The Friendly Beasts, by Rebecca St. James
Reviewed by: Bonita L. Ledzius
Genre: Children’s, Christmas
Publisher: ZonderKids
Publication Date: 2012

Ever wonder what the animals did the night of the birth of Jesus?  “The Friendly Beasts” gives a story based on an old carol which comes from around the 12th Century France.  Although the  original English words of the carol were written by Robert Davis, Rebecca St. James, and Anna Vojtech take these words and through art, and a cd that includes Rebecca St. James singing and reading the song bring it to life for children everywhere.

I was thrilled to watch my 12 year old read this book to her 7 year old niece, and realized that this book will become part of our Christmas traditions this year, not only as we read the book to our children and    grandchildren, but as we sing the carol along with Rebecca St. James.  I’m also excited to see that St. James included the musical score for the song in the back of the book with the lyrics and melody, for parents to use for their children.  This simple score is perfect for teaching a young child the melody, or even to play it out on a piano.  The cd also includes another Christmas song performed by Rebecca St. James and a track of her sharing Christmas memories from her life.

I would gladly recommend this to all children, parents, and grandparents, no matter what age.  It will surely become a special book in the family library that will be used every Christmas, and one children will plead to hear read to them again and again.  It’s colorful, and the pictures give a sense of happiness and peace to the reader as well.  I know that families everywhere will enjoy it as much as we did, and it will become a special book to their young ones.

Rated G: Perfect for all ages! No use of foul languages or any other offensive material.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Thank you!

Bonita Ledzius

Bonita is a stay-at-home, and homeschooling mom living in Indiana, who has spent over 25 years working as a Theater Tech, stage manager, and director in the Los Angeles area. She loves writing play scripts, lyrics, poetry, modern day parables, and short devotions. Besides having some of her poetry published, Bonita has seen some of her scripts performed at churches. She is an avid reader and fiber crafter, who says she refers to herself as a “Jill of all trades”.Bonita holds a degree in Music/Vocal Performance, with a minor in Theater Arts, who says she is most happy using her talents for Christ. Her love of reading is most felt when she is transported mentally and emotionally into the story. Bonita is also teaming up with her daughter, Jklyn, to do team reviews on books, hoping to offer parents an insight into books available for their children from a parent/child aspect.

There’s no way we can do a contest to give away books from our favorite authors without including one of our own. Tish Hagee-Tucker, one of our reviewers here at Radiant Lit, has written a powerful, incredibly moving book about her battle (and victory!) over cancer.

You can see our review of the book here.

Tish’s story is amazing, touching and honest. We love Tish – and we’re thrilled to bring you her book. Don’t miss your chance to bring this one home!

This book is only available for giveaway today – so get your entries in now! Remember, we are doing brand new giveaways every day until October so come back and visit again tomorrow. And don’t forget to tell your friends!
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If you’re looking for a spot of festive reading to get you in the mood for Christmas, then here are just a few suggestions which you might enjoy…

A Christmas Carol

Film adaptations of this classic novel from Charles Dickens are often shown on television during the Christmas period, but why not get stuck into the original book over the holiday season? If you’re prone to feeling a little bit like Ebenezer Scrooge in the run up to the 25th, this book will get you in a more Christmassy mood in no time at all.

Christmas with Paula Deen: Recipes and Stories from My Favorite Holiday

With Christmas stories AND cooking ideas, this book is sure to get you feeling festive. Whether you’re looking for family meal ideas, or a few festive snacks to enjoy while you read Paula Deen’s stories, you’re sure to enjoy working your way through this book. It also makes a great Christmas gift!

The Christmas Box

This touching story of a young family who comes to live with a widowed woman is a modern-day morality tale which makes for perfect Christmas reading. If you’re looking for a touching Christmas tale with all the sparkle that you might usually find in jewellery such as 77 diamonds engagement rings, then this is the perfect choice for you. With a beautiful message of love and compassion, you might want to have a box of tissues at the ready if you plan on reading this one – but it’s sure to be well worth it.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

If you’re after a lighter look at the Christmas story, then check out The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – a humorous tale of a Nativity play which is going horribly wrong. Will the small-town participants be able to turn things around before the big day? Or will they need a Christmas miracle if the play is to be a success?

