Read-a-holic

Remembering Christmas

2011-11-19T19:33:00.004-05:00

By: Dan Walsh

http://www.revellbooks.com

In this story we are introduced to Rick Denton who has been living life the way that he pleases and with no one to answer to.Things take a turn for Rick when he receives a desperate call from his mom asking him to please come and help run the family store as his stepfather is seriously ill and she really needs his help. Little does Rick know that what started out as a short term job turns into weeks worth of work as his stepfather takes a turn for the worse. Rick has to come to terms with the things of his past and must also look deep inside for the new him if he wishes to achieve the happiness that awaits him in the future.

Dan Walsh has done it again and I am once again very pleased with the story that he has written. I think that many of us who have been through some of the things that these characters have faced will really get a lot of insight from this story. I especially love the message of Faith in this story and the Belief that no matter the situation God has it all in control. We must all learn to have faith in God and to believe that if He has said something in his word that he will fulfill it to the letter. There is no problem to hard for God and no situation that he can not turn around and make it into a blessing. There are a lot of people out there who wonder and ask the question, Why is this happening to me? Sometimes the Lord allows things to happen to us not because of any particular thing that we have done but as a wake up call to others who may be around and watching how we handle things. Everything that happens to us can be used as a testimony to show others the way to God and that he is but testing our faith and commitment to him.

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

The Christmas Shoppe

2011-11-12T21:13:00.001-05:00

By: Melody Carlson

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this story we are introduced to Susanna Elton who is working as the city manager of Parrish Springs ans she has just completed the sell of a building in town to Parrish Springs newest citizen, Matilda Honeycutt. Little does Susanna realize that this one step will completely alter not only her life but that of Parrish Springs and its residents as well. Matilda is an eccentric older woman who really gets the town in an uproar when she opens her business with what they see as little more than junk and all without the proper permits required by law. Add to the mix angry business owners and a councilman out to line his own pockets and you have a recipe for disaster. Matilda, however has a special magic all her own and begins to reveal to certain people what it is that they really need in each of their lives.

I really enjoyed reading this story although it did take me a while to get into the rhythm of it. I really liked how Matilda was a lady who did not care about what others thought about her and that she set out to achieve a certain purpose and was not afraid to go for it. I loved how she took what other people saw as just junk but it touched the lives of different people. This story brings to life the saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure. This story also shows how important it is to really look deep inside ourselves and see what it is that we really need and what better time to put this into practice than this holiday season. We must all learn to forgive, be patient, open our hearts, and realize the true meaning of the holiday season. Pick up this book and follow along with the citizens of Parrish Springs as they begin to realize that things are not always as they appear.

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

The Measure of Katie Calloway

2011-10-15T19:01:00.008-04:00

By: Serena Miller

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this story we are introduced to Katie Calloway who has survived the rigors of the Civil War in Georgia only to have to deal with a husband who is abusive and having a hard time dealing with the loss of his family home. Fearing for her life and that of her brother who she is taking care of after the death of their parents Katie grabs a few of her belonging and flees what is left of her husbands home. Can Katie build a new life for her and her brother or will he husband succeed in his plans for her?

Robert Frost owns a lumber camp and is in need a cook that can help him feed his men since the cook that he had broke his arm in a fight. When Robert meets Katie and gets a taste of her cooking he knows that he has found the perfect cook for his camp. The only problem is that he is not sure if Katie will be able to handle the demands that will be placed on her as cook and how she will handle the isolation and being the only woman around.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and I really admired Katie's inner strength and her willingness to venture into the unknown to save not only her life but that of her brother as well. I think that there are several people who can learn a lot from Katie about when to say enough is enough in an abusive relationship. This is especially true in relationships where kids are involved. It is up to the adults in the relationship to put the welfare of the child above that of their feelings for the abusive person. Katie was able to tap into her inner core of strength and to create a new life for her and her younger brother and was able to make the best out of her situation.

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

Deeply Devoted

2011-10-01T17:54:00.003-04:00

By: Maggie Brendan

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this book you will meet Catherine Olsen who is leaving her home and everything that she knows to become a mail order bride. After the death of her parents in a tragic accident she alone is left to care for her two sisters but she is also dealing with another tragedy from her past as well. Catherine is also dealing with the fact that she has kept certain secrets from her future husband and is trying to determine when to break the news. Can she over come the tragedy of her past and find love in the arms of her new husband or will she loose her one chance at love and happiness?

Peter Andersen can't wait to pick up his future bride when she arrives but is shocked to find that she is not alone. As they get to know each other Peter becomes worried that he won't be able to support both Catherine and her sisters. He also becomes worried that he will not be able to keep his wife happy as he is a simple farmer and she is use to a life of luxury. Add into the mix that his mother is none to happy to find her plans for his future interrupted and you have a recipe for trouble. Can Peter over come his mother's suspicions and open his heart to find the love of a lifetime? Pick up this story and find out what happens when these two worlds collide.

I really enjoyed reading this book and was touched by the tragedy that Catherine has suffered and how it still haunts her life. There are many people today who are still being plagued by things that happened to them in the past and it still causes problems in their lives today. One of the biggest things that people do wrong is that they keep things bottled up and hidden inside and it festers inside until they can no longer function. If the person you are with truly loves you then they will love you no matter what you have done in the past. The important thing is to learn from the mistakes of the past and to move on in to the future with the knowledge that you will not let it happen again.

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

A Heart Revealed

2011-09-23T17:49:00.001-04:00

By: Julie Lessman

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this story we are introduced to Emma Malloy who has left Dublin and an abusive husband ten years ago for a fresh start in America. In this time Emma has drawn closer to God and has found completeness in running her own business and in taking care of those that are close and dear to her heart. During the past ten years that she has spent in Boston she has drawn close to the O'Connor family and she has become really good friends with Sean O'Connor but she is afraid to look any further at her feelings due to her refusal to break her vows to her husband.

Sean O'Connor is a confirmed bachelor who refuses to give any thought to finding the right woman and settling down in wedded bliss. So it comes as no surprise when his sisters and their husbands conspire to trick him into catching the garter at his sister's wedding. Sean is dealing with a lot of secrets from his past and has a hard time moving on from some of the terrible things that happened to him and has spent his life trying to make up for them. When the loss of his job causes him to help Emma in her store he begins to realize that Emma could be the type of woman that could make him change his mind about remaining single. Can Sean and Emma learn to forgive themselves and move on from the sins of their past? Pick up this story and find out.

I really enjoyed reading this story and it kept me hooked until the last page was read and even then I was looking for more. There are so many great points in this story that I will only be able to pick out a few to expound on in this review. First and foremost I really loved the theme of forgiveness that was shown throughout this whole book. Not only did the characters have to learn to forgive each other but they also had to learn to forgive themselves for the things that they had done wrong as well. Like Emma and Sean there are a lot of people that feel that because they have done wrong in the past that they don't deserve to be forgiven and to find happiness in their lives. We are all human and have done wrong but we should learn from the things that we have done wrong and change them so that we have a chance at a better future. I also liked how the author showed how forgiveness and compromise should work in a marriage. When you marry someone you don't look to change them but you look to find a middle ground that will make each person happy. The biggest thing is to remember to communicate and to compromise when troubles arise. Put pride aside when needed and admit when you are wrong because silence and anger can cause more harm to a marriage but if you look deep and remember why you married that person and always PUT GOD FIRST things will work out for your good. Pick up this book and let God talk to you through the characters and the words found within.

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

Blue Skies Tomorrow

2011-08-27T19:30:00.003-04:00

By: Sarah Sundin

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book three in the Wings of Glory series and we are once again introduced to those Novak brothers and this story is about Raymond Novak. In this story Raymond is more interested in being a pastor than joining the army but the more that he hears about the great things that his brothers are doing and the sacrifices of other men that are serving their country the more he begins to feel that he is missing out on something great and he sets out to prove to himself and others that he is just as good as his brothers.

We are also introduced to Helen Carlisle who's husband was killed in action during the war and she is left alone to raise their son. Helen sets out o fill her time volunteering and also uses it as a way to escape her true feelings. She has been hiding a terrible secret and is afraid that she will slip and give it away.

When these two meet up sparks begin to fly and there new found attraction will be put to the test. Can Helen over come the secrets of her past and find a lasting love that will surpass all her expectations or will she let the secrets from her past destroy her chance a t love? and can Raymond survive his tour of duty during the war and find his true calling before it is too late? Pick up this amazing story and find out what happens to these two people.

