Genre: Romance

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: April 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

To Michael, Gerard Warner was always more than a renowned, suspense author; he was his grandfather and hero. An aspiring author himself, when Michael inherits his grandfather’s estate, he is anxious to follow in his footsteps. The office where Gerard Warner wrote all his bestselling thrillers seems like the most logical place to begin.

When Michael finds one of his grandfather’s old, unpublished manuscripts, a whole new world unfolds before him. The yellowed pages provide a gripping tale with Nazi spies, danger, and conspiracy as well as beautiful love story between the two main characters, Ben and Claire. As he delves into the young couple’s lives, Michael discovers a whole new side to his grandfather while possibly uncovering the answers to some of his family mysteries.

Dan Walsh’s The Discovery delivers two intriguing stories as the reader follows Michael’s journey as well as Ben and Claire’s. It is a novel about sacrifice, selflessness, and putting others first. In a world where lust and love are used as synonyms, and “I want you” and “I love you” are pretty much interchangeable, The Discovery is truly a breath of fresh air.

I enjoyed how the characters in the manuscript Michael discovered maintained values such as trust and loyalty even while surrounded by the events of World War II and all that entailed. Real events seamlessly woven in with the fiction offered the book a level of realism that often made it hard to know where one ended and the other began. I heartily recommend this novel to readers looking for a beautiful romance with a happy ending.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publisher: Whittier Publishing

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Ashley Dawson can communicate with spirits. When one sends her to a stranger’s house, her life changes forever. Nathaniel Marshall opens his front door. He isn’t happy with the interruption, but when he hears the red-head’s story he becomes livid. Nathaniel is no one’s fool and he won’t put up with someone coming to his own home and treating him as such, no matter how beautiful the woman standing before him might be.

Despite their rocky beginning, Ashley soon becomes indispensable to him. When someone begins stalking her, Nathaniel will go to any length to keep her safe. But how can he protect Ashley from someone who seems like a ghost? Her stalker is little more than a shadow, coming and going as he pleases. Then several murders occur and the message is clear — Ashley is next.

Aris Whittier’s novel, Secrets, is a fast-paced mystery with interesting characters and intriguing plots that easily maintain the reader’s attention. Several twists throughout the novel keep the audience guessing; my favorite coming at the very end. Whittier cost me a late night as I found the novel next to impossible to put down. Like Ashley, the reader finds him/herself sucked into Nathaniel’s world wanting to understand his dark past while rooting for him to overcome it.

As with her debut novel, Fatal Embrace, Whittier outsmarted me. I was convinced that this time I knew who was behind everything. Alas, I was wrong — again! I’m definitely hoping for another chance to match wits with the author. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

Those who liked Whittier’s first novel will be pleased to hear that Michael Carven makes a cameo appearance in Secrets. While I enjoyed the mystery and even the main characters, I was disappointed with the increase of explicit and unnecessary sex scenes in this novel in comparison to Fatal Embrace. The reader should also be prepared for some vulgar language.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Karen Kingsbury’s Forever Faithful Trilogy brings together three heart-wrenching stories that confront readers with some of life’s most difficult trials. Kingsbury takes her readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride they will not soon forget.

In Waiting for Morning, Hannah Ryan’s closest companions are bitterness, anger, and hatred. A drunk driver took the life of her husband and oldest daughter. Propelled solely by revenge, Hannah is determined to see the driver pay dearly for his actions. In the process, she shuns God, alienates her only surviving daughter, and rejects anyone who doesn’t support her agenda. Soon her life has spiraled so far out of control that Hannah is not sure she can find her way back. It will take a kind prosecutor called Matt, a widow, and her husband’s dying words to set Hannah on the path to healing.

The second novel, A Moment of Weakness, follows the lives of Tanner and Jade, two childhood friends, who are separated only to find each other again as adults. They enjoy a wonderful summer together falling in love, growing in their faith, and learning who they are. Nonetheless, bad choices tear them apart once more. This time, it appears that all their dreams are gone for good. However, ten years down the road, Jade’s cheating husband wants to destroy her in a custody battle that is obtaining national attention and the only person who can help save her son is none other than Tanner himself.

Halfway to Forever, the final novel in the trilogy, reunites the readers with Hannah, Matt, Jade, and Tanner. Hannah has rebuilt her life with Matt. They are in the process of adopting a little girl, but when new information comes to the light, Grace is ripped from their home and lives. After having lost two loved ones already, Hannah isn’t sure she can survive losing yet another daughter. Meanwhile, Tanner and Jade are fighting a life-threatening illness. After years of waiting for the woman he loves, Tanner could still lose her and this time forever.

With these two couples, tears will be shed and lessons learned. In Waiting for Morning, Kingsbury explores the world of drunk driving and its devastating effects for everyone involved. She also shows that when hate and bitterness creep in, they corrode the soul like rust. Suicide is another topic touched in this novel. In A Moment of Weakness, Kingsbury expertly tackles the issue of sex outside of marriage and all the pain and suffering caused by stepping outside of God’s perfect plan for our lives. The last book, Halfway to Forever delves into life-threatening illnesses, abortion, and adoption. All three novels cover themes such as repentance and forgiveness. They show us, as the name of the trilogy so clearly states, God is Forever Faithful. This series is not a light read. It is for those who are willing to be challenged and confronted with truth. One doesn’t have to experience these specific issues for the books to apply. I was continually amazed at how many times I felt like the lessons or scriptures were written just for me.

The novels are infused with raw emotions and gritty reality that seize the reader. Relevant themes make the stories relatable. And while the author embarks upon controversial issues, Kingsbury handles them delicately from a faith and love-filled stance. Be prepared for tears. I had to pull out a Kleenex on more than one occasion. Many of the characters wiggled their way under my skin as I rooted for some and became utterly frustrated with others. Each book in this series forced me to stop, think, and analyze experiences in my own life. I recommend the Forever Faithful Trilogy to readers who are looking for happy endings without completely sacrificing realism.

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc

Publication Date: Feb 2012

Reviewed by Melody Ballard

When Owen Allen began his journey from England to America, he left with the hope  of a new life for his sister Annie and himself.  Owen, selfless and optimistic knew that this new beginning would release his sister Annie from the tyrannical grip of their aunt, Eleanor Hargrave.  And so he sailed on that fateful voyage of the Titanic with shoots and seeds that he so carefully cultivated in order to renew the garden that was both his life’s work and his heart’s desire.  It was in America that 30 acres of Owen’s land was being cared for by his Aunt Maggie and it was here that he knew he would fulfill his destiny.

Owen’s journey intersects with that of Michael Dunnigan, a young stowaway on the Titanic from Shannon Ireland.  Michael was also a victim of  cruelty and was tormented by the fate that had befallen his mother and young sister. Michael’s life was forever changed by Owen’s kindness and strength that was a manifestation of Owen’s strong and unwavering faith. As Owen saw that Michael was safely in the lifeboat of the Titanic, he asked him to promise that he would continue his journey, would see that the garden in America would prosper, and that he would take care of his sister Annie.

Annie Allen, Owen’s sister was devoted to her brother.  She endured the difficult  times with cold-hearted Aunt Eleanor by believing that she would somehow complete Owen’s dream in America.   Her will was fueled in part by her anger toward Michael because he lived and Owen died. The fact that she had never met Michael had little effect on this grief and anger.

Twists of fate continue to impede Michael’s promise to Owen of bringing Annie to America. In time, through correspondence with her Aunt Maggie and later with Owen himself, Annie found that she could forgive. Her heart once hardened, opened through her faith; and hope and anticipation took the place of the darkness that had so consumed her. World War I soon changed all this.

Promise Me This is filled with characters so complex and alive that one might believe they are members of ones own family. This riveting story is mesmerizing and compelling  as well as historically accurate. Cathy Gohlke has extensively researched the times and lifestyles of those who may have lived during them; Owen was an actual person on the manifest of the Titanic. This novel of hope, redemption and promise amidst profound despair is one that will bring the story of the Titanic alive during her 2012 centennial.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

A far cry from his usual fast-paced, gory, psychological thrillers, James Patterson’s Christmas Wedding instead focuses on family, love, and happiness. Gaby Summerhill, widowed at a young age, has decided to get married again. In a surprise twist, though, she is not revealing who the groom is- not even to the potential grooms! She has three dear friends, each of whom has asked her to marry him. Only when she walks down the aisle will she reveal her new husband. Of course, her adult children have to arrive at her home in time- and safe and sound. Each child’s arrival brings a back story that brings life to the characters.

Since it is such a sharp contrast to Patterson’s usual storyline, it takes the reader a few chapters to become accustomed to the different format. Obviously, Patterson is not a romance or family drama writer, but he manages, along with the help of DiLallo, to do a decent job crafting a nice family story. The only thing that is somewhat distracting is the fact that Gaby believes it is fun to make such an important decision all by herself. By not telling anyone else who the groom will be, she appears a bit self-centered and spoiled. Readers will get to know her warm and caring personality as the story progresses, but this one major point keeps sticking out as well. Of course, the story has a happy ending, so everything is neatly tied up with a bow by the last page, which is probably what most readers of this genre want. In this particular situation, it works.

The Christmas Wedding deals with spousal abuse, alcohol abuse, and drug use, so it is intended for mature readers only. Otherwise, it is full of quirky family love. Patterson and DiLallo understand that families are not perfect, and they demonstrate that in the Summerhill family dynamics. While not everything will be resolved, there is definitely a strong sense of family love and support that makes the reader happy with how things go.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Penguin Group

Release Date: November 2011

Reviewed by Jen Roman

The latest installment of the Elm Creek Quilters series, the Wedding Quilt jumps ahead approximately 25 years to celebrate Sarah and Matt’s daughter Caroline’s upcoming wedding. Friends and family from near and far congregate at Elm Creek to share in the happiness of the event. Instead of spending a lot of time and detail on the current wedding, however, the book focuses on “catching up” on some of the guests and giving their back stories. While the readers certainly get to indulge in the fun of a wedding, they also learn “whatever happened to…” in relation to many key characters throughout the series.
At first, I admit I was a bit confused by the story. I understood that the story took place 25 years in the future, but I felt as though I were missing certain story elements, even though I had read all the previous books. I kept reading and found the stories of various previously-known characters to be interesting and fun. Some relied on historical events, while others were purely fictional. It was fun to “catch up” with people and to learn the history of the area. Best of all, we got to read about a surprise at the wedding: a secret gift Sylvia had set away for each of Sarah’s twins before she died. Of course, the story has a happy ending.
Despite the initial confusion, the book quickly warms up Chiaverini’s fans to another installment of her beloved characters. As usual, Chiaverini keeps things clean and friendly. Even people who have disagreements do not become violent, and there are no sexual undertones or vulgar language. People who love quilting, people who love to read historical fiction, or even people who just love a good story will be happy with this book. Even older teens will be able to read the story without parents worrying about offensive content. The only caveat is that the chapters are very long, so if planning on reading before bed, the reader may have to stop in the middle of a chapter. While not terribly upsetting, it does create a bit of frustration for those of us who like to finish a chapter before closing the book. Still, the Wedding Quilt provides enough heartwarming scenes to keep its readers happy.