Home Front, by Kristin Hannah
Reviewed by: Jennifer Roman
Genre: Chick Lit/Military Women
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: January 31, 2012

Orphaned during her teen years by alcoholic parents, Jolene quickly learned to take care of herself. Upon graduating from high school, she joined the Army Reserves and learned to fly a Black Hawk. There she gained confidence, a new family and a best friend, Tami. After marrying her husband Michael, an attorney, she had two daughters, and even though her marriage was strained, she enjoyed her life and her position in the reserves.

All of that changes the day her unit is called up to go to Iraq, and she and Tami fly rescue missions in the desert. During one of those missions, their helicopter is shot down, and Jolene returns home without one of her legs. Because of the injury, she is forced into medical retirement. She returns home to a family who doesn’t know how to respond to her and to life without a leg and without a career. Jolene and her family have to learn how to accept and experience grief.

Michael was never supportive of Jolene’s career choice, and this is apparent throughout the story. He realized just what his wife was doing when he was asked to defend a client with PTSD who was accused of murdering his wife. Seeing some of the same behavior in Jolene that he saw in his client helped Michael to understand what Jolene was at the very core. Her children, Betsy and Lulu, had to learn to let their mommy heal while figuring out a new way of life, and Jolene had to learn that she needed to not let her emotions be so controlled. The family struggles with several issues, but in the end, learns how to cope.

Readers will enjoy Jolene’s spunk, positive attitude and determination, and will appreciate what she has done for her country. While this is not one of Kristin Hannah’s best works, she does a good job of creating a tough scenario where many people can relate. There are some scenarios and situations that are not quite plausible, but if one suspends belief a bit, she or he will enjoy the story.

Due to some graphic violence and profanity, this book is not recommended for young readers.

Rated R: There is graphic war violence and great detail about injuries. There is a liberal use of strong profanity.

Book provided by the reviewer. Thank you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Martha Rogers’ novel Not on the Menu debuted on May 1, 2007, as a part of Sugar and Grits, a novella collection with DiAnn Mills, Janice Thompson, and Kathleen Y’Barbo. Her series Winds Across the Prairie debuted in 2010 with Becoming Lucy, Morning for Dove, Finding Becky, and Caroline’s Choice. Her other credits include stories in anthologies with Wayne Holmes, Karen Holmes, and Debra White Smith; several articles in Christian magazines; devotionals in six books of devotions; and eight Bible studies. Martha served as editor of a monthly newsletter for the writer’s organization Inspirational Writers Alive! for six years and is the state president. She is also the director for the annual Texas Christian Writer’s Conference and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, for whom she writes a weekly devotional. Martha and her husband are active members of First Baptist Church.
Visit the author’s website.
SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Can runaway Libby Cantrell finally get a new start?

Libby Cantrell’s life has gone from bad to worse since her mother’s death. After working in a brothel to support her abusive father, she sees no hope for her future until one cold winter night when she finds the courage to escape.

When she collapses in Portersfield, Texas, exhausted, ill, and hungry, Sheriff Cory Muldoon finds her and takes her to the doctor. Against Cory’s better judgment, Seth and Erin Winston take her in and offer her a job as a nanny for their young son. As a minister, Seth sees it as his duty to take care of her. As a deputy, Cory needs to know the truth about her even as he is attracted to the waif of a young woman.

As Cory’s feelings for her grow and winter becomes spring, will he be able to accept her as she is now and truly forget and forgive her sordid past?