I really really enjoyed reading this Story and catching up with all of the Novak brothers that we meet in the first two stories. I loved the message in this story of forgiveness and the message of moving on from the past and not getting lost in what happened. I also like that Raymond began to realize that he did not need to compete with his brothers and that what he was doing was just as important as what they did fighting in the war. Many people today get so caught up in trying to do what others are doing that they forget to look at the good that they are doing. God made all of us unique and equipped us all to handle certain tasks. There are also a lot of people who are walking around today caring scars from thing that were done to them in the past and they are letting it cause them problems today. We must all learn to forgive those that have done wrong to us, not for them, but for us so that we can move on and have greater hope in the future.

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

The Colonel's Lady

2011-08-20T19:15:00.006-04:00

By: Laura Frantz

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel we are introduced to Roxanna Rowan who is heading to a Kentucky fort to reunite with her father who has been serving with the army there. Little does she know the hardships and trials that she will face thanks to her decision to leave the safety of Virginia and brave the wilds of Kentucky. To make matter worse She receives the terrible news that her father was killed but a few days before her arrival to the fort. Can this brave girl hold up under the strain of the loss of her father and the struggles of fort life?

Next we are introduced to Colonel Cassius McLinn who has been placed in charge of the men and women who reside at the fort. When he meets Roxanna he fills a great need to take care of her because he feels a great responsibility for the death of her father. Felling a need to help her he offers her the chance to feel in the job that her father held by writing letters for him to certain people. The more together that they spend the sparks begin to fly between them but one terrible secret threatens to ruin it all. Can these to people over come the harsh trials and the deep secret that separates them and find lasting love? Pick up this exciting story and find out.

I found this novel to be an exciting page turner that kept me hooked until the last page was read. Each character in this story faces several trials that they must over come and there is a great bases of faith and prayer being the answer. Also there is a great part that forgiveness plays in this story as Roxanna must forgive the Colonel in hopes of finding the chance at true love and happiness and the Colonel must forgive himself for something that happened that was beyond his control.

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

A Killer Among Us

2011-05-28T21:41:00.000-04:00

By: Lynette Eason

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This Novel is book three and the final installment in the Women of Justice Series. In this book we meet Kit Kenyon who is the sister of Samantha and Jamie who first meet in the previous two books. Kit is working as a hostage negotiator and is very good at what she does. She is partnered up with Noah Lambert who is a detective. Kit and Noah find themselves dealing with a serial killer who is not only killing certain victims but he has also formed an unhealthy fixation on Kit. In the midst of all of this turmoil Noah has to deal with the issues that he has over being given another female partner after the loss of his previous partner. This book is a powerful suspense novel that will leave the reader on the edge of their seat.

This book was a great way to end the series and I really hate to see it end. This book was a page turner that kept me hooked til the very end. Just when you think that you have the story figured out and that you know who the killer is with the turn of the next page you are thrown for a loop again. It was great to catch up with the earlier characters in the series and to see how they are doing. I liked the message of forgiveness in the story when Kit is faced with coming to terms with her adoptive mother and that Noah must learn to forgive himself for something that happened that was beyond his control. There are a lot of people today that are still holding on to anger at perceived wrongs as well as people who are holding on to missed place guilt.

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

Tomorrow's Garden

2011-04-23T21:21:00.004-04:00

By: Amanda Cabot

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This story is book 3 in the Texas Dream series and in this book we are introduced to Harriet Kirk who is doing the best that she can to take care of her younger siblings after the tragic death of her parents in a house fire. She decides to take a teaching position in the town of Laderville, Texas. Harriet is hoping that with this new job and by moving to new location that she will be able to hide what she sees as a shameful secret and she also hopes that this move will help to keep her brother out of trouble. Little does she know that this move will bring with it a new set of trial and tribulations and that her past will return to haunt her even here in this new town.

We are also introduced to Lawrence Wood who is a former Texas Ranger turned Mayor and Sheriff of this small town. Lawrence is facing problems of his own which are further complicated with the arrival of Harriet and her siblings. The more time these two spend together the more their feelings for one another begin to grow. Can this fragile relationship stand up to the trials and test that arise in this small Texas town. pick up this book and find out what happens when a Schoolteacher meets a former Texas Ranger and watch the sparks fly.

I really enjoyed reading this story and found myself being pulled into the story and experiencing everything with the characters. Harriet finds herself in the desperate situation of having to raise her siblings after the death of her parents and find that she must make some difficult decisions. This story is full of tough decisions that each character has to face as well as a story filled with learning to trust in others and realize that not everything is as it seems. This is a great story about learning to trust in others and to not feel that you have to do everything yourself. It is also shows how important it is to face your fears and to always be prepared for the unexpected. It also reveals that for everything you do there is a consequence as one of the characters found out in the story. Over all this is a great story about family and the love that can be found when it is lest expected.

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

Bathsheba

2011-03-19T22:18:00.000-04:00

By: Jill Eileen Smith

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is the final installment in the Wives of King David series and in the story we are introduced to Bathsheba and her husband Uriah who is one of King David's soldiers. In this story we see Bathsheba as a lonely woman who is longing to feel loved and looking for a way to fill the loneliness that she feels from being married to a man that is constantly away at war. Little does she expect to feel a connection to David when she first meets him and talks to him. The connection also takes King David by surprise as well and he finds it hard to keep her off his mind. One night of passion turns into turmoil when Bathsheba finds herself pregnant with the King's child. David makes one fatal decision which will forever change all of their lives and which leads to consequences that well follow them throughout the rest of their lives.

As many times as I have read this story in the Bible it has never really struck me as it did reading this book. I found myself feeling more for the characters in this story and truly being able to feel what led them to do what they did even knowing that it was wrong. What really came through for me was the love that David felt for his wives and how much he loved his children and most of all how much he truly loved God. I found myself unable to put this book down until the last page was read. This story really shows how one decision can affect your whole life and not just yours but those around you as well. I also brought home that no matter how powerful you may think you are you are still responsible for your actions that the consequences that those actions bring. No man is above God's law and no man is immune to his punishments but in the end God's love will always shine through. In the case of David and Bathsheba even though they were punished for their sins in the beginning by the ens of the story they were once again feeling God's love and mercy in their lives.

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

Angel Sister

2011-02-26T20:07:00.001-05:00

By: Ann H. Gabhart

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel we are introduced to Kate Merritt who is taking care of her family in 1936. She is having to help out her mother in taking care of her sisters as well as dealing with her father who is an alcoholic. The family is trying to come to terms with their financial troubles as well as coping with a husband who has been suffering with an addiction to alcohol since he came back from the war. One day while going to the church Kate finds a dirty little girl sitting on the steps. The little girls name is Lorena Birdsong and she was left by her parents who told her that an angel would come and take care of her. When she sees Kate she begins to think of her as her angel sister. The arrival of Lorena seems to bring some life back into the family that is until the town begins to question the wisdom of allowing this little girl to be raised in a family that is dealing with such troubles. Pick up this book and see what happens to Kate and her family as well as little Lorena Birdsong.

This was a great novel to read and at certain points actually brought tears to my eyes as i read it. I loved the message of forgiveness and the underlying strength of the characters in this novel. Even though each of the characters have fallen short in their lives they each possess an inner strength that allows them to continue to do what they must in order to survive. Kate as the middle daughter has stepped in to help her mother out and also to be the one to help her father when he comes home late at night drunk. I also loved the willingness of this family to take in a poor lost child even though they were struggling with problems of their own. It has become so easy for people today to turn away those in need because they feel that they already have enough on their plate dealing with their own troubles. Sometimes in helping others we can actually help ourselves in the process.

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

Stars Collide

2011-01-30T18:07:00.001-05:00

By: Janice Thompson

http://www.revellbooks.com

In this novel we are introduced to Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy who are both actors on the television show Stars Collide. What started out as just parts played in a show begins to spill over into real life as these to stars begin to develop feelings for each other and begin to have chemistry both on ans off the screen. Kat lives with her grandmother who used to be a Hollywood star a long time ago but has become quite eccentric in her old age. This usually isn't a problem until she mistakes an on screen proposal as the real thing and begins to make plans for her granddaughter's wedding. Add to the confusion an onslaught by the paparazzi to discover the truth about the actors, plans for the big wedding scene, and long buried family secrets that arise and you have a page turning novel that grabs you and keeps you reading until the last page is turned. Can these two people survive the onslaught of family and press and will their love with stand the strain and test that arises. Pick up this novel and find out what really happens when Stars Collide.

