by admin | Jun 5, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Angela Hunt’s novels for some time and know that no matter the setting or time frame, I can depend on her to provide me with an enjoyable reading experience. The title “Five Miles South of Peculiar” fueled my expectations for a fun and entertaining book. Although not as humorous as I had anticipated, the story had its share of quirky characters and comical situations. But interlaced with all the fun and celebrations is a very serious treatise about relationships.
“Five Miles South of Peculiar” is the story of three sisters – 50-year-old twins Darlene and Carlene and their much younger sister Nolie (Magnolia). Carlene had left home during her senior year of high school to pursue her dream of singing on Broadway while Carlene stayed home, married, and raised a family. Nolie has never married and it is understood that everyone believes she is just not quite all there. At some point autism and OCD are even mentioned. Into that mix are added a pastor who has lost his church due to divorce and the mayor of Peculiar, Darlene’s love interest.
When Carlene returns home for Carlene’s fiftieth birthday celebration, the relationship between the once close twins is more than strained. Each of them has unresolved issues from their past but are unwilling to discuss them and clear the air. Through all the tension and mishaps, Nolie just keeps tending her huge dogs, sewing aprons to give away and dispensing her unique nuggets of wisdom to everyone she encounters. And finally they all discover that their faith has been renewed, hearts are healed and relationships are mended. Of course it is not quite that simple – a lot of ground was covered before they reached that point. You just need to read it for yourself because I don’t want to give away too much of the story.
As the eldest of three sisters and a southerner for life, I found myself easily identifying with the characters of “Five Miles South of Peculiar”. The author made the people and the place of Peculiar come to life and I was sorry when the story ended. I don’t know what she has in mind for future novels, but I for one would enjoy another visit to Peculiar.
This book was provided for review by Howard Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Darlene Caldwell has spent a lifetime tending Sycamores, an estate located five miles south of a small town called Peculiar. She raised a family in the spacious home that was her grandfather’s legacy, and she enjoys being a pillar of the community. Sycamores is the kingdom where she reigns as queen . . . until her limelight-stealing twin sister unexpectedly returns.
Carlene Caldwell, veteran of the Broadway stage, is devastated when she realizes that an unsuccessful throat surgery has spelled the end of her musical career. Searching for a new purpose in life, she retreats to Sycamores, her childhood home. She may not be able to sing, but she hopes to use her knowledge and experience to fashion a new life in Peculiar, the little town she left behind.
Haunted by a tragic romance, Magnolia Caldwell is the youngest of the Caldwell girls. Nolie has never wanted to live anywhere but Sycamores. She spends her days caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she’s created on the estate, but when she meets a man haunted by his own tragedy, she must find the courage to either deny her heart or cut the apron strings that tie her to a dear and familiar place.
Can these sisters discover who they are meant to be when life takes an unforeseen detour? In a season of destiny, three unique women reunite and take unexpected journeys of the heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than 100 books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don’t Bet Against Me, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Her nonfiction book Don’t Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela and her husband make their home in Florida with their dogs.
by admin | Jun 5, 2012 | Biblical, Books, Historical
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingHarvest of RubiesRiver North; New Edition edition (May 1, 2012)byTessa AfsharABOUT THE AUTHOR:
TESSA AFSHAR was voted “New Author of the Year” by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader’s Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Remarkable Talent Threatens to Cloud a Life
The prophet Nehemiah’s cousin can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. Her accomplishments catapult her into the center of the Persian court – working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and becoming the queen’s favorite scribe.
Not bad for a woman living in a man’s world: so why does Sarah feel like a failure?
A devastating past has left Sarah with two conclusions: that God does not love her, and that her achievements are the measure of her worth – a measure she can never quite live up to.
Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way. A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is a wife who scorns him.
Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Harvest of Rubies, go HERE.
Learn more about Tessa and her books on her Website.
by admin | Jun 5, 2012 | Books, England, Historical
MY REVIEW:
I am usually a fairly speedy reader but “The Secret Keeper” was so rich in historical details that I had to slow down in order to assimilate them and understand exactly what was going on. It has been years since I spent any time reading anything about the Tudors so it took me awhile to get up to speed on the multitude of characters and their roles in this story.
In “The Secret Keeper”, Juliana is a young woman who is devoted to the Lord and is plagued by prophetic dreams. Through a family connection she is sent to London to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the woman who became King Henry VIII’s final wife. Her time spent in court opened her eyes to the undercurrents there where men used religion to further their personal quests for power and did not hesitate to manipulate the king in order to reach their goals. It was an era during which no one felt safe. One unguarded word could send them to the tower or even to their death. Even family members turned against each other. Although Juliana was sometimes tempted to return to her home, especially after a vicious attack, she was certain that she was exactly where the Lord wanted her and she put her total trust in Him.