Genre: Romance / Historical Fiction

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Jen Roman

After being abruptly dumped by her childhood love, Gideon, Mattie Eash leaves her home in Apple Ridge, PA, to Berlin, OH. She rebuilds her life around a bakery, which is famous for her decorated cakes. She also finds a new steady, Sol. Unfortunately, her bakery is destroyed by a fire and she is forced to go home to stay with her family until the bakery can be rebuilt. Being at home again is wonderful, until she sees Gideon interacting with the English girls. She believes he is establishing a romantic relationship with this new girl until she learns the horrible truth: he dumped her when he found out he had a rare form of leukemia and didn’t want her to have to deal with the knowledge and his possible death. He believed he was setting her free to find a new love.

Woodsmall demonstrates her knowledge of the Amish world by the peppering of Amish words in the conversations and shows how idyllic life in the Amish community can be. She also shows the hardships and support the community shares. The story itself is not new, but it is charming and simple. This one is particularly charming because it occurs at Christmas, and readers get to feel that special Christmas magic. The characters are likeable, and even though Gideon breaks Mattie’s heart, the reader still feels sympathy for his situation. The only drawback is that Amish families are so big, it is hard to keep the characters and their relationships with one another straight. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the large families offer opportunities for more stories. The book, at only 189 pages, is a quick and easy read. For those tempted by the descriptions of Mattie’s famous cakes, there are some recipes at the back of the book.

Because the book is about the Plain folk, who live upstanding, decent lives, this book doesn’t contain any offensive language or sexual situations. Teens are just as likely to enjoy this book as adults because it is a sweet romance that is not inappropriate. In fact, it takes us to a time when dating and courtship involve a lot of interacting and getting to know one another. This book would make a good read for anyone interested in romance and the Amish way of life.

Genre: Mystery, Romance

Publisher: Multnomah Books

Publication Date: July 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Carrie Carter owns a small café in Seaside, New Jersey. Every morning the object of her unrequited love comes in for breakfast. However, Greg Barnes is too consumed by the horrible tragedy that took the life of his wife and children three years earlier to notice the woman who serves his coffee.

Carrie’s dishwasher is murdered and shortly after her waitress disappears, Greg’s ex-cop instincts kick into full-gear plunging him into Carrie’s world. For the first time since the loss of his family, Greg’s heart is in danger of letting someone in. But Carrie has a past of her own and the recent incidents are bringing them back to the forefront. While trying to uncover the mystery and hopefully save the missing girl, Greg and Carrie must fight their own personal wars if they hope to move beyond their pain.

With summer giving way to autumn, some of us aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to the long, sunny days. Shadows on the Sand is just the book to help readers hold on a little longer as Gayle Roper vividly brings to life late summer days by the seaside. In this mystery, the author explores the scary reality of cults. While a topic like cult-life could easily push a story to the heavy side, the novel is anything but that. Using romance and a great setting, Roper balances out the novel, delivering a light and easy-to-read mystery. I recommend Shadows on the Sand to anyone looking for a nice mystery/romance. Roper will take you on a trip to the seaside without ever leaving your chair.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Multnomah Books

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Charlotte Beck has plans a galore for her life. She knows exactly where she’s going and where she wants to end up. Marriage is not on the list, especially to Alex Hambly. Though handsome, he is as annoying as they come. Definitely, not her type.

Alex couldn’t agree more. He’d rather marry anyone other than this girl who barges through his life with the force of a hurricane, leaving nothing but disasters in her wake. However, he needs money—fast. When Charlotte’s father, tired of her embarrassing public displays, sees Alex and Charlotte together, he presents an offer the young man has to consider. Marry Charlotte and his financial troubles will disappear forever.

What starts out as a marriage of pure convenience, for both Alex and Charlotte, later complicates when he develops feelings for the independent and free-spirited young woman. But winning over his wife’s stubborn heart might be Alex’s greatest challenge yet.

Kathleen Y’Barbo delivers a fun and light-hearted romance in The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck. While I believe Mr. Beck overreacted quite a bit—Charlotte’s behavior though a bit impulsive and naïve at times was never bad and certainly didn’t warrant being pushed into an arranged marriage—I did enjoy the conundrum Alex and Charlotte faced. Watching them squirm and fight their ever growing feelings and conflicting emotions was very amusing.

At times, I mentally slapped my forehead and wondered what in the world was Charlotte thinking. She could single-handedly get herself into some pretty ridiculous (and extremely laughable) situations, but then who doesn’t know a person like that in his/her own life. I can think of a few in mine. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to take a break from the “real world” and immerse him/herself into a few hours of fun and uncomplicated reading.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Romance

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Ellie Sullivan is a successful trauma surgeon who is loved by co-workers and patients alike. She has worked hard and has made many sacrifices to get this far. But when Ellie witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent, her life is turned upside down.

FBI agent Max Daniels has pursued the Landry’s for years. His hunt brings him to St. Louis and to the beautiful Dr. Sullivan. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship, but each time they are around one another the heat rises from 0 to 100 in seconds. Suddenly, keeping Ellie safe becomes very personal for Max. A task that is easier said than done, especially when her past crashes down around her.

The Ideal Man is a story of intense, whirlwind emotions—and following them, sometimes to a deadly ending. Fun and snappy banter between the characters keeps the story from becoming too heavy as the reader joins them on their emotional and terrifying ride. Garwood does a wonderful job at transferring the characters’ feelings to her audience. The reader will grip the book with anger, fear, and disappointment all before the novel is finished.

While I enjoyed the book’s fast pace, I didn’t like that it carried over to the romance. The relationship went too fast. Though Garwood tried to paint it as love, I never saw more than just plain lust. The reader should be prepared for some explicit bedroom scenes and crude conversations.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Multnomah Books

Publication Date: July 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“Happily Ever After”

The words inspire anything but happiness in Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan. She is a tree-huggin’ and animal-lovin’ widow who has yet to move past the death of her husband four years earlier. When the family estate is put up for sale, Bridget makes it her mission to find an eco-friendly buyer.

J.C. Dirk, an Atlanta developer known for his green projects, seems like the perfect candidate, if only he would return her calls. Not one to let go or be dissuaded, Bridget makes the trip to Atlanta where she barges in on one of his meetings. Though none too happy by the interruption, J.C’s interest is peaked upon discovering her family name. Before long, J.C. is planted in North Carolina and it seems like more than just the estate is in danger of being handed over to the handsome developer as Bridget fights to keep the reigns in on her heart. But with family ghosts rattling in the closets, real life is much more complicated than in the Little Golden Books she reads to her niece. Bridget has learned all too well that fairy-tale endings are sometimes just that…fairy tales.

Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh is a gold mine waiting to be discovered. Picking up the book, little did I know the surprise I was in for. I expected a fairly typical romance that would offer me a few hours of light, heart-warming entertainment. What I got was anything, but typical!

Books that perch in the Christian and romance genres are a double threat for cheesiness and clichés. That is not the case in Restless in Carolina. Faith blended in so unobtrusively. The reader didn’t have to deal with the annoying interruptions often brought on by preachy scenes and/or eye-rolling sappiness that often break the progression of a story. I have never read a novel where the story and characters flowed more smoothly or naturally. Fun, spunky characters kept me in stitches, sometimes even earning me an odd look or two from those around me. This novel quickly procured a position on my favorites list, making me wish I’d discovered Leigh a long time ago. This is third book in the Southern Discomfort Series. While the first two parts aren’t necessary to follow the story, I fully intend on checking them out as well as other novels by Leigh.

This is one book I hated to see come to a close. If I had one word to describe it…AMAZING! I highly recommend Restless in Carolina to anyone who still knows the true meaning of the word romance.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Guideposts

Publication Date: April 2011

Guest Reviewer: Tara Norman

Every mother wants to see her daughters happy and settled and trust me, Caroline Dodge was no different. In fact, to add a little fun to the mix, Caroline Dodge was a hopeless romantic when it came to anything Jane Austin related.  Her last dying wish was for her two daughters, Ellen and Mimmi to travel to England together and attend a walking tour of Hampshire, England, to explore where Jane and her sister lived. The two sisters assume their mother’s wish is for them to learn about all things Jane Austen and become an Austenite like her. Little do they know….

Once they arrive in Hampshire, one last package from their mother has yet to be opened. The sisters were instructed not to open the envelope until they arrived in England. When Ellen opens the package it’s an utter and complete shock to them. Their mother has left them Cassandra’s (Jane Austen’s sister) diary!

Reading through Cassandra’s diary, Ellen and Mimmi discover that the two main characters in Sense and Sensibility, Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, were inspired by Cassandra and Jane’s relationship. They also find themselves identifying with the Dashwood sisters. This also means that the Dodge sisters work together to solve several riddles they found in the diary.

Then tragedy strikes. Just as they are reconciling and making headway with the riddles, the diary is stolen. Several people from the tour come to mind as the thieves: Mrs. Gwendolyn Parrot, the Jane Austen expert: Ethan Blakemore, a debonair descendant of Jane Austin who recently inherited an estate: Daniel, Ellen’s first real love from college who is now an antiques dealer that showed up on the tour per Caroline Dodge’s request before she died. Who could have swiped this all important precious piece of history?!