Product Details:
List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Realms (May 15, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616386185
ISBN-13: 978-1616386184

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Porterfield, Texas

February 1891
THE COLDEST NIG!IT of winter thus far chilled Deputy Sheriff Cory Muldoon to the bone as he made his rounds in the alleyways of Porterfield. Cold wind howled around the corners of the buildings now closed up for the night. Most everyone in Porterfield had gone home to their families and warm homes. This was all the winter he cared to experience, and even this would be only a few days, as the weather in Texas could change in a heartbeat, summer or winter.

Lights and music from the saloon rang out and mocked the dark silence of its neighboring buildings. Friday nights found cowboys and lumberjacks both squandering their hard-earned money on liquor and women. Tonight would be no different
despite the cold, near freezing temperatures. Most likely at least one or two of them would end up in the jail for a spell.

Cory turned up the collar of his sheepskin-lined jacket and shoved his hat farther down on his head. When he rounded the corner of the livery, the gentle nickering and snorts of the horses boarded there broke the quietness of the night.

A cat skittered out from behind the general store, and a dog barked in the distance. Ever since the bank robbery last fall, he or the sheriff had roamed the alleys behind the main businesses every night to make sure everything remained locked tight and secure. So far he’d seen only a typical Friday night, with everything as routine as Aunt Mae’s boarding- house meal schedule. Of course, being Friday the thirteenth, anything could happen.

They already had two men put up for the night back at the jail. Sheriff Rutherford took the night duty to keep the jail cells warm so Cory could have Saturday off for his Aunt Mae’s wedding. Ole Cooter probably got drunk and disorderly just so he’d have a warm place to sleep tonight and not have to go out to his shack. Cory held no blame on the man for that. Durand, the saloon owner, caught the other man cheating at cards and had him arrested. Maybe the card shark would move his game on to some other town.

He shivered despite the warm coat and hoped Abigail and Rachel would have dinner waiting for him back at the board- inghouse. What with Aunt Mae’s wedding tomorrow, those two women had taken over mealtimes until his aunt returned from her wedding trip.

What appeared to be a pile of trash sat outside the back

door of Grayson’s mercantile. Ordinarily the store owner
wouldn’t leave a heap out in the open like that. Cory hesitated in making an investigation, but the snuffling and nickering of a horse grabbed his attention. His hand caressed the handle of his gun. No one and no animal should be here this time of night.

The horse, a palomino, stood off to one side. He wore a saddle, but the reins dangled to the ground. Cory went on alert, his eyes darting about the alley in search of a rider. He reached for the reins and patted the horse’s mane, then ran his hand down its flank. “Whoa, boy, what are you doing out wan- dering around?” No brand on his hindquarters meant he didn’t belong to a ranch around here, and Cory didn’t recognize the horse as belonging to any of the townspeople.

Then the pile by the back door moved, and along with the movement, a moan sounded. With his hand on his gun, Cory approached the mound. An arm flung out from the heap, and another cry. This was no animal. He knelt down to pull back what looked like an old quilt.

When the form of a young woman appeared, Cory jumped as though he’d been shot. Every nerve in his body stood at attention as he reached out to remove more of the cover. A woman lay huddled under the quilt, and her body shook from the cold while a cough wracked through her chest, followed by another cry.

On closer inspection he realized she was younger than he first thought. Her smooth, unlined face and tangled hair were that of a young woman. She couldn’t be more than twenty, the same age as his sister Erin.

He bent over her to pick her up, and she started to scream,

but another coughing spell prevented it. When her blue eyes
peered up at him, they were so full of fear that they sent dag- gers of alarm straight to his soul. This girl was in trouble.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m the deputy sheriff. I won’t hurt you, but tell me your name and let me take you to the doctor.” He pointed to his badge in hope of reassuring her.

Instead her gaze darted back and forth as she pulled the blanket up under her chin. Her ungloved hands trembled with the cold. He removed his glove and reached out a hand to touch her forehead then yanked it back. She burned with fever. “You’re sick. We need you to get you to Doc Jensen’s right away.” He slid his hands beneath her to scoop her up into his arms. He almost lost his footing as he rose, thinking she’d be a heavier burden than she was. Light as a feather meant she was

probably malnourished too.

