Design on a Crime
by Ginny Aiken
Haley's friend was just murdered! Why? Why would anyone want to kill her friend?
Haley plans on finding out since she seems to be the prime suspect. She has her suspicions, but could they be wrong?
Are the people she believes she knows so well really harboring secrets in their closets? Haley has to learn to come
to grips with her own as well as the pasts of those around her. She's a strong twenty-five-year-old with a widowed pastor
father. Haley's friends know she can come to grips, but does Haley know? This is a great book in so many ways.
People can change and yes they may have skeletons in their closets, but that doesn't mean they aren't any less worthy of your
friendship. What a great book! Thank you, Ginny! I am certainly looking forward to book two!!
-Jo / May 18, 2006 / SS31
Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet?
by Charlene Ann Baumbich
Have you ever met a lady with nothing but a big heart and a lot of spunk? If you haven't, then
you haven't met Dorothy Jean Wetstra. This lady may be 87, but she's not about to slow down or stop helping people. She sees
a need and she fills it. Dorothy talks to God like an old friend, and she doesn't do things halfway. If you want a charming
lady and her friends and cohorts to take up residence in your heart, then why not enter the town of Partonville. You can meet
the man that owns Harry's or the woman with the day spa. It's a town full of heart, and it's in Illinois. An enjoyable, heartwarming,
fun read that will surely make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings. Make a stop in Pardon-me-ville; you'll be glad you
did!
-Jo / June 15, 2005 / SS9
Breaker's Reef
by Terri Blackstock
Why would anyone want to kill Emily? It makes no sense. Why is Marcus Gibson on the island? These are questions
that need answers. But they aren't the only ones. Can Cade and Blair and Sheila and Sadie find the answers they need before
it's too late? With God all things are possible. Breaker's Reef ties up all those strings that Terri Blackstock left
loose in her other three Cape Refuge books, so I think it must be the end. If you enjoyed the other books in this series,
you won't be disappointed. Blackstock has brought her readers another book that shows us that God has a plan, even in the
midst of darkness. What a comfort to us all! A great read that has you guessing for many pages. If you're in the mood for
a little suspense and a little misleading, go find Breaker's Reef and remember to hold your breath for the underwater
jaunt!
-Jo / June 15, 2005 / SS8
The Quilt
by T. Davis Bunn
Mary is a very special woman. She listens and also speaks, but she hears and speaks deeper truths
than any other woman around. She is a special lady with a special purpose. At the moment, it is time to make a prayer quilt.
Why? God has told her to do this, and Mary is not one to disobey such a request. Join Mary and the ladies (and gentlemen)
in her life as she begins a quilt with deeper meaning and purpose than anyone would have ever guessed. This book will tug
at your heartstrings and will probably bring tears to your eyes, but it is a book well worth the emotional investment. T.
Davis Bunn has given us a short tale with a deep and important message. The Quilt is a tenderhearted story with an
important message of thankfulness. Take a little time and journey into Mary's life as she makes a quilt full of prayers!
-Jo / June 24, 2005 / SS13
Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther
by Ginger Garrett
Esther is a poor girl being raised by her kind cousin Mordecai in a land that is not her
home. She has been taught to read and write by Mordecai and so she records her life on a scroll that has been preserved
for many years. She is in love with a boy in her village named Cyrus, but their love is not to be.
Queen Vashti has gone against the wishes of King Xerxes, making it necessary for a new queen to be found. All the local
virgins are being gathered and prepared for their one night with Xerxes. Read Esther's own words as she takes a path
only God knew she'd take. Follow her through her year of preparation and her night with Xerxes. She has many
struggles in her life, but she is steadfastly a servant of God. Watch her as she saves the lives of her people
and wins the favor of her husband's kingdom. This story is based on the book of Esther and is a rather interesting tale. It
is thought-provoking and intriguing. Esther has been my favorite book of the Bible for several years now.
Reading this story brought me more insight into Esther's life as well as my own. It's a wonderful rendition that I
highly recommend. Thank you, Ginger Garrett, for your timeless book. Read Chosen and understand
God's calling on a life.
-Jolene / July 1, 2006 / SS36
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering
by David Gregory
What would you do if you received an invitation from Jesus of Nazareth to have dinner?