Beth Pattillo’s The Dashwood Sisters Tell All is a modern-day spin on the Jane Austen classic with a bit of mystery mixed in.I immediately started assigning the Jane Austen characters to Beth’s characters and couldn’t stop myself from hearing their voices intermingle with these characters.  I love Jane Austen’s work and own all of her works in leather bound copy; so obviously, I would be very disappointed if this book veered too much from the reality of Austen’s writing. Instead, I found that I was very interested to read this book. I approached with some trepidation hoping that the fictional story-behind the story- would be just as romantic and witty as Jane Austen’s books. Thankfully, it was! I fell in love with the plot and the thoroughly loved learning about where Jane grew up. Two other books precede this one: Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart. I fully plan to get these other two books as well. Well done, Beth Pattillo. It’s never easy to write a story behind THE story.

Review copy provided by the publisher. 

Genre: Romance, Horror, Suspense

Publisher: Atria

Publication Date: April 2011

Jake Chism’s Review:

R is a zombie, but R is so much more. He certainly looks the part with his trademark gait and rotting flesh.  Sure he loves to munch on human brains as much as the next dead guy, but something is changing inside. He just met this human girl named Julie on a hunting raid and instead of eating her, he’s decided to save her life and hide her from his friends. In this post apocalyptic world where zombies prey on human survivors, this is certainly a no-no. But R can’t help himself. Julie is causing him to do something he didn’t know he was capable of doing: to feel.   For the first time in his death R has found a reason to live.

The plot summary above does no justice to Isaac Marion’s breathtaking debut. Neither do the “zombie love story” nor “zombie Romeo and Juliet” monikers others have given it. Like its main character, R, Warm Bodies is so much more than what we see on the surface.

The story is told in the first person from R’s POV and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) I’d place this first person narration on the level of Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas. Marion writes like a seasoned pro, making this the kind of story that will send aspiring novelists and veterans alike into fits of jealous rage. Not only is this Isaac Marion’s debut, but he sold the movie rights before the book was even written, much less published. Yeah, the kind of stuff that only happens in publishing fantasy land, but nevertheless the final product is more than worthy of the hype.

Marion infuses the well balanced plot with beautiful themes of compassion, creativity, and humility. R’s “courting” of Julie is beautiful to behold, leaving us with countless scenes that will sear in your mind long after reading. For example, I will never forget R’s Frank Sinatra record skipping serenade that is nothing short of literary genius.

Fans of the zombie mythology will find plenty here to satisfy, but Marion deftly avoids the pitfalls of gratuitousness and overindulgence that one might expect in a zombie tale. There’s more than enough gore, violence, adult content, and language here to warn sensitive readers, but the journey is more than worth it for readers who long to be moved by their fiction.

To say much more would run the risk of spoiling a truly phenomenal reading experience. Suffice it to say that this “Romeo and Juliet Zombie Love Story” that you may or may not have heard so much about is definitely worthy of the buzz. Isaac Marion is a name to watch and one I hope we have not heard the last of.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Hold on to your socks here folks. This is a different kind of review for a very different kind of book. (Yes it has a cover, title, pages with words strung together into sentences…like most other books. And it even has an amazing romantic love story in it. But that’s where everything that you might recognize in a book stops.) This book is about dead people. Fleshies. That’s a zombie that you can’t really tell is dead because they still have flesh on their bones. And yes, if you connect those sentences that makes this a zombie love story. No, really.

BUT BEFORE YOU LAUGH AND MOVE ON…WAIT. This is one of the most amazing, beautiful and gorgeously written stories that I have ever read.  I do not say that lightly. I was immediately drawn into this story and couldn’t stop myself from reading even though it took me into very late night hours.

Let me fill you in briefly on the story itself. The main character, R, is a zombie. The book is written from his perspective and even though we know a lot about his daily life and we can guess some things about what life was like ‘before’ we still don’t know much. What we do know is that he knows he’s dead but he doesn’t know how he became a zombie. He’s well dressed and well preserved. We also know that he longs for more. He wants more than to just eat brains every now and then to live again. (Brains cause a reaction in zombies that allow them to re-live the lives of the owner.) He understands the dilemma of killing people to survive. He wants more. And then he eats the brain of Perry and it changes everything for him.

This book was not a book I wanted to read. When we got the standard email with the trailer, I saw zombie love story and blinked out. (Probably like a lot of people reading this review have.) I sent it off to Jake and asked if he was interested and I was shocked when he wrote back an enthusiastic YES! I thought he was kidding but then I went and watched the book’s trailer.  Here. Check it out for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBv7cC_qU30 I was immediately interested. Some of my favorite authors were endorsers of this book.

And then I got the book in the mail and found it to be so much more than what ‘zombie love story’ would make you think. With entire passages devoted to what existence is supposed to mean versus what it actually does mean – all from the mind of a zombie, it’s more difficult to dismiss this book.

Even if you aren’t a fan of the zombie genre, this book will engage you in ways you never imagined. It’s sharp and witty with syllable counting dialogue that will stick with you long after you’ve read it. It’s revolutionary, beautiful and engaging in brilliantly imagined ways. This book has settled firmly onto my favorites of 2011 and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Do not miss this book. You’ll be glad you took the time for it.

Don’t miss our interview with Isaac Marion. 

Review copies provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Jennifer and Beth work at the same newspaper. They’re also best friends. They share everything together. Unfortunately, they usually use their work email to share it.

Lincoln works at the same newspaper but Jennifer and Beth don’t know him. They’ve never heard of him and they have no clue that Lincoln is tasked daily to read their email. As an internet security expert, it’s Lincoln’s job to make sure that everyone at the company is using their email for a specific purpose: work. Beth and Jennifer use their email for a specific purpose and it’s got little or nothing to do with work. The more Lincoln reads, the less inclined he is to warn them off of using their email even though that’s his job. You see Lincoln has become a silent third partner in their friendship.  He has found himself personally invested in their lives.  And trust me, he knows how absolutely creepy and strange it is. That’s why he’ll never approach either Jennifer or Beth about what’s happening. It just muddles things further when Lincoln realizes that he’s fallen in love with Beth.

Attachments is an absolutely delightful old fashioned love story wrapped up in modern day technology. In fact at one point, one of the characters makes mention of how much easier life was during Jane Austen’s time without technology.

I adored this book. It’s hit my list of top ten favorites for 2011 already. The writing is absolutely delightful, the situations are Austen-ish in the way that they meet and fall for each other and by the end, you’ll want to go through and read it again because it was so fun. You cannot help but fall in love with a book that says “She laughed and the sound was like a giggle falling off of a chair.”

I read this book and instantly went onto every social media platform I have (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr) and recommended it to all of my friends. And though I review books constantly, I never do that.

If you’re looking for a sweet (without being saccharine!) romance with a lot of laughs and fun, check this one out. But be warned, if you read it in public, you will laugh out loud. Rowell’s writing is utterly entertaining, brilliant and the plotline is perfectly cool for the summer heat. Two thumbs way up on this book!

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance

Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin

Publication date: March 2011

Reviewed by Melody Ballard

Joy Harkness lives an ideal life; she is middle aged and in her prime.   She is a distinguished professor at Columbia University, is financially stable, confident, successful, and is well liked. One day she realizes that the foundation of her life is crumbling and that much of what she values may be only a facade.

She leaves New York and travels to Massachusetts to begin a new life and career at Amherst College.   She buys an old Victorian home in which to live and her life is forever changed.  What she believed to be a home remodel project becomes a major home reconstruction.

She is soon immersed in her work at Amherst, in the lives of those around her, her home and her new handyman Teddy Hennessy.  She is no longer able to hide behind a veil of sameness in New York; she is now in the spotlight. She becomes part of the team at Amherst with a niche of her own. The personal nature of the community is foreign to her as well as the openness of those around her. She begins to understand who these people are and their connectedness with each other, and she is part of this.

Teddy Hennessey has a genuine love for what he does.  He has an eye for shape and form and color and he understands what fits and what doesn’t.  He makes the needed repairs on this beautiful but neglected home. With his talent for transformation, and his love of poetry and history, he is able to show Joy a world of possibilities she never imagined.  She becomes increasingly aware that the love of her home and her feelings for Teddy grow stronger as the restoration nears completion.

From colorful anecdotes of her adventures in dating the men she calls “coyotes”, to both tearful and laugh-out-loud events, we find ourselves joining Joy as both her house and her life are transformed in The Season of Second Chances. Written in the first person, you will captivated by the depth of the characters, the vivid imagery and the strong but believable plot. At times both uncomfortable and intriguing, this novel is one you don’t want to miss.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Dead bodies are a dime a dozen in Lucy Trask’s world. She’s a medical examiner and death holds no surprises for her. All that changes when she stumbles across the mutilated corpse of a friend while jogging through the park. When a trail of tortured bodies is left for Lucy to discover, one thing is certain. Someone is out for revenge, and Lucy is somehow at the center of the killer’s endgame.

Death and violence are nothing new to Afghanistan war veteran J.D. Fitzpatrick. He has seen his share of gruesomeness. However, the mutilated bodies that keep appearing reach a whole new realm. With each murder, J.D. is convinced the killer is reserving Lucy for his/her grand finale. As J.D. struggles to protect the beautiful and independent ME, he finds himself losing control of his heart and emotions. Protecting her becomes as much a personal task as it does his job. But how can he keep Lucy safe with all the secrets she’s keeping? Somehow, he must convince her to trust him.

You Belong to Me by Karen Rose is a gripping novel that stole my breath as my heart beat faster. I enjoyed how Rose masterfully toyed with my emotions, pumping a dose of fear into my veins (without ever making it too uncomfortable). The reader’s adrenaline will flow as a deranged killer exacts revenge while staying a step (or two) ahead of the police. This is a novel for those looking for a good thriller — one that makes the hairs on the back of your neck prickle as you shut off the light at night. You Belong to Me will draw the reader into a dangerous web that will make the book hard to set aside. Strong writing makes the 512 pages race by in sync with the reader’s heartbeat. However, the reader should be prepared for some colorful language, graphic details and explicit sexual scenes. While I would have preferred having these toned down, I did enjoy figuring out the mystery.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

The world holds hope and promise for young Esther. As a Jew, she may be considered inferior to her Persian counterparts, but she has a freedom they can only dream of. That is, until she is presented as a candidate for the king. Suddenly, Esther is not only a prisoner to the Persian regulations, but to protocol too. The difference between her and the other girls in the harem is that she doesn’t want to be chosen queen.