I know I say this about all the books but I really loved and enjoyed reading this novel. It really gives you a glimpse into the lives of Hollywood celebrates and gives you something to think about. Even though we see them on t.v every day and read about them in books and magazines they are people just like us. They laugh, cry, eat, sleep and love just like we do and they also value their privacy. I like how even though Kat and Scott are celebrates they have not compromised in their faith. Both of these character are true to God and have not let themselves get pulled into the traps of Hollywood and being a success. I think that more people could learn from these two characters about thinking about the image that they portray to others and the influence that they have on those who see them especially the younger generation. This is true for all of us whether we realize it our not. We are all being watched by those younger than us and should be aware of the image we portray. Would we want our children and younger siblings doing the things that they See us do? I also enjoyed watching the love that develops not just between Kat and Scott but between another couple in the novel as well. It shows us that it is never too late to love and no matter how much time passes there is always room for forgiveness and a second chance. Love really does conquer all if you allow it to. Keep an open mind and an open heart and always remember to pray and keep God first.

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

Fatal Judgment

2011-01-23T18:03:00.003-05:00

By: Irene Hannon

http://www.revellbooks.com

In this book we are introduced to Federal Judge Elizabeth, Liz, Michaels who has just been through a terrible tragedy and worse her very life could be in danger. She begins to wonder if it is something that she is doing wrong since she has suffered through a similar tragedy not to long ago. Liz must learn to trust in her instincts again and to trust her life in the hands of U.S Marshal Jake Taylor who is a friend of her deceased husband.

Jake Taylor has just returned home from Iraq when he is called up on a protection detail for Liz Michaels. He must first overcome his resentment in the part that he believes that Liz played in the death of his friend. As he spend time with Liz he begins to realize that what he thought was truth might not have been and that he really did not take the time to get to know Liz or even to listen to her side of what happened. Can Jake over come is misconceptions about Liz and protect her from the madman that is out to kill her. Pick up this book and find out.

This book was a definite page turner and a nail bitter from beginning to end. I found it very hard to put it down because I just had to know what happened next. This story grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't turn you loose until the very end. I loved the growth of Jack and Liz from the beginning to the end of the story. Jack must learn to put his personal feelings aside in the beginning of the story to do his job but he begins to realize that he might have been wrong about Liz on many levels. Like many of us he judges Liz based off of what he was told by one person instead of getting to know her himself. In the end he realizes what a truly generous and caring person she is. We all should take the time to get to know people before we judge them by what others think or even what we see.

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

The Search

2011-01-16T17:56:00.002-05:00

By: Suzanne Woods Fisher

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book number three in the Lancaster County Secrets collection. In this story we are first introduced to several characters whose lives are all intertwined in this wonderful Amish story. One of the main characters in this story is Lainey O'Toole who is hiding a dark secret in her past from fifteen years ago. After having grown up in the real world she all of a sudden finds herself stranded in the Amish community of Stoney Ridge where she once used to live. while there she is confronted with the consequences of her actions that long ago night and with the effect that it has had on several lives. We also meet Bess Reihl who comes to Rose Hill Farm to help take care of her ailing grandmother Bertha. There are also a host of other characters whose lives become intertwined in this story and as secrets come out they must all deal with the results.

I really enjoyed reading this story and following along with the characters as they were faced with tough decisions and dealing with their problems. I liked the over all message of forgiveness and that everyone deserves a second chance no matter what they may have done in the past and what they may still be continuing to do now. I like how Bertha never gave up in her brother no matter what he was like or how mean he was to her and that she continued to try to help him even though everyone else had given up on him. Each character went through a lot of growing in this story and I like that it over all had a happy ending. This was a great story and I would encourage anyone to pick up and read this book if you are looking for a great story of forgiveness, hope, and the true meaning of love and self sacrifice.

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

Chrismas at Harrington's

2010-11-20T20:27:00.000-05:00

By: Melody Carlson

http://www.revellbooks.com

In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham who is on her own and traveling to a new town looking for a new start. Lena has had a hard life these past nine years and is hoping that she can build a new life for herself in the town of New Haven, Minnesota. Her she meets many new people who are willing to take a chance on a stranger new to town and lands a job most unexpected at Harrington's department store playing Mrs. Santa. Just when she thinks that things are going good she is confronted with her past and begins to see everything that she has worked for begin to crumble and there is nothing that she can do to stop it. In the end she realizes that the only thing she can do is to confront her past head on and to trust in the new friends that she has made and to trust in God that he will work everything out for her good.

I really enjoyed reading this book and feel that it is a true holiday story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. I loved the message of forgiveness and that all people no matter what they did in the past deserve a second chance even a third and fourth chance. How many times have we made mistakes yet God was willing to give us chance after chance to get it right. This story is a great example of how wrong it is to judge people with out getting all of the facts and how wrong it is to judge people based off of hear say.

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

Emily's Chance

2010-10-30T22:00:00.004-04:00

By: Sharon Gillenwater

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book two in The Callahans of Texas Series. In this novel we are reintroduced to Emily Rose whom we first meet for a brief moment at the end of book on which was Jenna's Cowboy. Emily has been hired to head up the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum. When a fire breaks out and ends up burning down the old museum Emily along with the help of Chance Callahan are able to save a few of the historical records before they are destroyed. Emily is doing her best to achieve her dream of becoming the curator of a major museum and falling in love with Chance is not part of her plans.

Chance Callahan has had feelings for Emily since the day that he helped her to save a bunch of boxes from the old museum before it burned down. Chance is also working as a Builder for those who have lost there houses in the fire and he is also helping out at the families ranch. He is determined to win Emily's heart and to convince her to stay in Callahans Crossing and become his wife. As the story unfolds these two are faced with many difficult decisions and are forced to step back and reexamine their lives and the plans that they have for the future? Will Chance end up with the Woman that he loves or will Emily leave for the Job of her dreams. Pick up this Novel and find out what happens to these two.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and it was great to return to Callahan Crossing and see how the people are moving ahead and rebuilding after the terrible fore that destroyed a large part of the town. It was also nice to catch up with Chance and Emily and to see how these two were getting along. I liked how both characters were able to look back at the decisions that they were making and were both willing to ask the question, Is this really the plan that God has for me? I also liked how each character was willing to do whatever was revealed to them by the Lord and how each one knew that he would not lead them wrong. Many people today go through life making decisions for themselves and then get discouraged and depressed when things don;t turn out the way they want. There are also a lot of people who miss out on blessings because they are so focused on what they have planned that they forget to stop and reevaluate where they are headed.

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

Don't Look Back

2010-10-23T19:08:00.001-04:00

By: Lynette Eason

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This novel is book two in the Women of Justice series. In this book we are reintroduced to Jamie Cash who is the sister of Samantha Wolfe. Jamie survived a brutal kidnapping and managed to escape and is just now managing to recover from the ordeal. She is now working as a forensic anthropologist. While working on a case she begins to see similarities between what happened to the victims and what happened to her when she was taken twelve years ago. Could it be that the same person that kidnapped Jamie is at it again and could he be back to finish the job off the one that got away?

In this story we are also introduced to FBI Special Agent Dakota Richards who has had a crush on Jamie since he first meet her. Even though he is not aware of the full tragedy of her past he knows that Jamie is hiding a secret that continues to effect her even know. Being a patient and understanding man he is willing to wait on her to come to terms with his feelings for her and how she feels towards him. He gets even more involved in her life when it turns out that the killer they are tracking is the same man that kidnapped and almost killed Jamie twelve years ago. Can he and Jamie find the killer before he strikes again or will they find out to late who he is in time to stop him from succeeding. Pick up this story and find out.

I really loved reading this book just as much as I loved book one. It was a definite page turner and it keeps you guessing as you turn each page. There are a lot of twist and turns in this story that keep you on the edge of your seat and keeps you turning pages til the very end. I also found myself having great admiration for Jamie and how she refused to let circumstances dictate how she acted throughout the story. She refused to let hate into her heart and instead chose to forgive the man who has haunted her memory and life for twelve years. We can learn a lot from her about letting go of hurts in the past and learning to forgive people no matter how horrible what they did was. Refuse to let them continue to direct your life and choose to live the life you want as if the past never happened.

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

The House on Malcolm Street

2010-10-03T19:00:00.004-04:00

By: Leisha Kelly

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel we are first introduced to Leah Breckenridge and her daughter Eliza Rose as they set off to meet an unknown aunt of her late husband. Leah lost her husband in a tragic accident and shortly after that she lost her young son as well. Follow that by the loss of her home and we see a woman that is very down on her luck and who is deeply worried about the well being of her young daughter. As a last resort she turns to her late husbands Aunt who owns a boarding house and is hoping that it will be a safe place for her and Eliza to stay until she can come up with a better plan for their future. Leah is also suffering from a lack of faith throughout the story because she just cannot understand how God could take both her husband and her son.