She moaned against his chest. “I’m so cold.”

Her voice, weak and hesitant, touched a nerve in him. He had to get her warm. Cory made sure the blanket covered her then grasped the horse’s reins. A low whistle brought his own horse closer. “Follow us, Blaze. We’re going to the infirmary.”

He held the girl tight to his chest to transfer some of his warmth to her. The quicker he could get her to the doctor, the quicker Doc could warm her up and treat that cough.

No time to worry about drunken cowboys or lumberjacks tonight.
The man who called himself a deputy carried her in his arms. With his gentle touch and voice, this man wasn’t like others she had known. Her body burned with heat then turned ice
cold with shivers. So much pain racked her body that she didn’t have the strength to resist him anyway.

The man cradled her to his chest. “We’ll be at Doc Jensen’s in just a few minutes. Hang on, little lady.”

Little lady? Little, maybe, but certainly no lady by his stan- dards. Another cough wracked her chest and set her throat afire with pain. Her thin jacket and the quilt had been no match for the cold, especially after she’d crossed the river. Not enough heat in the day to dry her clothes before chilling her to the bone and causing this cough. She’d lost count of the days since she left home and had no idea how far she’d come. She’d avoided towns as much as possible, only entering long enough to pick up food at a mercantile.

Pa had to be on her trail by now, or he’d have others searching for her. Either way, she didn’t plan to get caught and be dragged back to Louisiana. Even now the memory of all that she had endured because of Pa made her stomach retch. She’d die before she let anyone take her back to that.

The man called for someone named Clem to go get the doc, and he’d meet him at the infirmary. Maybe he was a sheriff after all since he was sending for help. She didn’t dare open her eyes, lest he’d see her fears again. Until she could be absolutely certain he meant her no harm, she’d stay still and quiet.

She inhaled the masculine scent of horses, sweat, and leather. He smelled like hard work and not a trace of alcohol. Unusual for a man, even a lawman. In the background raucous music came from a saloon. She’d recognize the tinny sound of saloon piano anywhere. It disappeared in the distance, and they proceeded down the street and up what felt like stairs or

steps onto what must be a boardwalk or porch.
He set her on her feet, and she peeped with one eye while he fumbled in his pocket then pulled out a ring of keys. In the next minute he had the door open and strode through it, car- rying her once again.

Antiseptics, alcohol, and carbolic acid greeted her nose. This must be the doctor’s office. Not until he laid her on a hard surface did she open her eyes, half expecting him to be leering over her. Instead he had walked away to light a lamp, which filled the room with flickering shadows dancing on the walls. A glass door cabinet stood against the wall, and another bed sat a few feet away from where she lay.

He returned to stand beside her, and she almost shrank in fear at his size. Well over six feet tall, he’d removed his hat to reveal a mass of dark red hair curling about his forehead. His hand caressed her forehead, but she did not flinch, even though every inch of her wanted to. No need for him to know her fears.

“I see you’re awake. The doc will be here in a minute. He’ll fix you right up.”

Instead of resisting, her body relaxed at the gentle tone of his voice. He certainly didn’t fit her idea of a lawman or a cowboy. No one but her ma had ever treated her so kindly. Most people treated her like trash under their feet and didn’t care whether she was well or sick. Still, he was a man. She had to be careful.

A woman’s voice sounded, along with another man’s. She turned her head to find a beautiful red-haired woman and an older man entering the room.

The one who must be the doctor stepped to her side.
“Well, Cory, what have we here?” His eyes held only concern and kindness behind his wire-rimmed glasses.

“I found her in the alley behind the general store. She must have come in on horseback and fallen there.”

The woman brushed hair from Libby’s face. “Can you tell us your name?”

Her heart thumped. What if Pa came looking for her? But if she lied and stayed here, she’d have to keep lying. Another fit of coughing had the woman holding her upright and rubbing her back. When the spell ended, Libby whispered her name. “Elizabeth Bradley.”