King Ahasuerus is tired of the same flighty women and their power grasping families. Then he meets Esther. For the first time, he has met someone who eases his loneliness. Esther sees him for who he is, and not what he is. She is too good to be true.

That is what tortures Esther the most. She isn’t true. Not only has she concealed her Jewishness from her husband, but also the fact that she was sent to the palace in hopes of having a Jewish advocate in the king’s ear. When Haman, the king’s right hand and best friend, issues a decree that calls for the annihilation of the Jewish people, it is up to Esther to speak. If she does, Esther could lose the husband she has come to love. If she doesn’t, thousands of innocent people — her people — will die.

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf is the story of Esther as never told before. And I mean, as never told before. This novel left me with very conflicting emotions. On the one hand it’s a great story that maintains a comfortable pace and keeps the reader’s interest from cover to cover. Wolf creates likeable and convincing characters that will attract the readers. That said, it is not historically or Biblically accurate. While I still would have read it, I wish I’d known this beforehand. If I had been prepared for all the liberties the author took with the story of Esther I don’t think I would have felt so let down. I understand that in historical fiction, an author has to fill a lot of gaps with just that…fiction. But when the writer starts changing actual facts that are known, then I have a problem.

The story of Esther is one of my favorites, which only made the inaccuracies all the more disappointing.  And though Wolf crafts good, strong characters, many are so far removed from those in the Biblical account they almost seem like completely different people. Haman for instance, acted more like the kings spurned lover who hated Mordecai (and consequently the Jews) out of jealousy and not because of a centuries old feud between the Agagites and the Jews.

While I still recommend this book to romance and historical fiction fans, I would advise you to go into it, aware of the differences. I truly enjoyed Esther’s innocence, simplicity, and strength as well as the dazzling king who won her heart. The beautiful relationship Wolf creates between King Ahasuerus and Esther definitely makes A Reluctant Queen worth reading.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre:  Romance

Publisher: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Melody Ballard

Rachel and Anthony live an ideal life. They live comfortably, have personal success (Rachel with her culinary expertise and Anthony with his art), and have three devoted sons.  Family members love and are committed to each other, and family ties become stronger with each passing year. Rachel’s dedication to her family defines who she is, and her support and guidance to her sons has also defined who they are.

Their story begins with the wedding of their son, Luke and their third daughter-in-law Charlotte as she becomes part of the family. Charlotte, like Rachel has lived a full life, and like Rachel, she has her own views of what a family should be.  Charlotte’s widowed mother is also an artist, but her art is much different from the art of Anthony.

As the ceremony begins Rachel remembers the wedding of Edward to Sigrid in Stockholm.  Sigrid, strikingly beautiful and blond has her own career with museums and galleries performing analysis on items in their collections. Rachel is out of her element with the strange food and customs of Sweden, and feels like an outsider at Edward and Sigrid’s wedding.

At the reception for Luke and Charlotte, we meet Petra, the wife of their son Ralph, along with their two grandsons, Kit and Barney. Of all the daughters-in-law, Anthony and Rachel find Petra to be the most endearing.  Petra, who took an art class with Anthony had neither an ideal life or personal success. She was fraught with insecurities and was so closed in her interaction with others, it was though that she might be mute.  Both Rachel and Anthony saw her need and her beauty and soon embraced her into the warmth of their family.  Shortly thereafter, their unpredictable son, Ralph fell in love with Petra and they too began to live the life Petra had never known.

As the three sons begin their new lives with their wives,  their visits and interactions with Rachel and Anthony become less frequent.  Rachel begins the struggle to hold on to the life they have lived and her support and guidance is soon viewed by her daughters-in-law as meddling and interference.  Inevitably, hurtful words and actions threaten to destroy the love and security of Rachel’s and Anthony’s world, as well as the relationships between their sons and their wives Charlotte, Sigrid, and Petra.

These three very different daughters-in-law are brought together by a family crisis. As a result of this, Luke, Edward, and Ralph begin to understand that it is necessary to transition their priorities from Rachel and Anthony and deepen their commitment to their wives and children.  Anthony and Rachel begin their own transitions as this family moves forward with inevitable changes.

Told in a sensitive and compelling way, Joanna Trollope allows us to make a beautiful examination of the lives of this family.  We are left with the feeling that it is through the strength of family bonds that a family can navigate through painful and unexpected obstacles.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Multnomah

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Renee Chaw (Guest Reviewer)

Just in time for baseball season Multnomah Books and Allison Pittman have hit it out of the park with another “baseball” romance, Lilies in Moonlight. Flirtatious Flapper and salesgirl, Lilly Margolis has met her match in staid and stuffy baseball player turned soldier turned businessman, Cullen Burnside. With a little assistance from Cullen’s sweet mother, Betty Ruth Lilly turns the Burnside’s routine and household on its head.

Eager to return to his life of solitude, Cullen knows that he has to make sure Lilly returns home to her mother in Pennsylvania before Lilly can cause anymore mischief and upheaval. The road trip that ensues is far from easy but Cullen, Lilly, and even their friends learn a lot about life, love and most importantly faith. Throw in a few pit stops at a camp and at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh for the World Series and you will laugh, cry and even shout in frustration. Will Lilly learn to forgive her mother? Will Cullen learn to let go of the past? Can both find happiness at the end of the road? Discover these answers and more in this journey from Florida to Pennsylvania to home in Lilies in Moonlight!

From the first moment I saw the cover for this book I knew I had to read it, Allison Pittman knows how to combine fun and feisty with serious issues such as familial relationships unlike any other author. I first fell in love with her writing when I read Ten Thousand Charms and ever since I have not been able to put her books down. Her characters are dynamic, interesting and relatable. The transformation of Lilly from silly young woman to a mature (yet still fun) woman of faith alone is one reason to pick up this story and read it. The scenery is also superb! I felt as if I could have been there in the garden at the Burnside estate in Pensacola or experiencing the adrenaline rush of hitting a homerun at Forbes Field. You’ll be inspired and begging for more, more, more and possibly a vacation to sunny Florida by the end of this book! A great Christian fiction book for fans of romance and baseball alike.

Review copy provided by publisher

Genre: Historical, Romance

Publisher: Center Street

Publication Dates: March 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Sheila McGee has never known anything outside her small Irish village. Abandoned by her father at a young age and almost always ignored by her mother, she’s never understood anything of joy, happiness or peace. In her mind, those things do not happen in her village.  She has no hope at any of these things unless she leaves town. So when the linen mill where she works holds a contest to be crowned The Linen Queen, she hopes, prays and begs for the chance to participate. With a huge cash prize, she’s convinced that will be what gets her out of her village.

When, through a series of misunderstandings and ‘office’ politics, she finally does get crowned The Linen Queen, she’s ready to blow town. She has no idea that the world outside of her village has exploded into World War II and that even her gorgeous looks and a purse full of money won’t help her get out. So after a failed attempt at leaving, she decides to bide her time, hold on to her cash, and find a man who can get her out.

There’s her best friend Gavin, but she’s never felt that way about him. And Gavin loves their small village. He would never help her leave. When an entire battery of American soldiers comes to town to be housed while they stage operations against the Germans, Sheila sees her chance. She’s going to find a man that she can love who will get her out and then she’ll leave him and go off on her own.

What she doesn’t count on is Joel Solomon, a Jew from Ohio who is desperate to fight against Hitler and make his mark in the world. Fighting his own demons as he fights the war, Joel and Sheila find kindred spirits and soon the two of them are exploring their way through young love at the same time they try to figure out the harsh life they have before them.

As a fan of The Yellow House, Falvey’s previous novel, I was ready for The Linen Queen. This did not disappoint. Falvey does not coddle her characters nor does she try to whitewash life for her readers. As disappointing, harsh and painful as life is, she paints it with panache and style so gritty that we can easily imagine ourselves in her shoes.

With most heroines in a love story, we like them and we want them to succeed. With Sheila, it’s not always so black and white. She does things that most of us wouldn’t agree with, she doesn’t care who she fights in order to win, and she plays nasty sometimes. When she met Joel, the book turned upside down for me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her plight or what I hoped for her. When Joel became her knight in shining armor, I got worried. I didn’t want him to get hurt and I knew that Sheila’s plan would involve hurt feelings.

But Falvey managed to take her incredibly deep storylines and plot points and bring her characters all to a point of redemption and amazing change.

I loved this story. Once Joel showed up on the scene, I found myself completely immersed in Falvey’s world. The tones of Ireland show through the tale, bringing such a rich and beautiful depth to the story that as you’re reading, you feel as if you’re a part of the small village as well.

Patricia Falvey’s talent shines as brightly in this second outing as it did in the first. If you’ve read The Yellow House, you’ll enjoy this one. And if you like historical tales full of real and vivid characters and plotlines that will have you holding your breath, give The Linen Queen a try.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publisher: Five Star Expression

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Tragedy pushed Detective Michael Carven into early retirement. Fleeing the pain and memories, he built a thriving horse ranch — a place to lick his wounds away from the rest of the world. Three years later, a serial killer is on the loose and the police are stumped. Leaving no evidence or clues behind, the killer is like a ghost. Chief Dan Walker, Michael’s former partner, asks him to return and help the department solve the case. Michael agrees, but needs someone to temporarily replace him at the ranch. When Michael meets his new foreman, Jess Stanson, the last thing expected was for “him” to actually be a beautiful and feisty young woman. Michael is determined to fix the mix-up and send her packing right back to where she came from.

Jessica Stanson refuses to be run off just because she’s a woman. She can do her job just as well, if not better, than any man. Overcoming their initial bumpy start, Jessica discovers a complex man hiding beneath his seemingly tough exterior. As she comes to understand this loyal and hardworking man, she finds herself falling for him, but Michael’s past prevents him from lowering his guard around anyone, especially her.

When Jessica becomes the only witness in the case, the killer can’t let the one person who can identify him, live. It is up to Michael to protect the woman who is threatening to steal his heart.