We are also introduced to Josiah Walsh who is also a border living at the boardinghouse and he to is suffering from the loss of his wife and their baby. Unlike Leah however Josiah has found peace with God although he still struggles to stay on the path he has chosen to follow. This becomes harder however when Leah and her daughter move in and are a constant reminder to him of what could have been had his wife and child not died. He is also struggling with the idea that Aunt Mari wishes for him to befriend Leah since they have both suffered so much and may be good support for each other. Can these two over come their uneasiness with each other a form a bond that will help each other or will they miss out on the chance to help each other? Will Leah find the strength to forgive God and seek his arms and learn to trust him again? Pick up this Novel and find out.

I really enjoyed the overall theme in this story and how true to life the characters are in this novel. Each character is dealing with the loss of loved ones and is having to face a test of their faith. Leah must learn to lean on God again and to trust that he never makes a mistake even when we fail to understand why he allows bad things to happen. Josiah on the other hand has to learn to forgive himself for the mistakes of the past and to look forward to the future. These are the same problems that we face today when tragedy strikes in our lives. We go through a period of fear and a time of searching for answers to the question of why would God allow this to happen to good people?

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

A Memory Between Us

2010-09-26T19:17:00.005-04:00

By: Sarah Sundin

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book two in the Wings of Glory series and in it we are introduced to Major Jack Novak. Like his brother in book one Jack is taking part in WWII as a bomber pilot. Jack is struggling with balancing his wishes to remain in the army as a pilot and with his dad's wish for him to become a minister when his army stint is over. Jack also is dealing with his own dependence on God when he is in trouble and with his dependence on himself. He faces this problem a lot when he has important decisions to make that could cost the lives of his men and innocent people if he makes the wrong choice. Does he trust in God to make a way out or does he depend on himself to know the answer?

We are also introduced to Lieutenant Ruth Doherty who is an army nurse who is fighting a terrible past that is full of secrets and shame. She first meets Jack when he is hospitalized after suffering an injury during a mission. Ruth however is not interested in a relationship with anyone and is only interested in working hard and sending home as much money as she can to help with the care of her siblings who are being raised by different family members back home in the states. When she is given the option to take a job that will give her more money to send home she takes it completely unaware of the new problems that it will cause. Ruth is struggling with a lack of faith due to the deaths of her parents and the traumatic childhood that she endured. It has left her terribly scarred and afraid to put her trust in anyone. Can she over come her past and find a Life with Jack pick up this story and find out.

I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading about the next Novak brother. I enjoyed the struggle that each character endured in the fact that it can be related to everyday life. We all have had things to happen in our past weither in our childhood or even as adults that we would go back and change if we could and it is only by putting trust in God that we can move on and overcoome them. Many people today also deal with the hard choice of trusting in God to come through for use or trying to fix problems on our own the best way we know how. This story does a good job of showing us what happens when we put more trust in ourselves than we do in God.

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

A Hope Undaunted

2010-09-20T18:12:00.004-04:00

By: Julie Lessman

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel we are introduced to Katie O'Conner and her family who are living in Boston in the 1920's. Katie is the youngest of six children and is one of the hardest to discipline at the age of 18. Katie has her life all planned out and has no intention of veering from that plan. She will marry her boyfriend Jack and then both of them will pursue careers as lawyers. All her happy plans begin to change when she is forced to do volunteer work over the summer and is forbidden to see Jack except on weekends. Little does she realize that this summer will change the course of her life.

Luke McGee was a boy from Katie's early childhood who was the bane of her existence. Now he is a man grown and has returned to Boston to live and work. He is currently working as a lawyer for the Boston Children's Aide Society which just happens to be one of the two places that Katie is being made to volunteer at this summer. Luke is dealing with problems of his own as he tries to over come a past that helped to shape his present and as he deals with trouble finding homes for Boston's needy children.

As these two work and spend time together feelings begin to develop but little do they know the difficulty and trials that await them as the summer progresses. Can Katie let go of the plans that she has so rigidly made for her future and can Luke over come the test that arise in his life? and will these two be able to find the love that they each seek? Pick up this book and find out what happens to these two and their friends and family.

I really loved reading this story and I especially loved the characters and the shocking twists that occurred throughout the story. I loved the theme of be careful how you treat people because you never know who they will grow up to be. This book was definitely a page turner because just when you think you know what will happen next you turn the page and are hit with a surprise. I really enjoy books that keep me guessing til the very end and you are never quit sure if things will work out by the last page. Not only do the two main characters have test to over come but so do the other characters in the story as well. There is a lot of discussion about prayer and seeking for answers and guidance in the this story which I really like and I enjoyed how much love you could feel between the characters in this story and how that helped each of them to overcome the trials that they faced. I can't wait for the next Winds of Chance book to be released.

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

Making Waves

2010-09-13T18:09:00.004-04:00

By: Lorna Seilstad

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book one in the Lake Manawa Summers series. Here we are introduced to Marguerite Westing and her family. Marguerite's father decides to take the family and spend the summer of 1895 camped at Lake Manawa, Iowa. Marguerite sees this as a chance to escape for a moment the marriage that she is being pushed into by her mother that she is not sure that she wants. While there her father takes her out on a sail boat and she falls in love with the experience and longs to sail a boat of her own. This is not however a pursuit that gentle ladies pursue according to her mother who is against her learning how to sail. Marguerite encourages her brother to learn how to sail and to take her along so that she can learn as he is being taught.

Trip Andrews is a sailing instructor who is also getting his own ship ready to compete in the sail boat races that are held every year. Trip is battling hard to gain the approval of his father and he feels that the best way to do this is to win the sail boat race this year. Trip meets Marguerite when she and her father take a ride on his boat. Later when she hatches her scheme to get her brother to take sailing lessons Trip is the man she chooses to be his teacher. When a freak accident occurs and she falls over board he bans her from his boat due to the fact that she can't swim. The more time that these two spend together strong feelings begin to emerge between them and Marguerite is forced to make some hard decisions. Add to these a secret that her father has been hiding from his family and you have a recipe for disaster and heartache. Will Marguerite follow her heart or the pressure from her mother. Pick up this book and find out how the story ends.

I really enjoyed reading this story and following along with the characters as they traveled on their journey of love and discovery. I especially like the theme of how wrong it is to lie and how once begun it can be hard to stop and can cause hurt in others. This is a lesson that takes a while for Marguerite to learn but she does in the end but not after it causes her a lot of pain. Lies even ones that we think are small and are harmless are still wrong. It all starts with little ones and before you know it you are pulled in much deeper than you intend to be. IT is always best to tell the truth and if not then to say nothing at all. remember the saying that Silence s Golden and that if you Can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.

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

The Bishop

2010-08-01T21:26:00.000-04:00

By: Steven James

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this book we are once again introduced to FBI special agent Patrick Bowers as he is once again on the case of mysterious murders. When the daughter of a prominent Washington official is brutally murdered Bowers is assigned to the case. As the killers continue on a rash of brutal killing Bowers has to use his considerable knowledge to try and stop these killers before they strike again. On top of this Bowers is trying to balance this heavy work load, teaching a class, and dealing with personal issues involving his stepdaughter Tessa. Can Bowers pull his personal life together and at the same time stop these killers before they have a chance to strike too close to home. Pick up this book and see if everything ends happily or will the killers get the last word.

This book was definitely a page turner. If you are faint of heart I would not recommend this book to you. The explanations and descriptions of the crime scenes may not be appropriate for everyone. If you are not into thrillers or suspense novels then this is not the book for you. The only thing about this book that made it hard for me to read was the constant switch from first person to third person as the story unfolds. Once I got beyond this and into the story it kept me hooked until the end and I am looking forward to the next book in the Bowers' thriller series.

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

The Seeker

2010-07-25T18:21:00.000-04:00

By: Ann H. Gabhart

http://www.revellbooks.com/

Charlotte Vance is a southern belle growing up in Kentucky in 1861. It has just been her and her father since the death of her mother many years ago. She has her life all planned out and is happy until her world comes crumbling down. First the man that she has planned to marry calls of the wedding only a month before it is to take place and tells her that he wants to join a group of shakers living at Harmony Hill. Following this news her father returns from a campaign trip with a new wife. Charlotte and her new step mother do not rub very well and this creates a lot of friction in the house. Traveling with her father and his new wife is artist Adam Wade. Adam works as an artist for Harper's Weekley doing sketches and pictures to the paper of certain events. He was pushed by his sister into painting a new portrait of the new Mrs. Vance. He runs into Charlotte in her mother's garden the night of her father's welcome home party and the spark ignites. As things continue to heat up at home between Charlotte and her new stepmother she decides to leave and join the shaker group at Harmony Hill. Mix in with this a country on the brink of civil war and all her plans are lost. Pick up this novel and find out of these two can over come adversity and find love or will they be torn apart.