What you accept? Or decline? Would you even believe it was real? Nick is a workaholic businessman who
receives just such an invitation. He decides to accept. In his mind it must be a prank, a joke, but he decides
to go meet "Jesus" and have dinner with him. What he finds is a man who talks about religions across the world,
who knows many things about Nick's life, who doesn't fret over nick's words, and who opens Nick's mind to new
thoughts and concepts. Could this man really be Jesus? If so, why did he choose Nick for a dinner date?
This book is short but very thought-provoking. It leaves you with questions that you may not find answers
too. Find out what it's like to have Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, you'll be glad you took time to consider
it!
-Jo / May 6, 2006 / SS29
Home to Harmony
by Philip Gulley
Join Sam Gardner as he shares the stories of his childhood and life in Harmony. It's under
the staple on the map! A place where every kind of person exists, but this is strictly from the perspective of a Quaker
minister. Covering the emotional range from laughter to heartfelt tears, this book is a must for the lover of small-town
books. If you've read Kinkade's Cape Light books, this story has a different flavor to it. This book
is told in short, enjoyable little stories rather than a continuous long story. You will enjoy reading the exploits
of Dale Hinshaw, a man with some ideas that cause no end of mishaps. Find out the truth behind the "shroud of Harmony!"
Philip Gulley tells a story about the slow pace of small-town life and draws you to the conclusion that it could be pretty
enjoyable. Why not come Home to Harmony with a cup of Harmony Blend? You certainly won't regret it!
-Jolene / July 17, 2007 / SS46
Gardenias for Breakfast
by Robin Jones Gunn
As a mother or daughter, have you ever been at that place where you needed to understand your
daughter or mother better? If that's you, then Gardenias for Breakfast is your book. Follow Abby as she
and her daughter journey from Hawaii to Louisiana on a trek to see Abby's grandmother. It's an opportunity that Abby
has longed for so that her daughter can meet and connect with Grand Lady. What Abby discovers along the way is that
she can loosen up a bit with daughter and she can make a relationship with her own mother too. Abby also comes to realize
that just because she connected with her grandmother in a special as a child doesn't mean that her daughter will do the same.
In fact, Abby's daughter wants to connect with her own grandmother (Abby's mother). It's a story of the bonds of a relationship
changing and growing and of pain diminishing while healing takes place. Robin has brought us a story outside her usual
realm, but one that I found very helpful and profound on many occasions. So, why not have some Gardenias for
Breakfast?
-Jolene / October 18, 2006 / SS41
An Unlikely Prince
by Barbara Jean Hicks
Is it really possible for an old curmudgeon like Dr. Harrison Hunt and a playful gal like
Suzie Wyatt to become friends? Author Barbara Jean Hicks thinks so because that's the premise of her book An Unlikely
Prince. Join seven energetic little bundles of fun as they set set out (unwittingly) to win over Professor Hunt
to the world of children. It's quite an experience, especially when there's a beautiful woman involved and a lonely
next door neighbor. As we all know, God can do amazing things. Why not find out what makes An Unlikely Prince?
You will enjoy the journey. There's some interesting cake, a cat up a tree, a young pianist, a Betta fish, and
much more along the way. Take a trip to a quiet street in a little town in Washington and find out what can
happen when God mixes things up a little.
-Jolene / May 1, 2007 / SS43
Savannah from Savannah
by Denise Hildreth
Meet Savannah from Savannah! In Savannah, Georgia, everyone knows who Savannah
is because everyone knows who her mother is. Victoria Phillips is a woman who wants her hometown preserved and wants
things the way she likes them. Savannah has grown up dealing with Vicky and her ways, but now she's ready to make her
mark on her own. Will Savannah find her first story for the Savannah Chronicle, or will she come up empty handed?
Follow Savannah on her journey to discover the truth about dreams - hers and those of her mother. Can a beauty pageant
really be that important to someone? If so, why? Savannah has a lot to learn about how people operate. Join
her as she uncovers the human-interest story right in her "own backyard." You'll be glad you met Savannah from Savannah
and discovered that everybody 's dream is special - whether it's one you understand or not.
