The Lost Years

Biblical scholar, Jonathan Lyons, believes he has found one of the greatest religious and archeological treasures of all time — a letter written by Christ to Joseph of Arimathea. However, before he can reveal his discovery to the world, Dr. Lyons is murdered. His wife, Kathleen, an Alzheimer’s victim, is accused of the murder. The police believe she killed him during one of her lucid moments because of his ongoing, five-year affair with another woman.

Their daughter, Mariah, is devastated. In a matter of days, she has lost both of her parents. Desperate to believe her mother’s innocence, she embarks on her own investigation with the help of Alvirah Meehan, a lottery winner turned sleuth. Mariah finds that those in her father’s close circle of friends aren’t at all what they seem.

In The Lost Years, Mary Higgins Clark delivers yet another thrilling quest as only she can. With a line-up of guilty characters hiding secrets from unsavory business to extramarital affairs or even criminal pasts, the reader’s mind races to uncover their lies and figure out which one of them is desperate enough to commit murder. Clark throws in one unexpected turn of events after another keeping her audience on their toes and guessing to the very end when she finally reveals the culprit in a climactic and nail-biting finale.

Recurring characters, Willy and Alvirah Meehan, as well as Father Aiden O’Brien return to help solve the case. These characters become more fun and interesting with each passing novel, especially Willy. While most husbands would soon bore, or even grow exasperated with a wife who is constantly trying to solve other people’s problems, he doesn’t. On the contrary, Willy is always supportive and willing to help and take care of her in any way she needs.

Once again, Clark offers a great mystery filled with intriguing characters and shocking twists. I strongly recommend The Lost Years to anyone who wants to attempt matching wits with the “Queen of Suspense.” Congratulations on another winner, Clark!!

Rated PG

Book provided by the publisher. Thank you!

Made to Crave

Made to crave was a very interesting book. In this book Lysa Terkeurst and Shaunti Feldhahn discuss our three main cravings in our life.The emotional craving (being loved by a friend or getting a date with a cute guy), the material craving (shopping sprees,new clothes and shoes), and the physical craving (over eating or not eating enough). I really liked this book because of many different reasons. It referred to movies I could watch and that helped me figure out what would work for me. I also found out I had a craving that I didn’t know I had and I learned more about why I have it and how to change it. This book showed me what cravings I had and how I could stop them. I encourage young women to read this book so they can learn what their cravings are and how they fill them with God instead of other stuff.

Baroness

Rosie and Lilly are young ladies in the early 1920s and are looking for different things in life. Rosie wants to become an international movie star and Lilly wants to return to her childhood home on a buffalo ranch in Montana. As it is, Lilly is accompanying Rosie on a trip to France as her chaperone. The girls are supposed to be learning how to behave like ladies, but they end up getting themselves into precarious situations.

When Lily’s mother dies, Lilly decides to distance herself from her stepfather, Oliver, and become a wing walker. Rosie moves to Chicago and falls in love with a mob boss who ends up putting a hit on her when she leaves him for a baseball player. Trying to deal with these personal struggles alone is not helpful, so the girls turn to God and discover that with His support, anything is bearable. They learn that they can handle life’s trials and tribulations when handing things over to God.

Susan May Warren puts together a fascinating story and incorporates current events of the time. People who were famous then are mentioned in everyday life and the girls marvel at how far technology has come. Both characters are developed so that they are likeable but flawed. Despite the fact that both girls come from families with money, Warren proves that money does not solve all problems. Baroness is written in easy-to-read language that details the nuances of life in the 1920s. Readers will find an educational and entertaining story in Baroness.

Due to some mature subject matter, this book is recommended for mature readers.

Rated PG

Book provided by Litfuse Publicity Group

In Thank You, God, children from around the world share the ways they tell God they love Him. From the things that God created like sunshine, animals and family, to those that are God inspired like dolls and homes, we have been given things to be thankful for and are all blessed. Thank You, God, reminds us to be thankful. From the beautiful artwork to the poetry, this book is a must have for your children’s home library.

Allia Zobel Nolan did a wonderful job sharing different cultures in different areas around the world as well as things about those cultures and thankfulness to God for them. From Babuska Dolls to Kangaroos or pet camels to curry, we are given a tour of the wonders of many countries and how God has garnered praise in each. Any young child in the first stages of reading will be able to read this one to themselves and any child being read to will enjoy the book as well. The poetry flows easily and is aided beautifully by the artwork done by Miki Sakamoto.

