A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan ~ 5 stars

A Heart Divided

Kathleen Morgan

Heart of the Rockies series #1

Revell

About the book:

When fate brings them together, they must choose between family ties and love.

The Caldwells and Wainwrights have been feuding for decades. Still, Sarah Caldwell has misgivings when her father pressures her into distracting a ranch hand while he and her brothers rob the Wainwright place. When it becomes clear that hand is actually Cord Wainwright, heir of the Wainwright holdings, Sarah realizes things have gone too far.

As the feud boils over, Cord and Sarah make a most inconvenient discovery--they just might be falling in love. Can they betray their families to see where this attraction leads? Or will their families betray them?


My review:
From the first page you are swept into a whirlwind romance and a loyalty testing feud. I would get so frustrated sometimes, wishing I could help the characters, both with their situation and with their choices. But, it all ends well! As the hero, Cord is the kind the makes you so angry sometimes at his stupidity, and hurt for him at others and wish you could take away the pain he has felt in his life. Yep. He’s the hurting, prideful, stupidly honorable one that melts your heart. Couldn’t resist him! The story itself goes really fast in some places and I occasionally missed the day-to-day happenings that weren’t discussed in the book. But that was minor, and didn’t really affect my opinion of the story. In all, great plot, great characters, great book! Can’t wait for the next one!


Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews ~ 5 stars

Love Amid the Ashes

Mesu Andrews

Revell Publishing

About the book:

An epic story of love and forgiveness, suffering and restoration

When her beloved grandfather Isaac dies, Dinah must follow his final command: travel to Job's household to marry his son. After Job's world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?

Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of Job and Dinah. Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.


My review:
Well, this book certainly captured my emotions! I cried so often while reading this book. It is a very touching story. (I even got really mad at Job’s friends/family when they came to see him. I was truly angry at them! LOL) The author did an amazing job of portraying the time period, family squabbles, and inner battles that the characters faced. The romance was sweet and I loved how everything turned out! The ending was just wonderful. It was all very well done. Also, this book has definitely aroused my curiosity to read more about these characters in the Bible! In my opinion, this is a great romantic Biblical fiction novel.

Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes ~ 5 stars

Lady in the Mist

Laurie Alice Eakes

The Midwives series #1

Revell

About the book:

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets. Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, why he, a British aristocrat, is on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and . . . love. But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

My review:

This is a great romantic suspense, and I loved trying to work out the intricacies of the plot. The mystery about who everyone was and what their motives were was very well done. The historic details were very interesting, and I loved the “midwife” aspect of the story.

There were only two small things that weren’t to my taste. I felt like the wording could have been better in a few areas, but that was very seldom. The other thing was that at the end of the book, in the final conflict where everything comes to light, it ends in the “middle” of the scene. So you just hear about what happened from later on in the next chapter. That could have been changed in my opinion, but it wasn’t a “deal-breaker” for me. It didn’t hurt the story; I just thought it would have been improved if that were different. In all, I think this is a great book and I look forward to reading more in this series!

Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Stars Collide by Janice Thompson ~ 4 stars

Stars Collide

Janice Thompson

Backstage Pass series #1

Revell

About the book:

Her future's so bright, she's gotta wear shades

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don't just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom--they are actually head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat's grandmother, an eccentric star from Hollywood's golden age, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed family members?

My review:

I just want to say that I probably would have given this book a higher rating, but it took me about two weeks to read it (a crazy-long time for me) because of school, and I hate taking so long to read a book. The book wasn’t slow for me to read, I just had so much going on at the time.

I did love the characters, plot, and style. Janice just has such a sweet writing style! The ending was lovely and I loved how the reader was kept in the dark about the surprise right until the end! That was awesome. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what the rest of the series is going to be like! (And who the main characters will be…) Once again, Janice has come out with a heart-warming, lesson-teaching, faith-filled, fun-to-read book.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon ~ 5 stars + Favorite!

Fatal Judgment

Irene Hannon

Guardians of Justice series #1

Revell Publishing

About the book:

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

My review:

Being an avid fan of the hit show, NCIS, I was leery about reading this book in case it didn’t measure up to my high standards. I’m happy to say that it did. And some!