This book took a while for me to warm up to in the beginning but as I continued to read I found myself enjoying the story more and more. One of the things that I really liked was the idea that life is not all about you. This is a lesson that Charlotte learns as the story unfolds. Many people today face this same view point. There are a lot of people who go day to day thinking only about themselves and what they can gain for themselves. I also liked how the characters were willing and in some cases pushed outside of their comfort zones and how they handled the adversity. I also shows how you can't judge people by their outward appearance and by how things may seem. The only way to truly get to know a person or even a specific group of people is to spend time just talking to them. Don't go through life making judgements off of other people's assumptions and beliefs. Always seek out knowledge on your own as the Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

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

Courting Morrow Little

2010-07-18T07:07:00.000-04:00

By: Laura Frantz

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel we are introduced to Morrow Little and her father in Red River, Kentucke. When she was little Morrow lost part of her family when a band of Indians attacked her home. Years later she is still haunted by the memory of that day. Returning home to Red River at the age of 18 she once again is faced with reminders of the past. Her father has made peace and forgiven the Indians who attacked and has even made friends with two Indians. Red Shirt is one of the Indians that her father has befriended. As it turns out he is the little boy that both she and her father nursed back to health not long after the raid on her families home. Morrow has grown into a beautiful young women and its not long before she is catching the eye of all the men at Red River Station and trouble arises. The more time that Red Shirt and Morrow spend together feelings begin to blossom between them. Along with these feelings comes the realization of just how different their two worlds are as tension and threats of war emerge between the soldiers and the Indians. Can Morrow put aside her fear and anger at the Indians for killing her family and grab a hold to the love that is in front of her, or will she let fear and anger destroy the future that she could have. Pick up this novel ad follow along with Morrow as she faces heartbreak and Love in the Kentucke wilds.

This was a very good story full of heartbreak and forgiveness and excitement. It was a definite page turning and kept me hooked until the end. I loved the overall theme of finding forgiveness and moving beyond the past. There are many people today who are carrying around hurts and pains from the past and are allowing it to hinder their future happiness. I truly felt for Morrow as she went through each trial in her life and how she managed to use faith to push forward. She, like many of us today, allow bad experiences and the actions of a few people to color our view of an entire race or to label them all as one way pr the other. This is a true story about looking not only inside your self but truly looking at others and judging them not as the world does but looking at them as Christ would. With the eyes of forgiveness, compassion, and love, also with the understanding that we all make mistakes but what is important is to learn form them and move on from that point to grow and mature into the person that God intends for us to be.

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

Touching the Clouds

2010-07-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

By: Bonnie Leon

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This novel is book one in the Alaskan Skies series. In this novel Kate Evans is an independent young women who loves flying and has been flying with her dad for years. One day a tragic accident occurs and Kate has to make peace with herself. Here several years later it is still having an effect on her life. She decided to leave home and head to Alaska to pursue her desire to become an Alaskan bush pilot. When she arrives she has to deal with a lot of stuff including proving to the men that she works with that she is just as capable as they are at flying and doing her job. While there she meets Paul Anderson who is living alone up in the Alaskan wilderness. Paul is facing demons of his own from the past and headed to the wilderness to try and find peace. Follow along with Kate and Paul as they face off against the Alaskan Wilderness and each other in this wonderful story of adventure, Romance, and forgiveness.

I really and truly enjoyed reading this novel. It was full of adventure and nail biting, page turning excitement. It kept me hooked until the end and I am looking forward to reading book 2. I loved how Kate followed her dream even though it was looked down on. She chose to follow a field that was mostly male dominated but did not let that stop her from doing what she loved. We all face this today in society where a lot of jobs are so called male dominated areas. I also loved how both Paul and Kate are dealing with issues from their pasts and how each is encouraging the other to let go of the past and to move forward. No one knows what God has in store and why he allows certain things to happen. The one thing to remember is that no matter what happens in this life God means it for our good.

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

A Love of Her Own

2010-06-24T07:04:00.000-04:00

By: Maggie Brendan

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book 3 in the Heart of the West series. In this story April McBride is heading out to Montana for her brother Josh's wedding. Little does she know the adventures and hardships that await her own this trip. Being the daughter of a rich cattleman she is used to the finner things in life and being waited on. During this trip she begins to realize just what is important in life and what it means to not be the center of attention and learns how to care for herself. April also learns that their is more to people than just their looks, job, or attitude. As she opens up to the people in this small town she begins to open up and let the unspoiled side of her come out she sees what it means to put others before herself and to wait to get to know a person before passing judgement. While waiting on her brother and his wife to return from their wedding trip she gets to know Wes who is a friend of her brother and breaks horses in the area. These two get off to a rocky start and it seems that every time they meet the sparks fly and so do the words. Little does April know that Wes Owen is dealing with issues from his past. Can these two put aside their differences and look beyond each other's falts and find Love. Pick up this book and follow along with these two.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was full of adventure and excitment as you traveld along with April on her quest to make it to her brother's wedding. I really enjoyed watching April grow into herself as she realized that thier is more to life than being waited in and being the center of attention. This is a great story if you are having trouble putting life into perspective and for just finding out how to put other people before yourself and the joy that can be found in simple and random acts of kindess. Pick up this book nad let it help you to help others.

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

The Homecoming

2010-06-13T21:13:00.000-04:00

By: Dan Walsh

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this Novel we are reunited with Patrick Collins and his family who we were introduced to in the Novel the Unfinished Gift. His father Shawn is still home from the war in England but little does he know that he will be called upon to perform another service for the army. Katherine Townsend is the social worker who helped Patrick in the first novel but in this book she has given notice at her old job. When Shawn is assigned to a War Bonds tour that will last for four months he calls on Katherine Townsend to step in and act as Patrick's nanny while he is away. A bond forms between these two as the are pulled together and as they go through the different circumstances that arise. Pick up this book and see just what happens to Patrick, Shawn, and Katherine and see just how their story will end.

I truly loved reading this novel and was excited to see how these characters were doing. Dan Walsh has done it again in book. It was a page turner and had a few nail biting signs that had me turning the page faster to see what happens. I really enjoyed seeing these characters again and seeing that they were all doing fine but had more test and trials ahead of them. In the end it all turns out right and even though there is one sad part to the story it all comes right in the end.

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

This Fine Life

2010-05-22T22:21:00.000-04:00

By: Eva Marie Everson

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel Mariette Puttnam has returned home after graduating from high school to face the future ahead of her. Her father wishes her to go on to college so that she can take over the family business while her mother wishes for her to become a proper young woman and settled down into marriage and doing all the things a young woman of breeding should. One day she runs into Thayne Scott in the stairwell of her fathers factory. As these two continue to bump into each other a romance develops but when her family finds out these two are forbidden to see each other. Risking all these two take matter into their own hands and marry little realizing that the road ahead of them will be a rocky one. Especially when Thayne decides that he wants to be a minister. Pick up this book and follow along with Thayne and Mariette as they try to make their marriage work and face the daily challenges that will arise in their lives.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and following along with the lives of the characters. This was a great story about following your heart and that no matter how hard the road you must always stay true to each other. It was a great story about living your own life and making your own decisions regardless of how others may feel. Sometimes we have to step out on faith and trust God to lead the way. It also shows just how important communication is to any relationship and that love can indeed conquer all.

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

It Had to Be You

2010-05-15T23:23:00.000-04:00

By: Janice Thompson

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book three in the Weddings By Bella series and like those before it is full of drama and excitement. In this story Bella is in the processing of planning a forties style wedding for her aunt and uncle as well as planning her own wedding. When her uncle's long term friend shows up to take part in the weeding along with all of their family from Italy the sparks start flying. Can Bella help her family come together and over come hurt feelings, pull off this wedding despite the problems that keep occurring, and pull off her own wedding in time. Pick up this book and see what happens in the final chapter of Bella's story.

Janice Thompson has done it again in this third story about Bella. I absolutely loved this story and the inspirational messages to be found in it. I liked that it dealt with how important inner beauty is when compared to outer beauty. I loved the message of change and forgiveness that is carried out in this story. I especially liked the bond of family and how that no matter what happens family has to stick together and how they especially pull together during a crisis.

