronnie Miller is not most people. The last thing she wants to do is go to the North Carolina shore and spend the Summer with her father.  When Ronnie’s parents divorced, her anger at him took her life to a very different place. She refused to speak to him for three whole years. So when he calls and invites her and her younger brother Jonah to spend the Summer with him, she’s not interested in the least.

Still, her mother insists and her brother is excited about it. So this is how Ronnie finds herself spending her Summer away from all of her friends and her favorite NYC haunts. She soon finds out that a girl who prefers to wear black all the time and has a bright purple streak in her hair doesn’t fit in very well in North Carolina. As the Summer progresses though, she begins to learn more about her family, herself and her life as she’s always known it.

One thing that Nicholas Sparks does better than any other contemporary author is emotional journeys. Anyone who has read “The Notebook”, “Message in a Bottle” or “A Walk To Remember” can tell you that.  This book is no different.  Sparks writes from the heart and does it with no remorse. Relationships between parents and children, friends and God are all dissected, examined and explored with little editing.

The book moves slowly at first and there are a lot of characters to keep track of as everyone gets introduced. There’s also a lot of back story involved so that we can have a deeper understanding of where characters have been or why they make certain decisions. The character’s stories come together so that by the end, each one has made an emotional journey that changes them. (Warning: Since Sparks pulls no emotional punches, you may want to read this one with a box of tissues handy.)

Though it’s a book about a summer at the shore, The Last Song is no light summer romp. It will challenge you to view the world outside your comfort zone and examine your own responses to life’s twists and turns at the same time it’s giving you a beautifully scripted story.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: July 21, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Lara Lington is having a mid-life crisis. Her boyfriend just broke up with her, her business is failing and her great Aunt Sadie just died. Well the great aunt Sadie part doesn’t really add into Lara’s crisis except that a twenty year old version of Sadie is now haunting her. Sound a little mundane and outrageous all at once? Then you know that you’re reading a Sophie Kinsella novel.

Lara is a simple girl. She’s not drop dead gorgeous and not a world class genius, but she is, most importantly, relatable.  As I mentioned previously, Lara’s great Aunt Sadie has died at the ripe old age of 105. Lara didn’t know Sadie nor does she really care about her when she attends her funeral at the beginning of the story. She’s more concerned with her ex-boyfriend and trying to figure out how she can get him back while trying to convince her family that she’s not deluded or a stalker. So when, in the middle of the funeral, a beautiful young woman in twenties style clothing sits next to her and starts talking, Lara isn’t impressed. It’s not until she discovers that the beautiful young woman is the same woman who is currently the corpse in the coffin that things start to get interesting. It seems that Aunt Sadie can’t go to her ‘rest’ without her favorite necklace and since Lara’s the only one who can hear or see her, it’s up to Lara to find it or be driven insane by Aunt Sadie constantly screaming in her ear.

In Twenties Girl, you get exactly what you expect from reading a Kinsella novel. Adventure, humor, romance and a brilliant way out of an utter mess are the formula for Kinsella’s books and Kinsella always pulls it off with aplomb and style. Though the situations in Twenties Girl are even more extreme than the normal insanity you’d expect, Kinsella still manages to keep belief just barely suspended enough to hold your interest throughout.

As with her other books, Kinsella discusses adult situations and there is some brief language, but she does it with grace and a lack of intimate details such as to make it not overwhelming or too uncomfortable for a conservative reader. All in all, I got everything I expected when I cracked open the cover on this book. It was a delightful read that gave me some laughs, some embarrassment on the heroine’s behalf and a nice warm fuzzy feeling when it all ended.  Sometimes this is all that’s needed from a book. When I’m in need, I’ll always happily turn to a Kinsella heroine for my entertainment getaway.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

I’m not a shopper. The words Jimmy Choo shoes never come out of my mouth strung together in one sentence. So really, there’s no reason for me to identify with or even enjoy Rebecca Bloomwood’s tales of retail therapy. But I do. I love Becky Bloomwood. She’s crazy, illogical, completely addicted to shopping in any form, and despite all of her faults, I completely adore her.