The suspense was so well written that I couldn’t put the book down. I read it in one day, so I’m warning that you need to set aside time to read this. It is not a “by bits and pieces” read. You won’t want to be interrupted! The romance fit naturally into the book, and didn’t seem forced or boring. I loved all the characters!

I would say that this is an excellent romantic suspense, and I will definitely be checking into reading other books by this author!

Thanks to Revell for my free review copy of this book!

Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason ~ 3 stars

Don't Look Back

Lynette Eason

Women of Justice series #2

Revell Publishing

About the book:

One man lives to see her dead--the other is fighting to keep her alive.

Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she has made a life for herself--though one that is haunted by memories of her terrifying past. She finally lets herself believe that she can have a close relationship with a man, when signs start appearing that point to one frightening fact--her attacker is back and ready to finish the job he started all those years ago.

Can she escape his grasp a second time? And will she ever be able to let down her guard enough to find true love?

My review:
This book was fast-paced and I didn’t want to put it down. It definitely kept my attention as far as the plot and action went. As far as the romance department it wasn’t great, but romance isn’t the primary category/direction for this series, so I wasn’t expecting it to be really romantic.


However, there were some things that bothered me. Such as the fact that I was able to figure out who the “bad guy” was almost as soon as they introduced the person into the story. (But, in the very end there was a twist that surprised me, and I liked that.) I don’t know if most people will be able to figure it out, or if it was just obvious to me.

There were also times when I was a little confused about small things. It seemed like some more information might have been introduced to make things clearer. But, these were small, scene related issues, not big things like the over all plot.

Sometimes, it was a little far-fetched when the characters would do something that seemed obviously stupid to me, and I’m not even a cop. SPOILERS>> Like when they said that the stalker was probably someone that Jamie worked with, but they never looked into that idea. Or when they thought that he was in the building and they left Jamie alone with only one agent to protect her! (If they thought that he was in the building, why would they go outside to look at his car rather than sending someone to check for them?) Little things like that made it less realistic to me. <<

I liked Jamie and how determined she was to move on from her past. She was a good heroine. I also liked the little twist about why her parents were acting strange. Wasn’t expecting that and how it played into the plot in the end.

In all, I didn’t dislike the book, but I didn’t love it. I think it will go over pretty well with fans of the Christian suspense genre, though.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sharon Gillenwater ~ Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details on entering*

Here are some details for the book being given away:

Emily's Chance, book 2 in The Callahans of Texas series, by Sharon Gillenwater!

Blurb:

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?

*USA residents only, please*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Emily's Chance!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Emily's Chance
+2 Abbie Ann

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (October 29) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (November 4). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 5th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater ~ 5 stars

Emily's Chance

Sharon Gillenwater

The Callahans of Texas series #2

Revell Publishing

About the book:

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?

My review:

I love the characters in this series! They are so real and so on fire for God. I would love to know these people in real life! Emily and Chance just warm my heart. I love how Chance pursued Emily. Sometimes, while reading a book it will annoy me because the hero won’t pursue the heroine for some reason or another, but that wasn’t the case in this book at all! I love men like Chance. Willing to stick up for their girl, protective, compassionate, hardworking… However, he is still human and has his flaws, but he was willing to listen as God was teaching him and molding him. He would also humble himself and apologize when he was wrong. Emily! I was able to connect with Emily. Some of the issues she was going through are things that I am struggling with, too. Such as relationships, restoration, and other things too.

I just really enjoyed this book and if I went on about its good qualities, it would be way too long. I’ll just say that one thing that I didn’t LOVE was how a chapter would end in the middle of a date or something, but the next scene wouldn’t pick it back up. It would go on to another day (or whatever) and then mention how the last scene ended. That only happened a few times, and it bothered me because I felt like it was a sudden cut off and the author may have missed some opportunities. But, it wasn’t a big enough deal that I didn’t like the book or anything. I just felt that it could have been even better if some scenes weren’t done that way.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin ~ 5 stars + favorite!