I am happy to say that Aris Whittier outsmarted me with her novel, Fatal Embrace. Once she unmasked the killer, it made perfect sense. Still, not once did I suspect that person of being the murderer. Whittier keeps her audience glued from beginning to end as she makes the character’s feelings become one with those of the reader. Fatal Embrace is good for anyone looking for a cleaner Nora Roberts’ kind of story. Whittier offers the suspense without having to trudge through sex scenes about every other chapter. However, the reader should be aware there are some bedroom scenes toward the end of the novel, as well as some bad language. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to romance/suspense aficionados.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Romance

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Publication Dates: April 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Rowan Tripp is a woman in a man’s world. She’s a “Zulie.” That’s a fire jumper from Missoula Montana. She’s one of the best in her field and she knows it. She spends her entire life being ready for whatever comes around the corner. At least she thinks she is. The last thing she expects is to lose her own partner, Jim, in a jump.

The next season after Jim’s death is a tough one for Rowan. With the new recruits coming in, it’s her job to help make sure they’re ready for the field and the fire. Literally. One of the men, Gulliver Curry, has his eye on Rowan. Even though she doesn’t consort with other firefighters, there’s something about Gulliver and he recognizes something amazing about her immediately as well.

Into Rowan’s chaos comes an angry cook (Dolly) who’d dated Jim on several occasions. Now burdened as a single mother and insisting that the child is Jim’s, she’s certain that Jim’s death sits on Rowan’s shoulders. So when people start dying around them and accidents start happening in the gear before and during jumps, everyone assumes it’s Dolly. But is that really the case?

Nora Roberts is obviously a brilliant author. With a bajillion books under her belt (Hey, look it up! That’s a fact!) there has to be a sour note every now and then. It’s the law of averages. Thankfully, Chasing Fire is not it. Dealing with heartache, guilt and issues that many of us deal with on a smaller level in our own lives, Roberts takes us on a journey of love and healing at the same time we navigate a tense and thrilling mystery.

The plot is suspenseful, keeps you guessing, and ends with a climactic revelation that will leave you gasping. Rowan’s character is strong, fights hard and though she has an edge, she’s still soft enough to be all woman.

Roberts creates characters that sometimes drive us crazy, make us laugh and above all things, that we admire. Chasing Fire is no different. It’s a long, hot, fast paced ride through the lives of men and women who put their lives on the line for us constantly and once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“She shuddered and laid the book aside. Memoirs of Captivity among the Indians of North America turned out to be a poor choice of reading material while seated alone in Father’s den in the dead of night. How horrid to watch the murder of your parents, the pillage of your home. Then to be bound against your will and carted off to a strange place? Another shudder took her, mostly from the terrible thought but partly because of the draft blowing under the partially open window.”

When Dawsey Wilkes entered her father’s den, she didn’t expect a blanket to be tossed over her head nor being shoved through the window. Her captors flee with her into the night. They take her to a world very different from her own. This place that at first repulses her holds secrets that change her life forever.

Hooper McRae had only wanted to catch a glimpse of the treasure he’d heard so much about. He hadn’t expected Dawsey to interrupt and in his panic he kidnapped her. But it’s done and there is no turning back. Now he’s taken her to his family’s home. She’s seen their faces and knows their name. Letting her go isn’t an option, but he is not a killer.

Hooper’s temper terrifies Dawsey. Dawsey’s defiance irritates Hooper. Neither one of them expects to fall in love. As they learn about each other, they come to understand the other and their feelings start to grow. But for a relationship to work they must deal with the past and some secrets are best left alone.

Marcia Gruver opens her new series, Backwoods Brides strong with Raider’s Heart. A tale of romance, adventure, and faith unfolds grasping the reader’s attention. Raider’s Heart is a story of forgiveness and letting God take control amidst tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and couldn’t put it down, consequently reading it in one sitting. The novel has one of those “feel-good” endings that while not the most realistic because it’s a bit too perfect; it is a nice break from real life. Sometimes one enjoys breaking away from reality for a few hours. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, clean romance.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Historical, Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Lewton Paterson is a gambler with a wild reputation. He’s grown up on the streets and he knows all the different ways of the law – inside and out. But as he’s begun to edge farther away from his teens and deeper into his manhood, he’s realized he’s bored with the life of a gambler. He’d like to settle down, marry into a respectable family and become a respectable man. The problem is that as much as everyone in town likes him, they also see him as an unsavory gambler with few honorable qualities. This makes it hard for Lewt to step into the life he so desires.

Duncan McMurray is one of the only men that Lewt can even begin to call a friend. He’s a Texas Ranger and he loves his life in the outdoors. When he bumps into Lewt, he has two things on his mind. One is his unmarried female cousins. Duncan had just put a plan into motion to bring several eligible bachelors into town by train to meet his cousins so that he could get them married off and consequently, out of his hair.  Duncan’s task was to escort these fine gentlemen to his family’s ranch. The other thing on his mind was the group of Mexican criminals that his unit was in the middle of pursuing. In his mind, the fine gentlemen could find their own way to his family’s ranch. The criminals and the men he served with wouldn’t wait.

So when these strange men started arriving in town, Lewton Paterson took it upon himself to help his friend Duncan with his problem. He would meet these fine gentlemen, figure out what it was that they had (and he didn’t) and he might just be able to catch himself a McMurray wife in the process. He sends one of the ‘fine gentleman’ packing after a hard night of gambling and takes his place. Hopefully by the time Duncan finds out, it’ll be too late.

Emily McMurray has a completely different plan in mind. Uninterested in being married off to some stranger, her only hope is to stay on their family’s ranch. Unfortunately, that’s something that women just don’t do so she needed to take extreme measures. Asking one of her friends in town to pretend to be her for the duration of the gentlemen’s visit, Emily has every intention of missing the marriage parade. But there is something about that one man that has her flustered. And that annoys her to no end.

Jodi Thomas, the master of romantic escapades, has hit another one out of the ballpark with this period piece. With situations that will make you laugh out loud, characters that are as loveable as they are fascinating and drama that has you catching your breath, this adventure is fun, sweet and has all of the heart that Jodi can pull together. And trust me, that’s a lot.

Once again, I found myself transported into the world that Jodi created with very little effort. The beautiful Texas landscapes are described in perfect detail and the family McMurray is charming, funny and too clever for their own good. I love the way Jodi crafts her world and populates it with not only entertaining characters, but genuine, honest, hardworking folks. Jodi’s books have proven to be a delightful escape and Texas Blue is no different.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: WaterBrook

Release Date: February 2011

Josh Olds’ Review:

Lisa Harper has had anything but a normal life. When she was seven she was kidnapped but thankfully managed to escape. Not long after her father died and her family went bankrupt. Her mother eventually remarried but the white knight she thought the guy was soon revealed himself as both abusive and evil. Now, some years later, she’s managed to escape her stepfather, and she won’t be satisfied until she gets her mother out as well. It’s been nearly 13 years since she’s seen her mother, but soon-to-be Dr. Lisa Harper, head of the Crossroads Crisis Center, is going to change that.

But Dutch Hauk, Lisa’s stepfather, isn’t going to let his wife go so easily. He controls everything she does, confining her to the house and away from the rest of the world. When he learns that Lisa is gunning to take her mom back, he throws everything back at her in order to make her stop. Hauk doesn’t just want to kill Lisa; he wants to see her suffer. Lisa soon finds herself in a situation far, far deeper and less hope-filled than she ever thought possible.

Luckily, she’s got security expert Mark Taylor on her side. Mark’s past as a covert black-ops spy is only known to a handful in the world, but it’ll prove to be very useful that he and his friends become involved. And as the plot progresses Lisa becomes very happy that Mark is, well, involved. The romantic aspects play out wonderfully, aren’t at all overbearing, and serve as a nice change of flavor from the core plot’s intensity.

As Lisa and Mark soon discover, their situation goes way beyond an abusive husband to the international problem of human trafficking and a multinational crime organization called NINA. Author Vicki Hinze keeps the action rolling, the tension at almost breaking point, and the plot twists spinning as Deadly Ties hurtles to its shocking conclusion.

I’m a newbie to Hinze’s work, but I assure you this won’t be the last time I pick up one of her novels. Excellent characterization and a compelling plot draw the reader in and never lets go. Every scene has a reason, every bit of character background has a purpose, but Hinze does a fantastic job of keeping it from the reader until the suspense is worked to the breaking point. The various storylines weave together seamlessly it what are truly Deadly Ties to create a web that entraps the reader in truly excellent storytelling.

Hinze hits on tough issues, bringing up things such as a Christian justification of divorce, the importance of family, and the evils of human trafficking. Perhaps most importantly, the novel addresses the universal question of the purpose of pain and the importance of faith when all hope seems lost. Evil is unapologetically painted black and bold, making the redemptive power of Christ seem all that much more powerful. Deadly Ties is absolutely magnificent.

Tim George’s Review:

Deadly ties might be hard to endure, but from them can spring ties of hope and joy. Ties of truth and of love.

The concluding line of Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze is a fitting synopsis for this fast paced romantic suspense that revisits the Crossroad Crisis Center in the panhandle of Florida and the characters associated with it as they struggle to bring reconciliation to their lives. At the center of the story is Annie, her daughter Lisa, and an abusive husband by the name of Dutch who loves his own power and control far more than his wife. Having given up custody of her daughter to a friend years earlier, Annie and her daughter have been kept apart until recently by their fear of the man who will allow stop at no ends to posses Annie all to himself. Throw into the mix a former Special Operations officer who has loved that daughter from a distance, a group of his ex special forces buddies who call themselves the Shadow Watchers, and a nefarious anarchist organization dedicated to nothing but money, death, and power and you have a perfect recipe for a gripping story.

While the plot of an international anarchist group like NINA, Nihilists in Anarchy, and the Shadow Watchers determination to bring it down may seem like the big story it really serves as a vehicle to plunge us into the lives of characters conflicted by their own hearts. That isn’t to say this is not a rousing story of good versus evil because it is. NINA was introduced more in less detail in Hinze first story of the series, Forget Me Not, but becomes a full-blown portrait of the human heart given to nothing but greed and unbridled power in this successful sequel. One member of NINA, in particular, offers a perfect picture of what happens when people try to compartmentalize their lives in such a way they think their dark actions have no relationship to the rest of their live or the people they love.