The woman helped her lie back down. “Hello, Elizabeth. I’m Kate Monroe, the doc’s nurse, and this fellow who brought you in is my brother, Cory. He’s deputy sheriff in town.”

Just having her there gave Libby a sense of safety she needed with two men in the room. Her kind eyes, a green color that reminded Libby of the fake emeralds some of the saloon girls wore, had a tender look to them.

The doctor listened to her chest with a funny-looking bell on something hanging from his ears. He frowned then pulled the contraption down around his neck. “I hear a lot of conges- tion in your lungs, young lady. How long have you been out in the cold?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s been several days. I left home in the middle of the night on Tuesday.” The days and nights had run together as she lost all track of time.

The doctor shook his head. “This is Friday night, so you’ve been out at least three days. No wonder your lungs are so con- gested.” He turned to the one called Kate. “Get a bed ready for

her. She’s staying the night and maybe longer.”
Libby tried to sit up but began coughing again. She couldn’t stay here. Pa would find her. Her plan had been to head west then south, where the winter temperatures were not as severe. She’d lost all sense of direction after the first night and had no idea which way she’d come.

Kate’s warm hands pushed her back down gently but firmly. “Lie still, Elizabeth. The doctor is right; you have to stay here.”

Tears welled in Libby’s eyes, and she squeezed them tight to keep the tears from falling. Though hard, this bed was so much better than the ground where she’d slept the past nights. Hospitals and doctors cost money. That’s why Pa wouldn’t go for the doctor until Ma was too sick to recover.

The doctor gave her something that tasted bitter, but she swallowed it and then lay back against the pillow Kate had placed beneath her head. The low murmur of voices ran together in a blur. One of the men said he’d stay, but the other one said something about a wedding. Who was getting mar- ried? Maybe they’d forget about her.

The tension ebbed from her body as the medication took over. Someone, most likely the deputy since the doctor was an old man, picked her up and took her into another room, where he laid her on the bed. She almost sighed at the cotton softness of the mattress beneath her. So much better than pine straw and hard-packed dirt.

Kate’s voice followed behind then shooed the man from the room. “I’m going to help her get settled for the night, so she doesn’t need you. Go on back to the boardinghouse. I’m sure you’ll find Abigail has something for you to eat.”

A few minutes later Kate had removed Libby’s still damp and dirty clothes and slipped a warm gown over her head.
When Libby slid her arms into the sleeves, she realized it was her own gown. “How did you get this? It’s mine.”

“Cory brought in the satchel you carried on your horse, and I found the gown in it. I warmed it by the wood stove in the other room.”

That warmth, along with the medication earlier, eased away the pain, and Libby let her eyes drift closed. Perhaps this was the place she should stay after all. She pulled up the covers and turned on her side. She’d think about that tomorrow. Tonight she’d sleep warm and dry for the first time in too many days to count.

Temptation by Douglas Kennedy
Reviewed by: Jennifer Roman
Genre: Mainstream Fiction
Publisher: Atria Paperback
Publication Date: April 24, 2012

After struggling screenwriter David Armitage’s television show becomes wildly successful, he leaves his wife and child, starts a relationship with an industry bigwig and spends money like there’s no tomorrow. Not long after, he’s publicly accused of plagiarizing, but since it is not a clear-cut situation, he’s forgiven and all is well.

However, the columnist who uncovered his first transgression publishes another case of plagiarism. David quickly learns that he can fall much faster than it took to achieve stardom. Without work, his family, his new girlfriend and money, he’s forced to fight his way back up the ladder. After he discovers the reason this gossip columnist is so driven to expose him, he learns that people aren’t always what they seem.

Reading this book, I wasn’t too concerned about the plagiarism because it was something very general that many people would consider a minor offense. I wanted to see him succeed. But over time, I wanted him to fail.  Still, I could see a small part of him that had integrity and remorse for his behaviors when he was on top of the world.