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

In Harm's Way

2010-04-18T20:00:00.000-04:00

By: Irene Hannon

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book three in the Heroes of Quantico series. In this book FBI agent Nick Bradley gets invovlved in a missing baby case when he ruuns into Rachel Sutton who has a very bizarre story to tell. Rachel Sutton runs across a lost and tattered Raggedy Ann doll and when she holds it in her hands it gives her a very strong feeling of terror. This story is full of twists and turns that eill leave you breathless. There are a lot of secrests revealed in the event of this investigation. Can these two people find love dispite the threats to Rachel's life and can they solve the mystery of the missing baby and unite her safely with her mother. Pick up this book and see for yourself.

I really really enjoyed reading this book. I was a page turner and it kept me turning pages til the end. The secrets that were uncovered as the story proressed made it even better. Its hard to believe that things likr this could happen but you see it everyday in the news. Thankfully unlike most of the stories that you see on the news this one has a happy ending.

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

Too Close to Home

2010-04-11T19:58:00.000-04:00

By: Lynette Eason

http://www.revellbooks.com/

In this novel Detective Connor Wolfe has his hands full trying to solve the case of several missing teens who have begun to turn up dead. He is also having trouble dealing with his own headstrong teenage daughter. He is joined in his search to find the remaining missing girls by FBI special Agent Samantha Cash who is an expert on computers. With these two working together can they find the remaining girls in time? There are also a lot of twists and turns in this story that add to the excitement. Can Detective Wolfe solve the mystery and also deal with the trouble at home before it is too late? This is a dramatic, suspenseful, story that will keep the pages turning til the end. Just when you think you have the story figured out you are thrown another twist that will keep you guessing.

I really loved reading this novel because it was so action packed and suspenseful. It definitely was a page turner. I also like the true to life aspect of the story, this is a good book for all teenage girls to read especially since a lot of them are into computers and going to chat rooms. It really brings home to parents that they should always be aware of what their children are doing on the computer and also their cellphones. If you are looking for a gripping page turner that will keep you on your toes as you read then I recommend this book.

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

The Promise of Morning

2010-04-01T21:44:00.000-04:00

By: Ann Shorey

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book two in the At Home in Beldon Grove series. In this story we are introduced to Ellie Craig who is a preacher's wife living in small town Beldon Grove Illinois. She is married to Matthew Craig who is the pastor of Beldon Grove's only small church. Ellie is dealing with the loss of three children and is starting to feel alone even though she has an aunt and uncle, other children and even her husband. When a stranger arrives in town their lives are turned upside down when he challenges Matthew for the pastoral position. As the rift grows between Ellie and her family and between Matthew and the towns people we see how these two characters must find their Faith in God and learn to trust in him. We also see how God can take any situation and work it out for his good.

I think that this is a wonderful story of forgiveness and trust. It shows that no matter what choices we make God can turn them around and us them to his glory. This was a beautifully written story with a lot of twists and turns. I liked the fact that it portrayed the pastor and his family as real people with real problems. I think that some people feel that because someone is a pastor that their lives are perfect and they don't have a worry in the world. It also shows how even pastors can have a weakness in faith and what plan God has for them.

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

Scattered Petals

2010-03-22T15:00:00.000-04:00

By: Amanda Cabot

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book two in the Texas Dreams series. In this novel Priscilla Morton is looking for adventure but little does she know just what she is getting into. She and her family are heading to Texas to for a wedding. During this trip her parents are killed and she has to indure the one thing that no woman should have to go through. She is rescued by a Texas Ranger who takes her the rest of the way to Texas. It is while she is here that she has to learn to trust in men again especially Zachary Webster who reminds her of the men that attacked and killed her parents. Little does she know that Zach is dealing with his own memories of the mistakes that he made in his past. When necessity forces these two together it leads to a whole new set of problems and difficult situatuions. Can Priscilla learn to love and trust again and can Zach learn to let go of the mistakes of the past? Pick up this Novel and see what happens to these two wonderful characters.

I really enjoyed reading this novel is was a page turner. I loved the message of hope and forgivness found in this story. I liked how the author took what started out as a terrible tragedy in the beginning of the story and turned it into a happy ending. This story is full of inspirational moments that will help anyone who is suffering from a lack of faith. No matter what you are going through God can turn it around and reveal a blessing when it all seems to be going wrong. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story with a great message.

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

A Distant Melody

2010-03-14T19:50:00.000-04:00

By: Sarah Sundin

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book one in the Wings of Glory series and it is centered around WWII. In this story Allie is set to marry Baxter, her parents choice of husband, but when she is invited to her friend Betty's wedding her resolve changes. It is during this week of freedom away from her parents that she meets Walt Novak. Walt is a pilot in the Army Air force and this is his last furlough before he heads of to join the fight. During this time these two begin to grow close in friendship and realize just how much they have in common. When it is time for them to part they agree to write to each other.

I really enjoyed this story because it really brings home just how out of control lies can become. It shows how important it is to tell the truth no matter the circumstances. There was a lot of reference to scripture and staying true to God an what he leading you to do even if you don't understand it at the time. It can truly be scary to drop everything and trust in the Lord to handle it but that what it means to have faith. As it says in the scripture obedience is better than sacrifice to the Lord.

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

Abigail

2010-02-21T19:06:00.000-05:00

By: Jill Eileen Smith

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This Novel is book two in The Wives of King David series. In this book we follow the story of Abigail who was the second wife of David. In the beginning of this story we find Abigail waiting for her husband Nabal to appear and take her from her father's house. Once he arrives she realizes that he is not the man that she thought he was. Being the christian woman that she is she resigns herself to being the type of wife that he wants. Meanwhile, her brother has heard stories that David and his men are near by hiding out from King Saul. He heads out to seek David to see if he and his family can join him and his people. As the story progress Nabal falls ill and dies leaving Abigail a widow and it is at this time that David offers to marry her. The story really becomes interesting at this point as we see the difficulties that she faces having to share her husband with another women and then with many as David is made King. In the end everthing works out as it should.

I really enjoyed this book because it really helped to bring the Scriptures to life. I loved that the author placed the scriptures in the beginning of each chapter to help the readers to keep up. I have often tried to read this same story in the Bible and picture what it must have truly been like to live and face these trial along with David. This story shows the true meaning of sacrifice and how if we are faithful to God he will fight our battles for us and bring us the victory. The overall message in this story is a positive one and a true story of dedication to God's word no matter the circumstances. Keep the faith and it will all work as it says in scripture, all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.

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

Swinging on A Star

2010-02-14T20:20:00.000-05:00

By: Janice Thompson

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is book two in the Weddings By Bella series. In this story Bella is bout to plan her most daring wedding yet, a Renaissance themed wedding. The only question is can she keep the surprise best man a secret. Trying to hide this Hollywood superstar from the paparazzi is a hard job especially considering that he is staying at her house and her aunt has been chosen to star on Food Network and the camera men are scheduled to arrive right before the wedding. Add to this uncooperative weather, a feuding aunt and uncle who can't get along when in the same room, and a small town and you have a great book just waiting to be read. Things get even crazier when Bella discovers that Brock, the best man, has taken interest in her. Now she must balance the sparks between DJ, her boyfriend, and Brock. Can she handle all this stress, pull off the perfect wedding, and keep peace in her house. Pick up this book and find out.

I really enjoyed reading this book the characters were great and there was enough excitement going on to keep the pages turning. I loved the references to God and how he always has something better in store for us. this book was full of neighbors helping neighbors and really captured to feel of small town life. It was a very well written story that flowed great from beginning to end. The end wrapped up nicely but left just enough to have me waiting to read the next insert in the Weddings By Bella series.

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

Dreams that Won't Let Go

2010-02-07T19:55:00.000-05:00

By: Stacy Hawkins Adams.

http://www:revellbooks.com/

Dreams That Won't Let Go is the third book in the Jubilant Soul series. This novel is about three siblings; Indigo, Ruben, and Yasmin, who have been raised by their grandparents since their real parents were killed in an accident. Indigo Burns is excited about her upcoming wedding to Max Shepherd. Everything seems to be running smooth until her brother Ruben decides to move his family to Jubilant , Texas to be closer to his family. Things in this family began to unravel fast with the return of Ruben. When secrets are revealed there are a lot of hurt feelings and misunderstandings that have to be cleared up. Indigo must learn to forgive her brother for past hurts and misunderstandings and to forgive her parents/grandparents for what she sees as their neglect when he comes back to town. Her younger sister Yasmin has to learn how to chase her dreams but also how to find forgiveness for her parents/grandparents and what she sees as them ruining her career. Ruben has to make peace with a promise that he made to their parents before they died that he feels like he has been unable to keep and he must also learn to open up and tell his family the secret that he has been keeping locked inside all these years. This is a great story of love and forgiveness that everyone should read if they are holding on to old hurts that are straining their relationship with their family.