 A Memory Between Us

Sarah Sundin

Wings of Glory series #2

Revell Publishing

About the book:

Can they overcome the past to find a brighter future together?

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.

As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

My review:
I’m a little unsure as to what I should say about this book. I loved it so much, and there are so many great things about it that I can hardly choose just a few to talk about. But, I’ll start here: both Jack and Ruth are struggling with issues in their lives and their own character, which made them so real to me. One thing I’ve noticed about Sarah’s books is that her characters learn a lesson without the story seeming preachy or boring. She really does an excellent job with that, and the lessons learned by the characters are totally applicable in my life too! Love that.


The story is engaging and has many different parts, without seeming like it doesn’t have a central plot or that it’s pointless. The fast-paced battle scenes will kick up your heart rate and keep you focused on the book and what is coming next. And the romance is so wonderfully written that you are certain to fall in love with this book. I would recommend you read this as soon as you can!

A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman ~ 5 stars + Favorite!

A Hope Undaunted

Julie Lessman

Winds of Change series #1

Revell

About the book:

What happens when the boy she loved to hate becomes the man she hates to love?

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face-to-face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

My review:

From the first sentence to the last page, A Hope Undaunted will capture your emotions and enthrall you with a thoroughly excellent read.

Katie is the most stubborn of all the O’Connor kids and she definitely gets herself into a lot of trouble through that trait. But, just as stubborn is Luke McGee a.k.a. “Cluny” the brat who used to torment her as a child. These two butt heads throughout the whole book with sparks flying and witty writing that keeps those pages turning.

I thought Julie did a great job of fleshing out the characters and I was rooting for them the whole way. In her usual style, Julie kept the storylines of her past characters alive but not so much that it detracts from Katie and Luke’s. I was so into the story that I laughed, cried, and stressed out whenever something was going wrong. I cannot wait to read the stories of the two O’Connor boys! I know they will both be fantastic if Julie’s previous books are any indication.

Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad ~ 5 stars

Making Waves

Lorna Seilstad

Lake Manawa Summers series #1

Revell Publishing

About the book:

Sun, summer, and a scrumptious sailing instructor. What more could a girl want?

When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will spend the summer of 1895 at Lake Manawa, Iowa, she couldn't be more thrilled. It's the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It's also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews.

But this summer of fun turns to turmoil as her father's secrets threaten to ruin the family forever. Will free-spirited Marguerite marry Roger to save her father's name and fortune? Or will she follow her heart--even if it means hurting the family she loves?

My review:
Making Waves is a transporting read. I felt like I was AT the lake with Marguerite. (Now I want a vacation.) ;) There is a sweet, yet exciting theme in this book with the characters and setting. Marguerite definitely makes waves wherever she goes, and I like that about her. Her stubbornness sometimes gets her into trouble, but by the end of the book she is managing that pretty well. The hint of danger to the book also intrigued me and I thought the end especially was fast-paced while not being scary. I kind of wish she had ended the story a little later than she did with more resolution is certain areas, but since this is a series she might address those things in the next book. I would recommend this to someone who wants to read a book that will take them away for a little while and tell them a sweet, fun story.

Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

So Over It by Stephanie Morrill ~ 5 stars + Favorite

So Over It

Stephanie Morrill

The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series #3

Revell Publishing

About the book:

How can Skylar stay true to herself without losing the ones she loves most?

Senior year is over and Skylar Hoyt is ready to forgive and forget. Or at least forget. She wants a fresh start where people don't know about her past or her dysfunctional family. A place where she won't run into her ex-boyfriend every time she leaves the house. When she gets the opportunity to spend the summer in Hawaii with her grandparents, Skylar jumps at the chance to get out of town. But will she truly be able to leave her old life behind? And will she be strong enough to rise above the gossip and live the life God wants?

My review:

Again, I’m in love with Stephanie’s books and writing. Every time I read one of her books, it hits me again how relevant it is. While being enjoyable to read, her books also deal with real issues. I love the way she resolves things in the end. Skylar, Abbie, Connor, Jodi, Eli, and all the other characters. I loved the way things ended with them. (However, I think that if Stephanie doesn’t write any more books about Skylar, then she should definitely write some more about Abbie. She is someone that I really became fond of and I would certainly read a book that was dedicated to her continued story.) This may be a short, enjoyable read, but it will definitely give you things to think about in your own life. Loved it!

Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Love of Her Own by Maggie Brendan ~ 5 stars

A Love of Her Own

Maggie Brendan

Heart of the West series #3

Revell Publishing

About the book:

She has everything her heart desires . . . except the one thing money can't buy.

Still cautious after a broken engagement, April McBride fully intends to guard her heart when she travels to Lewistown, Montana, to attend her brother's wedding. One look around the small mining town convinces April that doing so won't be difficult--just a bunch of dusty shops, bad service, and ill-bred cowboys. But a run-in with horse trainer Wes Owen opens up vast possibilities for frustration, embarrassment, friendship, and . . . love?

Can April and Wes see past their differences to envision a future together? Or are they destined to live the rest of their lives alone?

My review:
Sweet, touching, engaging, and heartwarming are all great words to describe this book. April is a character that I really grew fond of, and I love the person she changed into as the story progressed. I can't wait to read more from this great new author!

Lynette Eason ~ Interview + Giveaway!

**I have recently changed the rules for entering my giveaways and there are new ways to earn extra entries, so be sure to read that section at the bottom of this post. =)**

Today author Lynette Eason is telling us about her new book, Too Close To Home. She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Lynette! Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a mother to two, a wife, a speaker and an author. I’m getting really good at multi-tasking and I love to meet new people. I married the boy next door 13 ½ years ago. He’s in the ministry and travels a lot so I started writing as a way to combat loneliness!

How long have you been writing? How many books do you have published?
I’ve been writing for about 10 years. I have eight books published and seven more in the works.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in you books?
Either Steven James or Brandilyn Collins.

I would say it’s G. My editor is always fussing at me to add more romance. I tend to get carried away with the suspense and the mystery I forget my characters are supposed to be falling love at the same time…ha.

In your own words tell us a little about Too Close To Home.
Too Close to Home is the first book in the Women of Justice Series. It’s about an FBI Computer Forensics Agent and a SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement) Homicide Detective. Together they must find a killer before he kills again. And when he goes after Connor’s daughter, Jenna, things get really personal—and time is running out.

Book blurb:

The FBI has a secret weapon. But now the secret’s out.

When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, the FBI sends in computer forensics expert Samantha Cash to help crack the case. Her methods are invisible, and she never quits until the case is closed.

Homicide detective Connor Wolfe has his hands full. His relationship with his headstrong daughter is in a tailspin, and the string of unsolved murders has the town demanding answers. Connor is running out of ideas—and time.

Samantha joins Connor in a race against the clock to save the next victim. And the killer starts to get personal.

Too Close to Home ratchets up the suspense with each page even as love blossoms in the face of danger. Read this one with the lights on!

“My friend Lynette has a hit on her hands with this romantic suspense. I enjoyed every minute. The plot managed to surprise and captivate me, and the romance was priceless.”—Dee Henderson, bestselling author, the O’Malley series

“A fast-moving tale filled with nonstop action. No chance to catch your breath with this one!”—Irene Hannon, bestselling author, the Heroes of Quantico series

“Eason gives the reader an exciting ride with characters you will care about.”—Margaret Daley, award-winning Steeple Hill romantic suspense author

What research did you have to do for this book?
I had to do a ton of research. I know quite a bit about computers in general, but not much about computer forensics. Fortunately, I’m a member of a yahoo group – crimescenewriters- where I can find at least one person who is a specialist in any crime area. It was there I found a computer forensics person who answered all of my technical questions in detail.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Probably Tom Cruise and Poppy Montgomery.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
Right now, I’m working on a book for Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line. It’s book 5 in a continuity series I am writing with five other authors. It’s about Texas Rangers and their fascinating fight against the influx of drugs from Mexico into Texas.

How can readers get in contact with you?
My email is lynetteeason@lynetteeason.com and my website is www.lynetteeason.com. I can also be found on facebook.