David is so complex and human that it’s hard to feel strictly one way or another for him. Further, when he has to deal with so much adversity, I was eager to see how he would handle things and what consequences his actions would have. Ultimately, I wanted him to fix things with his family and realize the true error of his ways, and in some ways, he does. This story doesn’t have a completely happy ending, but it’s enough to satisfy hopeless romantics while still giving us realists something to appreciate.

Rated R: This novel contains extreme profanity, sexual situations, and mature themes.

Book provided by Lucinda Literary Group. Thank you!

*by Renee Chaw

Chances are you’ve seen Downton Abbey or at least have heard about it over the past year and for good reason, the series is amazing! With its dramatic themes, incredible costumes, and absolutely gorgeous setting you can’t help becoming addicted. It’s really no surprise that with such popularity that this series is going into season 3 filming as we speak. To *try* and fill in the gaps between now and the season 3 air-date (sometime in early 2013) I thought it would be interesting to put together a Downton Abbey inspired “gift list.” What better time to do it than right before Mother’s Day, maybe all you folks who haven’t yet had the chance to buy something for your oh-so-deserving mom will get some great ideas!

One of the most under appreciated characters at the Abbey is Mrs. Patmore, the cook! Without her the Crawley’s would starve and not to mention Daisy wouldn’t know the flour from the baking soda.

Daisy, Mrs Patmore, and SybilPhoto from Itv.com

So what do you think, would modern-day Mrs. Patmore’s (aka our hard-working moms) enjoy this fantastic stand mixer with a boat-load of attachments? I have the feeling a few mom’s would go nuts over this, mine included.

KitchenAid Artisan Mixer (Color: Raspberry Ice)Photo from Amazon.com After mom’s finished cooking up a meal even the Dowager Countess would approve of she’s going to want to relax and what better way to do it than with a cup of hot coffee (or tea or cocoa or cappuccino) brewed in her new Keurig! I have it on good authority (*cough cough* Lori T., the big kahuna here at Radiant Lit) that mom won’t be able to do without her K-Cup in the morning once she’s tried it. Keurig Elite Brewing System Photo from Keurig.com If you’re on a tight budget why not consider making mom a meal Edwardian style? I found this great link on the ITV.com site for three easy recipes that are sure to please mom and the entire family. You can show off your culinary prowess by making mom a meat pie she’ll never forget! Go HERE for recipes

Steak and Kidney PiePhoto from ITV.com

Remember when Lady Edith took it upon herself to help the Drake’s with the field work and learned how to drive a tractor…

Lady Edith driving a tractor!Photo from tv.com

…Methinks today’s mom wouldn’t mind helping outside if she had a machine like this one.

John Deere X300 Lawn TractorPhoto Credit: 2012 Deere and Company

What mom doesn’t love shiny things? Personally I really love the costumes of the series but evening gloves and tiaras aren’t something one can wear everyday.

The Crawley sistersPhoto from Mirror.com

Check out the great jewelry I found on Etsy that was inspired by the show. I think it’s perfect for a night out!

From Juliana’s Creations store @ Etsy

From Vintage Touch Jewelry @ Etsy

From Cinsational Baubles @ Etsy

These are just a few of the pretty (or practical) things I found that I thought moms and fans of Downton Abbey would enjoy. If you have any other suggestions for Mother’s Day or just cool vintage inspired gift ideas to share feel free to do so in the comments section of this post. Also if your mom hasn’t seen Downton Abbey you might want to get Season 1 or 2 or both on DVD or Blu-Ray

Downton Abbey Season 1 DVDor Season 1 Blu-Ray Downton Abbey Season 2 DVD or Season 2 Blu-Ray

*Links and photos are provided for your convenience, no money or products were given to us from any of the sites/sellers/companies.*

This month, we’re doing something a little different at Radiant Lit. Instead of a featured author, we decided that we would have a theme. Being the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic disaster, we knew that not only would there be a lot of great books coming out, but also some fantastic stories of bravery and heroism.