I loved how the characters in this family are so real and each has their own set of problems to overcome. I enjoyed following along with the story and watching as each character evolved and realized what they needed to do to make peace with themselves and not only that but what they needed to do to be able to move ahead out of the past and become a real family again. I think a lot of families have these kinds of issues or some similar to these and are clueless as to how to deal with them. Most people worry about hurting someones feelings so they keep things bottled up and let them continue to cause hurt. The best way to handle these kinds of problems is to pray for guidance and let the Lord lead you into how to best bring up these issues. Pick up Dreams that Won't Let Go and see how this family comes together through the pain and secrets of the past.

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

Songs of Deliverance

2010-01-31T20:43:00.000-05:00

By: Marilynn Griffith

http://www.revellbooks.com/

The four main characters in this story are Zeely, Ron, Brian, and Grace. They have all been friends since school and were given up on by most people except for one teacher. When she falls ill these four friends are reunited and the secrets of the past are brought to light. Zeely and Ron were once involved but a miss understanding in the past caused them to go there separate ways. A tragic situation caused Grace to leave town for a while but she has returned stronger for it. This book is full of secrets and plot twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wondering what will happen next. Can Love, truth and forgiveness overcome the hurts and secrets of the past? Read this book and see how these four friends find love and unity during a time of sadness and uncertainty.

I thought that this was a great book. I really enjoyed the characters and how real they are. I loved the message of forgiveness and how you can never be sure just how things will turn out. The only draw back to this story is that it jumps from one character's point of view to another so it can be kind of confusing to follow.

Jenna's Cowboy

2010-01-24T19:13:00.000-05:00

By: Sharon Gillenwater

http://www.revellbooks.com/

The two main characters in this book are Jenna Callahan Colby and Nate Langley. Jenna is home living with her parents and is learning to find peace in raising her son and working as a parner on her father's ranch. Nate langley left small town Callahan Crossing and joined the army after 9/11. Nate has returned to home to help his dad with his farm and runs into Jenna. what follows next is a wonderful story is healing for both characters and a renewing of love that started years earlier and has never died. To make things difficult Nate is dealing with issues following his tour in the army and Jenna is recovering from the a divorce. Can these two over come their difficulties and capture a love that never died? Pick up this book and see for yourself how Faith, Love, and Friendship help these two to find themselves.

I really loved this book for several reasons. First thing that I really loved was the use of Religion throughout this story. There are several mentions of prayer and the importance of it no matter the situation. I also liked that one of the characters whos was in the army is facing some of the same issues that real soldiers are dealing with after having served in the armed forces. I think that this book will be great for the family members of soldiers to read so thath they will have some idea of what they may have to face when they return home. I loved the devotion to family and friends in this story. There is sooo much love and support in this book it made for a Great Read. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a geat love story with great information throughout.

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

The Choice

2010-01-17T17:32:00.000-05:00

By: Suzanne Woods Fisher

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This story takes place in the Amish community in Lancaster County. Carrie Weaver is an Amish girl who has fallen in love with Solomon Riehl. She is ready to leave the Amish community and follow him as he leaves to become a pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers. When tragedy strikes in Carrie's family these plans change and there are hard choices to be made. In each part of this book all the characters are faced with difficult choices that must be made and the results that follow. Some choices are made without due consideration and the results are not what Carrie and Solomon expect.This story helps readers to see how things that we think are meant for us are not and how God causes things to happen to help us to fully see the plans that he has for us. Each character must learn the important lesson of forgiveness and learn from the things that have happened in the past to have a happy future.

I really enjoyed this book because it helped me to face some of the choices that I have had to make in my own life. This book really shows that no matter the plans that we make God has bigger and better things in store for us. It helps to encourage forgiveness and the importance of learning from the past and moving on to face the future with a new positive outlook.

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

The Unfinished Gift

2009-12-03T22:13:00.000-05:00

By: Dan Walsh

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This is a very heart warming story about a little boy named Patrick Collins who looses his mother in a terrible car accident just a few days before Christmas. His father is away in the army at war and he is forced to go live with a grandfather that he has never met. His grandfather is totally unprepared to take on the responsibly of a child and is definitely not feeling in the Christmas mood. While living with his grandfather Patrick discovers a wooden solider in the attic and it is all he can think about but to his grandfather it brings up painful memories that he would rather forget. This story will bring tears to your eyes as Patrick tries to over come his grandfather's feelings about his son, Patrick's father, and the hard feelings that have grown over the years. This is a wonderful story of how God can take any situation and turn it into a happy ending.

I really enjoyed reading this book but I would recommend that you keep plenty of tissues at hand as you read it. The author did a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of the characters and making you feel like a part of the story. It really expresses the true meaning of Christmas that it is a season of forgiveness and love. This story is full of twists and turns that will touch your heart as you follow along with Patrick as he keeps the faith that only a little child can through difficult times and as he touches the lives of many adults and helps them to find the true spirit that is Christmas. Pick up this book and let it touch your heart and really get you into the Christmas mood.

The Christmas Dog

2009-12-03T21:24:00.000-05:00

By: Melody Carlson

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This was a very inspirational book about focusing on what Christmas should really be about. It is about family, love, and kindness. This story also shows the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt and not judging them by their outward appearance. It also shows how God can use people and even animals for His greater purpose. Betty Kowalski is having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit and is having a lot of trouble finding love for her neighbor, Jack Jones. Jack is new in the neighbor hood and is having a hard time getting along eith his new neighbors. Could it be his messy yard or his alof attitude or is it possibly something else. When a stray dog enters the picture we see just what it takes for God to bring these two together and to make it a Merry Christmas indeed.

I really liked the over all message of this story. It really captures the true meaning of Christmas. Its not about the presents or the pretty lights but its truly about family and togetherness. The story shows how important it is to get to know a person before you pass judgement on them or make assumptions about them. Christmas is a time to reach out to those that are alone and to help them out. I would suggest this bookt o anyone who is having trouble gettting into the real Spirit of Christmas or just for anyone who is looking for a great story with a good message and a happy ending.

The Swiss Courier

2009-11-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

By: Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey

http://www.revellbooks.com/

This was a very good book packed full of suspense and action. This novel takes place in 1944 during WWII. Gabi Mueller works in Switzerland translating messages as they come in to the office but she also discovers that she has a hidden talent. Joseph Engel is a scientist who is helping the Germans try to create the atomic bomb. Little does he know that his past holds a secret that will put his life in danger. These two are thrown together in an adventure full of terror and near misses as Gabi is asked to risk her life to help Joseph escape the hands of the German Gestapo. Its hard for them to know who can be trusted and who is leading them into a trap. The only thing that made this book kind of hard to read is the German words that are thrown into the story.

I was not sure at first if I would like this book because I am more of a romance reader but once I started this novel I found it hard to put down. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and it was almost as if I were there with the characters inside the story going right along with them. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story that is full of action and suspense.

Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Green by Ted Dekker

2009-09-23T21:28:00.000-04:00

By: Tom Dekker

http://www.teddekker.com/
http://teddekker.com/green/

This was my first time reading a book by Ted Dekker and it took me awhile to catch up to all that was going on in it. This book revels in the epic battle of Good and Evil. In this story Thomas Hunter is the famous leader of a group of people known as The Circle and they are running from another group of people known as the Horde who are under the leadership of Qurong. The Horde represents the evil side and The Circle represents the good side. This book tends to jump between present day earth and what faces us in the future. In the future all things spiritual are manifested physically. Those things that we cannot see now will be made visible. One of the things that I really liked about this book is that it helped me to view my own religious life in a new light. It helped me to better see what it is that I should be doing and also gave me a new way to view those who have not yet found their way. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into Fiction with an underlying true theme and message. It was not only a Great and very well written story but it was also thought provoking and I can’t wait to read the other three books.