What are you currently reading?
Oh my, will it sound awful to say nothing? I just finished Irene Hannon’s last book in her three book series, the Heroes of Quantico.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I’m pretty unsurprising.

If you could be any animal, which would you choose?
My in-law’s black lab, Moses. Why? Because he’s spoiled rotten and gets to sleep all day.

FAVORITES:

Color?
Red

Childhood memory?
Family vacations

Era to write about?
Contemporary (but I love to read Historical, I’m just not smart enough to write about it.)

What is/was this book’s release date?
Too Close to Home released April 1st.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter of this book?
No, but Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble allow you to look inside when you click on the book. I think they let you read a random page or something like that. I’m working on putting up my first chapters on my webpage. I hope to have that available within the next few weeks.

~~~~~

**USA residents only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Too Close To Home!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

+2 Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.

**You can earn a total of 4 entries if you do all of the above requirements. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (April 16) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 22). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner on Friday the 23rd, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

Too Close To Home by Lynette Eason ~ 4 stars

Too Close To Home

Lynette Eason

Women of Justice series #1

Revell Publishers

About the book:

The FBI has a secret weapon. But now the secret's out.

When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, the FBI sends in Special Agent Samantha Cash to help crack the case. Her methods are invisible, and she never quits until the case is closed.

Homicide detective Connor Wolfe has his hands full. His relationship with his headstrong daughter is in a tailspin, and the string of unsolved murders has the town demanding answers. Connor is running out of ideas--and time.

Samantha joins Connor in a race against the clock to save the next victim. And the killer starts to get personal.

Too Close to Home ratchets up the suspense with each page even as love blossoms in the face of danger. Read this one with the lights on!

My review:
This book is dealing with very important subjects, and I appreciated the honesty that the author portrayed them with. This book pretty much revolves around the idea of teenage girls being preyed upon by a man who promises them a shot in the modeling world, and then kidnaps and abuses them. He seeks them out on the internet and then draws them in. This also ties in with the idea of parents not talking to their children about the dangers of online predators and parents not being involved in their children’s lives.

At times, the book got too graphic for me and made me a little freaked out, but not enough that I wanted to stop reading. It was just when you got inside the killer’s head that was SO creepy. I was able to figure out fairly early on who the “Agent” was, but I don’t think most people will be able to. (I’m not boasting. I’m good at that kind of thing because I adore murder mystery shows, NCIS, Miss Marple and stuff like that and I watch them all the time.) The “Boss” took me a little more time to figure out, but I did guess correctly towards the end. I think this series will be a big hit with people who like crime solving shows and other things like that. I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading the next books in this series.
*Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*

The Promise of Morning by Ann Shorey ~ 3 stars

The Promise of Morning

Ann Shorey

At Home in Beldon Grove series #2

Revell- Publisher

About the book:

Life in Beldon Grove on the Illinois frontier in the 1840s isn't easy. For Ellie Craig, the graves of her three infant children make it unbearably lonely, despite the love of her husband Matthew. When she uncovers a family secret that suggests she may not be as alone as she thought, Ellie is determined to find the truth.

Meanwhile, Matthew Craig faces controversy in the church he pastors when a man arrives in town claiming to be both a minister and the son of the town's founder. Will Matthew find the courage to reclaim his church? Or will he return to itinerant preaching, leaving Ellie even more alone than before?

My review:

There were some things that I really liked in this book, but over-all it failed to keep my attention. It seemed like there were some good opportunities, especially between Matthew and Ellie at the end of the book, that were missed. Such as how Matthew realized he had ignored the fear of abandonment in his wife. He never said he was sorry or talked about it or anything and I thought that would have been a great opportunity to have some healing between the characters. All-in-all I wouldn’t recommend this to others. (This is just my opinion, however, and I’m sure that there will be a lot of people who like this book. I’m just not one of them.)

Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot ~ 4 stars

Scattered Petals

Amanda Cabot

Texas Dreams series #2

Revell- Publisher

About the book:

Longing for adventure, Priscilla Morton leaves Boston in 1856 and heads for the Texas Hill Country, never dreaming that the adventure she seeks could have heartbreaking consequences. Although attracted to her, ranch foreman Zachary Webster knows Priscilla deserves a cultured East Coast gentleman, not a cowboy who's haunted by memories of his mistakes.