Although the plot seemed to move slowly at times, “The Secret Keeper” exposed strong women who were willing to do anything for their faith and the secrets they shared in order to protect others. With its attention to historical detail and a story filled with danger, intrigue, and a touch of romance as well as more than one surprise along the way, “The Secret Keeper” is a must read for those who enjoy historical fiction set during the Tudor period.
This book was provided for review by Howard Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What she sees in secret, she may not tell. Mistress Juliana St. John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight’s family. Though all expect her to marry the son of her late father’s business partner, time and chance interrupt, sending her to the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII.
Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to Wiltshire to conclude his affairs with Juliana’s father’s estate and chances upon her reading as lector in the local church. He sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and wants most to please, Kateryn Parr. Juliana’s mother agrees to have her placed with Parr for a season and Juliana goes, though reluctantly. For she keeps a secret.
As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henry’s devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queen’s desire to influence her husband’s—and the realm’s—direction and beliefs. Later, without Henry’s strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. Ultimately, her course is driven by a final kept secret, one that undoes everything she thought she knew.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children. For more Tudor tidbits, please visit www.sandrabyrd.com.
by admin | Jun 2, 2012 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
In her Lake Manawa series, Lorna Seilstad has brought to life an era and specific area of our history that most of us never knew existed. The lifestyle of the rich who vacationed on the shores of Lake Manawa is unlike anything I have ever imagined but it is the incorporation of the stories of not only the rich but of their servants, and the ordinary people of the area that make Seilstad’s stories so engrossing. Her expert blend of humor, romance, drama, and suspense combines to create novels that I don’t want to put down. You can count on everything else falling by the wayside once I pick up one of her books.
“The Ride of Her Life” is sadly the final installment of the Lake Manawa series. In it we find Lily Hart, former maid and friend of Marguerite of “Making Waves”, as the primary character. A decade later, Lily is a widow with a precocious young son. To escape the control of her in-laws, she has taken a job as cook in Lake Manawa where she meets roller coaster designer Nick Perrin when he comes to her aid. Although Lily has no room in her life for any man other than her son, she soon finds herself drawn to the young man who has taken such an interest in her son (and her) and who seems to be there every time she needs rescued.With a father-in-law determined to do whatever necessary to get custody of his grandson Lily needs all the help she can get to prevent that from happening.
While not quite as humorous as the first two books of this series, “The Ride of Her Life” is nevertheless a wonderfully entertaining story. I enjoyed the antics of Lily’s son Levi and the cooking mishaps of Lily’s kitchen assistant. The suspense built slowly to an exciting climax with some unexpected results and the romance between Lily and Nick was charming. It was gratifying to watch the characters grow – from Lily learning to trust both God and others to another character’s realizing the error of his ways and doing the right thing before it was too late.
I am sorry to see this wonderful series come to an end but look forward to seeing what this author has in store for her readers next. I highly recommend “The Ride of Her Life” as well as the other novels in the Lake Manawa series.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Lorna Seilstad creates an entertaining story filled with delightful characters and romance set at the Lake Manawa summer resort in 1906. Feisty heroine Lilly Hart’s exploits will make you laugh out loud and sigh contentedly as she navigates the summer’s adventures.
The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is a six year old. Widowed two years ago, Lilly leaves the shelter of her intrusive in-laws’ home to stand on her own and provide for her young son by working for the summer as a cook at Lake Manawa. However, her in-laws find that life utterly unsuitable for their grandson, and when a row ensues, a handsome stranger–who designs roller coasters, of all things–intercedes on her behalf. Still, Lilly is not about to get involved with any man, especially this cocky (though charismatic) gentleman. Little does she know she is about to begin the ride of her life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A history buff, antique collector, and freelance graphic designer, Lorna Seilstad is the author of Making Waves and A Great Catch. She draws her setting from her home state of Iowa. A former high school English and journalism teacher, she has won several online writing awards and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Learn more about Lorna and her books on her website.
Lorna has an interesting article about Lake Manawa Here.
Endorsements for The Ride of Her Life & Lorna Seilstad:
“With her expected wit and humor, Lorna Seilstad has penned another winner. You’ll be captivated by the characters and history in The Ride of Her Life. Hang on and enjoy—this book is truly a fun ride.”
—Judith Miller, bestselling author, the Daughters of Amana series
“Buckle up, it’s going to be a fun ride! With a sparkle of humor, heart-pumping romance, and a writing style that is fresh, fun, and addictive, Lorna Seilstad takes you on The Ride of Her Life—and yours—along the fun-filled shores of 1906 Lake Manawa.”
—Julie Lessman, award-winning author of the Daughters of Boston and the Winds of Change series
Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than 100 books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don’t Bet Against Me, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Her nonfiction book Don’t Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela and her husband make their home in Florida with their dogs.