I highly recommend this book. My own tween’s reaction to reading it was that she wanted to keep it in her “Babysitting Box” so she would be able to read it to the little ones she takes care of. This book will not only remind children of God’s love for them and the need to be thankful, but will also inspire them to learn more about other countries and cultures.

The “lift the flap” style of the book offers some great surprises and an expanding change to the pictures on the page. It’s like a cultural treasure hunt for your child. I believe this book is going to become a bedtime classic in homes around the world.

Rated G
Book provided by the author. Thank you!

Susan Marlowe’s husband and four other firefighters died in a tragic fire eighteen months ago. She is beginning to heal and move forward. She’s reaching the homeless in her community through a shelter she always dreamed would become a reality. Unfortunately, the town of Hanover Falls is not as enthused about the shelter as she is, due to the tragedy surrounding a fire at the previous shelter.

While Susan deeply mourns her husband David, she also mourns the last couple of years of their marriage where they seemed to have drifted apart. When she learns that her husband had been having an emotional affair, she is devastated. She feels guilty and angry and in the midst of trying to care for her almost adult sons, she knows she must lead by example and forgive. But can she?

Fire chief Peter Brennan walks with a cloud around him. He is carrying the weight of his divorce, the fire tragedy and his own self-doubt. When Susan walks into his world, he catches a glimpse of what could be. When he begins to have feelings for her as more than just a friend, his heart is changed. He renews his connection with God and begins to find purpose and meaning once again.

The scenario sounds rosy until you throw in a troubled fire inspector who is yearning for the love she lost and isn’t allowed to mourn. She was the other half of David’s affair. She’s searching for the love she had with him that she was never allowed to fully explore. On the prowl for a man, she puts continual snags in Peter and Susan’s budding relationship. When a mysterious fire starts in Susan’s backyard and a disturbed individual starts following her, the plot does indeed thicken.

This is the final installment in the Hanover Falls trilogy. I have not yet had the privilege of reading the first two books. I could tell right away I was coming into a series, but Raney did a great job as an author of making sure I didn’t get lost. This was an easy and enjoyable read. With just enough depth to keep me thinking and enough intrigue to keep me turning pages into the night I enjoyed After All. Raney writes excellent characters. You’ll find yourself understanding more of the troubled fire inspector as you learn about her past. You’ll relate to Susan has she deals with her grief, along with a number of other issues. You’ll find Peter both likeable and human and you’ll want to go find him and shake his hand. Do yourself a favor and dive into this series. You won’t regret it!

Rated PG:  For adult material and themes
Book provided by the publisher. Thank you!

Life is tough when you are a widow raising two young boys. It’s even more difficult when you have to run a farm and fend off unwanted advances from not so friendly neighbors. Finding a suitable man in Nebraska is not an easy task, so Lena Walker takes it upon herself to put an advertisement in an Eastern newspaper for a husband. If a man can find a wife via mail-order why can’t she find a husband, father and helpmeet to make life easier? Little does she know that Gabe Hunters, the only seemingly God-fearing and interesting man to reply to her ad, is far from an experienced farmer and may turn out to be more trouble than he’s worth!

When Gabe arrives to find Lena more beautiful than he thought possible, past fears are ignited. He knows that it won’t be easy to trust Lena, but is determined to not give up so quickly. Over time, he learns the ropes at the farm as well as teaches Lena’s boys to read and write. Gabe and Lena learn to lean on each other, but love does not come easy. The wild winter tests not only their physical strength but their faith in God. Together they learn to embrace the present and most importantly to trust.

Mail-Order Husband is one of the few Heartsong Presents books that have remained on my keeper shelf as the years have passed. DiAnn Mills not only has skill and imagination but also a heart for story telling. I don’t believe she writes for this line anymore but her short, romantic tales are some of my favorites. Her characters are full of depth and emotion which are definitely apparent in Gabe and Lena. Gabe is the underdog you’ll want to root for.

Mail-Order Husband isn’t so much Lena’s story as it is Gabe’s. Told mostly from the male point of view, it is a refreshing twist on romance which I totally loved. I’ll admit, I’m one of those who likes the alpha male, but Gabe stole my heart as much as any fictional character can. If you’re looking for a quick, romantic read (I read this in a little over an hour) definitely look for Mail-Order Husband by DiAnn Mills.