Hinze touches on a number of themes including love, trust, faith, and hope. More than one character in Deadly Ties is trying to escape their past while all the time running headlong into it. Our main character, Annie, has real emotions, the kind that dares to show a believer in Christ questioning why God allows the terrible things that happen in her life. When Annie contemplates the events that led to her marrying her abusive husband she asks what believers have been asking since David in the Psalms – Why? “Why, God? Why didn’t you send me at least one bad feeling? Couldn’t you spare me even one piddling stomach flutter? I’ve been loyal, obedient. Why didn’t I get something?”

While romantic suspense is not my first choice in fiction, writers like Hinze, Terri Blackstock, and Robin Carrol keep me coming back because they touch on themes about the life we live from day to day. The good romantic suspense authors understand the trick to making these themes that are common to all us compelling fiction is through plot, pacing, and enough suspense to keep us wondering what will happen next while rooting for the hero to overcome the complexities of his or her life.  Hinze has all of these nailed in spades as she reminds us – deadly ties might be hard to endure, but from them can spring ties of hope and joy.

Review copies provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Romance

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Every citizen of Serendipity hates Bud Pickleman. However, only Paige Turner threatens him hours before his body is unearthed at her work site and with her bloodied shovel lying nearby. But she didn’t murder him.

Police Chief Mitch Lawson, an old classmate who carries a grudge, will stop at nothing to put Paige behind bars. Paige hires an attorney, Adam Hayes as her defense. Their differing opinions on how to handle the situation only complicates things further, especially once sparks start to fly between them.

Although Susan Sleeman’s whodunit novel Nipped in the Bud doesn’t hold too many mysteries, it is still a quick and enjoyable read for a lazy Saturday afternoon. At times, Paige Turner’s desperation for a guy annoyed me, but it makes her very blunt as she says things most of us wouldn’t dream of saying. Sometimes, I couldn’t decide whether to blush or laugh. I also think the romance between Paige and Adam comes on too fast. I would have liked the “attraction stage” to have lasted longer, but Paige isn’t one to beat around the bush.

Each chapter starts with “the best of Through the Garden…” These are supposed to be excerpts of the craziest calls Paige received at her radio show. Several times, I had to chuckle at these and the conundrums some of the callers got themselves into.

While Nipped in the Bud won’t make it to the top of my list, I did have a good time reading it. This is the kind of novel for someone looking for an easy, one-sitting read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction

Publisher: Realms

Publication Dates: January 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

When Brian Sinclair was lost at sea, everyone believed he was dead. Little did they know that he was being nursed back to health by a beautiful woman with a scarred face and a painful past.  Unfortunately, this is something that even Captain Sinclair doesn’t realize.  A case of amnesia mixed with blindness that everyone hopes is temporary.

Nurse Lorenna Fields knows that she’s not pretty. She knows that she isn’t marriage material. The horseshoe shaped birthmark that covers the side of her face has assured that. People don’t often see past the birthmark. If they did, they’d see a capable strong woman who is stunningly beautiful through and through. Yet as she cares for her patient, she feels herself drawn to him, not even knowing whether he is a Christian or not.

As Brian Sinclair begins to remember his previous life, he knows that he’s not a good man. He also knows that his accident wasn’t something that happened by chance. The accident at sea that took the life of his mother and his fiancée was something that was crafted by someone. His life and the lives of his family might still be in danger.

Having read several of Andrea Boeshaar’s previous books, I felt that I had a pretty good grasp of what to expect. I was wrong. The characters, the dialogue and the plot twists were all so much better than I’d imagined.  I loved Lorenna Fields needing to explore her own insecurities before she could move forward in her romance with Brian. I enjoyed the experience of Brian, a former scoundrel, leave his past behind and work through his new faith. The writing was easy to read but at the same time, the subject matter challenged. Who doesn’t understand the feeling of not being worthy of the life they’ve been given or the blessings they’re receiving? And all of us know what it’s like to stumble at some point in our faith and perhaps have our past confront us in an unpleasant way.

With each successive book in this series, Boeshaar’s writing seems to strengthen, building to what I’m sure will be a fantastic climax to the series in the next book. I’m excited to see how she draws out the series finale.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Sarah McCabe is ready for a different life than what she’s had. With older brothers who love and adore her, but stifle her just a little and a small town that doesn’t give her room to stretch and grow, she’s ready for adventure. So she takes a job in a big city being a governess for the children of Captain Brian Sinclair.

Captain Sinclair is everything that Sarah’s never experienced before. Handsome to a fault, wealthy, dashing and an adventurer to the core, Captain Sinclair has had little to no time for his children since the death of his young wife. His hope is that Sarah will become not only a governess for his children, but part of his family as well. This is an odd wish considering the state of Captain Sinclair’s family. His mother, striving to be young and beautiful, refuses to be called grandmother and only takes the children once a week. There’s little love and affection in her time with the children and they well know it. Captain Sinclair, a man who reminds me of Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music, has little knowledge of his children and what they need, though he does hope the best for them.  All of these things add up to a strange situation that has chased an alarming number of governesses not only away from the Sinclair home, but completely out of town as well. (At one point, she’s offered credit at a prominent store and when it’s discovered that she’s a governess for Captain Sinclair, it’s immediately revoked because there’s no way of knowing if she’ll even be in town next week!)

Sarah is overwhelmed with life in a big town. Saloons populate many more corners than what she’s used to and a home with a housekeeping staff, cook and even indentured servants running around makes her feel out of place and unsure of her position. Yet she promises to do what she can with the children. When they begin to flourish under her tutelage, everyone realizes how special she truly is, including Captain Sinclair’s indentured servant, Richard Navis, who has befriended Sarah. Richard helps Sarah through her transition into big city life and becomes a close friend. But is there a chance he could be more than that? And what about the affections that Sarah feels coming from the Captain? Can Sarah handle all of this or will she have to give in and call to her very protective brothers for help?

Boeshaar’s second outing in the Seasons of Redemption series manages to outdo the initial outing by a long shot. Though I enjoyed reading the first story of Valerie Fontaine and her adventures with the McCabe family, I absolutely fell in love with this book. Full of adventure, romance and the very real question of how one knows who they really love, this book was a delightful journey. In fact, I’ve already purchased a couple of copies of the book for friends of mine as gifts. I loved the voice that Boeshaar gave Sarah and the quandaries in which she found herself. Though it’s historical fiction, the situations can be very easily compared to a dating situation today.

The voice, the plot, the characters and the consequences to Sarah’s choices were all well written and played out with fantastic pacing in this book. If you’re looking for a good romance with Biblical values, Boeshaar has hit a home run with this one. I must admit though, the ending and the tease into the next release has left me chomping at the bit for more.  Thankfully, my advanced copy of Unexpected Love, the next book in the series, arrived this weekend!

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Christmas

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Dates: October 2010

Lori Twichell‘s Review:

Cora Crowder hasn’t quite caught the Christmas spirit. Having never had a Christian view of the holiday as she was growing up, she’s still trying to learn how best to celebrate the birth of her savior. Her boss, Simon Derrick, is completely content to continue in his family’s Christmas traditions as they are.

So when the two of them each end up receiving a ticket to a mysterious Wizard’s Ball, it makes them each look at the world in a whole new way. Cora, uninterested in attending the ball, offers her ticket to Simon’s sister so that brother and sister can attend the ball together.

As Simon and Cora begin to interact more and more, each of them begins to see things about the other that they hadn’t noticed before and, with some amazingly mysterious help, we begin to see love bloom.

I hadn’t read any Donita K. Paul books prior to this one (I know I know – gasps and moans have just erupted from every Sci Fi/Fantasy person that I know and I’m bound to get letters about this admission, but be gentle with me okay?!) and I went into this with no small amount of curiosity. I’ve heard brilliant things about Paul’s writing and was ready to dive in when I received the book. I was not disappointed. Immediately drawn into the story, I was delighted in the simple things that she included to make it feel more real. Cora’s back story was painful but so realistic in today’s society and it was fantastic to have it included in what could have been a fluff and stuff love story. Instead, with these little touches, Donita K. Paul managed to create a beautiful novella, appropriate for the holidays that is also a fantastic love story.

What I didn’t expect was the frank discussion of wizards, witchcraft, and where those things fall within the Christian walk. Paul’s view of this was a new one for me and one that I enjoyed reading. As a reader of Sci Fi and Fantasy (no, don’t yell at me for not reading Paul’s work previously!) I loved this and can say that I will be eager to read all of her future work.

For a wonderful Christmas gift under the tree or a gift exchange prior to Christmas, you couldn’t possibly do better than Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball. Short enough to read during the busy holiday season and with a wonderful message, this is a book that’s easy to enjoy and would be a blessing to give this holiday season.

P.J. Coldren’s Review:

Cora Crowder isn’t a big fan of Christmas, at least not the Christmas as one usually experiences it.  She comes from a family that can’t give a compliment that isn’t dubious at best.  She’s relatively new to Christianity and hasn’t had any support from her biological family.  And she’s pretty much all alone in a new city.  So it’s hard to get into any kind of Christmas spirit.

While doing some shopping for an uncle, Cora tracks down a bookstore where she thinks she can find a present for one of her uncles.  Warner, Werner, and Wizerbotterdad’s is a little off the beaten track but they have a book for her.  And a ticket to the Sage Street annual Christmas Ball.

Simon Derrick finds the same bookstore to find a gift for one of his office staff.  Mrs. Hudson works for Simon, Cora works for Mrs. Hudson.  Cora knows more about Simon than he does about her, but that is going to change.  He also gets a ticket to the Ball.  They are meant to go together.  Simon has been raised in a Christian home, and takes his duties as man of the house very seriously.  That’s just the kind of man he is.

As in any romance, the course of true love has a few rumble strips and wrong turns.  By the night of the Ball, it’s difficult for either Cora or Simon to see how things will come to a good end.  Readers of romance will know that everything will work out in the end.

Paul is able to use Christian values and the possibilities of fairies and wizards in this book without trivializing either.  Her contrast between Cora’s new faith and Simon’s well-established faith, as well as their doubts, brings life to the characters and to the romance.

Review copies provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Romance

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Dates: August 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

I thought I was the only person in the world who had really bad days at work. I’ve dealt with potty training, broken down vehicles, crying kids in the background of important conference calls…but those were all nothing compared to Lilly Hawkins and her bad day at work. You see, hers involved a lot of murder, death, beating, extortion, frame ups and gang warfare. And that was in like ten minutes. (Okay well maybe not, but it does seem that way for a while!)