Becky Bloomwood can tell you what the rush is like when you hear the ding of the cash register or when you find the absolute perfect blouse. She can also tell you, with entirely too much experience, that telling a bank or financial institution that you’ve suddenly developed typhoid fever is not a legitimate excuse for lapse of payment. Neither is ‘accidentally’ dropping all of your bills in a garbage dumpster outside your apartment or pretending that your Aunt Ermintrude has died. As Becky so sadly learns, retail therapy does have its price.

Oh and did I tell you what Becky does for a living? She’s a financial reporter. That’s right. Becky’s life is about writing stories that help people keep their finances straight. So you can see where this is going…right?

Sophie Kinsella has created, in Becky Bloomwood, one of the most beloved characters in all of ‘chicklit-dom’. And yes, that’s a word. I’m sure it is.

Written in the first person, the reader has a delightful front row seat to Rebecca’s sometimes warped and entirely hilarious thought process. You can’t help but laugh out loud and shake your head as Becky falls into (and sometimes runs headlong into) some of the worst messes you could imagine and then finds her way back out again. Usually her path out of the problem is far cleverer and better imagined than what you’d expect from a lighthearted journey like Rebecca’s.

Kinsella does an exceptional job of keeping the tone light and clean and though there are a few instances of adult language and discussion throughout, they in no way permeate the story or go into detail enough for the reader to be  uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Becky Bloomwood has many more journeys ahead of her. Future novels take her abroad, into the sometimes disastrous world of a bride and even beyond that, into motherhood. Rebecca learns her lessons, takes her knocks and  Kinsella does a brilliant job of making us love and adore her no matter how wacky or crazy the situation might be.

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Eos

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Dakota Banks’s unexceptional debut features a fair amount of action and displays some creativity but ultimately lacks any real substance.

When 17^th-century herbalist Susannah Layhem is wrongfully accused of witchcraft, she has little opportunity to defend herself before she is hastily and unjustly tried and condemned to death by burning. Luckily (or unluckily) for her, a demon named Rabishu senses her hatred for her accuser and responds to her desire for vengeance by rescuing her from the flames and offering her a deal. If she accepts, she will become immortal and must travel the world, carrying out the demon’s tasks. If she refuses, she will be returned to the fire and will die. She accepts.

Three hundred years later, after killing countless innocents at Rabishu’s orders, Susannah reconsiders. Searching for a way to be released from her obligation, she encounters a handy loophole in the demonic contract: if she saves as many lives as she has taken, she will be free. The catch is that she has to give up her immortality, and if she dies before completing her mission, she will be subject to the demon’s torture for eternity. Susannah, changing her name to Maliha Crayne, embarks on her quest, finding people in danger and saving their lives.

Though the premise is interesting, the story has a number of problems that detract from the book’s effectiveness. The heroine is impossibly and inexplicably wealthy, has meaningless and random sex with just about every man she runs into, is a martial-arts expert, and possesses supernatural powers, which she originally received as a gift from her demon master. Her quest is repeatedly derailed by sidetracks and thus fails to generate real interest; she spends the majority of the book investigating a case of massive corporate fraud rather than actually saving lives. The most interesting scenes are the ones where she finds herself in obscure places around the world, looking for fragments of an ancient tablet that will enable her to destroy Rabishu once and for all.

The other characters are for the most part shallow and uninteresting; most of them are male, and most of them are either sleeping with Maliha or motivated by their desire to do so.

Ultimately, Dark Time is a disappointing book. Though the idea is memorable, the characters are not. The narrative has moments of suspense, and the action scenes are fairly intense, but in the end that’s not enough to make up for the absence of a compelling moral or clear triumph of good over evil—both important components of dark fantasy. All in all, this is a book that even fans of this genre can probably live without.