When necessity draws them together, Priscilla and Zach begin to forge a life filled with promise. But then the past intrudes.

My review:
I was a little disappointed with this book. The writing was just okay in my opinion and I never really felt connected with the characters.

Pricilla went through so many hardships and I did feel awful for her. It just seemed like one terrible thing after another happened and she never got any breaks. Now, there were some parts of this book that I really liked, which is why I gave it four stars. This is an okay read, but it wouldn’t be something that I would readily recommend.

Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin ~ 5 stars + Favorite!

A Distant Melody

Sarah Sundin

Wings of Glory series #1

Revell- Publisher

About the book:

Will a chance meeting in a time of war change her life forever?

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. While Allie has nearly resigned herself to that fate, Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas.

Walt and Allie meet and begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

Book 1 in the Wings of Glory series, A Distant Melody is an exciting and tender story of love, courage, and sacrifice during World War II.

My review:
Fantastic. All the time that Sarah Sundin spent researching, studying, and perfecting this book paid off in rich historic details that transport you to a different time and place. This book will make your heart soar, and then bring you to tears with depths of sadness, then bring you back up again.

This book is a double-winner in my mind, because it casts off clichés! The main characters are not super-model gorgeous… they are only beautiful in each other’s eyes. Also, this book doesn’t have the usual “spiritual clichés” either. Rather than the typical “one of the people destined to fall in love isn’t a Christian, so the saved person must wait or deny the relationship”, it has two people who are already Christians. However, they still go through a spiritual journey and grow in the areas that God is showing them needs improvement. I loved that. Very different from the usual CF book. This is highly recommended.

Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Out with the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill ~ 4 stars

Out with the In Crowd

Stephanie Morrill

the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series #2

Revell - publisher

About the book:

She knew changing her life wouldn't be easy, but she never expected it to be this hard.

Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her partying ways, but it’s not so easy to change her friends. She’s trying hard to live a new life, but her old one is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can’t win. After all, how do you choose favorites among the people you love most?

My review:

Skylar is going through a lot right now. Her parents can’t seem to decide if they are together or not, her fifteen-year-old sister is pregnant (and not dealing with anything), her boyfriend seems just a little too friendly with his ex (not to mention that she is also Skylar’s ex-best-friend), and on top of all that she can’t seem to decide what she wants to do with her life. Wouldn’t you be stressed?

This is a great book and I love that this series is an ongoing story. Each storyline blends into the next book so you know that the best is yet to come. It isn’t a cliff-hanger ending, but it certainly shows that Skylar and the other characters still have some changes to make, and some growing to do. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing how everything ends up with Skylar!

Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Swinging on a Star by Janice Thompson ~ 5 stars

Swinging on a Star

Janice Thompson

Weddings by Bella series #2

Revell - publisher

About the book:

There’s a fine line between ambitious and crazy. Bella’s just not sure where it is.

Bella Rossi’s life is nearing perfection. Not only does she have the perfect guy, but she’s also running a successful wedding-planning business and is about to plan its most ambitious wedding yet --- a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There’s only one hitch. The best man just happens to be Hollywood’s hottest and most eligible bachelor, and he’s showing an interest in Bella. Oh, and did we mention he’s staying at her house to avoid the paparazzi?

With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella’s not sure she’s going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister and her feuding aunt and uncle, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster --- and a lot of laughs.

My review:
Janice Thompson has done it again with this great second book in the Weddings by Bella series. The characters we know and love are back and better than ever, with some new lovable characters too. But things such as a medieval wedding extravaganza, the Food Network team coming to her house (the day before the wedding), nosy little neighbor children, a serious case of mistaken identity, a startling event involving uncle Laz, and a tropical storm threaten to destroy all of Bella’s struggles for balance (and sanity). Not to mention the Hollywood hunk that is staying at her house to hide out from the paparazzi… and who seems to be falling for her. The craziness is sure to make you laugh, and the ending is sure to make you sigh. Be sure to check this series out!

Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.