Rated PG:  Mild violence
Book provided by reviewer.

Nerdy Puggie Liddell and his popular, but annoying sister, Gigi are on a school field trip to Thomas Edison’s estate when Puggie falls into the pool. He’s sucked into a whirlpool that transports him into another time dimension. When Gigi tries to help him, she too is pulled into late nineteenth-century America with her brother.

They set off to the World’s Fair in Chicago to find Edison who Puggie believes can help them get home. When they find Edison, however, he is so curious about time travel that he wants them to stay to study them. He’s also intrigued by Puggie’s Game Boy that happened to travel through time as well.

The siblings manage to escape, only to be captured by Edison’s enemy, Nikola Tesla, who also wants to study them. They end up meeting several luminaries of the era during their adventures, but what they want is to go home.  Despite constantly being at odds with one another, the brother and sister love each other very much and will do anything to protect each other.

This is an actual book, but it is a series that continues, much like a comic book.

Puggie and Gigi’s story is both fun and educational. I enjoyed the siblings’ bantering and teasing, reminiscent of my youth. I believe other readers will feel the same when reading this story. Puggie and Gigi, who have totally different personalities, are both very likeable and should come across as realistic to readers. There’s a lot of history crammed into the story, but it is presented in an interesting format that should appeal to both young readers and to adults. Their adventures can be both scary and funny. This is the world I always think about when I imagine time traveling, so I highly recommend that anyone who likes time travel stories read it. This is a very quick read but is suitable for novices.

Rated G
Book provided by the author

Sherrill Cameron was all excited about her special day. Everything seemed perfect – her dress, her veil, the bouquet and the new wardrobe she purchased for the honeymoon voyage. She felt so lucky to be marrying Carter McArthur…until she caught him with another woman and found out that his love for her is based on lies and greed. In a last minute switch, she decides to send the other woman down the aisle to marry her bridegroom. Is she doing the right thing? Will she have regrets for not fighting for the man she loved? How long will her heart ache?

Having just arrived in town, Graham Copeland is swept up in a very strange wedding drama. Immediately intrigued by the woman he catches as she falls from her car near the church, he helps her to the church balcony and decides to stay with her to the end of the reception, no matter what it takes.

Knowing nothing of this kind stranger, can Sherrill really trust him? Is he connected to the missing emerald necklace that was a gift from Sherrill’s Aunt Pat Catherwood? Once the wedding is over, will Sherrill ever see her “beloved stranger” again?

Carter McArthur is shocked and quite stunned when he sees Arla Prentiss walking towards him in a white bridal gown, instead of Sherrill Cameron.  A mixture of fear and anger rises in him, knowing he’s been found out and he will never have a chance at the Catherwood fortune. Why is Arla the bride instead of Sherrill? How will he pay off his many creditors? Will he really lose his business over this misfortunate marriage?

The Beloved Stranger reads as a mystery and a romance, but is truly a tale of love lost and true love found. It is a story of how Jesus can bring together those from different levels of society into one loving group of friends and make them into family. The Beloved Stranger tells us how God has a plan for our lives and often we look at what we want instead of what God wants for us. God can bless us when we turn our lives over to Him.

I was impressed with the way Grace Livingstone Hill wrote the story as a mystery wrapped in a romance with a gospel message. It allowed the spiritual side of me to seek the Lord’s lesson, while my emotional side enjoyed the romance and my mind tried to figure out the mystery.

However, I found that parts of the story were difficult to get into, and often found myself rereading a paragraph more than once trying to understand what it was telling me. For me, there was a lack of information about the setting during parts of the story and a reference to the “1930’s Eastern America” at the beginning left me with questions about where the story was actually taking place. The accent of the characters was unfamiliar to me, causing confusion and drawing my attention away from the story. That struggle made the book drag a bit, but not enough to keep me from enjoying the story. I found my heart raced with excitement as the wedding took place, and as Arla uncovered Carter’s secret. I think I swooned along with Sherrill every time she saw Graham. I also couldn’t wait for Carter to get his just due. I fell in love with Sherrill’s Aunt Pat, who reminded me of my own Aunt Pat in so many ways. I could see this book acted out on stage, or done into a movie.