Lilly is a photojournalist who, for some reason, has been having a lot of mess ups at work lately. Though they’re minor things, they’re still enough to be annoying to her and for her co-workers to start choosing other people for their teams. All of the hard work she’s put in over the past years has begun to crumble and it’s starting to eat away at her. So when she gets the chance at a hot breaking news story, she jumps at it. Knowing that this is likely a last chance at redemption for her job, she sneaks around the police tape and gets right into the crime scene. Unfortunately, she isn’t able to get much footage, but what she does get is golden.

When she arrives back at the station, she’s proud of what she’s gotten until they put the tape in the machine and everything is black. After her string of mistakes in the recent past, everyone believes that she’s accidentally made a rookie mistake that wouldn’t allow her to record. She even wonders how it’s possible that something like this happens. And then she gets home, gets beat up, threatened, nearly killed, followed, beat up again and…yeah. The day goes downhill from there.

An engaging mystery with interesting characters, A Bad Day’s Work is a fun read with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Lilly Hawkins is funny, interesting, and someone that would totally fit into my circle of friends. The characters that populate the story are quirky and weird and exactly the sort of off the wall people that you meet every day. At one point I did wonder if she knew anyone who was really ‘normal’ but then again, normal is a relative concept. And in the television news industry, there might just be more weird than normal.

The story was fast paced (sometimes mind bogglingly so) and fun enough to keep me delightfully entertained the entire time I was reading. No downtime in Lilly Hawkins life and no slow times in this story. This was a fun read for a weekend. I enjoyed the adventure and the mystery and would recommend it for anyone who loves a fun, light mystery.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Holden Harris is different. He looks normal, but he is withdrawn and only speaks through flashcards. Holden is autistic. His classmates don’t understand him and consequently bully him. When popular Ella Reynolds spots him watching one of the rehearsals for the school musical, she requests permission for him to sit in on their practices. As their friendship grows, Ella learns that Holden is indeed freer than his seemingly “perfect” peers.

Through their unlikely friendship, Holden learns to interact more with those around him, culminating in the breakthrough no one ever thought possible. With each victory, people catch a glimpse of the beautiful soul inside the imperfect shell.

Karen Kingsbury delivers yet another heartwarming story in Unlocked. Though I’ve never interacted with autistic people, Holden seemed very believable. The young man at the end is very different from the forlorn teenager we meet at the beginning, but the changes occur so subtly they creep up on the reader unaware.

Holden’s pure faith in God and love for others — even those who bully him — blessed me greatly. He is such a refreshing character in a world where forgiveness is sparse. Kingsbury tackles issues very real issues such as bullying and the fatal effects it can have.  I found this especially poignant because as a teacher I see bullying every day among my students. In the end, I don’t want to look back like the drama teacher and wonder if I could have done more.

Unlocked is only for readers willing to be challenged. I strongly recommend keeping a box of tissues nearby.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: November 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Reagan Truman has definitely settled into Harmony. Last time we saw her, she was still settling into the small town and trying to figure out how to fit in when she was used to running away. Now, though, she’s been completely woven into the fabric of the small town without a tangle or a loose thread. At one point one of the characters even grumbles that it sounds like she’s the princess of the town. I love that.

Reagan, Hank, Alex, Noah, and the other regulars in town that we so love and remember from Thomas’ previous book (Welcome to Harmony) are all back in this adventure with some new blood as well. Gabe Leary is a mysterious man who keeps to himself as much as possible and lives on the outskirts of town. If he doesn’t have to come in, he doesn’t. He’s fine with living life that way.

Liz Matheson, sister to fire chief Hank Matheson, is starting out on her own for the first time. As a young attorney, she doesn’t have the money or the resources for her own apartment, but tired of living with a very involved family, she decides to sleep in her office. But who is the mysterious man who rents an office across the hallway? He doesn’t have any office equipment. Only a box sits on a table for the mail. It’s intriguing and mysterious. This all becomes even more intriguing when she finally meets him and there’s an undeniable attraction between the two.

One of the things that I adore about Jodi Thomas’ writing is the men in her books. They aren’t boys and they certainly aren’t perfect, but they are great examples of handsomely overflowing testosterone. It’s the way God intended for men to be when He created them. (And living in Texas I can tell you that there are a lot of them around here similar to Jodi’s characters!) When I read Welcome to Harmony, I was impressed with Hank’s thoughts and response to Alex, the local sheriff in town. Gabe Leary is just as impressive in this outing. He’s got issues to deal with from his past and he knows that he’s probably not the best person with whom anyone in town should spend time. So when he gets himself intertwined in town politics by rescuing Reagan Truman from a life threatening situation, he’s not happy about the fact that he can’t fly under the radar anymore. But his respect for those around him never ceases and through everything, he grows and learns and becomes an even more incredible man.

Populated with characters that overflow the page and grab you by the heart, I loved Somewhere along the Way. Once again, I found myself utterly delighted and enraptured just a few pages into the story and I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to see what happened next and even tried to play hooky from work to finish the book. (I am not condoning this so if you try it, don’t send your boss to me eh? Now back to the review…) The plot twists were deep and unexpected from what I had thought would be a light romantic romp. Don’t get me wrong on that. It was a wonderful romantic romp, but light doesn’t really belong in that description. Jodi Thomas’ books are not bubble gum. They’re that sigh of delight that you have when you dig into the first piece of homemade cheesecake. It’s rich, it’s full and it’s utterly delightful. You won’t want to miss this one.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Historical

Publisher: Baker

Publication Date: November 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Major Jack Novak is really good at most things. He flies like he was born with wings. He leads men with style and grace that makes them happy that he’s their leader. And he’s rarely, if ever, failed at a challenge. When he gets injured by shrapnel throughout his backside, he lands in the same hospital where his brother, Walt, had his arm amputated. He also meets the same nurse who helped his brother, Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. Doherty is, in every way shape and form, a challenge to the suave handsome Major.

For her part of the story, Ruth Doherty has a past that she just can’t seem to leave behind her. From her early childhood, she’s never been able to escape the mistakes she made. Though her mother taught her to always trust in God and what He will bring into her life, she’s never felt that He was really there for her. For this reason, she’s decided she’ll never fall in love and she won’t let anyone near her heart.

When things begin to progress between Ruth and Jack, it turns both of these consummate professionals on their heads. Both of them, certain that they can both handle their feelings and that they both know what’s best, stubbornly take off on their own paths.

Sarah Sundin’s sequel to A Distant Melody does not disappoint. Some authors are guilty of writing a romantic story and just dropping it into a historical era. There’s little to actually tie these characters into their moment in history. With painstaking research into the era, the jobs and the techniques used by each character, Sundin manages to bring us realistically into a fascinating era and tell us the story of people in that era. This isn’t a story that’s been shoehorned into a popular time or place to entice people to read it. Instead, this is a detail rich experience that leaves the reader with a better understanding of what life was like back then.

With realistic explorations of sin, pride, and not letting go of mistakes, Sundin leaves no doubt in the reader’s mind as to what the consequences of these actions are. I love that she lays out the consequences plainly and clearly. Not giving grace or extending mercy will lead you down a dangerous path. Having pride or faith in yourself can cause harm to you and to others. And love is not just an emotion. It’s a choice. What will you do with it and how will you handle it?

Sundin’s books are a delight to read. You know as you’re reading that she has done her research. More than just romance, these books have a spiritual depth and understanding that, if given a chance, may be life-changing.  Dear Sarah, may I have some more please?

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Religious, Romance

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Dates: October 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Allison Chamberlain is a Christian. She knows Jesus and she knows all about the stories throughout the Bible, but the reality is, she doesn’t quite know what to do with them. Or with her faith. She goes to church faithfully every Sunday and she’s got her little group she meets with to do a Bible Study. She even has some men who are interested in her, one in particular, a really nice man named Bonner.

Still, Allison has no interest in doing anything new or exciting. She’s as content as she can be with her job as a carriage driver/tour guide in her small town and when the pastor suggests that she take on some new responsibilities, she’s not interested in the least. That is until the day she feels the Nudge.

The Nudge is this thing that she can’t explain. A voice in her head or sometimes a physical shove, the Nudge puts these ideas out there that Allison knows for certain are not coming from her. For example, why on Earth would she ever tell herself to buy a Harley? Then again, why would God tell her to buy a Harley? No idea. But she’s certain that’s who it is. Because suddenly words are coming out of her mouth that she’s never imagined and (go figure) she’s buying a Harley.

Where the Harley (and the Nudge) takes her is a completely different story and an amazing new chapter of her life. One day she’s chauffeuring tourists around the city and the next she’s riding her Harley into the darkest deepest drug pits to save a prostitute because the Nudge sent her there.

Allison’s journey is heart-wrenching, emotional, and painfully real. The dialogue that Rue peppers through the story is honest and at times, stunning. This is the third book of Rue’s that I have read and in each one, I’m amazed at how deftly she slices through the religiosity and gets to the heart of the matter. I love that her books shake away the chaff of so many things that churches and Christians seem to focus on these days. It’s not the kind of clothes you wear or the words you speak. It’s what God wants you to do and share that’s important and vital to what we are supposed to be doing here on Earth.

I loved this book. That’s what everything boils down to for me. The characters, the dialogue and the plot twists meld together to create a beautiful story in which nearly everyone can find themselves. Whether it’s the desperate prostitutes who step out of a life of sin and into redemption to help others or the reluctant prophet herself who refuses to acknowledge her past pain and sin, someone will touch your life. If you’re a Christian, it’s also likely you’ve also met some of the church members who aren’t quite ready to embrace radical change.

Nancy Rue’s book is beautiful, deep and rich. It may also be life changing. I think that many things and people in this world would likely be better if they were to listen a little closer to The Nudge and follow what God has told them to do.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Summerside Press

Publication Dates: August 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Loralei Kepler is a Texan born American living in Europe during the horrors of World War II. Her father, a German resistance fighter, is her world since her mother passed away. And then there’s Eben. Tall. Strong. Handsome. The subject of Loralei’s schoolgirl crush, he’s more than just a resistance fighter. He appears to know and understand more than anyone should in this type of situation. When Lora shares her love with Eben, it seems that both of their hearts are destined to break. He says she’s too young. She feels the sting of his rejection.