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Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman

2009-09-11T19:13:00.000-04:00

By: Beth Wiseman

http://www.bethwiseman.net/

Kade Saunders is just looking for a quite place to rest and regroup when he decides to rent a cottage in the heart of an Amish village in Lancaster County from Sadie Fisher. His life further changes when he is surprised with custody of his son. Having lost touch and faith in God many years ago he finds that this peaceful village may be just what he needs. Sadie who has been a widow for several years is struggling to keep looking for God’s will in her life and to find peace with her chosen way of life. As these two spend more time together and their feelings for each other increases they begin to realize just how different their lives are.

I was not sure if I would like this book at first not being familiar with the Amish way of life but from the very first chapter I was hooked on this book. It was very easy to connect with the characters and it almost felt like you were a part of the story. I loved the references to God and that we tend to focus too much on material things instead of God and the simple things in life. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone. It was a pleasure and enjoyment to read.

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=9781595547200&title=A Daughters of the Promise Novel: Plain Promise&authors=Beth-Wiseman


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A Kiss in Winter

2009-09-04T21:14:00.000-04:00

By: Susan Crandall

This was a very good story. The main character in this book is a woman named Caroline Rogers who has been struck with tragedy in her life. She had to make the decision between her career and taking care of her two siblings. As they are nearing adulthood she can see the continuation of her career as a photographer. Little does she know that she is soon to meet Dr. Mick Larsen who is a psychiatrist who is going through some self doubt about his career path. These two are thrown together when someone from her past starts destroying landmarks that Caroline has taken pictures of. These two must work together to solve the mystery of who it is before it is too late. In the process they are drawn closer to each other but Caroline has no plans of putting her career on hold again. In the middle of all this turmoil each character must answer some very important questions.They also must face some of the same decisions that we all have to at some point. Our jobs or our family? Our relationships or our Careers? Only prayer and putting the Lord first can help us with these difficult decisions. You can also find a message of Hope and of finding your own self worth no matter how dark the situation may seem. The only way to see how this book turns out is to pick it up and read it for yourself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Defining Moments

2009-09-04T20:49:00.001-04:00

By: Jacquelin Thomas

This book took me a day to read once I really got into it. Honestly at the beginning I did not think that I would be able to finish it but as the chapters increased and the characters progressed I really got hooked. The main character in this book is a woman named Sheila Moore who is a successful business woman who is carrying around a lot of baggage. She later is diagnosed with a devastating disease that is incurable. It is in the course of battling this disease that she comes to realize who God is and the role that he plays in her life. She also comes to realize that she has a lot of forgiving and soul searching to do to come to terms with the things of her past. The most important thing that she learns if the power of forgiveness. Like most of us today she can really carry a grudge but she comes to find out that in order for God to forgive us we must first learn to forgive other people. This is one of the things that I really loved about this story. It shows that no matter how bad the hurt or how deep the wound that with God and forgiveness it is possible to still love and to move on with your life. I recommend this book for anyone who is struggling with betrayal either in a relationship, marriage, or just in friendship. I also recommend this book for anyone who has been diagnosed with a disease and is having trouble dealing with it and their faith in God. Pick up this book and let God minister to your heart that you may be able to forgive and find forgiveness in return.

Secrets

2009-09-01T08:43:00.000-04:00

By: Kristen Heitzmann

In this book the main character is a man named Lance Michelli who is sent on a mission by his grandmother. Little does he know that in taking on this task he will meet the fiery and independent Rese Barrett. Rese who loves doing renovations has just purchased an old villa and has chosen to make it her final project. As the book progresses you see how each character has secrets that they discover and how each secret threatens to destroy the budding relationship that is taking place. Through the first part of the book there is only a general reference to God but as each secret is revealed and the emotions intensify there is more of a tie into religion. There was not as much reference to God in this book as I would have liked but it was a great story to read. It shows that it is always best to be up front in any situation because you never know when it may come back to bite you. It also shows how easy it is to say that you are doing God's will but in reality you can be doing your own will. What I did like about this book was the connection to family and also how well this story was written. We also see that it is always best to be yourself and not to try and be like someone else. The only person that we should all try to be like is Jesus and he is the only person to place on a pedestal and expect the best out of. As man we are all prone to failure of some kind so its not wise to put man on a pedestal and expect only the best.

That Faith, That Trust, That Love

2009-08-31T16:41:00.000-04:00

By: Jamellah Ellis.

Here is another great book for you to check out. In this book Marley Shepherd is a successful layer who is engaged to be married to one of Atlanta's elite. On what should be one of the happiest times of her life she starts to feel that something is missing. This is a two part book where both parts are included. In the first part we see what her life is like without God in it and how everything seems like it is perfect. In the second half of the book we see what her life is like when she opens up and lets God in. This book really hit home for me because I went through a similar situation in my life to what happened to this character. When readying this book its easy to see how we may think that just because we have everything we want and could need that we don't need God, but just as quickly as you can amass that great wealth God can step in and take it all away just to show you that he should be the center of your life not things. Always remember that if the Lord takes something from you it only means that there is something greater waiting on you.

Down On My Knees

2009-08-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

by: Victor McGlothin

This book is about a successful woman named Grace Hilliard who is a single mom raising a son on her own and is proud to be. Like so many single women she has gone through the always a bridesmaid and never the bride scenario. It is at one of these weddings that Grace's whole outlook on life is changed. Deciding that she wants more out of life than being a single woman enjoying drive by encounters with men she decides to turn her life over to God and to seek his wisdom and direction for her life. She does this by taking a vow of celibacy until she is married but little does she know that the devil will try everything in his power to tempt her to fail. She goes to one of the older ladies in the church for advice on how she can gain a closer walk with God and how to let him direct her path. She also finds that, like so many of use, that the man God chooses for her is not what she expects. In this book you see how God will always send use just what we need and not always what we want but that in the end they are one and the same. Pick up this book and see that the best way to change things in your life is not by trying to fix it yourself but by getting Down On Your Knees and turning it over to God. Turn it all over to the Lord and He WILL work it out. I hope that like me you are blessed by this book and that you allow God to work in your life as he works in the lives of the characters and that as a single woman you find a new way to go about finding that special someone. Let go and Let God send him to you, not you go out and try to find him.

Chasing Faith

2009-08-26T21:30:00.000-04:00

by Stephanie Perry Moore

http://www.stephanieperrymoore.com/

Alright readers here is the second must read book. Chasing Faith by Stephanie Perry Moore was a GREAT book which also takes place in Georgia. I could hardly wait to finish it and I was done with it in a day. This book centers around an FBI agent named Christian Ware who accepts a job working for the secret service protecting a well known black minister who is running for the democratic presidential candidate. She is haunted by some decisions that she made in the past but is determined to turn over a new leaf and to gain a closer walk with God but she finds herself tempted when she falls for the candidate's son. In this book we see how God can bring two people together and use them to uplift each other in the worst of circumstances. You will also see that no matter how bad things get that God is always there in the mist of things to help you see the lesson involved, and that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. One of the things that I really loved about this book is that it is full of action as well as spiritual advice. If like me you love romance then you will find a love conquers all theme in this book. Not just the love between a man and a woman but also the love of God for his children. For the single christian ladies out here, this book shows the type of man that we are all looking for. If you are looking for a Christian book full of action and romance then I suggest that you pick up this book and enjoy.

Make Me Whole

2009-08-18T21:30:00.000-04:00

By: Roishina Clay Henderson.

http://www.roishina.com/

This was a GREAT book and it took me about a day to read it. The primary setting for this book takes place in Atlanta, GA. The three main characters in this book are Jacky Jayson, Denise "Neicy"Chavez, and Prescilla "Cee-Cee" Bates. Jacky is the single friend that has trouble finding satisfaction in both her job and personal life. Denise and Prescilla are both married and each is having their own set of problems in their marriages. When these three friends get together on a trip to the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Annual International Holy Convocation which is being held in Memphis,Tennessee they are each reintroduced to the wonders and blessings that can be found when you Let Go and Let God and that no sin is so great that you can't find forgiveness. I loved how personal the characters are and how real to life they seem. You can almost see these three women in your mind. They are real people living real lives going through the same trials that we all have to deal with on a daily bases. If you are single or married you can see yourself in each of these characters. Whether its the fact that you are unsatisfied with your Job, unsatisfied with your marriage, or have troubles with your family this is the book for you. If you struggle with a lack of faith in God or you just feel that your schedule is too busy to spend the necessary time with God that you should, I suggest that you pick up this book and allow God to MAKE YOU WHOLE.

first review

2009-08-13T20:22:00.000-04:00

The first book that I will be reviewing is a Christian fiction novel titled Make Me Whole that was written by Roishina Clay Henderson. Check back in the next few days to see what I think about this book and remember if you have a book that you would like for me to read let me know and I will read it as soon as I can.