I would recommend the book to anyone from teens to adults. If you have a friend who is in need of salvation but seems more focused on finding someone to love, this is a great book for them. Sherrill found the happiness and love she sought in the saving grace of Christ Jesus. They might just find it for themselves through the gospel message shared in the book.

Rated PG: Some youths might find some of the wording difficult to understand, and need assistance in understanding, especially because of the period of time the story takes place in.

Book provided by Barbour Publishing, Inc.Thank you!

Sloane Templeton is a woman who appears to have her life nicely in order. She’s got a successful business that was handed down to her after her mother’s passing. She has a handsome and attentive boyfriend. She’s surrounded by friends and family. What could possibly be wrong with this scenario? Well actually, like most of us, Sloane’s got her own burdens to bear. Her ex-boyfriend is abusive and not quite out of her life yet. She really didn’t want the bookstore that her mother left her when she died. She misses her mom something fierce and to top it all off, she seems to be surrounded by completely crazy people.

When Sloane ends up with a book that is worth more than everything she owns and mysterious things start happening around the shop, she finds herself braids deep in a mess that involves not only the police, but a lot of violent threats and the potential for murder. It’s far more than the average person should be expected to handle – even with extra large helpings of red velvet cake and lots of romance from aforementioned boyfriend.

With quick dialogue, engaging characters and a fast moving plot, Bonnie Calhoun has created a fun quirky book that is not only enjoyable to read, but entertaining and a great way to get away from real life for a while. Although, to be fair, with the problems Sloane has, you can’t exactly call this a great getaway from reality, but you can laugh along with some of her crazy choices and misadventures.

I deeply enjoyed this freshman outing from Calhoun. As I read, I would laugh, stress and cry along with Sloane and I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out the puzzle. Cleverly plotted twists made it fun to keep involved in the story without frustration. And in the end, I was happy to say that it left me wanting more. I hope that Calhoun has future additions planned for this series. I’m eager to see where Sloane ends up and how all of her wacky quirky friends fare in the next outing.

Rated PG-13: There’s some violence in this book and some scary moments so it’s definitely not intended for younger readers. Teens would be able to read it without difficulty, but younger teens may want to read with their parents.

Book provided by Hamby Media. Thank you LeAnn!

Tinch Turner is a loner and he knows it. Since his wife, Lori Anne, passed away from cancer, he’s had no interest in being a part of a family or even a part of anything. Living essentially like a hermit on his land outside of the small town of Harmony, everyone knows Tinch and a lot of people care, but Tinch would have a hard time caring less.

Addison Spencer has been on the run from an overbearing father, a disappointing fiancé and pretty much everything else she’s ever known. Harmony is just the perfect place to get away, relax and concentrate on what she wants to do – be a doctor.  All is perfect until one night she has to stitch up a man who has been in a bar fight – a man who turns out to be her neighbor.

Neither Tinch nor Addison are interested in a friendship, but when a little boy suddenly needs both of them and brings with him a new danger that threatens their peace and their lives, there’s no one else they can turn to but each other.

And what about our beloved Reagan Truman, her uncle Jeremiah and her best friend and sometimes boyfriend Noah? They’re all here. Everyone that we’ve come to know and love in Jodi Thomas’ Harmony series is present, accounted for and updated with much love and affection. It’s like a breath of fresh air to step back into Thomas’ universe and visit with these old friends again.

With witty dialogue, a heart pounding plotline and quirky characters that are guaranteed to make you smile, you don’t want to miss this latest installment in the Harmony series. I’ve loved these characters from day one and I can say without a doubt that there has never been a stumble, stutter or failure in any of the books. There are none that I would recommend less than any other – but with this one, Jodi has outdone herself. The tense plotline will leave you gasping in places and will most likely make you cry in others. I can say that Jodi was able to make me laugh out loud just moments after a good cry – the tears were still fresh on my cheeks! It is gorgeous writing that evokes an incredible emotional response.

If you couldn’t tell yet, these are some of my favorite books from one of my favorite writers, so I’m going to tell you to go check these books out. These aren’t Christian books, so there is some sex, language and violence – but none of it is overwhelming. If that turns you off, be aware. It’s handled tastefully and with great decorum or else I wouldn’t recommend them. If you love a good romance with quirky characters and a fun backdrop, you’ll enjoy these books.

Rated PG-13: Adult situations, mentions of sex and some violence.
Book provided by the publisher. Thank you!