-Jolene / July 1, 2006 / SS35
A Christmas to Remember
by Thomas Kinkade & Katherine Spencer
I must say that I'm getting a little sick of the Christmas-themed books, but other than that
this latest installment was great. Here we get to find out more about Lillian and her past. We find that she is
very much the same as she was as a young woman, but we also learn that she has changed due to life's circumstances.
Also, Lucy Bates has some struggles with her nursing plan, and Sara and Luke have some changes in their lives as well.
Step into a new Cape Light story and learn more about what makes these people jump off the page. Once you read one Cape
Light novel, you won't ever want to leave. There is just a sense of coming home when you immerse yourself in the happenings
of these sweet, little town in Massachusetts where miracles can and do happen in the little, everyday occurrences of life.
Get your copy of Kinkade and Spencer's latest adventure and curl up by a cozy fire with a hot cup!
-Jolene / October 18, 2006 / SS39
The Shunning
by Beverly Lewis
What an interesting read! This book gives the reader an inside look into the Amish community. I have been
fascinated with the Amish since I first picked up a Beverly Lewis book and read it. What an intriguing group of people. The
Shunning is one of those books that I had always been weary to pick up and read. I received it as a birthday gift this
year (birthday gifts get so many things started), and I decided I'd just go ahead and read it. I'm glad I did. I gained new
knowledge of Amish beliefs and struggles through the eyes and life of Katie Lapp. As someone who is not Amish and has no desire
to be Amish, I am so drawn to Katie's story because of her struggles with her Amish way of life. Katie has characteristics
that speak to me, and I believe they will speak to you too. She has decisions to make (don't we all). I now live in an area
of the US where Amish and Mennonite families are plentiful, and for that reason, Katie's story was even more dramatic for
me. Beverly Lewis does a wonderful job of painting a view of Amish life that holds much truth. If you've ever felt the part
of "which one of these is not like the other," then pick up an Amish tale called The Shunning and read Miss Katie Lapp's
story. There are also two more books in the series.
-Jo / October 5, 2005 / SS18
Diamonds
by Shari MacDonald
Join Casey Foster as she leads the Bend Bachelors through a season of minor league baseball. Casey
has enjoyed baseball since was a young and has now inherited a team from her uncle. Can she prove to these men and to
herself that she is a capable owner and leader, even though she's a woman? Will Tucker Boyd be the major league pitcher
he once was before a shoulder injury? Or will he stay in the minors? And will a father's abandonment or high expectations
be the undoing of God's work? Casey has her work cut out for her, but with God's guidance and grace, she'll make it
through to all the blessings He has for her. And Tucker will gain a new appreciation for the sport he plays and a true
love of the game. If you a little more sparkle in your life, then pick up a copy of Diamonds and find a field
in which to enjoy it.
-Jo / April 21, 2007 / SS42
Playing by Heart
by Deborah Raney
What a fun, creative idea for a story. When Madeline Houser needs a place to write, her
neighbor and friend suggests she go to the local bed and breakfast. An innocent enough suggestion, right? Maybe not. Arthur
Tyler, owner of the bed and breakfast, has lost his wife and lives with his cat. Through notes and mistaken thoughts on each
other's identity these two people come to know each other in an intimate way that both delights and keeps you reading on and
on and on... How can they not know what we (the readers) know? Ugh! It's fun, sweet, delightful, and a short, quick read.
Pick up a copy of Playing by Heart and enjoy this wonderful look at falling in love. Make sure you have a cat nearby
to keep your feet warm!!
-Jo / September 30, 2005 / SS16
A Garden in Paris
by Stephanie Grace Whitson
Have you ever been so down and out that you wanted to end it all? That is where Mary finds herself at
the beginning of this book. She then comes upon an idea to write a letter to a friend from the past and embarks on a
journey that will turn her life on its side. Mary's daughter Liz doesn't understand what her mother is doing or thinking,
but she realizes that she needs to try to find her mother in Paris. What will happen when a woman with a hidden past
meets up with a daughter who knows nothing of it? Only God knows how it will all work out. This dramatic
tale of two women and their personal differences and struggles is well worth the time spent. I hope that you can find
A Garden... to curl up in and enjoy this great story from Ms. Whitson.
June 11, 2007 / SS44