All around them, war is simmering and stewing, ready to burst into a full blown boil that threatens to drown everything good in Europe. Along with her sister, Jessica and her niece, Lora and her father flee their home and begin a journey across Europe that will open Lora’s eyes to the world’s suffering and heartache.

Brock and Bodie Thoene are artisans of storytelling. Their books tend to cut through the history and straight into the hearts of people who lived it. This helps separate it from grainy black and white pictures or words written on a page. It feels, while you’re reading, that these characters are very real. They live and breathe as much at Thoene’s incredible plots and storylines do. Reading one of Thoene’s books is like stepping into a time machine and traveling to the past. A wealth of knowledge and information transport you into the story and in many instances, make you come out a different person on the other side. (I know of no one who has read Thoene’s incredible Zion series that has not come out affected and changed when looking at modern day politics.) This story is no different.

When we begin the story, we are as innocent as Loralei Kepler herself and yet, by the end, we’ve grown with her through the trials and traumas of war. We’ve watched as Eben, a mysterious and enigmatic character, weaves his way in and out of the story and also, Loralei’s life. As she struggles with her feelings of being a young widow, she also struggles through the loss and depravity of war. When she finally sees Eben again after many years apart, it is with a sigh of relief at the familiar caring man that she knew when she was young. We, as the observers of her story, also breathe a sigh of relief, though we all know that Eben is much more than just a handsome man. We may not know what exactly he is, but a prophet is at least one of his many titles.

At times it feels like Eben is trying to hold back the waves of the ocean with a teaspoon and still he fights.  Loralei, determined to stand up against the war in any way she can, fights at his side and we get to witness their love story ripen and grow.

For anyone who loves Brock and Bodie Thoene’s previous work, this book is a must read. A magical nearly mystical tale of romance, history and drama, it is a delight to devour. To join the Thoene’s in their world is a superb honor and you’ll find it difficult to put down. Be prepared to set aside time in your schedule do devour this new tale. You’ll be glad you did.

Review copy provided by Wynn Wynn Media.

Genre: Historic, Religious, Romance

Publisher: Moody Press

Publication Dates: September 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Rahab the Harlot. Most people know the story of this woman who sold her body for a living but ended up changing her life drastically to become one of the only women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ.  Rahab saved her family and herself from the destruction of Jericho by the Israelites. Mentioned throughout the Bible as having great faith and having been saved by that faith, Rahab saved two Israelite spies prior to the fall of Jericho and in return, they saved her and her family.

This story has always intrigued me though. There are only a few short verses in the Bible about Rahab, but they are always significant and filled with impact. Rahab is mentioned in the New Testament as a woman of great faith. She’s also mentioned in the gospels for her significance in the lineage of Christ.

Tessa Afshar brings this story to vivid and brilliant life. She delves into the idea that Rahab was not a common prostitute and that she was sold into slavery. She creates a back-story for Rahab that is rich and deep with understanding. Instead of choosing prostitution (which may be the case in reality- I don’t believe it’s mentioned in the Bible why she’s a prostitute) as a way of life, Rahab is sold into prostitution by her parents in order to keep the family afloat. It’s horrible and painful, but it helps lead to Afshar’s journey of faith in Rahab’s life.

Unlike other authors who have tackled Rahab’s story, Afshar doesn’t end it with ‘happily ever after’ upon the pronouncement of Salmone’s marriage to Rahab. She delves into the process of how it may have been that Rahab and Salmone met and came to the point of marriage and then beyond that, what might marriage between a prostitute and a leader of the Israelites looked like. Certainly there wasn’t some magical Disney type ending where everything became perfect with the words ‘I love you.’ There must have been some trust issues, concerns, and fear to work through on both sides of the equation.

I love how realistically Afshar portrays the feelings and emotions of both Salmone and Rahab. With heart-wrenching twists in the story, vivid descriptions and beautiful moments guaranteed to remind you of your own faith, Afshar breathes modern day relevance into a story that shapes the image of the greatest story ever told.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Medical

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: September 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Claire Boehning is at a turning point in her life. Her husband’s brilliant career as a research scientist has just taken a sharp downhill turn. Some might liken it to falling off the side of a cliff. Now she and her daughter Jory are relegated to moving to the cabin that they’d previously only enjoyed for getaways and vacations, it’s more than a lifestyle shift. Everything she’d known and become comfortable with in life is now gone. It’s more like a reboot of her life. She’s starting over.

A long, long time ago, when she met her husband, she was a promising young doctor. Sidelined by a bad decision that she let take over too much of her life and a surprise pregnancy, Claire never finished her exams or qualifications to become a doctor. Now, all these years later, she’s desperate to find a job and wishing she could have found a way to follow through.

Cassella’s story covers so many facets it’s impossible to categorize. A story about marriage under duress, financial difficulties, parenting a teenager, the reality is that at its core, this is an a-typical coming of age story.  Claire has lived an abundant life with her daughter and her husband but now she must switch gears and take a completely different direction. This new direction takes her down a path of discovery. Beyond wife and mother, who is she? What are her goals in life? How do you take a step backwards? Is this a step backwards? Or could it finally be a step in the right direction? Claire’s journey of self-discovery is sometimes painful, sometimes joyous and at once brilliant in its direction.

I love the plot twists, the characters and the descriptions. One particular segment about a teenage girl’s life as a revolving door was brilliant. The idea that you have to wait for the right opening to jump in and be involved stuck with me as a mom of a pre-teen. She hit the nail on the head with so many things about love, marriage and career that it was hard to absorb all at once. After I closed the cover, it still stuck with me and I found myself thinking about each of the characters and where they may be now.

Cassella’s tale is beautiful, brilliant and agonizingly real in its depiction of family, marriage and career. Definitely not a fast or overnight read, Cassella’s story will tangle your heart and your mind together at the same time it entertains and delights.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Rodeo Queen, Natalie Adams thought she lost everything down beneath the weight of the tractor that took her father’s life. At 22, she is forced to take over the family ranch and raise her two siblings — a rebellious teenager and a lonely child. Natalie believes she’s hit rock bottom. Instead, more trouble knocks on her door in the form of her long lost and presumed dead step-mother.

Jared Logan arrives in Diamond Falls to pastor his first church — a congregation that resists change. He isn’t prepared to meet Dillon, a boy in dire need of a male role model, but a fishing trip plunges him into the middle of a breaking family. As Jared attempts to befriend Dillon and help the struggling family, the proud and independent Natalie fights him every step of the way.

In Seeds of Summer, Deborah Vogts shows that the best way to face our fears is through faith. Natalie is forced to confront the faith she turned away from as a child, while Jared wrestles with his motives for becoming a pastor. Vogts also tackles the complicated issue of mixed faith relationships.

Seeds of Summer sticks to the classic boy-meets-girl plot. While the plotline and conversations felt cheesy at times, I still enjoyed this easy read. I recommend Seeds of Summer to anyone looking for a good, clean romance with Christian values.

Review copy provided  by publisher.

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: June 2010

Genre: Historical, Romance

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Sometimes, I break out of my “comfort genres.” I’ve read one of Linda Windsor’s Moonstruck books, and I know she tends to bounce back and forth between historical and contemporary romance. So I accepted the book because, my preferences aside, the woman can write. That, and what’s not to be intriguing about a book that combines Celtic lore, Arthurian lore, a lost line of Davidic kings (yes, King David), and Joseph of Arimathea?

Oh, but then it gets complicated: A family feud began when an enchantress came between two brothers and one brother became so angry he massacred the woman’s clan. She prophesied that, by way of her daughter, the end of their hate would come—then killed herself. The daughter escaped. Twenty years later, a young healer named Brenna and her wolf rescue a prince from an attack that would have killed him. She nurses him back to health, alone in a cave, while the rest of the world faces the repercussions of a supposedly murdered prince.

I liked the story. It was difficult to put down. And I really don’t want to criticize it too much.  The characters are inviting and quite amusing at times.  Ronan, the prince, is quite ill for a good portion of this story—which means Brenna is left to talk to the wolf or to a nightmare-riddled patient bound by fever and tormented by inner demons for  several chapters of the book.

Now, and it may just be that I really read mostly fantasy and suspense (or a good old adventure story), but I will say, the problem was, there was no real fear of how things would turn out, because I was told in advance and the characters don’t ever fully question it. (Ronan does, to a degree, but he lives off Brenna’s faith sometimes.) Moreover, I had a hard time believing Ronan or Brenna could fall in love so quickly. Sure, he was with her for months—but mostly at death’s door during those months. To me, that was far too quick, and a bit forward for a young healer squeamish about having a man in her cave (even unconscious and . . . drugged).  Likewise, Brother Martin is a likeable character, but pages of sermon slow it down.

On top of all this, I counted at least three exorcisms as a means of ending the conflict. An exorcism by itself isn’t the issue. I believe demons exist and that they can oppress and possess people, and I believe that they can be exorcised. The problem is that exorcisms are a bit like faked death or resurrection scenes: You can pull it off once, pretty much, with little to no complaint. Its okay to trick the audience into thinking a character is dead, but if you do it with five characters you break the suspension of disbelief. Likewise, an exorcism is a perfectly legitimate option (and, in dealing with oppressive spirits, not a bad option in this book), but if too many conflicts peak with an oppressing or possessing demon that much be extracted, you’ve effectively broken the fourth wall.

And yes, I understand that’s part of who Brenna is: She can heal body and soul. She’s a restorer of sorts. She purges evil the same way she purges infection from a wound.  But I needed something there.

I suppose, in the end, my thought is this: Brenna is a woman of immense faith. She’s a prophetess and a healer, and she’s a unique breed who understands both her strengths and her weaknesses, knows when to take up her bow and when to become the peacemaker.

But as a believer myself, I don’t need explanation. Ronan’s struggle between faith and pride, between his old life and his new, don’t need exposition.  The story stands on its own without it, and if everyone accepts the deceased prophetess’ oracle as deeply as Brenna, then it releases some of the tension and doesn’t allow her to stand out quite as much as she should.

I will say, when Ronan’s ultimate enemy was finally revealed, I had dismissed him from the list, even though he made sense, so I was as surprised as everyone else. Like I said, Windsor can keep you reading.  She writes believable characters, puts a ton of research into her novels, and can pull you along as long as she wants.

Review copy provided by publisher.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.