Though none of us were alive at that time, the Titanic disaster encapsulates a moment in history and all of us have some connection to it. I told my children just the other day that when I was growing up, we didn’t know where it was. It had just disappeared. There was a mystique behind that and even after it was found, that mystery and magic never went away. I devoured pictures, videos – everything I could find on the story. It’s hard for me to believe it’s been a hundred years because it’s always felt like it was so close to our modern history.

Surprisingly enough, that’s also what the creators of Downton Abbey said about why they chose that same time period to place their show. They wanted phones, cars, electricity and other things we recognize so that there would be something familiar for us. When Jill and I talked about a theme for the month, Downton Abbey dovetailed so nicely with the Titanic theme that we decided to put them together. Several of our staff members (myself included) are absolute Downton fangirls. Since series two just ended and now we have to wait, we thought it would be nice to supply you with some substitutes. Of course nothing can really take the place of Maggie Smith in full regalia or the fantastic love story between Bates and Anna, but we’re going to do our best to help you with your Downton fix.

We hope you enjoy our  Titanic and Downton highlights! And if you have other suggestions, requests for book reviews or anything else you’d like to share with us, please drop me an email at lori@radiantlit.com and let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Lori

Anything by Michael Baron
Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo
Genre: Romance
Publisher: The Story Plant
Publication Date: October 2011
Rated: PG

On the brink of marriage, Ken Timian is hunting for the perfect wedding gift for his bride-to-be, Melissa. When he enters their favorite jewelry shop, the owner offers him an extraordinary opportunity — to have his greatest wish. Ken wants to travel back and see Melissa’s life from the day she was born. However, this journey to the past reveals a horrible secret that Melissa has never told anyone.

Ken is given the chance to go back and alter that fateful moment, but in doing so, he changes the course of their lives. In this world, Ken and Melissa have never met. Now, he must find Melissa and make her fall for him again or lose the woman he loves forever.

Michael Baron’s Anything presents readers with an interesting question. Would one be willing to do anything for the person he/she loves even if it means giving them up? I experienced mixed feelings with this novel. The writing style is very clear and easy to read. It amazed me at how fast the pages went. However, I really struggled with the main character. To me, Ken came across more as a controlling and selfish man than one in love. I did not like the way he went back into Melissa’s life unbeknownst to her and later changed her past even after she clearly told him not to. Knowing that, I could not empathize with Ken’s struggles to win Melissa back.

While the novel started out too slow and then ended too fast, I did really enjoy Baron’s vivid descriptions. He had a way of making everything clearly unfold before my eyes and even made traveling back in time seem normal — or at least plausible.

Murder in a Basket by Amanda Flower
Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Five Star
Publication Date: February 2012
Rated: PG

India Haye’s life is anything but boring. An eccentric family and an inquisitive neighbor keep this librarian on her toes. Add murder to the mix and she is in for a wild ride. Her older sister, Carmen, has talked India into helping out at the Founder’s Day Festival. When she stumbles across the dead body of another volunteer, India quickly realizes she may have signed up for more than just face painting.

To solve the mystery, India will have to contend with a plethora of odd and dysfunctional (but never dreary) characters. She is determined to unravel the deadly puzzle no matter how much the handsome detective, Rick Mains, objects.

Quirky and unconventional characters make Murder in a Basket an entertaining read. Amanda Flowers creates a story that is perfect for anyone looking for a nice whodunit without dark and heavy plots. While there aren’t any surprisingly unexpected twists, the characters alone make this mystery worth reading. They are the kind of people that in real life could drive you mad, but make the pages of a novel fun.

My one disappointment was that Rick Mains sometimes came across as the dumb detective with tunnel vision. Whenever he arrived to a conclusion about a theory or a suspect, no one could change his mind. I struggled to see smart and resourceful India being interested in him. That aside, I recommend Murder in a Basket to readers who are looking not only for a mystery, but also for an amusing and sometimes comical story.